On October 2, 2012 Universal will release the biggest of the big, the baddest of the bad, the classic Universal monsters on blu-ray.  This 8 disc set is pure awesome-sauce.   The films included are:

• Dracula (1931)
• Drácula [Spanish-language version] (1931)
• Frankenstein (1931)
• The Mummy (1932)
• The Invisible Man (1933)
• Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
• The Wolf Man (1941)
• Phantom of the Opera (1943)
• Creature from the Black Lagoon (3-D, 1954)

Pure, unadulterated awesome-sauce!

Here are the over 12 hours of bonus features (thanks to blu-ray.com for this):

Both versions of Dracula (on a single BD-50) -

• Introduction to the Spanish language version by Lupita Tovar Kohner
• Audio commentaries:
  • Film historian David J. Skal
  • Dracula: Dead and Loving It screenwriter Steve Haberman
• Alternate Philip Glass score performed by the Kronos Quartet
• Monster Tracks interactive pop-up feature about the making of Dracula
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
  • The Road to Dracula
  • Lugosi: The Dark Prince
• Dracula: The Restoration featurette
• The Dracula Archives feature
• Trailer gallery

Frankenstein -

• Audio commentaries:
  • Film historian Rudy Behlmer
  • Historian Sir Christopher Frayling
• Monster Tracks interactive pop-up feature about the making of Frankenstein
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
  • The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
  • Karloff: The Gentle Monster
• Universal Horror featurette
• The Frankenstein Archives feature
• Boo!: A Short Film
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: Restoring the Classics
• Trailer gallery

The Mummy -

• Audio commentaries:
  • Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns, and Brent Armstrong
  • Film historian Paul M. Jensen
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
  • Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
  • He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art Of Jack Pierce
  • Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy
• The Mummy Archives feature
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: The Carl Laemmle Era
• Trailer gallery

The Invisible Man -

• Audio commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer
• Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed behind-the-scenes featurette
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: Unforgettable Characters
• Production photographs

Bride of Frankenstein -

• Audio commentary with Scott MacQueen
• She’s Alive! Creating The Bride Of Frankenstein behind-the-scenes featurette
• The Bride of Frankenstein Archives feature
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: Restoring the Classics
• Trailer gallery

The Wolf Man -

• Audio commentary with film historian Tom Weaver
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
  • The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
  • Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.
  • He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art Of Jack Pierce
• The Wolf Man Archives feature
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: The Lot
• Trailer gallery

Phantom of the Opera -

• Audio commentary with Scott MacQueen
• The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked behind-the-scenes featurette
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: The Lot
• Theatrical trailer
• Production photographs

Creature from the Black Lagoon -

• Original 3D plus 2D version of the film
• Audio commentary with Tom Weaver
• Back to The Black Lagoon behind-the-scenes featurette
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: The Lot
• Trailer gallery
• Production photographs

The exact technical specifications are unknown, but the press release states that the films have been ”digitally restored from high resolution film elements.”  This set also includes a 48 page booklet.

Honestly, I’ve been waiting for a long time for the classic Universal monsters to come to blu.  Only a couple months to wait!  Time to start saving some cash . . .this ain’t gonna be cheap . . .