Figura Obscura

Not really what I was hoping for. I think I'm most disappointed with the lack of cool accessories like many FO figures have. The stand and bone stuff just seem like throw-in items. It would have benefitted from a pair of outstretched hands as well.

I like it as a general monster, like something you'd throw Geralt at in a fight. It kind of feels like a, for lack of a better word, more muscular, physically intimidating version of the historical/cryptid-ical perspective, but that's exactly what I would have expected from 4H anyway. It's a sort of monster I'd like to have for more fantasy/D&D-ish setups rather than the actual Jersey Devil. I overslept by HOURS and it's still available though, so I'm guessing this one isn't hitting as perfectly as some of the previous ones.

I'm sure the arms and upper body must be reuse. There have been so many 4H figures over the years, I can't really remember where new parts originate. So yeah, that explains the muscles.

The neck is just too fat and makes the transition from torso to head look like a person wearing a goat's head. Evil Furry. If it was more natural, thin, not furry neck into the head, it would look more otherworldly.

As a generic monster, it may work. But it would still look silly.

The Jersey Devil always struck me as kind of an awkward cryptid. The famous drawing is pretty silly, and physically unlikely. However it does remind me of medieval drawings of demons, which were spooky in that they were brain breaking chimeras, drawn with a kind of child like grasp of reality. Which implies the demons themselves were not bound by reason in their manifestations in our mortal plane. Probably had to witness one first hand to get how freaky and unnerving they'd be, the drawings don't do them justice. That's my head cannon for the Jersey Devil.

This is of course an attempt to heroicize the creature into something that's more of a badass action figure. I think they did a good job, but there is a tension of this almost looking like a plausible thing and being completely ridiculous. I think a well matched fur soft goods piece around the shoulders might have helped ease the transition into the very humanoid torso, especially if paired with one around the hips.

As far as the accessories, compared to their other offerings it does feel a bit scant. For only $5 more, Frankenstein's Creature gave a lot more value, I think. Would have been a good opportunity to pack in the upcoming fire pit, as if he was crashing a campsite. And because you can't have too many fire pits. Or even better - some diorama pieces like a blown down tree, some brush, maybe a tree stump, would be versatile and make this more compelling to me, personally. I'm passing, but like all 4H stuff, it's beautifully sculpted and will probably sing on the shelf.

I used to go backpacking in the Pine Barrens often, sometimes in the winter, when it can be quite misty and eerie, especially around the swampy burned out areas. And I did hear strange things when camping alone from time to time. But I think it was probably just beavers. Probably.

I think you're right--if their goal was "monstrous action figure based on..." it all makes sense. As a direct lift from those old drawings it doesn't, but also those ridiculous old drawings don't make for a sturdy, functional action figure. Great in wood carvings, ink drawings, even statues, but those spindly limbs and weird proportions make it awkward.

And yeah, the accessories are pretty anemic. Maybe it the flight stand had some "tree" sculpting to it?

Curious what kind of demons they'll use the lower body from this guy for though. with they had similar stuff for their minotaurs previously.

I had no interest in a Jersey Devil figure until I saw the pictures this morning. I re-kitted my original black Krampus to be a generic demon so it's precisely because this Devil looks like a generic demon or monster that I actually like him more than I thought I would, even more so because his skin will match my Krampus and my Red Death-turned bog shaman.

DorkLair's review this morning sealed the deal for me. This thing is nearly the height of an ogre-scale figure.

RunestoneCowboy said:

I had no interest in a Jersey Devil figure until I saw the pictures this morning. I re-kitted my original black Krampus to be a generic demon so it's precisely because this Devil looks like a generic demon or monster that I actually like him more than I thought I would, even more so because his skin will match my Krampus and my Red Death-turned bog shaman.

DorkLair's review this morning sealed the deal for me. This thing is nearly the height of an ogre-scale figure.

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I have had no interest in Red Death til you called him a Bog Shaman and now I'm looking at him in a whole new light. Or dim haze, being bog-based.

