Ghoulia comes with the standard set of Monster High accessories. There is the skull shaped comb and doll stand, this time both in red. This version of the doll stand seems to feel a bit softer. This is good because it doesn’t feel like it will snap as easily as Lagoona’s. Unfortunately, it still easily snags the clothing, so I still won’t be using it. Ghoulia also comes with her diary that contains ton of character information, and a strange purse that’s shaped like a large cassette tape. I find this strange because I’m not sure the targeted age group knows what cassette tapes are? (Maybe that’s just me being old though…) Lastly, she comes with her pet owl, Sir Hoots A Lot. The owl can sit on her forearm, but I have it displayed here on a a Masters of the Universe Classics collector perch. That’s not included with the figure, but since it fits so well it makes me wonder why they didn’t include one.
One thing that I love about the Monster High characters is the little bits of eye candy that are designed into their looks. Ghoulia’s most prevelant homage is in the design of her pants – a nod to Michael Jackson’s costume in Thriller. Then there are the similarities between her retro hair style and that of the character Barbara from the original Night of the Living Dead. Even her horn-rimmed glasses are a call back to the 1960’s, when George A. Romero first unleashed his vision of the modern zombie.
Monster High dolls vary widely in price depending on where you are shopping. At Target you can get them for about $17. While at Toys R Us they will run you closer to $25. I’ve even heard reports of mall stores selling them for $30 a figure. To me, $20 is an okay price. So if you can get them cheaper, you’re doing great.
After all is said and done, I’m still glad I bought this figure. I would still like an accurate version at some point (maybe Mattel could do it for next year’s SDCC exclusive, that way the collectors and kids can all be happy). I love the characterizations in the cartoons, and the tiny call-backs to classic horror is right up my alley. So, even though Ghoulia is just my second purchase in the Monster High line, I have a feeling it’s not going to be my last.
I have to admit I really do like the design on these and if my daughter was a little older, she’d have the whole dang collection!
You can buy them now and save them for later, lol.
(I gotta do it. Vault, I know you’ll get this)
“Why, Miss Ghoulia! Without your glasses, you’re beautiful!”
While I’m not the target audience, I’m glad to see this line, even if it seems like a way to burn thru Bratz bodies that the lawsuit got them or something. I suspect the cartoon is great fun and may even be something grown up kids yearn for 20 years down the road.
Another good job, Vault!
lol, they haven’t taken her glasses off in the cartoon, but it would be hilarious if she didn’t act like a zombie anymore if they did.
If you don’t mind watching decently written cartoons for girls, might I suggest the new My Little Pony cartoon on the Hub. Don’t knock it ’till you try it. It’s getting a lot of positive reviews from a lot of people. It’s produced by Lauren Faust, wife of Craig McCracken (who made the Powerpuff Girls and Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends most notably).
Thanks Rage, I’ll have to check that out. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t really care if something is for girls or boys, as long as it is actually good it doesn’t matter.
I just got this for my daughter. We haven’t opened it yet, so I hadn’t noticed the Thriller homage! That’s brilliant. I admit, I tried really hard to convince her to get this one rather than the others, which were the 1st series girls in new outfits. These things are constantly gone from all shelves, so I figured a new character would be a tough find later.
Once again, $15 for this makes the $15 I spend on Mattel’s DCUC seems silly.
I hope the show is decent enough to sit through. There’s some fun creativity in the designs, but the flash animation looks pretty shoddy on the commercials for the special.
The animation is a little simple sometimes, but I’ve gotten used to it. It’ll be interesting to see how the movie is.
I agree with you on the price points. Compared to DCUC and Motu these seem like a steal 😛
not for nothing fake eyes, but the 15 bucks for dcu (and the 20 for motuc) should make us feel silly.
how come no one markets a toy as THE hot chanukah toy of the year?
lol, if only toy companies realized they could sell eight times as many toys!
That’s because Mattel hasn’t made The Phantom Stranger yet, Dayraven.
How can a superhero known as The Wandering Jew not be the hot Chanukah toy of the year?
Don’t forget the Chanukah Zombie from Futurama!
cool i didn’t know you were into bratz®!
Nice Review of Ghoulia! I’ve been looking in all our dept. stores and have yet to find her. I refuse to pay scalpers fee’s, though, for her!!! Awesome pictures in this article, too!
Ironically enough, I buy MOTU for my uncle and can totally see where the price comments come from! At this point, I’ve gone from buying everyone (sub and non sub) to just getting the subscription pieces.