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.

REVISIT: The Monster High Monsters Frankenstein

For a doll so compelling and gorgeous as Monster High's Bride of Frankenstein, I really didn't do her justice. Nor, for that matter, her Monster mate or Mattel's derivative character, G1 Frankie. Their reviews were too early in the blog (like, literally my first two reviews) for me to have gotten into my current photo practice. 

They Belonged Dolls: The Monster High Skullector "Bride of Frankenstein" Set by Mattel Creations

...so why did nobody tell me they made this? I completely didn't get the memo about it, and I picked up on a lot of other MH news. Maybe it was for the best because this lit a spark in my brain and quickly became my absolute most coveted MH collector release, far outstripping any admiration I had for any of the G1-era exclusives. For one big reason.

My Monster at Heart: Monster High Boo-riginal Creeproduction Frankie Stein by Mattel

Monster High was an unusual franchise to enter my life. I learned about it through reading the Bogleech horror blog, which highlighted the toy brand as exceptional in the girl’s toy market for having genuinely freaky and creatively spooky dolls, including the gnarly Inner Monster line that had brains under their wigs serving as eye-change buttons, and translucent bodies with skeletons inside that could be customized with different organ-style mood charms. I was interested in this toy, a toy so wicked that it could have easily been a 1980s parody of a girl’s toy, a toy that was earnestly being sold to girls. Through this doll, I discovered the Toy Box Philosopher blog, which has remained an informative, thoughtful, and funny source of doll reviews, and my primary inspiration for writing my own toy reviews (Hi, Emily--love your work!) Then I started looking up the Monster High catalogue. Then things turned into a doll collection.