Elvira fans are venting their apparent ire on social media following the Mistress of the Dark's Monster High doll selling out almost immediately.
The Elvira Monster High doll, which was announced on social media on Jan. 8, wrought waves of disappointed fans after pre-orders went live on Jan. 13 on Mattel Creations. Within minutes, the doll, which sold domestically for $65 plus shipping and tax, was listed as "sold out." This sent many would be buyers to social media, where they voiced their displeasure at the situation and Mattel's apparent mismanagement of the product launch. Others voiced their concerns regarding scalpers, while some noted that this wasn't unheard of in regard to online Monster High product releases, and that refreshing the page would eventually allow for the doll to be purchased.
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Elvira's Enduring Pop Culture Impact
Elvira, who was created and famously portrayed by Cassandra Peterson, burst onto the scene in 1981 as the host of Elvira's Movie Macabre, an anthology series which saw the titular horror hostess present and comment on various B movies from across the genre. In the years since, Elvira has become both a genre and queer icon, largely thanks to the 1988 feature film Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. The character has also starred in multiple comic book series courtesy of Dynamite Entertainment, including 2022's Death of Elvira by longtime series writer David Avallone.
However, the character's status as a queer icon would be validated back in 2021, when Peterson's biography, Yours Cruelly, Elvira, revealed that the actor was secretly in a romantic relationship for years with another woman, with whom she was initially just friends. "Would my fans hate me for not being what they expected me to be?,” she explained of her initial secrecy. "I’m very aware that there will be some who will be disappointed and maybe even angry, but I have to live with myself, and at this point in my life, I’ve got to be truthful about who I am."
Mattel's Monster High brand of fashion dolls released in 2010 and became an overnight sensation with its target audience. The franchise has since spawned multiple animated series, books, and television specials and films. The latest animated iteration of the franchise starring Felicia Day returned to Nickelodeon in December 2022 following the release of the live-action Monster High: The Movie in early October.
Since the toy line taps into the same kind of Gothic aesthetic as Elvira, it should come as no surprise that this Monster High collaboration was met with intense enthusiasm among its respective fandoms. However, the crushing defeat of a "sold out" screen is something with which fans of many action figure lines have become familiar in the age of highly sought online exclusives.
Source: Twitter