DRACULA OF TRANSYLVANIA

This year marks the 90th anniversary of Universal Pictures releasing DRACULA which began an era of classic monster movies from the studio featuring iconic characters ranging from The Creature from the Black Lagoon to Frankenstein. In commemoration of the occasion, noted author and artist Ricardo Delgado is publishing through Kickstarter a novel which expands upon the Bram Stoker story that inspired the 1931 movie about Dracula starring Bela Lugosi as the infamous Count from Transylvania. The Kickstarter campaign for Delgado's 428 page hardcover DRACULA OF TRANSYLVANIA book runs through March 25 with a delivery date for pledgers in the summer of 2021.

In DRACULA OF TRANSYLVANIA, the year is 1899. Young Solicitor Jonathan Harker braves ghosts, demons, living skeletons, and armies of rats—all of which pale in comparison to his encounters with Dracula of Transylvania, the Son of Satan. The demonic, shapeshifting vampire imposes his wrath, malice and vengeance upon an England about to enter the Modern Era. The romantic side of Dracula is tossed aside and the pure horror of his vileness incarnate is portrayed in this book written by Ricardo Delgado.  He’s spent the past thousand years putting sword to flesh and tearing at the tapestry of history as the son of Satan himself. Kings, Popes and armies fear Dracula. And this story shows why you should too!

In addition to writing DRACULA OF TRANSYLVANIA, Ricardo Delgado also drew 28 lavish illustrations that are incorporated into the book. This aspect of the book really stands out based upon Delgado's reputation as a story board artist for Hollywood movies including Apollo 13, Men in Black, Jurassic Park 3, and Star Trek: First Contact. He has also created a dinosaur comic book series, Age of Reptiles, for Dark Horse Comics, and written two novels, the children’s novella Sam Specter and the Book of Spells and the hard-boiled science fiction noir Warhead. Click here to check out his DRACULA OF TRANSLYVANIA Kickstarter campaign.

To further bring Dracula to life, enact your own vampire encounters with BendyFigs from Noble Toys. Their Universal Monsters Collection let you pose and play with Dracula, The Monster from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein and Frankenstein's Bride to imagine your own horror movie scenes. The Dracula BendyFig is approximately 7 inches high and comes equipped with a fabric cape and Hollywood film themed display base. Avoid his mesmerizing gaze because this officially licensed vampire toy wants to drink your blood!

BendyFigs feature an enclosed wire frame hidden within a rubbery body allowing these action figures to be posed without the need of visible joints that can distract from a toy's appearance. This makes them stand out from other action figures and great for displaying. For more information about BendyFigs or to purchase some head over to noblecollection.com

WHO IS SAURON

When you think of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings novels or the movies based upon them by Peter Jackson the first things that probably come to mind are hobbits, dwarves and wizards. Did you know though that the Lord of the Rings that these books and movies are titled after is actually the villain of the story. A devilish character known as Sauron.

In the lore Tolkien established for his fantasy world the land of Middle-Earth and all the life within it were created by an omniscient and omnipotent creator called Eru Ilúvatar. Acting as emissaries for the mysterious Ilúvatar with the inhabitants of Middle-Earth were demi-god creatures with magical powers known as Valars. One of these Valars was named Sauron.

Sauron had the ability to take any shape he desired and was charming and friendly to the elves, men and dwarves living within Middle-Earth. But like the Norse god Loki, Sauron was a trickster. He desired to trick all of the Free Peoples into being enslaved to him.

Sauron imbued his essence into a number of magical rings that were gifted to the rulers of the kingdoms of mankind, dwarves and elves. These Rings of Power were tied to the One Ring that Sauron crafted for himself giving him mind control power over the wearers of the other rings. Sauron instilled so much of his magical essence into the One Ring that it became a conduit enhancing his supernatural powers. Similar to the Horcrux used in Harry Potter stories by the villain Voldemort, the One Ring essentially made Sauron immortal unless it would be destroyed which then would deplete the demi-god's powers.

As the populations Sauron attempted to enslave rose up against him, a great war took place pitting the orcs, goblins, and other monsters the demi-god commanded against the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth. This culminated in a battle where in the midst of fighting, the Sauron's finger wearing the One Ring was cut from his hand. Sauron fled the battlefield and went into hiding greatly weakened by the loss of his ring. The ring was lost after that battle but not destroyed!

Sauron began rebuilding his armies and sending minions out looking for the ring so he could restore his power. As Sauron's dark presence began impacting Middle-Earth again, Eru Ilúvatar sent five Valars, in the form of human wizards, to stand up against him and side with the Free Peoples. These included two blue wizards who vanished without a trace, the white wizard Saruman, who became corrupted by Sauron, the brown wizard Rhosgobel and Gandolf the Grey. The Valars Gandolf and Rhosgobel eventually assisted in destroying the One Ring with the help of some Hobbits thus vanquishing Sauron. 

Sauron's army utilizes the image of a fiery eye as it emblem in symbolism of the demi-god's intent to rule anything he sees before him in Middle-Earth. The character is also depicted as a fiery eye floating in the air above his Mordor fortress. This floating eye is the magical ability of Sauron to look out from his fortress to see what is going on throughout Middle-Earth because having lost the One Ring his physical form is too weak to risk venturing out. Reunited with the One Ring though, Sauron would regain his ability to have powerful corporeal form as he did before his finger was cut off in battle.

You can bring the devilish Sauron to life without having to find the lost One Ring. Imagine your own Lord of the Rings adventures with BendyFigs from The Noble Collection. The BendyFigs action figure of Sauron stands approximately 7 inches tall and comes with a display stand. Sauron is posable due to a wire frame hidden with its rubbery body. This officially licensed Lord of the Rings toy also comes with a weapon as an accessory.

Other Lord of the Rings figures that you can bend and pose in different positions from Noble Toys include Frodo the Hobbit, Gandalf the Wizard, and Gollum. Go to noblecollection.com to get yourself some BendyFigs. 

BENDYFIGS HERMIONE GRANGER

A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review

Fans of the Harry Potter movies and novels can have fun recreating their favorite moments from the stories or imagining their own brand new adventures playing with BendyFigs toys from The Noble Collection. My daughter has been having a magical time with the BendyFig Hermione Granger bringing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter alive through imaginative play. You'll see a huge smile on my daughter's face as she pretends to be teaming up with Hermione in casting spells around our house.

Hermione Granger started off as an "insufferable know-it-all" who met up with Harry Potter on the children's train ride to start school together at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Eventually, the two of them became the best of friends during their studies at Hogwarts, and along with fellow student Ron Weasley, team up to stop the villainous Voldemort from enslaving the Wizarding World.  With the danger from the Death Eaters alleviated, she eventually starts a family with Weasley, becomes the godmother to Potter's children, and earns the influential position of Minister of Magic. A strong female character that my daughter strongly relates to Hermione is a big reason that we have a big Harry Potter fan in our family.

So it is delightful that The Noble Collection highlighted Hermione as a BendyFig. These rubbery action figures are designed to be posed and played with by bending their arms and legs. BendyFigs have a wire frame enclosed with the toy's body so that the joints seen in other articulated action figures aren't necessary. It provides a different visual imagery to these toys that make them especially nice for displaying. 

BendyFigs are approximately 7 inches high and come with a detachable display base. Hermione comes with a cloth Hogwarts cape and magic wand. The officially licensed collection of BendyFigs representing characters from J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World include Hermione along with Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore, and Dobby the House Elf. These BendyFigs are sure to be a great addition to the collection of any Harry Potter enthusiast.

For more information, go to bendyfigs.com