Wrapping Up 2024: The Forgotten King from Operation: Monster Force by Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction

 

   

   For now, this review of The Forgotten King is going to be my last review from the first series of Operation: Monster Force figures, though it's my first review of 2025 as I'm beginning to wrap up my 2024 reviews. In the story of Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction's ambitious new toyline, the Forgotten King is the main villain. An ancient Egyptian pharaoh with a penchant for sorcery, the Forgotten King's reign was marked by evil and wickedness and his name was erased from history. Unfortunately, grave robbers have recently stumbled upon his tomb, freeing him to continue his reign of terror in the modern world. When the soldiers sent against him are turned into an army of the undead loyal to him (with help from Dr. Caligari, it seems), the United States military calls upon Declan Van Helsing for help. And then, Declan Van Helsing has to turn to the imprisoned Count Dracula to stop what might be an even greater threat. I'm really loving this line, especially the blend of classic monsters with a modern military feel. It's right up my alley! The Forgotten King is a unique take on the classic mummy and brings something new to the line. Ready to check out the Forgotten King? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 6 3/8ths inches

Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, double hinged knees, thigh swivels, balljointed hips, balljointed waist, balljointed mid-torso, lateral pectoral hinges, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck base, hinged neck, and a balljointed head. 

Accessories: 20 swappable hands, staff, headpiece, 2 attachable blades, 2 magic effects, and a gravestone display base.

Non-Scalper Price: $37 dollars

The Positives:

* Like the majority of modern toylines (or toylines in general), Operation: Monster Force reuses base bodies and parts to create more figures out of fewer molds. So, do the Forgotten King and Dracula really dress alike? They do have the same legs, arms, and jacket and vets overlay, though the torso with tie looks different underneath. The Forgotten King's suit looks pretty different considering it's white with gold buttons. It's quite slick, an interesting choice for an ancient sorcerer pharaoh, but a striking look nonetheless. Certainly much more hip than old bandages. The textures on the different parts of the outfit are quite well done and the little gold buttons are neat and cleanly painted. 

* The Forgotten King is wearing a full headpiece, with the stripes that look like a nemes head crown, but it appears to be a full metal helmet, much like an Ancient Egyptian death mask. The paintwork is excellent and really adds to the ornate look of the Forgotten King's mask. The back of the helmet is quite detailed as well, and there is a drybrush effect to bring out those detail even more. 

* Like I said in my review of Dracula (since they use the same body), the articulation on Operation: Monster Force is really good. The figures feel very sturdy and well made, like a cross between a G.I. Classified Series figure and an Action Force figure. The joints are all pinless, the plastic feels neither brittle nor overly rubbery, and there's a great range of motion. The mid-torso joint is a bit limited by the vest but everything else has a great range of motion. The joints feel smooth, nice and tight, and without anything frozen up. These are really high quality figures and this guy is fun to pose using his magic effects and his staff.

* The Forgotten King comes with a lot of hands. A lot. 20, in fact. 20 swappable hands. That's crazy! First up are six ungloved hands. He's clearly reconstructed himself, as these hands don't look old and decrepit. There are a pan of open palmed gesturing hands, a pair of fists, and a pair of tight grips. 

* The second set of hands are gloved. Not just painted white, either; they actually have a gloved sculpt. You get the same three poses as on the regular hands: A pair of tight grips, a pair of open palmed gesturing hands, and a pair of fists. 

* The third set of hands is the coolest as you get eight hands cast in a translucent blue plastic, as if the Forgotten King is using his magical powers! They look great and add a nice splash of color to the character. There's the same poses as the previous hands but an additional pair of fully flat hands, presumably for spellcasting. 

* To really show off the Forgotten King's sorcery you an pop off his hands and place on these cool magical effects. They fit over his wrists (just at the edges of his sleeves) and look cool. Being the same shade of plastic as the spellcasting hands, they blend together well, giving off a really cool vibe. These things definitely help make the Forgotten King a more eye-popping figure on the shelf. The pieces are quite solid, not at all rubbery or gummy. 

* I really love the accessories in this line. They're beautifully designed, extremely elaborate, and nicely painted. I'm really racking my brains trying to think of any other company whose accessories have so many paint applications on pieces this size. NECA might be the only one that jumps out to me offhand. The Forgotten King comes with a gold staff that's wrapped with lines and capped on both ends by a decorative piece which can be used to attach some additional pieces. These two blades attach to either end, giving him a fearsome melee weapon. 

* Pop off either of the blades and you can add this incredible headpiece. Check out how ornate this thing is! It reminds me of something from McFarlane Toys back in the early 2000s when their figures and accessories were the most ornate stuff around. The little skulls at the end of the serpent-like bodies on the sides are really creepy; it's a great blend of Ancient Egyptian design and arcana. 

* Here's a look at the the rear of the headpiece. Even on the back, the paintwork is impressive and incredibly intricate. Big Bad Workshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction really have the paint operations down for this line. 

* Each figure in the series comes with a display stand personalized with their name on it in red letters. There are two pegs and the stand has a decent sized footprint, so it's not going to tip over easily.

* Don't want a stand? Then set it up on its side and it turns into a tombstone! The Operation: Monster Force logo is etched into the stone, along with lots cracks and marring detail.

* Another really cool thing about the Operation: Monster Force figures is that they come in a five panel box with an opening front flap, with that front flap containing a pretty cool comic unique to the character. I love this as it gives the figures a welcome touch of the old fashioned storytelling that we used to see on action figure packaging. 

   The Forgotten King is a rather impressive looking figure that has a very different vibe than most other figures in series one. He's bright and bold with those eye-catching magical effects and the cool Egyptian themed staff and headgear. I really like him far more than I thought I did, especially with such a new take on the Mummy. He might seem a bit light at first but his multiple hands, magical effects, and impressive staff do really add a lot of options for how you display this guy. He's a Great and a 1/2 figure and a cool monster. I'm not exactly sure how much inspiration there really is in this line from the vintage Playmates line and the accompanying cartoon, but I feel it's worth noting that that line never got a mummy in it (there were plans for one, Ho Tep, but everything from series 2 was cancelled). Anyone collecting this line because of the vintage toyline? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on Operation: Monster Force.

This is the first figure of the Forgotten King we've received. For more Monster Force reviews check out the following:
Count Dracula
Declan Van Helsing