Madame Alexander’s sunny creation takes a dark turn in the delightfully daring “FrankenWendy.”

Fated to be mated—even if they didn’t have the happiest of honeymoons. “Frankenstein” and the “Bride” are part of the Living Dead Dolls presented by Mezco.

The “Monster Scale Frankenstein Monster” is eerie and unforgettable—available from the mad minds at Mezco.

“Frankie Stein” is the daughter of Frankenstein—she has her dad’s eyes, her mom’s legs, and who knows what other body parts from donors?

Age is a matter of mind—and for the Monster High teens from Mattel, they have an eternity not to mind it.

Tim Burton is known for his nightmarish imagination, and doll artist Robert Tonner captures that droll, wicked sense of play and embellishes it. “Emily,” from “The Corpse Bride” collection, is an homage to Burton’s re-animated animation masterpiece.

“Ms. Beetlejuice” proves that the after-life is a great place to take fashion chances. The eye-catching creation is from Tonner Dolls.

“Zombie Boy” is a gruesome and fearsome tribute doll from Robert Tonner.

This illustrated man is a salute to a real-life social media sensation. It’s a daring departure from Tonner’s usual fare.

Not typical of Barbie, at all! Part of the sold-out Pop Culture collection from Barbie Collector, the re-creation of Tippi Hedren running afoul of some fowls is both brilliant and disturbing.

Scintillating and supernatural, “Haunted Beauty Ghost Barbie” is downright BOO-ti-ful! (Groans at this pun are allowed, and encouraged.)

Glamorous and ghoulish, “Witchcraft” from Alexander’s “Halloween Collection” is drop-dead gorgeous.

Part of Madame Alexander’s “Wizard of Oz” range, the “Haunted Forest Wicked Witch of the West” doll is PRETTY frightening!

Once you get to be over the age of 10 or 11, Halloween stops being all that scary. Sure, you might continue to dress up and do ghoulish makeup—or even, more frightening for us moms, the sexy, slutty nurse or kitty cosmetics for kids—but the actual trembling-in-your-boots, afraid-to-stroll-through-a-cemetery anxiety normally fades away and is replaced by a healthy appreciation of the holiday and its macabre festivities. Things might get spooky, but it’s all in good, clean fun! Or is it?

This year, my October 31, 2012, is measuring up to be pure evil, with an avalanche of destruction and terror in its wake. Nope, I’m not opining about a 24-hour Roman Polanski marathon, but rather I’m bracing to square off against the “Storm of the Century,” otherwise known as “FrankenStorm.”

Yes, I live in the Northeast and the TV newscasters and radio announcers are trumpeting a torrential rainstorm, snowstorm, and hurricane all melding together to dump feet of snow and water upon our burbs and burgs this week. Set to touch down on land—please don’t let it be in my backyard—on Monday night, traditional Halloween trick-or-treating might be canceled for Wednesday. It’ll be difficult for the kiddies to climb over mountains of snow and ice. Plus, there is the possibility of electrical blackouts coupled with the whiteout driving conditions. For meteorologist pundits, this is the PERFECT storm. For the rest of us laypeople, this is a perfect horror show.

The only saving grace is the fact that this massive dumping is going to coincide with the season of terror and chills, so the chilly weather will let me and my family stay indoors and share ghost stories, Edgar Allan Poe tales, and the chance to make up our own. Luckily, we have an array of Monster High dolls to help us act out our fierce fantasies. And we also have a couple of Twilight characters and the cast of Harry Potter’s franchise.

As if doll makers could predict the oncoming storm—and the housebound nature of playing at home—a whole slew of amazing dolls have been whooshed into the marketplace. Many of them are on hand to be bought here and now, while a couple are available for pre-order (shipping in January 2013).

To coincide with the FrankenStorm of 2012, I’d like to present a coven of creepy, crawly (yet delightful and dazzling) dolls that I must admit I covet on some real gut level.

For the weather watchers who are excited about the convergence of the three natural elements (wind, rain, snow), there’s a slab’s worth of “Franken” dolls (and these aren’t replicas of Minnesota’s senator, and former “SNL” comic, Al Franken). Mattel has their Frankie Stein teenager/Universal Monster in assorted costumes and scenarios. There’s a fantastic backstory out there that has the monster girls congregating for a “Sweet 1600 Party,” and as you can envision, the ghouls have a fashion sixth sense! (http://shop.mattel.com/home/index.jsp)

Keeping with the theme of stitched together—and with these folks, it’s stitched for a perfect marital union—Mezco Toyz is unveiling a couple of crazy kids who were fated to tie the knot. (Dare I say, the hangman’s knot.) Frankenstein and his Bride are ready to be ordered, but they won’t be slowly stomping down the aisle until January 2013. In the meantime, Mezco has another version of the Karloff iconic figure ready for delivery in November: the Universal Monsters Monster-Scale Frankenstein. All three of these Frankenstein figures are ideal for the horror fan in your family or for your own dastardly playtime (http://www.mezcotoyz.com/).

When you conjure up thoughts of dank laboratories, test tubes spewing off noxious chemicals, and mad scientists chortling with wicked abandon, don’t you think of Madame Alexander? I know I do! (http://www.madamealexander.com/) Despite their reputation for fresh-faced, wholesome Americana, every Halloween, the designers at the fabled company unleash their wildest musings. For 2012, they have a whole host of unholy concoctions, but my personal favorite is “FrankenWendy.” Looking a bit SteamPunk, a tad Goth, a mite menacing, this amalgam of sewn-together body parts is like a salute to Wednesday Addams and Katy Perry. The doll is fearsome and fierce, scary but stylish. I think she’s a definite keeper (or, should I say, crypt keeper)!

Also punching the October 31 timeclock—replete with bowls of punch and apple bobbing—are Mattel and Tonner. With the BarbieCollector website, we all have a chance to see the ethereal “Haunted Beauty Ghost Barbie” that has pulled a vanishing act worthy of Houdini. The spirited siren had so much allure that she’s already sold out on the Barbie site. (http://www.barbiecollector.com/) Her fans will have to hunt her down on Internet auction sites or by contacting private dealers . . . going BEYOND the typical purchasing ease.

And, supernaturally, Robert Tonner strikes yet again with fusings of fashion and fear. Tim Burton is very much on his mind (and on mine too, with “FrankenWeenie” and “FrankenStorm” coinciding). His variations on “Beetlejuice” and “The Corpse Bride” are stunning, and possibly sold out on his home court. (http://www.tonnerdoll.com/shop-collections) Again, a haunted hunt has to transpire to get your interested fingers on these terrific, terrifying designs.

So, while much of America is ringing doorbells, knocking on neighbors’ front porches, and wending their way through pumpkin-decorated wonderlands, I’ll be holding down the fort against the new deluge. You’ll all be on my mind, and I wish my kids and I could be taking part in the frolicking shenanigans. For now, though, I have to go and batten down the hatches, and perhaps find a bat in my belfry, too!

Happy Halloween, doll devotees! Enjoy these 13 (oooh, 13!) images of spooky good cheer.