ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

I have nerd-crushes on just about every quirky semi-celebrity from Tina Fey to that redhead from Mythbusters, but it’s time to come clean : I have a secret crush on Elvira. She might be twice my age and possibly undead, but I simply cannot resist a pale, dark-haired woman. Especially one who likes really bad horror flicks – and now she’s a giant figure from Tonner.

Since Amok Time’s 12″ Elvira figure hasn’t materialized since last year’s announcement at Toy Fair, we can go five inches better better and fulfill our Elvira-related desires with Tonner Dolls‘ 17″ designer figure of her, released exclusively during Tonner’s recent Halloween celebration and sale. Tonner is the very essence of ‘designer’ in the doll world, specializing in supersized figural fashion dolls donning fashions designed by the company’s founder, Robert Tonner. Having recently expanded into designing DC superhero dolls (with a touch of Marvel), Tonner is gaining some visibility in the world of comic nerds who can look past the fact that under that retro Batman suit, you’ve basically got a very effete looking doll on display.

Elvira, however, is usually pretty great any way you look at her. Limited to only 300 figures, almost sold out, and never to be re-released in any variant forms, the articulated figure retails for $175, and walks that always entertaining line between class and pop culture. It’s worth browsing through the Tonner site for a deeper look at a whole range of original products and a very unique perspective pop-related collectibles.