Pulp Arcana Studios: The Living Dead

The Living Dead: Operation Monster Force Apophis Legion

Counter Terrorism Unit Trooper

Let’s talk zombies.

Yup, we’re using the “z” word today. Whether your preference is for slow shambling hordes or fast runners, there is no denying that zombies have long been an absolute mainstay of horror. From classics like Night of the Living Dead to modern explorations like The Walking Dead or Shaun of the Dead, zombies have haunted our collective nightmares for decades.

Yet surprisingly, I didn’t have a good zombie figure in my collection yet.

So when I saw that Big Bad Workshop was releasing a number of zombie figures in their Operation Monster Force line, I was ecstatic. I’ve already taken a look at the incredible Operation Monster Force Lt. Griffin, their take on the Invisible Man. Therefore, I had high hopes for what this figure line could do with such a classic horror trope. Come with me as we take a look at how Big Bad Workshop has updated and put their own spin on the classic zombie.

A PULP ARCANA FIGURE FIELD REPORT Mission Brief:

Artifact Identified:

Apophis Legion Counter Terrorism Unit Trooper

Operation Monster Force

Big Bad Workshop

OUT OF THE CRATE:

One of the things I appreciate about the Operation Monster Force line is just how, as soon as you get the box in hand, you have the feeling immediately that this is something fairly premium. With its dark gray coloring and the really stunning photo on the front of the figure close up to showcase the details on the face and the chest of the figure, the box is eye-catching and powerful with a flap that opens up to reveal the clear window where you can see the figure. This has a magnetic closure to it that just gives this satisfying feel when you open and close it.

It seems like a small thing, especially for someone like me who is an out of the box collector and more interested in what I can do with the figures with my photography. I can’t deny just how good this feels in hand and it really adds to the excitement of opening an Operation Monster Force figure.

The box has the same style of packaging we saw when we looked at the Lieutenant Griffin figure from Operation Monster Force, with the mini comic printed on the inside of that flap and a bit of background about the figure on the back. It is definitely worth mentioning that Operation Monster Force has a couple of different figures that are part of the enemy forces under the command of the Forgotten King. Basically, there are a number of different looks of zombies available in the line. I went with this particular one, the counterterrorism unit figure, because the color scheme is unmistakably a homage to Cobra from G.I. Joe. The dark blue, the red accents, all are a deliberate callback to that very familiar Cobra aesthetic from the G.I. Joe line. It’s a great little tongue in cheek homage while also being really smart, because it gives collectors the opportunity to add this figure to their G.I. Joe Classified collection, with a little bit of a horror vibe. That was one of the big deciding factors when I was choosing which Operation Monster Force zombie look I was going to go for.

THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS:

Out of the package with the figure and accessories all in hand it immediately strikes you just how good these Operation Monster Force figures continue to be. Every single one I’ve opened has immediately hit me with this sort of wow factor once I’ve gotten it in hand and been able to look at it up close. For this one, what struck me right away was just how delightfully gross the zombie parts look. There is a sort of almost wet sheen to the bloody, decomposing parts of the figure that come through the torn fatigues and is especially noticeable on the different facial portraits that we have.

Starting with those facial portraits, the one that comes on the figure in the box is a hooded balaclava-wearing head with tears showcasing the zombified face underneath. This may be my favorite. It looks absolutely fantastic. It really sells the overall military look of the figure while still just immediately having the zombie impact I really wanted from this figure. It looks awesome.

There are two other zombie heads without the face mask. One is more of sort of a standard zombie head and the other has red hair and a beard for the zombie. You get three different and distinct looks that you can use, should you end up with more than one of these figures if you intend to army build them. What I appreciated was that the heads are swappable across the Operation Monster Force line. So I put one of these zombie heads on a Monster Force Sleepwalker figure and used that as an additional zombie for some of the photos that I ended up.

The opportunity to mix and match is something I always appreciate in Tory lines and some of my absolute favorite lines are really incorporating this. We see it with Savage Crucible, we see it with Mythic Legions and Cosmic Legions, and now Operation Monster Force are really leaning into this as well. The opportunity to have zombie versions of the other figures in the line is something that I think is fantastic and super fun, and really leans into the horror storytelling that this line can give you.

Beyond the heads, the body of the actual figure is as good as what we saw with the Eraser. The tactical vest is a different design than we saw with the Lieutenant Griffin figure, but it still has the peg holes so that you can customize the loadout of where you put things like holsters, the knife sheath, and various grenades and equipment. While adding a great bit of fun to the figure, what this is really good for is flexibility. Even with just one of these figures, between swapping the heads and moving the equipment around on the chest piece, you can get versions of this figure that look distinct and different from each other and that level of customizability, whether you’re using it for toy photography, like I am, or whether you just want to change up the look of these figures on your shelf, add so much value and enjoyment.

Also, because this is still an Operation Monster Force figure, Big Bad Workshop is going to give an absolutely ridiculous amount of accessories. We get an assault rifle, a pistol, a knife, various grenades, and pieces to plug into the vest to give those different looks. Also included is a beret and a tactical helmet, giving even further variety to the look of your zombie.

The figure comes with a number of different hands. These can be used to hold the accessories or, my personal favorite, using the grasping hands so it looks like the zombie is reaching out to bite a victim. The hands add so much dynamic action to your poses.

Finally, as a last little touch, like every other Operation Monster Force figure this comes with a tombstone-shaped stand with the figure’s name on it. I find this absolutely charming and I’ve recently come to appreciate not only how useful this is as a stand, but when propped up, it also makes a pretty convincing gravestone. This lets you use it in the background for some diorama work and again is such a smart and fun decision. This thoughtful design seems to be a hallmark of what we are seeing with Big Bad Workshop.

MOBILITY AND MANEUVERS:

This figure uses the same articulation suite that the other military figures in the line are built on, and, as we saw in the Eraser review, that articulation is just really good. While at times, the gear can hinder a little bit of movement at the torso, the smooth movement and great range of motion in the arms, legs, and head all give you plenty of posing opportunities.

There’s something about playing with these Operation Monster Force figures that just feels so good. In the action figure world, there is always the ongoing debate of articulation vs aesthetics, with each camp having their very dedicated and vocal adherents. For me, I am finding that the figures from this line are hitting my personal sweet spot. I have enough articulation and poseability to get the poses I need for photos, and every one just looks fantastic.

RECOVERED EVIDENCE:

FINAL RECKONING:

In my review of the GI JOE Classified Ghost Viper, I mentioned not falling in love with the figure, despite it being maybe one of the best figures that line has produced. This is different. Both Monster Force figures I have reviewed have had me coming back to them over and over again. The photo session for this figure took twice as long as usual because I kept just playing with it. And that is a special kind of magic.