Barbie wouldn’t last a day at Monster High.

The latest fashion dolls from Mattel Inc. are a dramatic departure from the toy maker’s most recognizable blond: As the offspring of famous monsters, the new Monster High girls are fearless, occasionally furry and a bit freaky.

There’s Draculaura, daughter of Dracula, who is vegan and faints at the sight of blood. Her best friend Clawdeen Wolf, whose father is Werewolf, spends much of her time plucking and shaving her excessive, fast-growing hair. And classmate Frankie Stein, who sports stitches just like dad Frankenstein, loves to shop for “scary cute clothes that are absolutely to die for.”

“They’re fun characters to build a world around,” says Tim Kilpin, general manager for Mattel Brands. “Who doesn’t feel like a freak in high school? It started with that universal truth.”

Six of the dolls — five girls and one boy — began hitting the shelves at major retailers and toy stores in recent weeks, with a suggested retail price of $16.99 per individual doll.

With its lineup of creepy characters, Mattel is capitalizing on the vampire and werewolf obsession that has infiltrated books, movies, TV shows and magazine covers in recent years and making it relevant for pre-teens, or “tweens.” Analysts have praised the creative, quirky storylines at Monster High, where students play “casketball” and try out for the “fearleading squad.”

See animated webisodes and character bios at www.monsterhigh.com; and become fans of the franchise on Facebook.