Yeti (Mythical Realms by Safari Ltd.)

First and foremost, thanks to Happy Hen Toys for this review sample.:)

The yeti (Abomanixhomo messneri) is a very large and elusive ape that dwells in the Himalayan mountain range. Adults are usually around 7-8 feet tall and 500 lbs in weight, but there are unconfirmed reports of 15 foot tall specimens that are capable of killing full grown yaks simply by seizing them by the horns and tearing their heads off. Normally, however, yetis feed on plants, roots, small mammals like marmots and rabbits, and larger ones like chiru, deer, and urial. The colour of their fur can range from dark (The Abominable Snowman, Half Human, Tintin in Tibet, etc.) to light (Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Abominable, etc.).

Safari Ltd. released their yeti figure in 2019. It stands 12.5 cm tall and is about 12 cm wide from the tip of each claw on the forefingers. The feet on mine are a bit warped, so it’s kind of wobbly, but it still stands fine on smooth surfaces. Judging from the absence of mammaries on the chest, I’d say this individual is a male.

The pose that he’s been sculpted in is . . . well, it’s quite interesting. Our yeti is standing with his left foot forward and both his knees bent. His arms are lowered with the elbows bent, the forearms angled outward, the palms facing upward, and the fingers clenched. And finally, his mouth is open wide in an enraged howl. Quite the stark contrast to the humble walking pose of his North American cousin, the Sasquatch. I’m guessing that he’s intended to appear menacing, but to my eye, he looks like a heel professional wrestler posing in the middle of the ring. Or a comic book villain facing off against a superhero. Or even a hip hop dancer who‘s in the middle of a killer routine. In any case, I find this pose very amusing indeed.

Our yeti is painted entirely icy blue with white wash and darkened patches on the front and back of his torso. His eyes are entirely blood red and ringed with black and his mouth is purple with white teeth. Finally, the claws on his hands are black and the soles of his feet are dark blue. These colours make him seem decidedly more menacing and malevolent than many of the white-furred yetis.

Long, thick, shaggy fur covers our yeti all over save for his hands. Unlike the Safari Sasquatch, which has nicely defined feet, the yeti’s feet are basically shapeless lumps of fur, with nary a toe to be seen. Even more disappointingly, the soles of his feet are completely smooth. His hands, however, look very dangerous with those thick digits and large, curved claws. Similar to bears, yetis employ their claws for digging, climbing, seizing prey, and self defense.

Curiously, the yeti’s ears are large and pointed, rather like a wolf’s. Mind you, very few studies have been done on yeti anatomy, so it is possible that this toy represents a subspecies with larger ears. As mentioned before, the face is sculpted with a savage, incensed expression, as though this individual is staring at another of his kind who’s attempting to muscle in on his territory. Yetis are thought to be solitary beasts for the most part, only coming together during the mating season. And due to the scarcity of food in the Himalayas, they defend their ranges with ferocity.

And now let’s talk about this yeti’s physique. While it goes without saying that all yetis are required to be immensely fit and strong in order to survive their harsh environment, this one is super jacked. His legs and arms and shoulders are bulging with muscles. His shoulders are wide and massive. And his pecs and abs are so visibly defined, one can only conclude that this yeti has somehow mastered the skill of strategically trimming his fur without the aid of clippers. Does he use his claws? A sharpened stone? Or does he occasionally pay a visit to a Sherpa village where there’s a barber?

When Safari first revealed this toy, some people felt that it was a little too over the top, a little too extreme, a little too Hollywood. And I can see why. Unlike the Bigfoot, which has a very naturalistic appearance to it, this Abominable Snowman with his snarling visage, washboard stomach, and dramatic pose does indeed seem like more of a movie monster. But personally, I’ve come to enjoy the sheer campiness of it. Besides, those links I posted in the introduction clearly show that no two yeti depictions are alike. This toy is currently available at Happy Hen Toys and again I thank them very much for this review sample, the first to be posted on the Monster Toy Blog.

Also, my fingers are crossed for a Chupacabra and a Flatwoods Monster from Safari Ltd.