Convention - SDCC 2025 : Step Inside NECA’s Booth for a Treasure Trove of Nostalgia, Horror Icons, and Exclusive Collectibles

By Mulder, San Diego, Convention Center, 23 july 2025

Every year at San Diego Comic-Con, there are booths that pull you in with sheer spectacle, but the NECA booth at SDCC 2025 was something else entirely—a collector’s dream brought to life with a rare mix of nostalgia, creativity, and playful absurdity that only NECA can consistently deliver. Located at Booth #3545 inside the buzzing San Diego Convention Center, the display radiated the brand’s trademark craftsmanship and pop-culture wit, creating an atmosphere where you could lose yourself for hours without realizing how much time had passed. Visitors were greeted not by sterile glass cases, but by vibrant, story-driven setups that blended the worlds of horror icons, cult classics, and Saturday morning cartoon heroes into a single immersive experience. It was the kind of booth where conversations with total strangers sparked naturally, as fans pointed out tiny sculpting details, swapped collecting war stories, and debated which exclusives would sell out first. For many, this booth wasn’t just another stop on the show floor—it was the destination.

The 2025 exclusive line-up was a perfect representation of NECA’s range, covering everything from vintage Halloween kitsch to iconic monsters, pop-horror reimaginings, and cartoon heroes in radical beachwear. The Tiki Terror figure was perhaps the most unexpected hit, a 6″ clothed action figure that felt like it had been unearthed from the attic of a 1960s costume shop. As part of the Ben Cooper Costume Kids Collection, it perfectly recreated the nostalgic charm of mid-century boxed Halloween costumes, right down to the stylized mask and soft vinyl-style clothing. Its vintage-inspired packaging was the sort of thing that would make lifelong collectors grin and casual fans double-take, thinking it was an actual antique. Standing fully poseable with a trick-or-treat bag accessory, it evoked a rare feeling—equal parts childhood memory and artful homage—which is exactly the kind of emotional hook NECA excels at delivering.

For fans of the macabre, the Universal Monsters – 90th Anniversary Glow-in-the-Dark Retro Bride of Frankenstein was a convention must-have. Marking nine decades since the character’s silver-screen debut, this 7″ scale figure came complete with a vinyl cloak and beautifully stylized blister-card packaging that paid tribute to classic monster merchandising. What made it pop—quite literally—was its glow-in-the-dark paint application, a deliberate nod to the kind of monster fun toys that once lit up childhood bedrooms in the mid-20th century. It wasn’t just a figure; it was an encapsulation of the ways in which pop culture can evolve while still retaining its roots, and it reinforced NECA’s reputation for balancing authenticity with creative flair. As collectors held it up under the booth’s lighting to see the glow effect, you could sense the shared reverence for its craftsmanship and the legacy it represented.

Of course, the buzzword on everyone’s lips was Surf’s Up Chucky. Inspired by an unused concept poster from Child’s Play 3, this 7″ scale figure imagined the pint-sized slasher as a beach-ready maniac—Good Guys-themed board shorts, rash guard, flip-flops, and all. The accessories list was almost comical in its completeness: a surfboard with a wave base, sunglasses, suntan lotion, floaties, and a soft goods towel. Multiple heads and hands allowed fans to dial Chucky’s expression anywhere from laid-back lifeguard to sun-burned serial killer, and the collector-friendly window box with flap made it display-worthy from the moment you left the booth. Watching attendees discover it for the first time was pure Comic-Con joy; laughter and disbelief mingled as people snapped photos, one fan quipping, This is the only beach I’m never going to. It was a perfect example of NECA’s ability to take a beloved property and twist it into something so absurdly fun that it becomes instantly iconic.

But NECA wasn’t finished with the surfing theme. Their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Cartoon) – Sewer Surfing Turtles 7″ Scale Action Figure 4-Pack was a love letter to the sunny, tongue-in-cheek antics of the 1987 cartoon series. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo all received brand-new sculpts, each loaded with beach-themed accessories and dressed for shell-shocking surf adventures. The set included multiple surfboards, a wave base for dynamic posing, and exclusive convention-only artwork by Ken Mitchroney, whose connection to the TMNT universe gave the packaging an added layer of authenticity. The sheer size and vibrancy of the 4-pack display at the booth stopped many attendees in their tracks, with several remarking that it felt like an entire summer episode had been bottled up and placed behind glass. For turtle fans, this was the crown jewel of the booth—an irresistible blend of nostalgia and high-end collectible design.

Beyond the exclusives, what made NECA’s SDCC 2025 booth so memorable was its energy. This was not a static museum of toys, but a living, breathing space filled with interactions—fans posing for photos in front of diorama setups, designers talking shop with collectors, and attendees simply soaking in the artistry on display. The pre-sale period (June 18–20) had already stirred up a frenzy online, but being at the booth in person brought an entirely different thrill. Quantities were limited, and the on-site exclusivity created that electric, only-at-Comic-Con urgency. It was an environment where every purchase felt like both a win and a memory in the making.

In the end, the NECA booth at SDCC 2025 was more than just a showcase for new products—it was a celebration of pop culture’s power to unite people across generations and genres. Whether you came for the retro kitsch of Tiki Terror, the classic horror tribute of the Bride of Frankenstein, the hilariously twisted Surf’s Up Chucky, or the wave-riding heroics of the Sewer Surfing Turtles, you left with more than a collectible. You left with a story to tell, a shared laugh, and a reminder that in the right hands, toys can be much more than plastic—they can be time machines, conversation starters, and little works of art that keep our favorite fictional worlds alive.

You can discover our photos in our Flickr page here and here

Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville