Gotta catch up on some toy releases this week. First up, NECA’s Ultimate version of Zarak (2023), the half-orc assassin who was originally part of LJN’s first wave of D&D toys way back in 1983. He joins Warduke and Grimsword in villainy.

Lotta love in this sculpt. Like, a lot, a lot: Thomas Gwyn, the guy responsible, has a massive collection of the original Zarak toy, like multiple copies of the same little guy. Just a little obsessed, and that obsession carries through into the design, keeping it recognizably in line with the old design while being undeniably modern in quality. Two heads, one with the hood, one without, both amazing – what a rotten-hearted gobbo. Seven hands, two throwing knives (which fit in his belted sheaths), a short sword and a delightful potion in a round-bottom bottle. Healing potion? Poison? Both, probably. He even has the slight hunch of the original!

Oh, and the grappling hook! One set of hand sculpts is arrange perfectly to alloy him to be posed in mid-rappel. It was the first thing I did with the figure, in fact.