Hello toy fans, back again with another adventure into Diamond Select’s Minimates.
This time we venture into the world of The Walking Dead. We got your army of zombies featuring dreadlocks zombie, farmer zombie times two, and a prison guard zombie, ready to feast on our heroes Hershel, Rick Grimes, Tyreese, and a new character who has not seen his way to action figure status until now, Dexter.
Usually, I give you three categories uniqueness, articulation, and detail. Today I am adding a fourth. I am going to call it diversity. Diversity you ask? Yes the ability to mix your Minimates in with other building block toys.
Right now you’re probably asking why. Let me explain. A friend once told me toys are meant to be opened and played with. Although I do not always open mine, I do find that this is very true especially in a mind of a child. Do you ever sit, and watch your kids play? They hardly ever play in a single universe of toys. It’s always this one vs. that one. So without further ado, I bring you my next exciting toy review.
Let’s start off with the obvious hero, Rick Grimes. Rick is decked out in riot gear, which includes a face shield on his helmet, to prevent being bitten by the zombies. Included in his arsenal are a baton and a pistol. Rick also comes with his well combed hair do. When he’s no longer bashing zombies in the head, he likes to look good after a hard days work of zombie bashing, while he tries to pick up the last of the ladies left in this dismal world.
Detail is done quite well. Rick comes with his signature 5 o’clock shadow. No time to shave when your constantly on the move from walkers. The face shield moves up and down. Got to keep the zombie goo off your face. The zombie included in the pack comes with 1 arm, and one leftover arm from what appears to be a zombie feast. He is dressed in what I can only assume is a prison guard uniform. The zombie is even equipped with a gun belt which can hold the pistol included in the pack, though we know the pistol is for Rick. You can always use your imagination to find ways to have your undead carry the pistol in his belt.
Next up we take a look at Hershel. Long gone are Hershel’s farm days due to the pack of zombies who came, and destroyed his way of life. Left with no other choice, Hershel followed Rick to the Prison. Now dressed in a prison jumpsuit, Hershel fights with Rick to secure the prison. Included in his arsenal is a M16 assault rifle. Though you should not make noise since it attracts the walkers by firing it, it is always nice to throw a quick rifle butt to the head of the undead. Zombie included is a farmer zombie which includes a sickle attached to his shoulder. I like the sickle in the shoulder look. Gives it a 3D battle damaged look to it.
We are now introduced to Battle Damaged Tyreese. Wow, he looked like he was on the wrong side of a fight. I sure hope he fought a human, and not a zombie because his time will be short lived with all the cuts and bruises included on this figure. His arsenal includes a shot gun. He come shirtless as well (might get a bit cold at night). Zombie included is another Farmer zombie with the sickle sticking out of his shoulder. Can’t have too many of these nice troop builders.
Finally, we have our resident prisoner Dexter. Having begun the chore of removing walkers from the prison, Rick and his group come across Dexter, inmate incarcerated for murder left for dead in the prison. According to the package back story, he welcomed the group at first but began to resent them showing up later on. Dexter equips himself with a shot gun and pistol. His gun belt will hold the pistol as well. Included with Dexter is a new dreadlocked zombie. Yes, he has dreadlocked hair and includes a mutilated arm, and a regular arm, gruesome fun for all.
Not a lot needs to be said here about articulation as all Minimates come with multiple points of articulation. The ability to pose these figures in multiple poses allows you all types of displaying options, which could be a group of zombies eating a human, or a human fending off a group of hungry zombies. There is plenty of fun to be had.
Two and a half inches of fun makes these characters unique. What I’m also including in this category is diversity. You can have hours of fun building a prison out of building blocks of all sorts making it possible to tell your own walking dead story. Myself? I took some foam blocks with some hot glue, and made a fortress thought to be impenetrable by zombies, which we quickly found to be untrue as Rick and his crew defend their new found home from a pack of hungry zombies looking to feast on their flesh. See Below
In closing, I had a blast writing this article, and reviewing these toys. I give the Series 3 of Walking Dead Minimates 3 out of 3.
Never lacking in fun, articulation strong as ever, much needed accessories included, and even implementing clear stands to prevent toppling of your figures. These are a much needed purchase to add to your ever expanding arsenal of zombie killers, and your never ending flesh eating mutilated zombie army. Remember to run out also buy yourself some building blocks and build your own prison yard.
You can pick up The Walking Dead Minimates Series 3 at Toys R Us, your local comic shops, or at Diamond Select’s website on June 12th.
Until next time fans, avoid becoming lunch for the walkers, and happy hunting.
Newsdesk 
Dan Kleiner