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- Universal Studios Monsters Chess Set -

This chess set was officially made for Universal Studios in 1999. A Spencer's 
Gifts exclusive but I got mine direct from Universal Studios in Florida. The 
board and pieces are made of heavy, sturdy resin. It is very heavy, weighing 
in at near 11 pounds (5 Kilograms). The board has very detailed granite-looking
sides and the game spaces are alternately raised so it's not smooth, giving it
a much more textured appearance. Everything is intricately painted to the finest
details in full color.
The largest pieces measure about 3 inches in height and the smallest pawns 
measure about 1 1/2 inches. The pieces include on the one side 'Frankenstein's 
monster' (King), 'Bride of Frankenstein' (Queen), 'Dracula' (Bishop), 'Creature
from the Black Lagoon' (Knight), 'Frankenstein's Lab/Castle' (Rooks) and 
tombstones (pawns). On the opposing side we have 'The Mummy' (King), 
'Anckesen-Amon' (Queen), 'Phantom of the Opera' (Bishop), 'Wolf man' (Knight),
Egyptian Pyramids (Rooks), and Egyptian canopic jars (pawns).
All the pieces are intricately sculpted from the 'Creature's' scales to 'Dracula's'
fang and cape to 'Frankenstein's' neck bolts to the 'Mummy's' wrappings. The
piecs all come sculpted on pedestals. 'Frankenstein's' side has pedestals that
are silver metallic on top, wood color on bottom surrounded by green vines.  
The 'Mummy's' side has pedestals that are shaped and painted to resemble 
Egyptian art on canopic jars.
'Frankenstein' has his arms at his side in the Boris Karloff pose, his 'bride'
looks just like Ulsa Lanchester in her dismayed look with her arms bent up at 
the elbow, 'Dracula' in his cape has one arm up blocking out the light, and 
'Creature' has one arm raised all his scales and webbing visible in green and
brown. 'The Mummy' is great with his one arm up and other crossed over his 
chest ready to swipe at his victim with all his wrappings visible, 'Anckesen-Amon'
is beautiful in her Egyptian dress with gold headpiece arms crossed over her chest.
The characters are all standing tall except for 'Phantom of the Opera' who is
hunched over slightly with his cape and white mask, one arm concealed under his 
cloak the other slightly bent up, and 'The Wolfman,' who is crouched on all fours
in the classic Lon Chaney Jr. 'ready to attack pose,' growling. Even the rooks 
and pawns look great. The Pyramid has a withered appearance, 'Frankenstein's 
Lab/Castle' look just as it did in the original movies with the bricks all etched
in and the entrance gate visible, the Tombstone is cracked with a shovel stuck in
the ground and a skull at the base, and the canopic jars have that ancient 
withered look too.
While not dead on, the characters pretty much look like their namesake actors
from the silver screen only in full color. 'Dracula's' a little weak but not 
too bad. I'm not sure I totally agree with the choices for King but they took
the two who had mates in their respective films.
It's packaged in a colorful (well mostly black, grey, and white) sturdy box.  
The front has a flap you fold open to reveal a window with all of the pieces 
visible in a black tray. When you open the box to unpack it, inside are cardboard
supports/inserts. So it's very well packed.
Overall, this is a great collectible for horror, Universal Monsters and chess
fans as well. It's very affordable for such great detail. Retail price was 
$99.99 or near 57 British pounds. I recommend it to anyone.

Reviewed By Wolf By Night

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