I've got a bunch of McFarlane Toys' The Walking Dead (TWD) action figures with me courtesy of a buddy of mine from Florida. I was thinking that since I'm all infatuated with AMC's 'Dead TV series that I'm gonna the reviews in batches so I can show you the different characters and just how good they were captured in action-figure form. I've encountered many comic 'purists' that simply refuses to watch AMC's take on the 'Dead, preferring to stick to Kirkman's pages. Reminds me a lot of the Tolkien's so-called book purists who refused to watch Peter Jackson's take on the 'Rings trilogy. Honestly, let's just enjoy them for what they are....comics or on-screen adaptations. Heck, if it makes you feel better, just take it that the comics/books and the film(s)/TV series are TWO different universe altogether with no relation to one another whatsoever....LOL.
Aaaaaannyway, let's take a look at the main protagonist and a character who made it all the way to the end of Season 2.
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Packaging
I can tell you that I absolutely love McFarlane's TWD packaging. They're rather 'flat' and easy to be shipped. In fact, I received all 7 TWD figures from my buddy in the States in one medium sized USPS box. I appreciate it when toy companies minimise the 'unutilised' space especially when it comes to blister-card packaging (I'm talking to you Matty! Remember 'Star Sisters'?? What was ALL that space for if you're just gonna stick three figures into it?).
I did try to get my hands on Series 1, especially Rick and Daryl but to no avail. They seemed to have sold out everywhere in the States during the time and my buddy couldn't find those anywhere except for a couple which he procured for himself some weeks before. Daryl is now going for crazy prices over at secondary market places eg. eBay and such, but fret not as he would soon be available again (albeit minor changes to the Series 1 sculpt) in a 2-pack sometime in October. You might wanna secure that one through on-line stores now as I have a feeling that Mcfarlane's not gonna do a Daryl v2 anytime soon.
Where was I? Oh yea....Rick....right! Let's take a look at his blister-card packaging. I love the fact that we're able to see the accessories very clearly through the plastic bubble and of course it allows us to examine the quality of paint job on the figure itself....well, it's not that we've had the chance to compare anyway....hahahah. Didn't I tell you that my buddy found only ONE set of these two (Rick and Shane) at his TRU?
Really liking the art at the bottom of the bubble packaging. The to part of the card features Hershel's farm in the background, which was the main premise of Season 2.
As you can see, Shane came in a similar fashion like Rick. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled with Shane's articulations. He's practically a 'semi-statue' similar to McFarlane's earlier releases. One would have thought that after all these years they've fixed their articulation issues already. Unfortunately he's only good for one pose only. More on that later....
Again, at the top part of card is a portrait of Hershel's farm in the background. Ironically, this was also where Shane would meet his maker (and revived as a 'walker' before being gunned down by Carl....SPOILER alert!).
The cardback is the same for both Rick and Shane as they both come from Series 2. No 'personalization' or individual bio here for the figures in question. I've only wanted Rick and Shane from this series but now I kinda regretted not to get the 'RV Zombie' to join my feeble zombie horde to battle my humans. Makes me regret even harder fot not getting both 'Biter and 'Walker from Series 1. Rest assured, more 'walkers are coming our way, starting with two (2) Riot Gear 'walkers in Series 4.
Let's look at Shane Walsh first shall we?
Essentially, this is Shane after he 'disposed' Otis off while embarking on their pharmaceutical mission to save Carl. This is because he shaved his head in that particular episode to hide the spot where one klump of hair was practically pulled off by Otis in his moments of desperation. Well, to be positive, it does resolve the 'weird' limbs issue so evident on Daryl from Series 1, but on the hindsight, Shane here can do nothing but aim his shotgun and lowering it down after or vice-versa.
The figure does have some great sculpting on it though. You can clearly see his pecs on his abs and his veins popping put from his arms. Besides that, he also has great paint app on him. The dirt and mud on his denim clothes seems convincingly realistic as well.
One thing I hate about this figure is that you really have to find the perfect balance between his two feet if you make sure he stands on his own. One wrong little turn of either foot will make him wobbly and topple over.
One thing I hate about this figure is that you really have to find the perfect balance between his two feet if you make sure he stands on his own. One wrong little turn of either foot will make him wobbly and topple over.
As a 'semi' statue, Shane's pretty useful if you plan to pose him by himself or amongst the rest of the survivor in 'battle mode', ready to slaughter some 'walkers. I can imagine him being so out of place if you pose him in among calm and serene characters.
Shane has been labelled many a thing. Wife stealer, back stabber, cold-blooded killer etc. among others, but he was a crucial character in AMC's TV series up to his 'timely' demise at the end of Season 2. He will be missed. Well, to me at least. Doesn't everybody just love to tune in on your favourite TV show week in and week out just to see that character you hate most getting all rough with them good guys?
Next up, we've got Rick Grimes v2...
To be honest, I took a whole lot more pictures of Rick simply because he's more articulated than Shane. Personally, I prefer Rick v1 from series 1 because that one came without his sheriff's hat. Imagine how awkward Rick v2 would look like when Carl from Series 4 arrive later in the year, also with the SAME sheriff's hat! Now while I didn't have the chance to get the v1 figure, I'm pretty thankful that I still have 'a' Rick Grimes. I've heard that even some collectors in the States couldn't find him till today.
Rick comes with two (2) pairs of inter-changeable hands so you'd be able to switch his hands when he holds his rifle, his Colt Python handgun chambered with .357 Magnum cartridge with holster on his belt, a rifle with scope and a noose (great addition!).
As you can see in the picture above, Rick's left foot is kinda wonky too but it's not too annoying as I didn't spend as much time fixing it as I did with both Shane's feet.
As soon as I'd fixed his left foot, I was mighty impressed on how great this Rick is barring the fact that his hat is not removable. He's far more superior than his v1 predecessor for sure. For one, he has better articulations than his previous version.
I just love that blood-stained t-shirt and the 'grime' (pardon the pun) made it even more believable that Rick had just came back from some encounter with a 'walker.
Next up, after some change of hands, I equipped Rick with the noose.
The noose is a great addition to the survivors' arsenal of weapon/gadgets to fight 'walkers with. Even if you decide not to arm Rick with the noose (I'm personally arming him with his hand gun on my display shelf), you could always give it to any of the gang for added display options.
The real gem among all of Rick's accessories would be his rifle. It's perfectly re-created by them folks at McFarlane and it has a great paint job you'd swear it's real wood they used to make that rifle!
Rick is able to hold the rifle nicely with both hands but I just can't seem to pose him looking through the scope. Minor quibble really.
THE REBEL'S VERDICT: If there are points to be given for 'ease of finding' then I guess these TWD action figures would score very badly by virtue of them being literally very-hard to find at retail. They are even 'non-existent' over here in Malaysia! Distribution issues aside, I'd like to bring back your attention to the action figures themselves. The lack of articulations will definitely put many collectors off. The fact that McFarlane wasn't able to give decent articulations to these otherwise excellent figures hindered many from picking them up. Did I also mention that these figures are at a 5" scale? I mean come one...who else produce action-figures outside the 3.75" or 6" scale these days??! They're gonna be the odd ones out among your action-figure collection. I'm still glad I managed to get my hands on Rick and Shane. No TWD action figure collection will be complete without 'em! Despite all of the negativity in this paragraph, I look forward to reviewing the rest of the TWD figures I currently have in hand. All I can tell you is that the articulations are gonna get a whole lot better starting from Series 3 onwards, so catch you with another round of TWD figure review real soon!
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