The basilisk is famously known as the “king of serpents,” a venomous creature so lethal that simply looking into its cold eyes brings upon death. According to Pliny the Elder’s Natural History, written in 79 AD, “When it hisses, all the other serpents fly from it: and it does not advance its body, like the others, by a succession of folds, but moves along upright and erect upon the middle.
Classification: Mythical
Monsters by Innovative Kids Groovy Tubes
4.8 (9 votes)
The full set of figures found in the Monsters book and box set. Eclectic does not begin to describe it.
(Editor note: This is the final of the three Monster Toy Blog-relevant book/toy sets. Unlike the Magical Creatures and Mythical Beasts sets, I never covered this one on the FaunaFigures blog, but I’ll use the same general format) Here I am with the last Groovy Tubes set from Innovative Kids that focused on monsters, myths and fantasy (there was a Knights one…not sure if that would fit but I don’t have it).
Griffin, Monster in My Pocket, Series 1, by Matchbox
4.6 (5 votes)
The griffin is a monster that most is commonly depicted with the body of a lion and the head, wings, and sometimes front claws of an eagle. (Variations do exist, however, with simply winged lions often being considered griffins, or other kinds of birds being combined with other kinds of cats.) The griffin is one of the most widespread and oldest mythical creatures.
Magical Creatures by Innovative Kids Groovy Tubes
4.2 (6 votes)
The Magical Creatures box set, with the figures spread out. On first appearance, definitely more…pastel…than the Mythical Beasts. I’m sure that’s coincidence. Because this is the one with the horse-like animals…
(Editor note: This is also a repost of one of my FaunaFigures posts, just a few updates and some clean up..
Dragon (The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Ray Harryhausen Film Library by X-Plus)
4.6 (13 votes)
The logical follow up to last week’s cyclops review, here’s the dragon from the same film that bested the cyclops in combat! Readers of that review could’ve probably guessed the dragon would be next, based on the comparison picture included in that review that will also be featured here.
Jenny Greenteeth, Monster in My Pocket, Series 4 (Super Scary) by Matchbox
3.3 (8 votes)
Jenny Greenteeth stands out as one of the most memorable figures in the fourth series of Monster in My Pocket, the so-called “Super Scary” set. Like the other monsters in this and later series, she exhibits a striking departure from the design aesthetic of earlier releases. The figures in Series 4 were slightly larger than their predecessors, with painted details, and some even glowed in the dark.
Cyclops (The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Ray Harryhausen Film Library by X-Plus)
4.6 (12 votes)
If you’ve read my reviews on the Dinosaur Toy Blog, it should come as no surprise to our burgeoning readership that I am a fan of old monster movies and practical special effects. And if you’re a fan of those things too then you’re likely a fan of Ray Harryhausen.
Mythical Beasts by Innovative Kids Groovy Tubes
4 (8 votes)
This post will be a revision of a post from my old FaunaFigures blog–there’s a couple of these sets, and they should feel right at home on the Monster Toy Blog! I’ll update a few parts, but most of it won’t have changed!
Fantasy or mythical animals aren’t something I generally collect much now–but I would take advantage of unique sets when they appear.
Phoenix (Bayala by Schleich)
4.5 (8 votes)
They say the phoenix is a symbol of rebirth, of reincarnation, revival, rejuvenation, revitalization, renewal, resurrection; the poetic idea of everlasting life, strength over destiny, power over fate, over the inevitable. the mythical phoenix rises from the ashes, but only after it dies. It cannot live again without dying.
Kraken (The Enchanted World by Papo)
5 (6 votes)
Originally posted on the Animal Toy Forum for April Fools.
The kraken (Microcosmus marinus) is a cephalopod native to northern Europe that’s renowned for its size and ship sinking abilities. Although its true size is unknown, Erik Pontoppidan, bishop of Bergen and author of Natural History of Norway wrote that the kraken is “the largest sea monster in the world…round, flat, and full of arms, or branches.