Agent Fox Mulder

If X-Files had been on a different channel, would they have had to change Mulder's first name? Oxford-educated, brilliant and driven, Agent Fox Mulder was one of the leading investigators in the Violent Crimes division of the FBI, until he requested a transfer to an obscure area of the Bureau known as the X-Files. There he earned the reputation as a renegade agent, investigating cases which the FBI deemed "unexplained" due to their paranormal nature. But Mulder quickly learned that the X-Files were cases that the government did not want solved - and forces within the government would go to any length to ensure that these cases remained a mystery. Compelled by his belief that his sister was abducted by aliens when he was 12 years old, Mulder is willing to risk everything to find what he desires most - the Truth. These toys are technically not based on the TV show - they were made for Fight the Future, the forgettable first movie (not to be confused with the forgettable second movie). There was something about bees, maybe? Whatever, it doesn't matter; in addition to "Arctic suit" versions of the characters, we got the toys we wanted. Mulder, in all honesty, does not look very much like Mulder. Considering that McFarlane Toys put all their eggs in the "sculpting" basket, you'd expect the likenesses to be better. This looks more like David Schwimmer than David Duchovny. But you must remember, these toys came out in 1998 - we have to judge these by the standards of the time, not today. And with that in mind, this figure is still completely middle-of-the-road. Mulder's wearing his usual dark blue suit, which is sculpted with just the right level of sharpness - the wrinkles look thick enough to befit the material, making it clear he's not wearing spandex. The way his right leg bends makes him look like he's got rickets, and he stands on giant Frankenstein feet. His tie is a part of his shirt that overhangs his belt, and he has an FBI name badge. Actually, that badge is an interesting point. Mulder's name and picture are printed directly onto the toy, rather than being a separate sticker - this line was the first to use that kind of micro-printing for toys, so the badge looks just as good today as it did... yikes, 18 years ago. And honestly, it looks better than a lot of stuff we're getting now. The articulation is okay. Everything is swivel joints, nothing fancy. Fox moves at the waist, wrists, left elbow, shoulders and neck. Yes, a swivel elbow - those always suck. Still, this is a lot better than the plain suited Terry Fitzgerald figure McToys would release just one year later. Mulder's only accessory is a flashlight, though his right hand is clearly sculpted to hold a gun. I sourced one from somewhere - I legitmately forget where. An N2 Toys Matrix figure, maybe? The X-Files toys are made in a 6" scale, because they came out before Movie Maniacs screwed things up for everybody. Imagine a world in which NECA's figures could be integrated with Marvel Legends and DCU Classics, rather than having to be relegated to their own separate but equal shelf. Where Ellen Ripley and Green Lantern could fight Aliens together, or where Daredevil could test his skills against Ezio Auditore. Where Morbius and Red Rain Batman could gang up to take out the Twilight vampires! Or even where Superman, Superman and Superman could all look each other in the eye. It could have happened, except that McToys added an inch to their movie figures and everybody's followed that playbook ever since. But Mulder, at least, can investigate those strange lights in the sky. -- 02/05/16

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