October 12, 2007 - I'm a bit old school when it comes to The Simpsons, but I'm pretty sure I'm in the majority. Basically I refuse to acknowledge the existence of the show after about Season 10. I'm sure whatever has been playing for the past 7-8 years is entertaining to someone, but it's just not the same show I fell in love with. I'll make an exception for the movie which somehow defied all odds and made me laugh (a lot). I'm sure other "purists" detested it though, so to each his own.

The reason I'm giving you my stance on the show is because McFarlane Toys is using scenes from past episodes of the show as inspiration for its various Simpsons collectibles. They're generally exceptional, and which ones you like will probably be based on which episodes you love. To me, one of the all-time classic "Treehouse of Horror" short pieces is "The Attack of the 50-foot Eyesores." In this bit, giant advertising constructs come to life, and continue to operate so long as the residents of Springfield pay attention to them. While many absolutely love the scene where a giant peanut cracks open a car and eats the people inside, the plot really centers on Homer's affection for Lard Lad's donut. He tries to steal the donut, angers Lard Lad and calamity ensues.

And McFarlane Toys decided that should become a collectible. I will love them forever and ever.

I have an interesting barometer of quality here at the office. The more people want one of my toys, the better it is. This happened with Sideshow's Captain America diorama, it happened with my Ghost Rider statue and it happened with Lard Lad. As you can see in the photos here and in the Gallery, the scene is fantastic. I can't envision a better modeled Lard Lad. In fact I would have been just as happy with a figure of the giant, without the addition of Homer.

One of the reasons I could do without Homer is because he's actually the weak link in this set. Because of the figure's small size, his paint detail is a little flawed. McFarlane Toys missed an opportunity for a priceless Homer expression. If you click into the Image Gallery you'll notice that Homer's expression is as generic as they come. Given that other figures in the Simpsons line have brilliantly modeled faces, this is a bit disappointed. Granted, Homer is small, but something like this should have been sorted out. Also included is an alternate head for Homer, one featuring him in a robber's mask. Again the same problem exists, with a poor paint job making the facial expressions completely bizarre. I'd definitely recommend sticking with the standard head.



One interesting element here is that this set actually includes some articulation. When I say articulation I mean that in the most basic sense. A lever on the side of the platform will pivot Homer, causing him to yank the chain that is tied around Lard Lad's donut. At the same time, this lever also pulls down Lad's arm so that it appears Homer is pulling the donut towards him. While this is happening, Lard Lad's eyebrows shift from a "jolly expression" to something a bit angrier. It's a cute little feature, but a defect in my piece makes me wonder if this is really worth it. The problem? My Lard Lad's eyebrows are a bit defective, so he starts out looking pissed off. It works since the scene depicts Homer trying to steal the donut, but no doubt collectors are paying extra for this "feature." To have to pay extra for something that seems easily flawed (and cannot be fixed from what I can tell) is a bit odd. It would have been better to leave the "articulation" out completely.

Other than these relatively small problems, this latest Simpsons collectible is stellar. I'm actually contemplating taking it back home so that the donut, and Lard Lad, doesn't' find itself whisked away by someone just as greedy as Homer. As I mentioned earlier though, your appreciation and love for this figure will almost entirely rest on your fondness for the original episode. Keep that in mind before you rush off on my recommendation alone.

The Simpsons: Lard Lad Deluxe Set is available this month and retails for $29.99. Searching a bit online can easily yield you some lower prices.