When we first heard Threezero obtained AMC licensing for a line of 1/6 scale, 12″ tall The Walking Dead figures we were very excited. Then we saw the first samples of Michonne’s Pet zombies on display at San Diego Comic Con in July of 2013 and we were even more excited. Then it happened. We received word we’d have the opportunity to do a hands on review with a pair of pre-production sample figures sent directly from the manufacturer. Needless to say we were elated and couldn’t wait to see these Walking Dead action figures first hand.
The short wait for these figures to show up on our undead doorstep was well worth it. As we eagerly removed bubblewrap like kids on Christmas morning we were immediately blown away. This pair will turn heads. With that in mind, let’s get into the specifics. Here’s our review of Michonne’s Pet Zombies from Threezero.
Details at a Glance:
- Big 1:6 Scale means these figures have an impressive height of approximately 12 inches tall.
- Poseable Articulating Head, Neck, Shoulders, Legs and Feet.
- Lifelike flexible PVC skin over torso and head.
- Each figure has a removable metal chain leash.
- Each Figure has a Removable Backpack.
- Figures are referred to as “Red” or “Green” based on the color of their boxer shorts.
- Formerly Available as a two figure set with a set of severed arms exclusively from the Threezero store. (Pre-Orders Sold Out)
- Available as single figures from a variety of online retailers. (Links below)
- Amazing Paint and Details.
- Release Date – Currently Estimated to be May of 2014 (Subject to change.)
- Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: ~$130.00
Packaging:
Since these were a pre-production sample they arrived without any retail packaging. While we don’t know what the final box or packaging will look like, based on what we know about Threezero and the quality of these figures, it will no doubt be stunning.
Figures:
Each figure is sold separately. There was a Threezero exclusive 2 pack that included a bonus set of severed arms. That Threezero exclusive is gone and they’re no longer taking pre-orders for them. You’ll need to purchase the figures separately or pony up some extra dough to purchase the exclusive twin pack later from a private party.
The figures themselves are commonly referred to as “red” or “green” based on the color of the boxer shorts peeking above the waistband of their jeans. Each figure has a removable metal neck loop attached to a metal chain leash. The neck collars are a split ring design that allows you to gently pull it apart to fit around the walker’s neck. Just gently squeeze the hoop back together to secure the leash around your pet zombie’s neck.
A picture is worth a thousand words, especially when it comes to gorgeously crafted pet zombies. Check out more images of Michonne’s Pet Zombie figures from Threezero below:
Removable Backpacks:
Michonne uses her zombie pets as camouflage and as mules for hauling gear. Each of Michonne’s pet zombie figures comes with a removable fabric backpack. These backpacks feature real working zippers and real nylon straps with working buckles. Each one is painted with such great detail they look like they’ve been through an actual zombie apocalypse. The red zombie in our sample sported a white (formerly white?) backpack while the green zombie wears a slightly smaller black backpack.
Each backpack is stuffed with foam, cotton or similar materials to give it the appearance of being full. You could easily remove the stuffing from them and store items in them if you so desired.
Check out photos of the backpacks below:
Amazing Level of Detail:
The thing that immediately struck us was the insane level of detail on these figures. The sculpt on the torso and head is truly astonishing. At first glance you might think these are just the same sculpt with different clothing and backpacks. Threezero could have taken the easy way out and done just that, but that isn’t their style. Look again and you realize these are two separate and distinct zombie sculpts.
Another nice touch is the underlying anatomy is all correct. Everything from muscle tone to skeletal features looks great. The zombie shoulder blades, clavicles and other anatomical features are all spot on and in good proportion. The obvious wounds where Michonne removed her pets’ jaws and arms are properly represented. The blood in these areas is a perfect deep crimson red with just the right amount of bright red added here and there. The glossy look to the blood paint in these areas almost gives the impression that their wounds are still coagulated and in the process of oozing blood. It’s disgustingly real and we love it!
These figures feature other minor scratches, bruises and wounds throughout their head and torsos. They’re easily overlooked but just as awesome, as the larger and more dramatic wounds on the face and arms. These wounds feature just the right amount of contusion and bruising around the area. These details combined with the depth of the wounds makes them look very real.
Skin: The skin from the waist up on these figures isn’t a hard plastic like you might expect. Instead it’s a very cool flexible PVC skin pulled over a 1:6 scale action figure torso. The photos below illustrate the PVC skin with clothing in the surrounding areas removed:
The skin has a rubbery yet lifelike look and feel and is probably one of our favorite aspects of these Michonne’s pets action figures. Ironically, it is also the source of two of our few complaints with these figures: the tightness of the skin limits articulation in the upper half of the figure and the skin features a very small linear seam that we didn’t care for.
The PVC skin has a sort of elastic quality that bounces back and holds its shape, much like real skin. While lifelike, it does limit movement in the head, neck and shoulder areas of these figures. The shoulder joints move, but their range of motion is very limited. The moveable shoulder joints are basically pointless because; when you position the shoulders the tightness of the skin tends to immediately pull the joint right back to their original position. That’s not too big of a drawback. Besides, there isn’t much arm positioning or posing you can do with an arm-less zombie.
