It’s been just about 30 years since Cassandra Peterson first titillated the horror world as Elvira, a character that has been a pop culture staple since her debut in the 1980s. Spawning two of her very own movies and playing host to countless others, the Mistress of the Dark is without question one of the most iconic and beloved characters in horror history, her ample bosom and beehive hairdo as integral a part of the Halloween season as Count Chocula, caramel apples and black cats.
Three decades later, Peterson looks as beautiful today as she ever has, and the character is still being kept alive both by Cassandra and her legions of fans, who simply can’t get enough of the fun, snarky and ultra-sexy appeal that she brings to the world of blood and guts. Elvira’s the kind of character that all her female fans want to be and her male fans want to be with, which is actually quite the understatement because many of her male fans want to be her too. As someone who’s come face to face with many a stubble-chinned Elvira impersonator, you can trust me on that. I’m not sure that’s the greatest segue into the particular fan I’m here to talk about today, but I’m hoping he’ll forgive me.
A super fan of Elvira his whole life, Chad Colebank runs the company Tweeterhead, and he saw in the character all the inspiration he needed for his company’s very first licensed maquette. With input from Peterson herself, whom he says helped out immensely when it came to the little details that really captured her likeness, Colebank and sculptor Trevor Grove brought one of his favorite characters to life in cold cast porcelain, whipping up a 1/6th scale maquette that measures 14.5” tall. Countless different Elvira action figures, busts and statues have been made over the years, but Colebank’s team (including painter David Fisher) managed to capture her look and personality better than anyone ever has before, from her eyes down to her… wait, what was I talking about?
Intent on bringing not just her but also her iconic wardrobe to life in a more impressive and special way than we’ve ever seen, each maquette was fitted with seven pieces of Swarovski Elements, gems that make the sultry hostess’ ring and dagger sparkle and stand out. Above and beyond the call of duty, I think they call that.
This officially licensed Elvira: Mistress of the Dark maquette will be available through both Sideshow Collectibles and Tweeterhead, Sideshow selling the regular edition in their online store and a run of 350 special edition versions being sold directly through the Tweeterhead website. Colebank told me that the regular edition will be selling for somewhere in the department of $225, and that the special editions will be the same maquette, but with added bells and whistles that Elvira fans are really going to dig. You can expect full release details and information to be revealed very soon, and for pre-orders to begin next month. Be sure to keep your eyes on Tweeterhead’s website and sign up for their newsletter, so you’re among the first to know when Elvira’s ready for you to take her home!
I’ve been told that the maquettes will also be up for grabs at Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo this year, which will be running November 1st-3rd at the Los Angeles Convention Center. If you’re attending, be sure to stop by Tweeterhead’s booth and pick one up, because it will come with a convention exclusive plaque that you can get signed by Elvira at the show!
Up next from Tweeterhead, it’s all about The Munsters, pieces that will be unveiled at Comikaze. That’s the prototype for their Herman statue above, and Colebank plans on giving the full porcelain treatment to the rest of the immediate family as well as other more obscure characters like Uncle Gilbert and Zombo. The Munster Koach will even be stopping by the booth, so you’re not going to want to miss that.
Lots to be excited about from the company, that’s for sure!