AURORA MONSTER SCENES ARE BACK!

In 1971, the Aurora Plastics Corporation was at a crossroads. Their line of the now legendary monster model kits they sold by the truckloads in the 1960's began to falter and sales dropped off, worrying the execs. But Andy Yanchus, the man largely responsible for Aurora's monumental success during that period had something new cooking in the R&D department, an out-building away from the main, two-story pile of bricks that was Aurora's headquarters in Long Island, NY.

His new concept was to combine model kit assembly with an interactive series of characters and props that seemed like a sure bet. He got the go-ahead green light and created "Monster Scenes". Lead by Dr. Deadly, the multi-kit series included assemblies for a DIY dungeon scene. Unfortunately, within a year of release, the line became notorious among parents who saw their children playing with scenes depicting torture and scantily-clad women "victims". Shades of pre-Code horror comics!

Yanchus blamed the over-the-top plastic scenarios on meddling executives and license-holders, using the apt phrase, "Too many cooks spoil the soup". The line was summarily pulled and entered into the hallowed pop culture halls of infamy.

In 2009 Moebius Models resurrected the kits, but they too were discontinued after a relatively short run.

Now, Atlantis has just announced they will be reissuing the Monster Scenes kits as special 55th anniversary editions, apparently after having acquired the molds from Moebius. The 1:13 scale snap-together kits will include movable and extra parts just like the originals. The parts will include clear and glow-in-the-dark pieces. The first wave will include Dr. Deadly, Frankenstein (the monster, not the doctor), Gruesome Goodies and my favorite, The Pain Parlor.

Due to be released in early 2026, they'll be priced at about 20 bucks or so and will be boxed in the classic, original style.

My go-to guy for model kits is Steve Iverson over at CultTVman. You can pre-order the kits from him HERE.

EXTRA! Here is a press release from Atlantis announcing the passing of Andy Yanchus in 2021.

AURORA DR. DEADLY ORIGINAL STORE DISPLAY

Aurora Plastics' Monster Scenes series of model kits were, without equal, the most controversial kid's hobby items ever. Their themes of grisly torture devices, hapless victims and gruesome accessories combined for the intended overall effect ... but landed them in the boiling vat of oil with parents decency groups.

Shown here is a store display that was provided to hobby shops to entice youngsters to purchase the entire collection of kits. With names like "gruesome goodies", "pain parlor", and "hanging cage", what Monster Kid could resist?

Monster Scenes Store Display (Aurora, 1971). Just when you think you've seen it all... Well, you haven't, until now. Every kid remembers seeing the ad for Aurora Monster Scenes model kits in comics and wondering how many lawns we'd have to mow to get the kits. They must have been the one series of models that every kid wanted. Well when you get a gander at this those same feelings of desire are going to come creeping back in. This is the actual store display that toy and hobby shops set up on the counter to entice us into parting with our hard-earned money. The figures on this display are factory painted. This set features Dr. Deadly and the Victim, the Pain Parlor, the Hanging Cage and more. There are two pieces noticeably absent; Frankenstein and Vampirella. The potion table is loose from the board as is the good doctor himself. That could easily be remedied with a spot of glue if you chose to do so. If you don't think this is one of the outright coolest items you have ever seen then you might just be missing a pulse!

AURORA MONSTER SCENES BOOK JUST PUBLISHED

Big news for monster model enthusiasts comes in the form of a just-published book entitled, Aurora Monster Scenes: The Most Controversial Toys of a Generation. Written by Monster Scenes guru Dennis L. Prince and former Aurora Project Manager Andrew P. Yanchus, the book -- like the model series when it was first introduced in 1971 -- is "Rated X for Excitement"!

The 256-page book is packed with over 700 photos and illustrations and traces the history of the series of the kids models that were banned in many areas because of their inherent perverse and sadistic nature. Part of the problem was the fault of the manufacturer (who would ever think to have their kid's toys "Rated X" is astounding to begin with), but parents caught on to what might happen when their children devised games to be played with characters like "The Victim" and props like "The Pain Parlor".

Aurora Monster Scenes is a beautifully designed and printed oversized paperback. It is obvious that the authors consider this to be their labor of love as no detail is spared in the showing or telling. From concept drawings to photographs of built up models, all are presented in high quality images on glossy pages. The first section of the book should even appeal to 60s Monster Kids, as it covers the evolution of the Aurora Plastics Company, the monster model and toy craze, and the eventual release of the Monster Scenes series.

Aurora Monster Scenes could be the book of the year for monster fans and model hobbyists.

The book can be ordered HERE.

LET'S MAKE MONSTER MODELS! NOTORIOUS MONSTER SCENES' "LOST KITS"

After 40 years, the notorious MONSTER SCENES plastic model series that we saw advertised in our favorite monster magazines will finally include two "lost kits". DENCOMM has been laboriously recreating the famed monster model kit line for a a number of years now. Legend has it that there were 2 kits that never made it to hang from sprue trees: "The Dungeon" and "The Animal Pit". One doesn't need much of an imagination to figure out how come this was the case. Nevertheless, both these kits are now available for preorder from your favorite plastic model web shop or brick 'n mortar hobby shop. They really won't even be a "reproduction" , per se, as they will be cast from the original tooling.

In the meantime, you can get your "Skeleton", "Feral Cat", and "Sabre-Tooth Rabbit" ready to add them to a connectable diorama scene when combined with the upcoming kits. Love those names!