If This Scare Glow Seems Familiar…
That might be because I recently took a look at the standard retail release! Why are there two, quite similar Scare Glow figures? Well, in addition to the standard release Mattel also put out a fancier version as an exclusive for the 2021 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).
This version was exclusive to that convention and apart from appearing on Mattel Creations, it hasn’t been sold at retail. This makes it a much rarer figure than the retail release.
I was very lucky and managed to track one down on eBay for a pretty good price. Was it worth it? I’ll spoil the answer now by saying it’s a rather annoying “maybe”. What is definite is that it came in absolutely fantastic packaging. So I’m going to look at that first.
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Packaging
You are going to have to bear with me while I wax lyrical about packaging! One of the biggest differences between the two releases of Scare Glow is that this SDCC exclusive has awesomely over the top packaging.
Mailer Box
Firstly the outer mailer box has lovely pencil art on the front and back. The art on the back is particularly good as it depicts the Lord of Subternia in his domain.
Understandably, mailer boxes are often discarded but I think this is one that’s worth hanging on to.
Display Box
Inside the outer mailer box is the actual box for the figure. This inner box has a cardboard slip around it with Scare Glow’s face on it. Once this is off it becomes clear that the box is designed to look like an ancient book. It really looks fantastic.
Behind the covers is the Scare Glow figure itself. The plastic packaging holds the figure up a bit and the whole effect is of Scare Glow floating menacingly in Subternia.
I’ve left the best for last. Opening the cover activates a couple of small LED lights. The top one flashes while the other is a blacklight/UV light. The UV light causes the day glow paint on the figure to fluoresce. It’s a great effect and the whole packaging design is really well done by Mattel’s designers.
Figure Overview
Under the different paint, this exclusive version of Scare Glow is exactly the same as the retail version. So I won’t spend any time going over the articulation. Suffice to say, pretty much what I went over for the standard release applies here.
Design/Paint Application
This SDCC version uses the same overall design for Scare Glow as the retail version. So if you were disappointed by the rather cartoony painted on bones there, you’ll be disappointed here.
There’s a big difference though. While the bones on the retail version were simply a creamy off-white colour, here they are painted on using a day glow, almost lime green paint. It’s really effective and stands out even in broad daylight. Scare Glow’s skull head is also a day glow lime green to match.
Does it Glow?
Like the retail release, the only part of Scare Glow that actually glows in the dark is the head. It glows quite brightly with a more greeny tint than the bone white of the retail version.
If you were hoping that the exclusive version’s body would also glow in the dark, this will be another disappointment for you. Mattel’s designers opted for day glow only bones and for the full effect, you really need the lighting in the display box (or buy your own separate black light torch of course).
Without those lights it has to be said that this is simply a brighter coloured version of the retail release.
On the plus side, I should also briefly mention that this Scare Glow is made from the same slightly translucent, smokey black plastic as the retail figure. As there, it’s a great touch and also as there, it’s a shame it’s so hard to make out!
Cape and Cloak
Although the plastic collar and the purple felt of the cape itself is the same as the retail version, the SDCC version features a wire stitched in along the top edge. This means you can bend it about to pose the cape “just so”!
It’s a great upgrade over the retail figure’s cape but it is a shame that Mattel stitched in a ruddy great label! I guess the label has information on it that has to be there for legal reasons or something but it does spoil the effect of a brooding Lord of Subternia! Fortunately it can be hidden from view or even cut off if it really annoys you.
Accessories
Halberd and Hands
As with the retail figure, this Scare Glow comes with a halberd weapon and extra hands.
These are all the same as the retail release except in the paint used. Once again, that day glow paint has been used for the “bones”. The halberd’s blade also has some of this paint on it, which again looks great under the black lights in the display box.
While looking at the halberd for these photos, I noticed that the retail version is made from a darker green plastic. I almost missed that but it’s quite noticeable with them side by side.
One Extra Accessory!
There’s one final feature that separates this figure from the retail release. It’s a very peculiar version of the Sword of Power:
It’s a very chunky version indeed! This is because the blade comes apart into two, tying into the plot of the cartoon series. It’s a really cool idea however the hilt has to be massive in order to fit the two separate halves of the blade. It simply looks too big, too unwieldy and very odd.
The half blades can be held by the figure though, and ignoring that they have no hilt or handles they look pretty good. Even better, they also glow in the dark and look pretty awesome.
Perhaps a case of a great idea over function but I am glad it was included.
Final Thoughts
If you can get over the disappointment of (once again) Scare Glow’s body not actually glowing in the dark, this is a fantastic looking figure. I do prefer the day glow bones over the way the retail release was done. This figure is currently on my desk and the colours really pop.
It has to be said though that without the packaging and display box to go with it, this is just a nicely painted Scare Glow figure. Without that box, I’m not sure the figure alone would be worth the added cost.
Because of the two figures’ similarity then, this SDCC version could be easily ignored. However, such is the collector’s curse I just couldn’t pass it up when I found it!
Where to Buy
There seems to be a bit of geographical variation with this figure. Sticking to just checking on eBay, it seems to be easiest to find in the US. The EU also has a few listings for the figure too. In the UK though, this is a tough figure to find!
If you are desperate to complete your collection and get this figure, buying from the US or EU might be your best bet. If you are in the UK, do watch out for extra shipping, VAT and customs costs though.
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