The Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of the most popular collectible subjects in the history of the Universal Monsters. Almost anything of quality produced in his image sells out quickly. While this won’t be the last Creature collectible released by Sideshow (word has it a life-size bust will be announced soon) it is one that you should get your hands on if you’re a big fan. As of this writing you’ll have to do it through the secondary market or settle for Sideshows waitlist. I’d also expect a seriously limited Silver Screen Premium Format edition at some point.
While all of Universal Studios other monsters are essentially makeup creations, the Creature is a man in a suit. In an age before modern special effects and makeup techniques the Creature of the Black Lagoon is an amazing accomplishment of design and execution standing alongside much more technically sophisticated modern creations like Alien and Predator as a thoroughly believable living, breathing, monster. He is one of that special breed of monster icons that is recognizable even by people who have never seen any of the three original Creature films. In short this collectible should be of interest to a huge range of folks including horror film fans, 3-D enthusiasts, anyone interested in special effects and even collectors of fifties kitsch.
The pose has the creature swimming through ocean fauna at an angle which is appropriate for several reasons. Sure, despite some highly visible moments on land, the creature is ultimately aquatic and his most memorable moment is easily the swimming sequence from the first film. Poetic, haunting, this moment is probably only rivaled by moments in the original King Kong for the way it embodies its beauty and the beast theme. Swimming languorously underneath a white suited Julie Addams the creature is at once a primal force of nature and a symbol for man’s unending enchantment at the mystery of woman.
The sculpt is dead-on but seems the tiniest bit stiff. A little more of a twist in the limbs, torso or waist might have given a better impression of movement. But the figure itself is exquisitely detailed and beautifully rendered in earthy greens, the claws have a translucent quality and the eyes have that fishy glare you’d expect underwater. Everyone who has come into my office steps over to take a closer look at this figure- and I have a lot of figures.
The base is one of my favorite Sideshow bases ever including several flexible sea plant fronds, a swimming fish, driftwood and rocks resting on a seabed floor. The earth tones predominate here and compliment the figure perfectly.
This is about as Creature in appearance as you’ll get. I’ve seen a lot of interpretations over the years when it comes to coloration. Thanks to Sideshow for not sticking huge red lips on this thing (no matter what some of the photos out there look like). Some will wonder about a more fish-realistic paintjob, and even though I’ve seen some breathtaking examples out there in the modeling world I’m pretty convinced that this figure is the best representation of what the creatures original creators intended.
The overall footprint made by the piece will require extra care in picking it up and setting it down. It stands almost two feet tall, a foot and a half wide and 9 inches long. Most easily damaged are the creatures claws. The lean of the piece makes it absolutely necessary to make sure your surface is flat and you’ll definitely want to put it where it won’t get bumped into or even brushed up against.
If Quantum Mechanix ever gets around to releasing the 1:1 scale fossilized creature claw this will be the perfect companion piece.