Few names are as synonymous with costuming as Ben Cooper.
Founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1937, Ben Cooper, Inc. was once one of the largest manufacturers of Halloween costumes in the United States. The company defined childhood for decades, popularizing inexpensive plastic masks and vinyl smocks featuring licensed characters like Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and C-3PO, among others. Despite its success through the 1960s and 1970s, financial difficulties, changing trends and a devastating factory fire in 1989 forced the company to close its doors in 1992.
Now, NECA looks to keep that distinctive style alive with the Ben Cooper Costume Kids Collection. Encompassing classic recreations and original designs like Garfield, Godzilla, and Pee-wee Herman, these 6-inch action figures feature fully poseable bodies, soft-goods clothing, character masks and numbered, retro-style window-box packaging.
Wave 14 takes the collection into the realm of 1960s sci-fi with six figures from three corners of popular culture. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this September, Star Trek is represented by Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and a Klingon, while the classic Mars Attacks! card collection contributes its unmistakable Martian. The wave also reaches into the world of Captain Action, with both Captain Action and arch-enemy Dr. Evil earning a spot in the lineup.
Wave 15 shifts the focus to noted Hasbro properties and the booming action figure culture of the 1980s. The five-figure assortment includes G.I. Joe’s Grunt and Sgt. Slaughter, Transformers icons Optimus Prime and Megatron, and M.A.S.K. hero Matt Trakker. Each figure also comes complete with a treat bag or pillowcase accessory.
Both collections are currently available for pre-order through the official NECA website, with Wave 14 priced at $119.94 USD and Wave 15 at $99.95 USD. Single figures are also starting to pop up at select specialty retailers around the web for around $22.99 USD. Both waves should begin shipping out in their entirety by the fourth quarter of 2026.
