It’s Alive! Sideshow’s History with Universal Monsters

“Everything has changed so much in the last 30 years. Being able to take that experience and that depth of knowledge now and revisit characters that we did early on is super exciting.” – Kat Sapene, Painter

Sideshow’s Spooktacular 2025 ushered in an exciting return to our horror roots with the launch of the new Universal Monsters collection. For the first time in three decades, we are thrilled to offer collectors new quarter-scale Premium Format™ Figures and Premium Format Mixed Media™ Figures as well as high-end fine art prints and movie posters, all in celebration of cinema’s most famous monsters.

For Sideshow’s 30th anniversary, we discussed the history of Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein and the first collectible the company ever produced. Now, let’s take a look at the first license our studio ever created collectibles for: the Universal Classic Monsters.

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Sideshow’s Universal Monsters Collection

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1998 — Universal Monsters from Sideshow Toy

“They were always the staple. The music, the cinematography, the makeup was revolutionary at the time … this was a very early, formative stage for horror. True icons of film history.” – Tim Hanson, Senior Cut & Sew Fabrication Artist

Before its triumphant return to Sideshow in 2025 through new Premium Format™ Figures and fine art prints, the Universal Monsters license took many different forms throughout its initial years, starting in 1998. In fact, even Sideshow looked a lot different then — you may have seen alternate logos for “Sideshow Toy,” which featured a question mark symbol that preceded our modern branding.

Sideshow’s Universal Monsters collection began with 12″ figures (now more commonly known as sixth scale figures) as well as 8″ action figures. The action figures were especially known for their distinctive green-yellow and purple blister packaging, and included a few accessories and a figure base that featured the film title, actor’s name, and year the film was first released. Released in Series 1 – 5, as well as box sets and variations like Glow in the Dark, Translucent, and Silver Screen, Sideshow’s action figures covered all the classic icons.

• Universal Monsters Series 1 featured Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and The Mummy
• Universal Monsters Series 2 featured The Bride of Frankenstein, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Creature From the Black Lagoon (and a Translucent Variant)
• Universal Monsters Series 3 featured The Hunchback, The Invisible Man, and the Metaluna Mutant (and a Clear Variant)
• Universal Monsters Series 4 featured the Mole People, the Werewolf of London, and the Monster from Son of Frankenstein
• Universal Monsters Series 5 featured Igor from Son of Frankenstein and The Phantom of the Opera in his Mask of Red Death appearance

Universal Monsters Sixth Scale Figures

The 8″ action figures had limited articulation, but Sideshow’s 12″ figures boasted greater poseability, mixed media costuming, and more accessories and details. While they do look quite distinct from sixth scale figures released nowadays, these Universal Monsters collectibles represented great achievements in costuming, character variety, and innovative detail for the time period.

In addition to fan-favorite mainstays like Frankenstein, Dracula, the Metaluna Mutant, and The Mummy, this series was able to spotlight supporting cast and character variations like human Larry Talbot, Lon Chaney in London After Midnight, Renfield, Fritz, Murder Legendre, and Henry Hull as the Werewolf of London. Holiday variations of Frankenstein and Dracula were even created, putting the movie monsters in red pajamas perfect for cozy winter nights in the Bavarian Alps or Transylvania.

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Premium Format™ Figures, Little Big Heads, Monster Shredders, Pozers, and More

In the initial run of the Universal Monsters license, Sideshow also produced quarter-scale Premium Format™ Figures and various collectible toy types like the Little Big Heads, Wrestlers, Monster Shredders, and Pozers. Each of these figures were distinctly playful, riffing on the iconic imagery of the Universal Monsters with unique presentations … like monsters on skateboards!

As the name suggests, Little Big Heads were small figurines with oversized, poseable heads, adorably caricaturing the iconic movie makeup designs. Wrestlers were a subtype of LBH figures that put the monsters in athletic singlets and activewear in the style of wrestlers, complete with stands that gave the characters nicknames like “Big Frankie,” “Weird Wolfie,” and “Freaky Phantom.”

Another LBH subtype, the Monster Shredders series, gave Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, The Invisible Man, and The Creature From the Black Lagoon helmets, streetwear, and skateboards for radical monster mayhem! Each character was designed in a playful pose, with snarling mugs and tons of attitude despite their short stature.

The Pozers were poseable plush dolls of Frankenstein and The Wolf Man, each with an oversized head. A Frankenstein Pozer still lurks around Sideshow’s offices to this day!

In fact, many of these archival collectibles are on display throughout the studio, reminding us of our roots, coupled with newer releases like a full series of photorealistic lithographs by Alex Ross, and more.

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Silver Screen Universal Monsters

When considering the classics, it’s hard to overlook the foundations of black and white filmmaking. Many of Sideshow’s Universal Monsters releases, from action figures to statues, also featured Silver Screen variants. As the name suggests, these were colorless editions that reflected the character’s original film appearance. These variants occasionally included alternate accessories or stands that also shared the desaturated color palette.

An essential part of the history of Universal Monsters, the Silver Screen editions allowed fans to collect their favorite versions of these iconic cinema creatures.

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Sideshow’s Newest Universal Monsters Collection

“There’s a constant resurgence of love and passion for these characters, and I think what fans are going to be most excited about when they get their eyes on these is how much more we’ve been able to do with these characters to bring them to life.” – Tim Hanson, Senior Cut & Sew Fabrication Artist

In October 2025, Sideshow celebrated the return of this iconic license with numerous events, reveals, and collaborations. Fans got their first in-person look at the newest Universal Monsters Premium Format™ Figures at Universal Citywalk in Los Angeles, California, while a gallery exhibition co-hosted by CODA popped up in Austin, Texas. Limited screenings, exclusive art prints, and Spooktacular livestream spotlights brought collectors even more unique visions of these beloved characters.

Are you ready to collect the new Universal Monsters collection by Sideshow? To see some of the latest releases available for pre-order right now, check out our Universal Monsters collection spotlight or explore the Universal Monsters collectibles homepage.

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Do you own any of the classic Sideshow Toy releases? Planning to collect the new Premium Format™ Figures and fine art prints? Share your love of horror with us and other geeks in our Let Your Geek Sideshow Facebook Group or on the Sideshow Social Network.

And as always, don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!