Review of Frankestein's Monster Diorama and Figure
One:12 Collective Action Figure

Introduction

Different people like different sorts of displays for their figures. Actually, some don't display them at all, preferring to keep them pristine in their package prisons. Others use display stands and standard poses to avoid damage from falls or bent joints.  And others prefer setting them in in action stances and in dioramas, with as much realism as possible.

I personally like the latter the best, although to be honest I have spent years talking about my ultimate display and never getting time to get it finished. I love dioramas for my figures in just about every scale, and making them yourself can be a tremendous way to add fun and personality to your collecting hobby. Let's pretend for a moment that I have the skill necessary to make my own - if I don't have time to get my display area done, how much do I have to build dioramas?

Thankfully companies like Mezco come to the rescue. They are now producing a 1/12 scale 'doorway diorama' for their recent Universal Monsters Frankenstein Monster One:12 Collective figure.  Tonight I'm checking it out, along with their recent PX exclusive 'color' version of the Monster himself. Since I already covered the standard Monster, this review will focus largely on the diorama, but I'll mention various aspects of the figure as we go.

The doorway diorama is exclusive to the Mezco website, where you can pick it up by itself for $110, or in a bundle with the standard Frankenstein Monster for $160.

The Frankenstein Monster I'm looking at is the colorized PX exclusive version, available only through previews (which means most comic shops could order it), for around $80.

Packaging - Dio ***; Monster ***1/2
The large box does job one quite well - keeping the diorama pieces safe. It's not exactly collector friendly, since the entire box is shrink wrapped, and you'll have to cut and toss the outer plastic to get at the contents. Inside are some high quality soft foam trays, done in two layers, holding the four sculpted resin pieces safely.

The Monster has his own box of course, which I highlighted in the previous review.  It is very collector friendly, and very well made. The basic Universal Monster graphics aren't quite as eye catching, but it's a classic design.

Sculpting/Construction - Figure ****; Dio ***1/2
The Monster figure has the same sculpted portraits as the standard release. One is the normal heavy lidded expression, while the second is the growling, open mouthed sculpt.  Both are excellent, just as you'd expect.  Detailing in the hair and skin is outstanding considering the scale, and the One:12 Collective has some of the nicest work being done in 1/12 today.

The diorama is deeply cut, with every stone nicely defined and textured. The door is a proper scale, with the overall diorama standing almost 11 1/2" tall. This doorway can work with just about any 6 - 7" figure, and I've included a shot with one of the older NECA Jack Sparrow figures for comparison.

Of course the door itself is a different texture, switching to a wood and metal appearance. The floor actually transitions - in back, it's a stone floor, while the exterior floor is wooden. Because the entire thing is done in a classic black and white film color, the various textures are critical to creating visual differences in the materials.

The door, doorway, and base are all solid resin, very sturdy and very heavy.  The door only goes one way, so pay attention when assembling it.  The doorway sits atop the base, and the door itself has a top and bottom pin to hold it in place.  All three pieces need to be assembled together, but it's not difficult.

However, I do wish they'd made the top and bottom pins on the door a little longer. Just a slight separation of the doorway from the base can let the door drop out, making it nerve wracking when you move or handle the overall piece.

The final feature of the base is a plus/minus sort of thing. They've also included a cardboard back drop that attaches to the back of the diorama. This provides a stone block background for when the door is open. This is a big plus, because it really adds a lot to any open door pose. The minus comes in the execution, however. You fold the backdrop in a specific manner and it will slip inside an thin track on the back of the doorway and the top of the base.  It works great along the base, but keeping it attached to the doorway itself is quite the trick. It still provides the proper effect, but a little tape might be necessary to keep it in place.

By the way, the cardboard backdrop attaches to the very back of the base and wraps around the sides, so there is enough room to put the Monster behind the door with it closed, ready to be revealed with a tug on the handle!

Paint - ****
Both the figure and the diorama score the same here - great paint work with just a minor nit or two.

This figure sports the same high quality paint job we saw with the original, and like the sculpting, this is the best paint work in this scale we're seeing these days. From the dirty fingernails to the lidded eyes, he looks fantastic.

I will say that the greener color here leaves me less impressed. I prefer the standard release colors, which I think also goes better with the 'old movie' look of the doorway. I paired these two because they shipped at the same time, not because they were the ideal combination. However, that's a matter of aesthetics, not quality.

On the doorway diorama, they went for the grayish version of black and white that was standard in the original Universal Monster movies. They nailed it as well. Some areas are darker and some lighter, and they've highlighted the sculpt detail with this technique, yet maintained the film style palette.

The only issue with the diorama in this category is the gloss finish on the printed cardboard. It tends to be too reflective, creating a less realistic look for the printed bricks.  Again, a minor nit, but worth mentioning nonetheless.

Articulation - ***
They both get three stars here, although the figure is far more articulated than the diorama - as he should be!

I went over the articulation with the basic release, but highlights remain the excellent ball jointed neck and torso mobility.  The boots and sculpted forearm/hand combo means no joints at either location, resulting in the lower score. It's a little tricky to work with the elbows as well, since the cut forearm joint is very close to the elbow itself. That gives you less leverage in the arm when you're attempting to bend it.

