Trick or Treat Studios’ Dr. Tongue Figure Brings Day of the Dead’s First Zombie to Life

Dr. Tongue makes a strong case for the appeal of Trick or Treat Studios’ Day of the Dead figures: he has the silhouette of a vintage action figure, the detail of a modern sculpt and a face that’s unmistakably built for horror fans. The figure depicts the first zombie shown in the film, George Romero’s Day of the Dead. His missing lower jaw and exposed tongue make him recognizable even to viewers who don’t know his name.

The figure stands 5 3/4ths inches tall and has swivel hips, shoulders and neck, plus a hinged tongue. The package includes an alligator and a newspaper. The reviewer paid $30, described as the “Non-Scalper Price,” after finding the figure at Walmart earlier in the summer. That’s the price reported for this copy; the source doesn’t give a release date or production quantity.

A sharp suit and a harrowing face

At first glance, Dr. Tongue’s neatly layered outfit gives him an almost scholarly air. The figure’s name invites a question the design leaves open: was he actually a doctor, and if so, what did he study? His clothes might suggest a physician or professor, but the sculpt doesn’t settle the matter. That uncertainty adds a little character to a zombie whose most obvious feature is the damage to his face.

The layered clothing uses different shades, with torn fabric that carries through to the back of the suit. The finish recalls licensed figures from the 1980s and early 1990s, including Kenner’s Ghostbusters and Police Academy toys and Ace Novelty’s Tales from the Cryptkeeper. Dr. Tongue keeps that compact, old-school look, while the sculpt and paintwork show the sharper detailing expected of a newer figure.

The head is the centerpiece. Torn skin exposes gore, bone and ruined teeth around the absent jaw, while pockmarks and a pale, rotting complexion give the face a convincingly decayed finish. His long tongue hangs free, and a lever at the back of the head makes it waggle up and down. It’s an effective bit of character-specific play that gives the figure more to do without adding complicated articulation.

Soft hair recreates Dr. Tongue’s unruly look from the film, with a couple of blood streaks worked into the sculpt. It’s an unusual material choice for a figure in this style, but it suits the character and adds another texture to the head. The hair, damaged face and ragged suit give the figure visual interest from several angles, rather than relying on the tongue mechanism alone.

Vintage-style movement, film-inspired extras

Five points of articulation set the figure’s limits and its style. The shoulders move freely, while the coat and waist restrict the hips. The neck swivel also has a limited range. That setup suits the figure’s vintage toy proportions, though collectors looking for dynamic poses will find fewer options than on a modern, highly articulated release.

The alligator is the more unexpected extra, and one of the set’s highlights. It’s long, unarticulated and finished with a detailed sculpt and paint job. The accessory refers to a scene in which alligators roam Fort Myers, Florida, a visual cue that nature is reclaiming the city after the undead rise. Its scale and creature-feature look make it useful for display alongside Dr. Tongue or on its own.

The newspaper is a small but well-chosen film reference. Made from thin, glossy cardboard, it folds like a miniature paper and reproduces the opening-credits headline “The Dead Walk!” The material is less substantial than the figure or alligator, so careful handling makes sense if you plan to pose it open or keep it with the set over time.

Display and collection notes

Standing balance is the main practical drawback. Dr. Tongue can stand unaided, but uneven legs and his posture make him difficult to keep upright for a long shelf display. A display stand should help, particularly if you want to pose him with the newspaper or alligator. The limited joints also mean the figure is better suited to a few stable character poses than frequent repositioning.

The appeal here is the mix of nostalgic toy design and unapologetically gruesome film detail. Many licensed figures from the 1980s and early 1990s softened their source material for younger audiences; Dr. Tongue keeps the horror intact while using a compact, familiar action-figure format. The reviewer ranks him among the strongest figures in the line, calling him a “Great and a 1/2 figure” and placing him second best. The sculpt, moving tongue and alligator give collectors plenty to look at, with the stand issue as the clearest display consideration.

This is the reviewer’s first Dr. Tongue figure review. The related Day of the Dead figures covered so far include Bub and Capt. Henry Rhodes. With another review still to come, Dr. Tongue offers a useful look at what the line does best: recognizable character sculpts, restrained vintage-style movement and accessories drawn directly from the film.