Top 9 Most Popular NECA Toys
For horror movie fans growing up, owning a Leatherface or Candyman action figure was just a dream. Not to mention, what parents would buy them for us?!
But thankfully, because there are so many of us who had this dream, and are now adults with our own money, NECA has made it a reality.
NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) was founded in 1996 and began manufacturing toys in 2002. The Reel Toys division was geared towards adult collectors and included the likes of Freddy, Jason, Mike Myers and more. Today, they are the leading toy manufacturer of horror genre toys, included in an impressive list of over 50 licenses that encompass not only the horror genre, but other popular television and movie franchises as well.
Out of this incredible collection of licenses, which figures are the most sought after? Read on to find out!
Gargoyles: Ultimate Goliath
Gargoyles, which aired between 1994 and 1997, was an animated television show produced by Walt Disney Television Animation in conjunction with Jade Animation and Tama Productions, then later Nelvana for the third and final season. The story follows a group of stone gargoyles who were transported from Scotland to New York City, where they found new homes atop skyscrapers. They came alive at night and acted as protectors of the city. The show was celebrated for its surprisingly dark and Shakespearian themes and amassed a huge fanbase. Their leader, Goliath, is an impressive sight with his body builder physique and incredible wingspan. He is portrayed beautifully in this NECA figure and is a must have not only Gargoyles collectors, but for any collector who delights in dark, powerful and intimidating characters.
Terminator: Tech Noir
Arnold Schwarzenegger captivated fans when he stormed on screen as the Terminator for the first time in 1984. Since then, there have been five more Terminator movies produced, all keeping with the same theme of the doom of humanity by machines, and the Terminator playing a role to either destroy or protect John Connor, the human whose destiny it was to help humanity fight back against the machines. According to Wikipedia, Tech-Noir refers to “technology as a destructive and dystopian force that threatens every aspect of our reality.” It was a term coined by director James Cameron and is also the name of the nightclub in the first Terminator movie. This toy is a great homage to the concept and is a must have for any Terminator collection.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
If you have ever watched this 1974 horror classic, there’s a good chance you have been scarred forever by the sight of Leatherface. This terrifying film was marketed as a true story, but none of the events in the film ever actually occurred. However, the film’s antagonist, Leatherface, was based partially on the serial killer Edward Gein, who reportedly made things out of human skin. The figure is dressed in his signature bloody apron and wearing – well, a mask made of someone else’s skin. Thanks to NECA’s highly detailed and horrifying figure, you can refuel your nightmares about this iconic killer as often as you please.
Candyman
Another horror movie character who haunts our dreams to this day is this guy. In this 1992 classic, Virginia Madsen stars as a grad student who ventures to the dangerous side of town to research the legend of a murderous monster with a hook for a hand. Interestingly, Tony Todd, the insanely tall actor who played this terrifying role has returned to the life of a Shakespearean actor and is slated to star in a Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival this coming August. The NECA figure is a stunning likeness, complete with an alternate head and chest piece so you can recreate the delightful bee scene. Remember: don’t say his name three times! I already typed it twice, so I’m not going to press my luck.
Back to the Future: Ultimate Marty McFly
It’s no mystery why this NECA figure made it into the top ten, because who doesn’t love the Back to the Future franchise? Marty McFly, a high school student who befriended the local mad scientist, embarked on three separate adventures through time to right the wrongs instigated by his father’s nemesis, Biff Tannen. The ultimate goal was to make sure his parents got together and stayed together in order to keep his and his siblings’ existence intact. The Ultimate Marty McFly figures comes well equipped with Marty’s backpack, skateboard, video camera, guitar, and alternate head sporting a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses. If that doesn’t scream typical 80’s teenager, I don’t know what does.
TMNT: Donnie
These samurai weapon wielding, pizza eating reptiles have been growing their fanbase at an alarmingly rapid rate since the 1980’s, first with the iconic comic books, then later with cartoons, toys, movies and oodles of other merchandise. All of NECA’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise figures are amazing, but what makes Donatello, aka Donnie, so popular? According to users on Quora, this is because he was the favorite of TMNT’s co-creator, Pete Laird, so he was given more of a ‘spotlight’ compared to other turtles. However, many users argued that Raphael was their favorite and could not understand why Donnie would be the chosen one. Regardless, this figure is a fine likeness of Donatello from the 1990 movie. Truly, all four NECA turtle figures are must have’s for any TMNT collector.
The Boys: Homelander Ultimate
The Boys is an adaptation of a popular DC comic book series featuring a team of vigilantes whose goal is to stop superheroes from hurting others by abusing their abilities. It has run for two seasons now on Amazon Prime Video and is slated to begin its third season in June 2022. Homelander, the leader of the team, is played by New Zealand actor Antony Star, who is best known for his roles in television shows which run in his home country. Nonetheless, he has most definitely secured a spot in iconic American comic book culture with his portrayal of this character from this beloved series. The figure comes with a head that sports a very cool laser-eyes effect and two balled fists, giving it lots of play-ability value.
Chucky
Are you in the market for a new best friend? Look no further than Good Guys, the dolls who want YOU for a best friend! Chucky, who ruined the My Buddy franchise for children forever, was a children’s toy who was possessed by a voodoo-practicing criminal during a freak accident in the 1988 horror classic, Childs Play. The Good Guy dolls were a highly sought-after toy line and when Andy wanted one for his birthday, his mom Karen couldn’t resist the good deal the homeless guy behind the department store offered. Lo and behold, this was no ordinary Good Guy, but rather probably the Worst Guy you could give your child to play with. NECA’s Chucky figure comes with three different heads and a whopping nine weapons. As tempting as he might be to play with, I highly recommend keeping this one in the box.
Creepshow: The Creep
This 1982 American horror anthology was written by none other but the legendary Stephen King and was his screenwriting debut. True to pretty much anything written by King, the film was a hit and spawned two more movies, a comic book, and a television series meant to be a continuation from the first film. It is an homage to the scary comic books from the 1950’s, such as Tales from the Crypt and The Haunt of Fear. An animated Creep acts as your terrifying host, presenting you with the tales as told from the Creep Show comic book he rescued from the trash can. While the animated version of The Creep isn’t too bad, his portrayal on the movie poster and now, as the NECA figure are terrifying to say the least. The detail is incredibly realistic, from his corpse-like face right down to the Creepshow comic book.
Here at Wayout Toys and Collectibles, we have an extensive collection of NECA figures for sale and more arriving all the time! Stop in often to see what’s new - you never know when “The One” you are seeking might hit our shelves!