Still, you can get plenty of excellent Monster poses, and the ball jointed neck adds all the menacing personality you'll need.

The diorama really has only one point of articulation, but it's the only one it needs: the door opens and closes.  I suppose it's worth noting that the door handle on one side is a loose fixture as well (on the inside, it's a sculpted feature instead). The trunk does not open, however.

Accessories - ***
Again, both the figure and doorway get three stars here. Considering that's the same score the original release Monster got, it's really no surprise.

The Monster comes with the second portrait and second set of hands, as discussed earlier. They swap easily, and provide a ton of additional looks for your figure. There is also the iron cuffs, which can be opened and closed upon his wrists. Finally, he has the One:12 Collective display stand with clear plastic support and appropriate logo. Oh, and there's the little ziplock back for the accessories too, a standard feature of the series.

Normally, dioramas don't have a lot of 'extras', but I'm going to count the wooden chest as one. You don't HAVE to include in a set up, but it does add quite a bit to the look. You could also swap it over with a different character, like a pirate, in this same scale. It does not open, and is one solid piece.

Outfit - Figure ***; Dio N/A
Okay, so there's no way to come up with any sort of 'outfit' with a diorama. But the Monster certainly has his, consisting of the boots, pants, shirt, and jacket, all identical to the earlier release.

This is where the issue comes in, of course. Just like the first figure, the pants are simply too short, and are tailored with tubular legs. The boots themselves, along with the shirt and jacket, are excellent.  The tailoring on the shirt and jacket is perfect, with am realistic fit in this tiny scale. Some sixth scale manufacturers have a tough time getting the lapels of a jacket the right size - no problem for Mezco in half the scale.

But those damn pants annoy me, and are really the only feature of the entire figure that are an actual issue.

Fun Factor - ***1/2
The figure, with it's appropriate articulation and extra head and hands, is a ton of fun all by himself.  Add in this excellent diorama, and you'll spend way too much time coming up with just the perfect look...and then coming up with another...and another.

Value - **1/2
The regular version of the Monster was $70, about average for the One:12 Collective line, and pretty much in line with other figures of this quality and scale on the market (like 3A, for example). This exclusive tacks on an extra ten bucks because it's an exclusive. I'm cool with that, and a simple paint variation like this makes for a perfect exclusive.  It's something only the hard core fan will need, allowing the more casual fan to still have key characters.

The diorama is $110, although if you buy it as a bundle with the regular Monster through Mezco, you can save $20 on the pair. I know some people will complain about the price tag - "I can just make one out of Styrofoam" - and ignore that a statue with less raw material and less detail (like aa DC Bombshell) will cost as much or more. For me, the price point seems just about right, and results in an average value score.

Things to Watch Out For -
I mentioned this earlier, but the top and bottom pin on the door are fairly short. That means any separation of the doorway from the base can allow the door to drop out - and break your heart. Be mindful of the situation when picking up or moving the diorama.

The Monster has almost no issues to consider, but I will say that working with the elbows can be a little tricky. The forearm cut joint is quite close to the elbow joint, making it possible to damage the forearm joint when bending the elbow.  Keep it in mind, put pressure in the proper places, and you should be fine.

Overall - ***1/2
You know I love the Monster figure - I loved it last time, and changing up the paint to add a little more color isn't going to change my opinion. In fact, the One:12 Collective is my favorite series right now, hands down, and I look forward to every release with great anticipation.

Adding in the diorama amps up the display value of the figure itself. It's not going to be high on the list for every collector, but for those that like creating realistic shelf displays, it's well worth the money.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - Monster ****; Dio ***1/2
Paint - ****
Articulation - ***
Accessories - ***
Outfit - Monster ***; Dio N/A
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- The only way to get the diorama is through the Mezco Direct website. They have the regular Monster for $70, the doorway for $110, or the great bundle price of both for $160.

- Entertainment Earth has the regular Monster for $70 and the exclusive for $80.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Of course, you'll want to check out the regular version of the One:12 Collective Frankenstein Monster, but don't miss out on the other cool One:12 Collective figures, like the BvS Batman, the Bvs Armored Batman, Captain America, Star Trek Kirk, the Mirror, Mirror and Cage variants of Spock, Sulu, the Toy Fair exclusive Spock, and the regular release Spock as well. Other One:12 Collective figures released so far include Dredd and his Lawmaster, the NYCC exclusive Judge Dredd, the DKR Batman and Mutant two pack, the Batman exclusives, and the initial DKR Batman.

If you're a big fan of Frankie's Monster, check out the Diamond Select Toys Son of Frankenstein, as well as their Moleman, Hunchback, Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde, and previous DST Universal Monsters including Frankenstein, his Bride, Dracula, the Creature, Wolfman and the Mummy.

If you like your Monsters bigger, check out the 1:1 scale bust, or the sixth scale Teenage Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, regular Frankenstein Monster, three different Sideshow Monsters, or the Young Frankenstein set. And don't forget Mezco's cool stylized Frankenstein.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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