My Kingdom for a Daryl Dixon!

Well, okay... maybe not my kingdom, but...

I'm writing this post in humble appeal to you, my people, my brother and sister collectors, my fellow lovers of the undead, in the hopes that someone out there can find me the one toy that has maddeningly eluded me for the past weeks, a McFarlane Walking Dead Daryl Dixon figure.

Sadly, this figure, of the most popular character on the TV show, is being snatched up by scalpers like Courtney Love snatching up little baggies of crystal meth off a hotel coffee table, only to be thrown up on eBay commanding absurd prices, upwards to $200.

Here's the thing, I just can't pay that for a single toy. Especially one that isn't even vintage.

But that doesn't change the fact that the current herd of zombies on my desk can't be held off my Rick Grimes alone.

So, if anyone out there has one of these, in the package or loose, and is willing to sell it for a reasonable price (mostly out of the good of your own heart) or may be willing to trade for some cool Funko swag, hit me with an email at reisobrien[at]gmail[dot]com.

Again, loose is fine, but I'd prefer it to be complete. And I can't stress reasonable price enough.I'm not trying to be cheap, but damn.

Anyway, thanks for listening to me beg.

The Zombie Infestation Spreads to My Work Desk...

I'm back, fellow Hordytes! And my first order of business is to warn all of you to STAY AWAY FROM MY DESK AT WORK! DEAD INSIDE!

Some of you may remember about a month back or so I picked up one of those McFarlane Walking Dead Rick Grimes action figures while on a trip to Universal Studios. Since then, Rick has guarded my work desk against the ever-present threat of undead walkers, but no matter how vigilant he is, it was only a matter of time before one got through.

And that's exactly what happened when I picked up this "Zombie Biter" figure at a local Barnes & Noble...

I tried in vain to find a Daryl Dixon figure, but considering how popular he is, I'm not surprised that he was the only one sold out.

It's odd that for someone who has never really been the biggest proponent of McFarlane toys, I sure have been buying a lot of them lately. But I can't help it! Just look how beautiful this figure is...

Sure, there are a few odd articulation choices, but I've come to expect that from McFarlane. Actually, I pretty much just expect these to be statues when I buy them, so any added, useful articulation is just a pleasant surprise in my book.

Most of the Walking Dead figures from McFarlane come with some sort of "action feature" (or at least a buttload of accessories). This nasty little devil's action feature is his ultra-disgusting biting action, facilitated by a button on his back. Nom, nom, nom...

And what's he nomming on? Why, a rotten hunk of bloody deer meat, of course (included)!

I don't really know how many more of these I'll buy. I definitely want to get Daryl, and Merle and Michone are coming soon, and all of these are from McFarlane's series based on the TV show, as I've yet to pick up any from the comic series.

But before I get any more zombies to wander my desk at work, Rick needs to survive this creeper. And to do that, he better grow some eyes in the back of his head...

See you all next time!

This Isn't a Democracy! This is a RICK-tatorship!

Something that I haven't really gone into here on the blog is how, in the past few months or so, I have gone full-blown crazy about The Walking Dead. It all started when I started at Funko, seeing the early prototypes of our Walking Dead Pop! and Wacky Wobbler toys. That got me inspired to buy the first season on DVD. My wife and I watched that over one weekend (it's only 6 episodes) and then, with the help of a 50%-off-my-entire-purchase Groupon to a local comic shop, I bought and subsequently devoured all 16 volumes of the comic book trade paperbacks. Then I picked up the 2nd season, watched it, and am now neck-deep into the 3rd season.

I've managed to avoid most Walking Dead collectibles (except for a few Funko pieces, but more on them later), but that all changed last week while visiting Things from Another World at Universal Citywalk when I came across the McFarlane Walking Dead action figures.

Now, I've made it clear that I don't normally care for McFarlane toys, and the $22.99 price tag (tourist area, prices are always jacked up), but my wife was dead set on getting me a birthday present while we were in there and this figure just called out to me. Ladies and gents, meet Rick Grimes...

Just look at how badass this figure is. How could I not get it?

And there were several others, mostly zombies and shaved-head Shane, but the price tag kept me from getting two, much less all of them. Still, that RV Zombie is epic.

This figure really captures the essence of the character. (Sorry about the crappy pics, all I had was my iPhone at work.)

The likeness is pretty damn good, which I've come to expect from McFarlane figures after my recent purchase of a Jay Cutler figure. They really captured that "I don't want to have to be doing this, but I will, god dammit" look that Rick always carries on his face.

The interchangeable hands and extra accessories are a nice touch.  Just look at the detail in that rifle!

I also liked how Rick's signature Colt Python fits into his holster. Sadly, as you can see in the below pic, he has zero articulation at the knees. Which kind of sucks considering how posable his arms and neck are.

Here's a peek at the accessories. Frankly, I could live without the zombie snare thing, and would have gladly traded it for knee articulation. Still, I love little details and was tickled pink that the remembered to include his wedding band on both of his included left hands.

And speaking of removable hands, this feature makes it really easy to make him more comic-book accurate!

The jury is still out on weather or not I'll plunk down the moola for any of the others in this series, but I know me and I'm only so strong once I get it in my head.

Still, all in all, this is one hell of an early birthday present.