The Wolf Man Ultimate Figure (Color Version) – Toyark Advanced Photo Shoot

Today we have a special advanced look at one of NECA’s most anticipated horror releases, The Wolf Man (Color Version) Ultimate 7″ Scale Figure. The figure, part of the Universal Monsters collection, is currently scheduled for release in December. The figure will be followed by a black and white version in early 2022 for fans who want a version that more closely represents his on-screen appearance.

“Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night;
May become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.”

In 1941, Universal Pictures unleashed The Wolf Man starring Lon Chaney Jr. While not their first werewolf film, that falls to Werewolf of London from 1935, The Wolf Man is easily the more recognizable of the two. The movie follows Lawrence Talbot, as he returns home to Wales following the death of his brother. While there, he falls in love with a local antique shop owner named Gwen. One night, he spots a friend of Gwen’s being attacked by a wolf-like beast and rushes to help. During the struggle, Talbot is bitten by the creature, dooming him to the same fate as a werewolf.

The film turned Lon Chaney Jr. into an instant horror icon. Lon Chaney Jr. would go on to portray a werewolf in at least six additional films, including memorable appearances in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). His portrayal of the Wolf Man is one of the most iconic takes on a werewolf in film history. The look became the basis for nearly every werewolf in film for decades, until the 80’s ushered in a slew of new werewolf films that would redefine the genre.

The Wolf Man figure from NECA includes swap out pieces to display the figure as the Wolf Man, or as Lawrence Talbot, including the authorized likeness of actor Lon Chaney Jr. Accessories included two interchangeable werewolf portraits, swap out hands, swap out feet, a wolf trap, a cane, and a figure stand. Read on for my impressions of the figure, as well as full photo gallery.

Pre-Order Links: Entertainment Earth • Big Bad Toy Store • Dorkside Toys • The Chosen Prime

The Wolf Man (1941) – Ultimate Wolf Man (Color Version) 7″ Scale Figure by NECA Toys

Pros

• Two outstanding Wolf Man head sculpts
• Excellent Lon Chaney Jr. likeness on the Lawrence Talbot portrait
• Well done paint deco
• Solid articulation
• Easy to swap out parts
• Figure stand included

Cons

• Can be difficult to stand without using the figure stand

Overall
The Wolf Man Ultimate Figure comes packed in a collector friendly flapped window box. The box features the classic film’s poster on the front, while photos of the figure and accessories can be found on the back. Everything sits nicely on a plastic tray, allowing you to easily store everything when not in use. The full list of accessories include two Wolf Man portraits, a Lawrence Talbot portrait, three swap out human hands, a pair of werewolf hands, a pair of werewolf feet, a pair of human feet, a wolf trap, a cane, and a figure stand.

After the excellent Frankenstein’s Monster release (see my review Here), I was expecting excellence from the Wolf Man and any upcoming Universal Monsters release. I’m happy to say that their Wolf Man figure is another fantastic release. The figure has a really strong sculpt, anchored by three great portraits. The two Wolf Man head sculpts have very different expressions, which I think fans will really enjoy. The sculpted details look great, with nice attention paid to the fur. The Lon Chaney Jr. portrait is also excellent with a solid likeness to the actor. The sculpted clothing has a nice realistic look to it, with nicely done sculpted folds and wrinkles. The only spot where the sculpt caused issue was the feet. In the movie, the Wolf Man walks on his toes to simulate a wolf’s walk. NECA tried to emulate that, but with such little surface area to balance the figure, it’s a bit difficult to get him to stand. It’s not impossible to display him without the included stand, but I would recommend using it. Overall , it’s an impressive looking take on the character, and looks perfect next to the Frankenstein’s Monster.

The figure has about 25 or so points of articulation. They went with single jointed knees and elbows here. However, the elbows are sculpt in a way to allow a much greater range of motion than I expected in a single jointed elbow. Under the soft vinyl chest piece, there appears to be a ball jointed torso (though it’s hard to tell without tearing it off). The swap out feet also add extra swivels at the shins. The joints were all good, with no tolerance issues. Paint is clean and detailed, with digital face printing tech mixed with traditional hand painting used on all three head sculpts. Most of the fine details are printed on, such as they eyes, while brushed on paint was used to add things like highlights to the hair. The body, swap out hands, and swap out feet all look to use more traditional painting, with multiple levels of paint wash to bring out the details and add depth. I didn’t notice any paint bleed or misaligned paint applications.

Two main accessories are included. The first is the cane, with the wolf on the handle, that Talbot buys from the antique shop. The cane looks great, and he can hold it without issue. The second is a wolf trap. The wolf trap is quite impressive. It has a locking mechanism, and the jaws are articulated. Since it’s not spring loaded, you can place the figures foot inside without fear of it snapping the jaws, or scrapping the leg of the figure.

The Wolf Man figure is an excellent release in the Universal Monsters Ultimate line. The figure has a great sculpt, multiple display options, and a nice selection of interchangeable parts. Check out a selection of photos below, and the full gallery after that.

CompaniesNECA
CharactersWolf Man
Scale7 Inch

TagsFeatured NECA Toy Galleries

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