Aurora models were probably best known for their popular series of monster model kits featuring the Universal movie monsters Dracula, the Werewolf, the Mummy, and the Frankenstein Monster. In 1971 Aurora launched their controversial new horror collection, the “Monster Scenes” which was designed as a collection, with torture dungeon accessories so that you could create your own horror scenarios. Of more interest to myself was the fact the kit came with a specially created comic book (cover by Neal Adams above). In addition to the comic book these kits were heavily advertised in the comics and included the comic book style advert below, although I have no idea why Vampirella was included in a Universal movie model kit.
As the years passed I had forgotten all about the Aurora “Monster scenes” kit until a few weeks ago when I was on a holiday visit to Brighton and came across the “The Victim“ model kit and the associated comic book in one of the many antique stores that pepper the city's "Lanes". Sadly I was unable to buy the comic on its own as it came with the “Victim” model kit and was priced (and sold) at an eye watering (to me at least) price of £150. However, the owner very kindly gave me a link to his eBay page where he was selling his kit and had the comic book pages displayed. Disappointingly the comic itself was only 4 pages long (including cover) but these are shown below as they contain the art of the late and legendary Neal Adams:
One of the reasons that these kits can command such a high price is that almost as soon as they went on sale the protests started with the models being accused of corrupting children. The most prominent opposition to these kits came from the National Organisation for Women which lead to the eventual recall of the kits for toy stores throughout North America.
Model kit photo/image taken from the Internet (this wasn't the sellers picture as by the time I got home he had sold his version and taken down the advert)
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I'm always appreciative to see some Neal Adams artwork. It's stunning his effect on the whole field. As for these Aurora kits, I never ever got one, but that doesn't mean I didn't want one. Just not something I could afford at the time.
ReplyDeleteLike yourself I couldn't really afford these kits and even if I could I don't think I would have known how to buy them from the USA ( they may have been available in UK of course but I never saw them).
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to me that Aurora would make these kits available to kids, or sponsor the creation of what is a very pervy mix of sex and sadism, even if dressed up with some strange humour. I well remember the comic ads back in 1971 (Batman #236 comes immediately to mind) with the strangely attractive Vampirella. I would have jumped at the chance to get those kits!
ReplyDeleteI wonder who came up with the idea of getting Neal Adams to do the comic? Possibly his work in National Lampoon may have made him a candidate, or his earlier work on Vampirella? Or perhaps his rendition of Frankenstein in DC's Adventures of Bob Hope #109?
As a Neal Adams fan, McScotty, are you building a collection of Adams' non-Superhero work in Lampoon, Playboy, etc?
I'm not intentionally building up an Adams collection (although I have lots of his comocs) Ian but I have always wanted to pick up a few of his National Lampoon strips . I already have one "Son of God" strip but I am on the look out for his National Lampoon "Adventures of Deadman" strip that has nothing to do with DCs Deadman. It's strange when you start looking for certain comics you tend to find them. I didn't know Adams did any Playboy strips are these comic strips? I will cautiously search online for these lol.
DeleteSorry I meant to add in The 1960s Adams worked for an advertising agency (Johnstone and Cushing) that specialised in comic strip style advertising. I assume that by 1971 when he was a superstar comic artists and companies were looking for this type of strip art advertising Neal Adams was the go to person with his previous experience in that arena.
DeleteMoebius Models reissued these kits some years back and I have the Frankie kit. Someone gave me an original Aurora one a little later, so now I have two. I'd love to own the Vampirella and Victim kit, shoulda bought them when they were reissued around 10 or so years back. Incidentally, although the Wolfman is a werewolf, the kit wasn't referred to by the latter appellation, but, rather, by the former. Also, please note that though these figures have some points of articulation, they are models and not dolls. Some people tend to get confused over such matters.
ReplyDeleteI was never really that interested in model lots after I got past about 10 years old but I did always like the look of the Aurora Mummy model kit. I only ever really bought Airfix, Frog war plane kits etc. when I was young. The monster scenes kits never intrigued me and always seemed a bit of a strange idea.
ReplyDeleteStrange indeed, but inspired. I got my first Aurora Glow-in-the-Dark Frankenstein when I was around 11 years old and thought it was brilliant. I was already a big fan of Boris's Frankenstein from the Don't Watch Alone series on STV on Friday nights. When the horror models were first released in the early '60s, there was a lot of vocal opposition from parents' groups, etc., but Aurora employed psychologists who allegedly researched the effects of such kits on kids and concluded that when horror themes were reduced to the level of 'innocent play', they were rendered innocuous in the minds of children. Whether that was actually true or not is perhaps another matter.
DeleteI did like the individual monster kits that they produced but not the scenes to weird for me even as a kid. I seem to remember they also produced a Creature from the Black Lagoon and King Kong lot that looked cool. Ahhh "Don't watch alome" I loved that show I used to watch it when my mum, dad and brother were in bed and used to watch it with a cuppa tea and toast and a stack of comics - great days.
ReplyDeleteGreat days indeed, McS. Gone, but certainly not forgotten. Talking of toast and a cuppa, I'm off to make some right now. I won't be looking at any comics though, as I don't want buttery fingerprints all over them.
DeleteThose Aurora kits were quite enticing to a kid like me. Never had the monster kits, but I did have the Spider-Man kit with a Romita- drawn comic. Also had a Neanderthal Man.
ReplyDeleteOh, and McScotty, if you're collecting Adam's work, do you have any of his early work at Archie? It doesn't really look much like his usual style, but there are some touches...
Hi Red, I have only seen extracts of Adams really early Archie work in magazines and Fanzines. I only have an Archie superhero digest comic with his art from the 1980s where he drew a Black Hood strip
ReplyDeleteI remember those Aurora superhero kits and seeing the associated comics ( Adams did a Tarzan one) sadly I never had any of them but they looked great