THE CREATURE FEATURED

Holy Mackerel! Fans of the Gill-Man are sure to be thrilled by this new, monster-sized statue offered for pre-order by Sideshow Collectibles. There's only one problem: you'll either need to be wealthy or try to find a hoard of sunken treasure in the Caribbean in order to pay for this guy.

Learned Monsterologists will know that the Creature was designed by ex-Disney animator, Milicent Patrick and the suit was created by Jack Keven and several others in the makeup and special effects department at Universal-International. Bud Westmore infamously grabbed all the credit and glory, but it was these folks who, behind the scenes, are responsible for one of the most recognizable monsters in cinema history.

From MONSTERS IN MOTION:

Creature from the Black Lagoon Quarter Scale Swimming Figure:

This officially licensed Universal Monsters collectible is an awe-inspiring tribute to one of the most iconic monster movies to ever grace the silver screen. Now in three-dimensional, quarter-scale, full-color form, fans can collect the mysterious, misunderstood Gill-Man who lurks deep in the jungle ... and in our hearts.

Delving into the depths of monster cinema, Sideshow dares to discover what scientists and explorers have only called the Creature! Measuring 31.5” tall, 13.18” wide, and 12.8” deep, the Creature from the Black Lagoon Premium Format™ Figure depicts the Gill-Man reaching closer to the river’s surface. This amphibious humanoid swims upwards through murky water, translucent plants, and air bubbles, surrounded by a school of red piranhas. Below, its fins brush the rocky riverbed, contrasting it to the alluring dry land above. Just what — or who — will the curious entity encounter when it emerges into the light?

Inspired by Universal Studios’ Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), this horror collectible is brimming with iconic details, which reflect the time spent by our designers and artists poring over every movie moment in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences. The environmental base includes a boat cable from when the ship part snapped during the Rita’s hasty retreat. The figure itself is painted in a muted green, with webbed hands, wide eyes, and gills. The Gill-Man is missing a claw on its left foot, referencing the very moment when it was caught in a net by the film’s unlucky expedition. Here, craftsmanship and fandom collide, and no aspect has been forgotten in bringing this extraordinary specimen to life.

Retail price: $769.99

YOU'LL DIE LAUGHING!

This batch of cartoons are from the pressbook for AIP's THE WASP WOMAN (1959) and were intended as publicity inserts in newspapers in the days leading up to the playing of the picture in local theaters.

NEW POST UPDATES

I consider blogging as more a sort of "journaling" rather than, say, something I'd write for a print publication. As a result, I usually wax more conversational than take a more disciplined approach. I do, however, strive for historical accuracy (more than grammatical!) whenever possible. I also consider WoM by and large more visual than textual and attempt to provide readers with high quality images whenever I can.

That said, when I come across an earlier post that I feel needs a little sprucing up with a better image or with information that's more up to date or more accurate, I'll update it. Such is the case with these two examples:

"Who Killed Elizabeth Short?"

Posted January 15, 2026

Extensively revised with updated information. Added YouTube links.

"Susan Denberg On a Matchbook Cover?"

Posted November 28, 2025

Replaced the image of a newspaper clipping that was previously illegible (courtesy of Steve Green).