I may be a full-fledged adult, but I still love toys. You might think that I could get my toy-fix living vicariously through my two sons, but nothing intrigues me more than cool toys that appeal to both adults and children. In my X-Files-obsessed opinion, the X-Files PALz from Palisades toys fall into this category -- they're cool enough that kids would actually want to "play" with them, while still being interesting and clever enough to appeal to adults too. They have a high "neat-o" factor for both age groups, with their detailed paint jobs and plentiful accessories.

While most other characters in the PALz line would probably appeal to everyone, I do think that certain characters, like the Donnie Pfaster figure I'm reviewing here, may appeal only to those who are big-time fans of the television series. The fact that such a character is included (one who is extremely popular within fan circles from one of the first really "stand out" X-Files episodes) makes me love the entire toy line just that much more.

Product Description:

Short, blocky characters seem to be all the rage in the toy business these days. Various toy companies put their own spin on them - with Kubricks, Minimates, Mez-Itz, Blockos, Lego Minifigs, and others that I've probably forgotten. Palisades Toys' entry into this world of superdeformed block figures are the PALz, and they are very nifty little figures indeed.

What sets PALz apart from other similar figures are the multitude of accessories that come with them, as well as very detailed paint jobs and lots of articulation. The sculpts are simplistic, but they make up for that with the paint jobs and little detail touches.

All PALz figures are all generally built the same - they stand 2½inches tall and are articulated at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees, and ankles. They come apart at the neck, arms, torso, and legs, so the pieces are interchangeable with other PALz in your collection.

Donnie Pfaster's look is that of a typical guy that you might run into anywhere. As such, there are no special sculpt features like you can find on some of the other PALz in this series (unless you count his hair, I suppose, which is just brown and styled differently than Mulder's). He wears gray pants and a blue striped shirt that is buttoned all the way to the top (just like Donnie on the television show). There's really not much I can say to describe him - he's just a guy.

After going on and on about Pfaster's non-descript look, I should probably mention that Donnie, like the Mulder and Scully figures in Series 1, also has a "variant" version. Since these little blocky figures are all the rage with collectors, the toy manufacturers will often select a few figures and make "chase" or hard-to-find variant versions which ultimately end up being worth more money than their "normal" cousins when re-sold. Donnie's variant version is his "demon" self, or the way Scully saw him at one point during her captivity (you could argue that she was seeing through to his "true" self, or the evil behind his pleasant exterior). Whereas the normal Donnie PALz is non-descript looking, the demon Donnie is anything but. Demon Donnie is all black with pointed demon-ears and red eyes with an evil slant to them. A chest-muscle outline is painted on his black body, and his mouth has a down-turned scowl. This is one mean little demon...

PALz figures typically come with tons of accessories, and Donnie is certainly no exception here. Included with both versions of the Pfaster figure are:
» A funeral wreath on a stand with a big "sympathy" banner across it
» Two shampoo bottles (he always liked for his victims to have clean hair)
» A bundle of "hair" (the hair with the regular version of Donnie is blonde, the hair on the demon version is red)
» An X-File, labeled "X-1013-0213(A)" and "Irresistible". "Ten Thirteen" is the X-Files production company as well as creator Chris Carter's birth date - the numbers are frequently referenced in various X-Files episodes. The episode "Irresistible" was episode number 13 of season 2, so the numbers on the file are a spiffy little in-joke
» A little clear clip is also included so the various characters can hold the little file in their hands easily

With lots of tiny pieces, The X-Files PALz: Donnie Pfaster is definitely a choking hazard. Palisades Toys recommends these figures for children ages 8 and up.

Our Thoughts & Experiences:

Donnie Pfaster's look is that of a "normal" guy. Just like the character on the television show, he doesn't stand out as anything special, which might make non-obsessed fans wonder why he was included in this Series 1 release from PALz. In fact, throughout the show's run, Donnie was the one "bad guy" or "monster of the week" with absolutely no special powers or paranormal skills of any kind -- he was just your run-of-the-mill "death fetishist" (which is what they had to call him after "Fox Standards and Practices" told the show's producers that they couldn't call him a "necrophiliac"). It's his "normalcy" that makes him a unique villain in the X-Files universe (and the excellent writing and acting that makes "Irresistible" one of the most-beloved episodes), hence I for one am glad that the powers at be at Palisades decided to include Donnie over another, lesser-known character that might have been more visually interesting (then again, I am one of those "obsessed" X-Files fans).

...Still, one might wonder if they included Donnie just because the figure for his "demon" version would be so cool and unique looking, and because it goes so well with the Scully-variant (the "Kidnapped Scully" from the same "Irresistible" episode).

The Donnie Pfaster character also holds the unique distinction of being one of the few "monster of the week" characters that was popular enough to be brought back for another episode. Although Season 7's "Orison" would never be as popular as "Irresistible", it was certainly interesting and proves that the Donnie Pfaster character has staked his claim in X-Files lore.

I'm an X-files geek, which doesn't necessarily mean that I love every item put out on the market with an "X" stamped on it. I'm an X-Files geek who loves attention to detail, and that's one thing that these toys from Palisades have in spades. As a fan who obsessed over the intricate plot lines and who loved the little inside jokes, I think these toys are so special because they do reference those plots I adored along with having the little in-jokes that added a special touch to so many of the shows. With meaningful props and show references, these toys are a must for any X-Phile. That being said, my husband is not an X-Files fan, but even he thinks that these little guys are very cool.

Even though the pieces can be taken apart, when put together they hold up very well, allowing the figure to be posed in a wide variety of unique poses (and with all of the cool accessories the poses can get really "out there"). They are perfect for giving your office workspace some additional personality.

This figure is part of the first release of X-Files PALz figures from Palisades Toys. The other figures in this line include Agent Mulder, Agent Scully, Frohike, Deep Throat, a Gray Alien, The Flukeman, and The Conundrum. The three harder to find chase figures in this series are Demon Donnie Pfaster, Captured Scully, and Men in Black Mulder. I was able to complete my collection (including the chase figures) at Media Play, but the PALz line is supposedly also carried at Sam Goody and Suncoast stores (although our local ones didn't have them), as well as comic book stores and various online retailers.

Final Thoughts:

If you are an X-Files obsessed fan (like I am) you'll probably want to get the entire line of these nifty X-Files PALz. The attention to detail is cool and the figures are fun, and the fact that they included Donnie, definitely one of the creepiest villains in one of the best episodes, shows that they know what X-Philes like. If you are a non-obsessed X-Files fan then you may want to skip Donnie, because he just looks like a normal guy (and the Demon Donnie is hard to find, especially now that they've been out a little while).



Related X-Files PALz Reviews:
Agent Fox Mulder (both versions)
Agent Dana Scully (both versions)
The Flukeman
Gray Alien

My X-Files Season DVD Reviews:
X-Files Complete Season One
X-Files Complete Season Two
X-Files Complete Season Three
X-Files Complete Season Four
X-Files Complete Season Five
X-Files Complete Season Six
X-Files Complete Season Seven
X-Files Complete Season Eight


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 6.99 each