Luke has been careless with his money again. He spotted this rarity on eBay, a 12 ” action figure of TMO himself. The answer to
“Can you have too many 2000ad action figures ?”
is of course,
“No, what is wrong with you?”
Tharg The Mighty Action Figure
By 3A
Review by Luke Williams
I’d say I’d buy any 2000ad merchandise, but I have baulked at the recently announced jigsaw puzzles and role playing games. In fact the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced I haven’t got a problem. I missed out on all the Funko Pop figures (that’s a step too far for me) and the Mezco ones as well. So, no I’m not really an obssessive. Honest. Besides a middle aged guy with disposable income who refuses to grow up, only has so much space.
However, I chose to follow the terminally late and ill fated line of 3A figures. I’ve bought most of the 3A figures, I think I’m missing the cursed earth variant of 12″ Dredd, and the 1/12 Mongrol – which I had, but sold for some reason lost to time and poor memory.
The first one I became aware of was Sam Slade, but weirdly, I missed this one which preceded Sam. So when this, still sealed, “virgin”, 12″ Tharg came up on eBay, I thought
“I’ll have that.”
It came around on eBay a few times, each time I offered a price on best offer, each time the seller – a far better business man than me, turned down the offer. Until one evening, close to the end of the auction, I bid the starting price – and lo and behold I won. The sole bidder.
The seller packed and dispatched the item promptly and it was incredbly well packed. As promised it was still in the McMahon illustrated cardboard box,
prising that open (carefully, I’m keeping the outer box, of course), the inner box was still shrink wrapped, yet to be deflowered.
Carefully using a craft knife (blunt and covered in glue – I’m not that diligent), off came the shrink wrap. I opened the box to find TMO there prone, in his (not morning) glory.
Sadly, he had been there so long that when I prised him gently out of the pack, fabric of his clothing had stuck to the plastic shell, leaving little spots of black faux leather behind. His trowz and jacket have random bald patches. His outfit looks like the reverse of your geography teacher’s tweed jacket with the elbows repaired with leather. The “leather” really hasn’t worn well, perishing around the joints and wrinkles of the costume. Any hints or tips on how to stop it getting worse (dubbin?) or even repairs – some sort of glue to patch it back on?
Embrassaingly, some of the patches were near his posterior. For the benefit of the seller I had to take photographs, and I felt vaguely uncomfortable taking pictures of the arse of the (admittedly fictional) editor of 2000ad. His belt pouches seemed to be stained and off colour. I can’t work out whether that is intentional weathering from our friends at 3A, or some other side effect of him being in storage for a few years.
Either way kids, a good tip for you, leaving action figures in their box is not good for them. Release them. Let them to enjoy the freedom of the open air and your bookshelf as God intended, unencumbered by plastic and cardboard.
Luckily, I’m dealing with a good seller. They are helpful and willing to compensate, so I’ve kept Tharg – if only because I know they very rarely come up for sale. Who knows the condition of the one I’d get next time? Or at least that is what I am telling myself.
Detailing is good and he’s more articualte than Stephen Fry. His hands are soft and grippable, like 70s “Action Man”, although he has nothing to grip, there is also a spare hand, which begs the question, why? He also looks a bit burlier than the svelte version we see illustrated in the Galaxy’s Greatest. The question for me is, how do you pose an action figure of an editor? Pose him as if he is delivering Rigellian hotshots? In his current state of repair he looks like an extra from “The Walking Dead”. He’s also got a weird centre of gravity – he’s a bugger to stand on his own. Not helped by winkle pickers that turn up at the toes.
Also, scoop : Tharg has nipples. Who would have guessed? (taking photos of his arse obviously more awkward than checking out his six pack).
The completist in me is mostly satisfied. The practical me is tutting and wagging his finger, lecturing me on buying yet another piece of pointless tat like a critical parent. But I’d regret not buying him, more, so critical parent can shut up.
See also :
Sam Slade : Robohunter 3A Figure
3A range of 2000AD figures Wave 1
Everything Comes Back To 2000AD 