After yet another successful Kickstarter campaign to produce deluxe action figures based on The Prisoner last year, fans and collectors have been wondering what independent toy company Wandering Planet Toys would have up their sleeves next. The wait is finally over. The Beat is proud to exclusively reveal that Wandering Planet’s next Kickstarter campaign will be the first officially licensed action figures for cult favorite television series Kolchak the Night Stalker.
Sporting his trademark straw hat, Carl Kolchak (played by Darren McGavin) is an intrepid tenacious Chicago reporter who routinely investigates bizarre crimes that put him in the crosshairs of the fantastic and supernatural. After two made-for-TV movies, the character eventually received his own series in 1974 that lasted only twenty episodes. Despite the brief tenure, Kolchak: The Night Stalker is considered one of the most underappreciated shows in television history. There’s no denying the impact original TV series had on pop culture, clearly serving as an influence for other television franchises over the decades such as The X-Files.
Given the penchant and specialty of Wandering Planet Toys co-founders Chris “Doc” Wyatt and Gavin Hignight for cult favorite properties with dedicated fanbases, Kolchak: The Night Stalker is such a no-brainer. The character has certainly seen a comeback in recent years with the release of books, graphic novels, and Blu-Ray remasters of the original television series.
Full details below:
Fifty years have now passed since the first Kolchak movie aired on ABC (on January 11th, 1972 to be exact), and author James Aquilone is putting together a new comics anthology book to mark the occasion. The book features an all-star line-up of creators eager to celebrate Carl Kolchak, an investigative journalist who was unafraid to venture into the supernatural to make sure he got his facts straight before fully submitting his story (a standard that’s deteriorated in today’s news reporting).
Fan-favorite indie toy company Wandering Planet Toys is partnering with publisher Monstrous to create the FIRST EVER officially licensed action figures of Kolchak and his notorious nemesis the vampire Janos Skorzeny. Since his 1972 debut, reporter CARL KOLCHAK has become one of the most enduring characters in weird fiction, starring in TV movies THE NIGHT STALKER and THE NIGHT STRANGLER as well as a beloved cult hit TV series. Now, from the novel that started it all, the famed paranormal investigator is making his figure debut as a deluxe, collectible 6-inch figure. Fans can support the figures on Kickstarter now!
Presented as a 1/12 scale modern deluxe figure based on his character in the book, the CARL KOLCHAK Single Figure features 22 points of articulation, two heads (with hat and without), and interchangeable hands. With accessories like Kolchak’s typewriter, camera, tape recorder, and a crucifix – fans can recreate all of their favorite scenes from Jeff Rice’s classic book. Collectors searching for the intrepid reporter’s gruesome side can pick up the BLOOD-SPLATTERED KOLCHAK VERSUS THE NIGHT STALKER – Two-figure Pack, which features the BLOOD-SPATTERED VARIANT of Kolchak and the terrifying 1/12 scale vampire, JANOS SKORZENY, capturing the moment the two faced off in their final duel.
“From the very beginning of Wandering Planet we’ve always had Kolchak on our ‘wish list’ of official licensed figures we’d love to make,” says Wandering Planet Co-Founder Chris “Doc” Wyatt. “We’ve wanted the irascible Carl investigating supernatural cases on our toy shelves for years! We’re so thankful for our partners at Monstrous, who are working with us to make our collector’s dream a reality… not just for us, but for all toy fans!”
In 1972, legendary novelist and screenwriter Richard Matheson’s (I Am Legend) adaptation of Jeff Rice’s novel in the record-breaking smash hit TV movie THE NIGHT STALKER starring Darren McGavin, and a phenomenon was born. In KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER, the courageous reporter’s first encounter with the supernatural, Carl faces off against the murderous vampire, Janos Skorzeny, known as THE NIGHT STALKER in the streets of Las Vegas. This stunning showdown and Kolchak’s subsequent TV adventures captured fans and creators’ imaginations for generations, inspiring new stories across multiple mediums. In recent years, Kolchak has leapt into action on the comics page thanks to Monstrous’ 2022 Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary Graphic Novel from Peter David (Incredible Hulk), Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger), Marco Finnegan (Calvera PI), Warwick Cadwell-Johnson (The Crown: A Tale of Hell), and more as well as the upcoming KOLCHAK MEETS THE CLASSIC MONSTERS series featuring work from Actor and Writer David Dastmalchian (Count Crowley), Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia), George Quadros (Avatar: The High Ground), and many others. This year’s Kolchak Eras – a new collection of short stories by a who’s who of fearless writers including James Aquilone (Omega Eleven), David Avallone (Red Sonja Noir), and Jim Beard (Star Wars) – is bringing Kolchak back to the bookshelf, now, Kolchak can take his rightful place on collector’s toy shelves, too!
“I absolutely love a hero who is down on his luck… that does the right thing, because it’s the right thing, who despite everything stacked against them, pushes forward, saves the day and defeats evil,” explains Wandering Planet Co-Founder Gavin Hignight. “Carl Kolchak is that type of hero. I’m thrilled to team up with Monstrous, to bring our favorite underdog hero from the page to your toy collections.”
Wandering Planet has previously crowdfunded collectible action figures for comedy legends Laurel & Hardy, the cult classic television show The Prisoner, and the first ever officially sanctioned Nancy Drew action figures. To support the campaign, visit Kickstarter, and be sure to follow Wandering Planet Toys on X, Bluesky, Instagram, and Facebook for more updates.
