The Dark Corner of the Toy Box: McFarlane returns to horror with THE WALKING DEAD

In the mid 90’s, Todd McFarlane reached new heights of fame with his iconic comic character Spawn.  Though the series had been around for a little while, by 1994 the anti-hero who made a pact with the Devil had finally grown popular enough to warrant a line of collectibles.  Thus, McFarlane Toys was created.  At first the company simply released figures from the Spawn comics.  Then as popularity grew, the company branched out creating new lines of figures; one of which caught the eyes of rabid horror collectors.  In ’98, “Movie Maniacs” was released giving fans figures from such films as Species, The Thing, Psycho, and many more.  After an amazing 7 series run, multiple boxed sets, and deluxe figures, it seemed McFarlane had closed his door on the world of horror.  Now, with the highly popular The Walking Dead, it seems the man has returned to the blood-drenched toy shelves that have been long abandoned.

Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead was an instant hit with comic-book fans.  The series which followed the survival of Sheriff Rick Grimes in the now zombie-run world instantly grabbed a hold of fans with its smart writing and its brutal take on the subject matter.  No guts were left uneaten but more importantly, no story-arc was straight forward.  The series continues to weave the plot and characters in an interesting fashion consistently keeping readers on the edge of their seats.  Frank Darabont brought the comic to life last October with the hit series on AMC.  The show was a surprise success for the network and satisfied hungry fans as well as critics who typically aren’t partial to the horror genre.  Yet, like the comics, the show became less about the brain hungry zombies and more about the survivors working together.

In November, McFarlane will launch the first of two lines of figures based on The Walking Dead.  The first line will be based on characters from the tv show, where the second line will focus on favorites from the comic series.  Hopefully if these two lines do well with fans and figure collectors, the series will expand to include more characters from the two mediums.  Line one will be released to Toys ‘r Us and will include four figures.  You can read the facts about the line below.

* Deputy Rick Grimes – with revolver, shotgun, walkie talkie, baseball bat, and hand grenade accessories
* Daryl Dixon – with crossbow, hunting knife, fire axe, pick axe, and even a string of squirrels
* Zombie Biter – features a deer meat accessory and a spring-loaded moving jaw
* Zombie Walker – includes a special wind-up feature

 

 

 

Photo Source: Figures.com

As you can see from the photos, all of the figures will include their character’s props from the show and will be fully articulated in the legs and arms for different positioning.  Though I’m on the fence about the sculpt of Rick’s face, the rest of the line are uncanny to the show’s stars.  A highlight of the figure line will undoubtedly be the two zombies.  With their iconic look and blood-drenched, the two “walkers” seem as if they stepped out of your tv screen.

Glimpses of the second series were seen at the NY Toy Fair earlier this year.  One of these figures which pleased fans of the comic was Michonne.  Fans, take note, Darabont has confirmed she will be in Season 2 of the show as well.  You gotta love a bad-ass chick who knows how to wield a samurai sword.

Since McFarlane Toys never officially announced the end of their “Movie Maniacs” line, maybe this Walking Dead line will breathe life into the abandoned series.  I would like to officially welcome back Todd McFarlane to the horror action figure ring.  Though you have a lot of catching up to do to compete with the new horror kids in town like Amok Time Toys, Mezco, and NECA, I am glad to see your fine craftsmanship and attention to detail return to toy shelves.

For all the info on the new figures from The Walking Dead or other horror related collectibles, stay with me as I continue to explore The Dark Corner of the Toy Box.