NECA Resurrects Remco Mini-Monsters


Some things never die … like classic movie monsters, and the toys that depict such monsters. In the case of NECA, not only has it produced a series of 7-inch figures that are very screen-accurate recreations of classic Universal Monsters, but it has also produced a sub-set of three glow-in-the-dark figures—Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy and the Wolf Man—mounted on cardbacks that match the cardbacks used by Remco for its Mini-Monsters action figure line, a line from 1981 that was also based on classic Universal Monsters.

NECA + Remco = toy collector nirvana. 


Even though these NECA figures are larger and much more detailed than the Remco’s original figures, seeing this mash-up of modern collectible figures with nostalgic action figure packaging almost make my toy collector head explode. Then again, NECA produced these particular figures specifically for nerds like me. Remco released its Mini-Monsters line at around the same time as I was learning about Universal Monsters through the movies that aired on syndicated TV and books such as the Crestwood House series, and I’m sure I’m not the only one in my age demographic whose initial experience with Universal Monsters involved Remco’s toys.


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Remco’s original Mini-Monster six-figure line. 


This isn’t the first time NECA acknowledged Remco’s history with the Universal Monsters license. Back in 2020, NECA released a series of Halloween masks that were based on all six of the Mini-Monsters’ head sculpts. Thus, die-hard Universal Monster fans now have the option of either dressing up like their favorite Universal Monster or dressing up like an adult-sized replica of their favorite Universal Monster action figure. Super-sized, indeed.


Jumbo Mini-Monster: NECA’s Remco Gill Man mask.


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