I'm more curious about the Jersey Devil as someone to have my NECA Van Helsing eyeing judgmentally than as a classic cryptid.

He will sit on my cryptid shelf (that hasn't actually started yet) until a better version comes along. Then, I'll probably use him as a demon. I actually have a head that would probably go well on this body.

The Jersey Devil has always been an anomaly, even I the cryptid community. Those that believe in Dogmen and Bigfoot as fact even are dubious of the Jersey Devil story. I think even Napoleon’s brother supposedly saw the creature at one point. The figure only comes off as Kit bashes because the creature comes off that way too. Horse like head, bat like wings, goat hooves, it’s truly monstrous in its hodge podgeness, which is accurate to the lore and descriptions.

I think this does illustrate the downside of cryptids - the lack of accessory options. A themed base would have been nice rather than the generic one. Figura has been popular for their accessories so that is a little disappointing. Bigfoot could probably come with a footprint cast, rock, and stick for wood knocks but what would Mothman have? So I can see that being a common limitation with the cryptids. Hopefully they listen to the complaints on this one and include some more elaborate bases or something that are environmental like the diorama pieces they’ve done with Red Death and Christmas Past.

Bill’s review has me more excited than Trevor’s pictures did. I’m happy to have it coming. Can’t wait to see what other cryptids they add. I’m hoping Figura grows to quarterly releases and gives us a summer release, which could be the cryptid slot (summer time in the woods, right?) and keep Halloween open for other spookiness.

I can see a faun happening now somewhere with the new torso transition piece and hooves here.

Buttmunch said:

The Jersey Devil has always been an anomaly, even I the cryptid community. Those that believe in Dogmen and Bigfoot as fact even are dubious of the Jersey Devil story. I think even Napoleon’s brother supposedly saw the creature at one point. The figure only comes off as Kit bashes because the creature comes off that way too. Horse like head, bat like wings, goat hooves, it’s truly monstrous in its hodge podgeness, which is accurate to the lore and descriptions.

I think this does illustrate the downside of cryptids - the lack of accessory options. A themed base would have been nice rather than the generic one. Figura has been popular for their accessories so that is a little disappointing. Bigfoot could probably come with a footprint cast, rock, and stick for wood knocks but what would Mothman have? So I can see that being a common limitation with the cryptids. Hopefully they listen to the complaints on this one and include some more elaborate bases or something that are environmental like the diorama pieces they’ve done with Red Death and Christmas Past.

Bill’s review has me more excited than Trevor’s pictures did. I’m happy to have it coming. Can’t wait to see what other cryptids they add. I’m hoping Figura grows to quarterly releases and gives us a summer release, which could be the cryptid slot (summer time in the woods, right?) and keep Halloween open for other spookiness.

I can see a faun happening now somewhere with the new torso transition piece and hooves here.

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The Mothman accessory is obvious. The mothman statue. Make it exactly like it is, then have their own version of the Mothman to show off how different it is.

Mothman got back!

As a cryptid fan this is definitely tempting but my random horror shelf is already too crowded to add something I only kind of like. I think I have to wait for the inevitable retailer-exclusive red repaint that will let it fit in more with my red krampus, as a denizen of Limbo or Mephisto's realm, or work as something like a glabrezu or pit fiend from DnD.

Buttmunch said:

Mothman got back!

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Man, as someone who has been to Point Pleasant, WV let me tell ya...that is literally all that place has going for it.

Granted, when I was there, it was a cold, rainy, dreary Sunday. But the whole town was virtually a ghost town. There was not a single shop open, nor a single person downtown. We could easily walk right up to the statue with no one around.

...kind of added to the eerieness of the town.

And of course I took a picture of his ass.

Also: DorkLair's video made it clear that this IS the Fall/Halloween FO drop. They just had to do it early due to timing reasons.

So...there we go.

Skimming the Dorklair early review and…yeah. I’m passing. The head is just way too large for the body. I get that the Jersey Devil has a funky design. I wouldn’t be using this as The Jersey Devil and instead as a random demon. So the giant noggin just looks ridiculous.