The same issue with positioning is present to a lesser degree in the abdomen, neck and head areas. These areas are much more positionable but again the overlying PVC skin material tends to pull things back to their original starting point. The waist, legs and feet articulate very well, but the high boots on the zombies tend to limit flexion and extension in the feet slightly.
We also noticed the PVC skin has some sort of very small mold line or seam along both sides. You can barely see it in the photos below:
This seam is really only visible upon very close inspection. It’s barely perceptible to the casual observer and we only mention it because we noticed it and found it to be a minor detraction from the otherwise impressive quality and detail in the skin. These are two very minor issues with two truly impressive Walking Dead collectibles.
Gorgeous Detail Work Everywhere:
The highlight of these figures is definitely from the waist up but don’t let that detract from all of the other beautiful craftsmanship. Sure the head and torso are amazing. That’s why they’re the first thing everyone notices. Take a second look however and you’ll be even more amazed. Few things are overlooked and the talented artists at Threezero do Michonne’s pets right. Even the small details are nearly perfect. The dirty blue jeans feature dirt stains, holes, abrasions and fraying. The boots worn by the pet zombies feature wear and you can even see mud splattered on the soles. The backpacks our armless friends mindlessly tote around look like they’ve actually been worn by a real zombie for months. Even the belts of the zombies look worn and tattered. The first time we handled these figures, we had a very hard time battling the psychological need to run and wash our hands. Of course these figures aren’t really dirty, but the detail work is so real and so visceral it tricks your mind. Put these zombie figures away and you feel like you’ve been handling an actual zombie.
What we Loved:
Amazing Detail: These Walking Dead action figures look frighteningly real and we love it! Every last detail from decaying flesh and wounds, down to muddy boots, tattered blue jeans, dirty backpacks and worn belts is near perfect.
Size: The 12″ size is perfect. These figures are small enough they don’t take up too much shelf real estate while still being large enough to show impressive detail.
Price: The MSRP of about $130.00 might seem steep at first but it’s actually a great deal for an officially licensed action figure in this scale.
Poseable: We like the fact that you can position your pet zombie, even if the range of motion from the waist up isn’t all that great. They are zombies after all and zombies are a little stiff by nature.
PVC Skin: We love the flexible skin. The cool factor is world’s above the typical hard plastic or resin you usually expect with an action figure.
Meh. (What Wasn’t So Great.)
Truth be told, there just isn’t much to complain about with these figures. Since our job is to tell you the good and the bad, we did our best to find something to complain about. Let’s review the few complaints we could find with these figures.
Limited Articulation in the Upper Body: The PVC skin tends to pull the joints in the upper body back to their original position. This makes posing the neck, head and the stubby shoulder joints difficult.
No Michonne: While we aren’t counting this against these figures, we really wish there was a Michonne figure to display with them. We’ll just have to wait and hope Threezero releases Michonne. If they do human characters as well as they do zombies, collectors are in for a treat.
A Small Molding Line/Seam in the PVC Skin: We couldn’t help but notice the line running down either side of each zombie’s torso on the PVC skin. We’re sure it’s simple left over from the mold and unavoidable and it’s barely noticeable by normal people.
They like to fall over: These figures stand easily enough on their own but when wearing their backpacks they’re just a little top heavy. They tend to tip over if you bump the table, shelf or other display area. Including a basic economical stand for these figures would be a plus.
No More Twin Pack Pre-Order: You snooze you lose! The twin pack with bonus severed arms exclusive to the Threezero store sold out. They’re no longer accepting pre-orders for them and you’ll likely need to hit ebay or buy from a private party if you want the Threezero exclusive twin pack.
The Final Verdict:
5 Out of 5
These things are near perfect in our eyes. We hesitated to give them a perfect 5 out of 5 score, but we had to take into consideration we reviewed pre-production testing samples. We have to assume Threezero is only going to make improvements. The bottom line is these are reasonably priced works of art that need to be part of any Walking Dead collector’s horde! If you’ve been hesitant to pull the trigger on these we can honestly say, based on our experience, it is money well spent. We highly recommend pre-ordering your Walking Dead Michonne’s Pet Zombies today!
How and Where to Buy:
The anticipated release date for these Walking Dead action figures is estimated to be May, 2014 (subject to change). Pre-orders are being taken for these figures at a variety of toy and action figure websites right now. Now that Threezero is no longer taking pre-orders on their exclusive twin pack, you’ll probably need to purchase each figure separately. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is around $130.00 per figure. Some sites like our friends at Entertainment Earth offer them for slightly less.
Entertainment Earth is offering the Green Pet Zombie and Red Pet Zombie for just $119.99 with free US shipping.
Review Update: 1/12/2018
It has been nearly 4 years since this review was originally posted. These figures have stood the test of time and still look amazing in our office, even with repeated handling from staff and visitors. We still recommend and love these as much as the day we posted this review.
Product Availability Update: 1/12/2018
Of course, the original retailers listed above have long sold out. The good news is you can still get your hands on these gorgeous figures. You’ll just need to look a little harder. While some smaller retailers may still have them, your best bet is to find a re-seller or a private party collector selling these. There is an upside. With some careful searching and shopping you can now obtain the pair of figures for much less than they were listed back in 2014! No worries, we’ve done all the hard work for you.
>> CLICK HERE to browse current listings on ebay. <<
Or use the resources provide below to find other options.
Awesome!