Taking A Count: The Monster High x Universal Monsters "Dracula" Doll

Yeah, she's here.

Witchy Wonders 4, or "Mattel, Keep it Classy": Moonspell Magic by Monster High!

The MGA/Mattel rivalry has now reached the level of comedy where Mattel is doing the thing their own competitor did a decade prior to rip them off.

Picking Bones, Part 5: Monster High G3 Signature Skelita Calaveras by Mattel

In a word: finally. This doll has been on deck to drop in the US for so long that she- oh, wait, she already was a skeleton. Well, if she wasn't at the start, she certainly would have turned into one in the time she waited!

Being Frank: The Monster High x Universal Monsters "Frankenstein" Doll

I started this blog with reviews of Creeproduction Frankie Stein and the Skullector interpretations of the monsters who inspired her, so there was never a question that the second, female licensed version of the iconic Monster would be joining my collection and my unofficial Universal Frankenstein  doll family.

Keeping Mum: A Custom Monster High Mummy and the MH x Universal Monsters "The Mummy'" Doll

This post started with a custom project...and that may never have finished if it hadn't become clear Mattel was dropping competition! This is a review of a new mummy doll by Monster High now too, as well as the original plan of detailing the mummy I designed from an older doll of theirs.

REVISIT: Headless Headmistress Bloodgood

This doll deserved so much better than the factory gave her, and she was one of the casualties of being an early review where I wasn't yet doing justice to all of my dolls. Headmistress Bloodgood was overdue for a revisit, and the actual completion of the revisit was also overdue--it began in 2025 and stalled out!

She's a Diabolical Bozo: The Monster High Skullector "Killer Klowns" Shorty Doll by Mattel Creations

Mattel won me over with this one, if a little begrudgingly. She's just enough novelty and fun, and I appreciate a colorful doll for the summer mood. She's my Young-hee for the year. 

Why Do Mansters Fall in Love?: The Monster High Spelldon Cauldronello/Kieran Valentine Couple Pack by Mattel

On the one hand, this doll release seemed inevitable. On the other, it seemed absolutely impossible. 

Happy Pride! Do these dolls celebrate it well?

In a Garden of Unearthly Delight: Monster High Designer Series Lenore Loomington by Mattel Creations

Two springs ago, the Monster High Designer Series was announced, with the exciting concept of debuting brand-new G1-style monster characters reflecting the signature of one designer on the MH team--naturally, senior designer Rebecca Shipman, responsible for some of my favorites, was the first to make a doll for the line: Lenore Loomington, the Gothic garden ghost. And she was revealed to the sound of thunderous...crickets. 

Picking Bones, Part 4: Did River Reap the Rewards?

Well, isn't this a poetic moment.

Venus McFlytrap Just Won't Quit: G1 Boo-riginal Creeproduction and G3 Self-Scare Secrets!

When given the opportunity to get Creeproduction Venus, I said yes. She has enough bright spots to be worth reviewing. I also took this as my opportunity to catch up on the G3 character, who has given me no reason to pass on her yet. 

BONUS PHOTOSHOOT: Skullector Scarah Screams

This is a fairly quick return to an older doll subject, and won't be a long post, but I'd promised it in the review itself. 

An Outfit That'll Pop Your Party Balloons: Monster High G3 "Scary Sweet Birthday" Frankie Stein by Mattel

This was a long time coming. And there's absolutely no excuse.

"Now SERVING" or "Dolls Divided 3/2": The Monster High Skullector "Beetlejuice" Waiting Room Two-Pack, and a Zombini/Viv Revisit!

...so Mattel made a fool out of me. Remember how last year, I did a two-half project about two-half gimmick horror dolls which split apart at the waist, comparing the body designs of brand-new Monster High manananggal Corazón Marikit and classic Living Dead Dolls' unfortunate magician's assistant Viv? Yeah, well, turns out I should have waited a year, I guess, because it turned out Mattel was adapting the bisecting concept to the exact same murdered magician's assistant concept as Viv. It's a real Doofenshmirtz's Nickels situation here. There aren't many dolls in this type, but weird that it happened twice. Poor Viv never got her timing right--first an incomplete solo review in 2024, then a review of her full two-pack set ahead of her ideal MH counterpart! And now I don't know what this post is. I can't very well add a third half to the two I wrote. It's unmathematical. Is this a third in a series or a separate review that happens to be a follow-up to a duology? Yes. 

Warnings for very bloody imagery as pertains to the LDD half of this discussion, and discussion related to, and imagery alluding to, suicide as pertains to Miss Argentina.

An Unforeseen Surprise: Monster High Skullector Scarah Screams by Mattel

So Mattel's next in-house Skullector release is a forgotten character, done basically as close to perfect as possible? How'd that happen?

In Space, No One Can Hear You Gag: The Monster High Skullector "Alien" Doll by Mattel Creations

This might be the hardest a doll has seized me in a little while...and I hadn't even seen the films or the full reveal when the wind was first taken out of me!

I Got A Hundred On It: The Monster High Skullector "Us" Set by Mattel Creations

What a beautiful doll release. Blown away from the first look, and nothing's changed.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR US (2019); DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU AT ALL WANT TO WATCH THE FILM BEFOREHAND!

They Played With Us: The Monster High Skullector "The Shining" Set by Mattel Creations

Mattel Creations, are you headed for a crash or something? Save for a continual release pattern of boy Skullector characters turned into girls, you keep putting out wondrous surprises at breakneck speed and I'm getting worried for your safety. 

Warning for bloody imagery.

Picking Bones, Part 3: Monster High 2025 Dia De Muertos Skelita Calaveras by Mattel

In 2023, I did a run of discussion on Monster High's Skelita Calaveras dolls, including, in my second feature regarding Skelita, her first two dolls made to celebrate the Dia de Muertos holiday--2016's standlone collector doll, and the first Howliday Skelita doll in 2023. Now it's time for another one, which I decided to group into my previous posts as a belated installment in their series!

Queen of the Golden Screen: Monster High Reel Drama Cleo de Nile by Mattel

That cover photo is edited, but only for shadows. That's a full-color photograph! That means it's time to finally talk about Reel Drama!