Following my last post where I featured the new Monster High dolls, this post looks at some of the older dolls. Collectors group Monster High dolls loosely into three generations: G1 are the first issued ranges; G2 are ranges from around 2016 that got a slight makeover by Mattel, with newer more robust body joints and restyled face paint (later G2 dolls lost their articulated knees and elbows before the line was cancelled in 2018); and G3 dolls the new, re-imagined line released in 2023. There have also been several high-end, collector (Skullector) dolls.
In a previous post, I pictured some of my favourite Monster High dolls (see here), the dolls in this post were bought from a variety of sources – Mattel warehouse sales, op shops, eBay and doll sales and I think I have both G1 and G2 dolls.
Music Festival – Venus Mc Flytrap, Daughter of the Plant Monster
I bought this doll for under $10 at a warehouse sale, telling myself that I’d customise her but I’ve never got around to it, and I’m glad I haven’t. I just love the combination of bright green and hot pink, her tendrils and the leafy details on her hands, and the thorns in her lip paint. Every time I look at her she reminds me of the actress Micaela Coel, it’s something about the shape of her face, I think.
Brand Boo Students – Batsy Claro, Daughter of the White Vampire Bat
A bat was a must have for me – I love bats – even though I’m a bit disappointed in the execution of this doll (another warehouse sale buy). Her wings look more like angel wings than a bats, I would have loved fabric wings that somehow attached to her back and arms and that could be wrapped around her. The pink vinyl colour and face paint is bewildering too. I like her little turned up nose but the painted detail – especially the bat shape on her forehead – and the green and yellow used, really don’t make sense. White Vampire bats are a golden beige, so the whole colour scheme is bizarre. Still she’s a cute doll.
Bloom and Gloom Catrine DeMew, Daughter of a Werecat
This doll was an op shop find, and in almost mint condition. I’m not really a cat person (insert Dr Who joke here), but I couldn’t resist her. Sadly, her hair is very sticky from glue seepage, but it’s in the original set so I haven’t washed or treated it, I’m not really sure how to without ruining the set. It hasn’t affected her vinyl yet, so for now, I just make sure her hair isn’t in contact with another doll.
Home Ick – Heath Burns, Son of the Fire Elementals
Another second hand shop find, and a gift from the owner in exchange for help identifying dolls, so far Heath is my only ‘Manster’. The boys are so much harder to find. He’s missing his original shoes, but Ken’s fit him and he has the rest of his original clothes. I’m not really sure a fire elemental is a monster, the male characters in the line really seem to lack imagination, but I’m happy to have a guy in the collection.
Create-A-Monster Colour Me Creepy Sea Monster Starter Pack
I didn’t know this doll existed before I found her at an op shop, but now she’s one of my favourites. I just love her face and combination of blue vinyl and the mauve and green face paint. Found at an op shop, she has her original dress, wig and shoes. I was a little confused when I first found her, she was dark blue, but as I carried her around the shop, she started to fade. It finally dawned on me she must have heat/cold activated limbs and it’s kinda like having two dolls in one. She’s missing the tool that allowed kids to draw on the doll using ice, but I’m happy to live without it.
Toralei Stripe, Daughter of a Werecat
Found with the Creepy Sea Monster, Toralei also had most of her fashion, only missing her jacket, scarf, bag and one earring. John @dolljunk, kindly gave me her jacket and I managed to find an earring that will do. She’s a nice contrast to Catrine DeMew, she definitely looks like a wilder, street cat. Her hair is a wee bit sticky, but I haven’t treated it as I don’t want to wash off her stripes so she’s quarantined with Catrine.
Boo York, Boo York – Mouscedes King, Daughter of the Rat King
I resorted to eBay for this doll and it’s by far the most expensive. I remember seeing her at my local Target store when they first came out, and they seemed to have shelf after shelf of them. Every week I’d pick her up and look at her and then put her back. I couldn’t find a reason to buy her. I didn’t collect Monster High back then, I couldn’t think of a way to customise her, so I told myself I couldn’t buy her. But I loved her. And I don’t know why. It’s not her fashion, I don’t really like it much, but there’s something about her glittery blue-grey vinyl, pink hair and little buck-toothed overbite that I find so endearing. When I finally admitted earlier this year that I really am a Monster High collector and would devote a shelf in a new cabinet to them, finding a Mouscedes was a priority. Ebay provided one in good condition and at a good price and I can’t tell you just how happy seeing her in the cabinet makes me.
We Are Monster High- Student Disembody Council – Gilda Goldstag, Daughter of the Golden Hind
Gilda was another doll that I wasn’t even aware of, but she was listed by the same seller as Mouscedes, and once I saw her I was smitten with her. It would have been crazy not to grab her and save on shipping. She was nude –except for her earrings – so once she arrived I rifled through the small stash of Monster High clothing I have and was surprised to find I had her original jacket, belt and boots. I found her pants on a Facebook group and added a Create a Monster top from the stash, and she’s almost back to her original self. I really do love the creativeness of her, but I’m confused by her name and back story. Goldstag, daughter of the Golden Hind? Not with those horns. Perhaps daughter of the Golden Fleece would have been a better fit. The horns definitely looks more like sheep or goat horns than deer antlers.
Welcome to Monster High – Dance the Fright Away Lagoona Blue, Daughter of the Sea Monster
I think this is a G2 doll, and it’s another op shop find. Her face shape and paint is slightly different to previous Lagoona dolls, and while she still has some webbing on her hands, it’s not as pronounced as G1 dolls. Her hair is still in its original set and is a wee bit lank, but I don’t want to ruin the set. She has her dress and jewellery but her shoes were missing.
How Do You Boo – First Day of School – Frankie Stein, Daughter of Frankenstein
Frankie also seems to be a G2 doll, and I have to say, I much prefer the original face paint, this version is just a little bit cuter, rather than spooky. But this girl was at a doll sale quite cheaply, and I decided I should probably have one of the original characters. I also had a Frankie fashion waiting for someone to wear it. So she’s not in her original First Day of School fashion, but I like this one better. Frankie never really appealed to me until I bought her, and now I find I quite like her. Especially the little bolts in her neck.
Geek Shriek – Catty Noir, Daughter of a Werecat
The latest addition to the collection, Catty came to me from John @dolljunk. I’m allergic to cats, but I seem to be accumulating quite a few. I like the idea of a black cat, and one that will contrast with Catrine. This girl is missing her glasses, but has her dress and shoes.
I still can’t help but think that Mattel missed a major opportunity to offer a gender neutral toy line with these dolls. Surely monsters would appeal as much – if not more – to boys as well as girls and the line could have been aimed at both. My Monster High doll shelf is now full, so for the time being, I’ll have to stop buying. Or if I find them at the op shop, maybe not.
Updates: An update has been added to Peggy Fashions by P.M.A. here and Quick Post: Barbie’s Relate Ability here.
Don’t forget, I’m now on Instagram – @jenjoysworld(and a non-doll photo art account @jenniferbs_world). There’ll be some unique content and behind the scenes stuff, so head over and follow.
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