I gladly own up to being an X-Files fanatic. The X-Files was an intelligent, excellent show (for most of its 9 year run, at any rate). The series centered around two strong lead characters, Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who each became pop-culture icons in their own right. Numerous toy-versions of Mulder and Scully have hit the toy shelves down through the years (I even have the Mulder and Scully Barbie and Ken set), but my favorite X-Files toy line has to be the new series of PALz from Palisades.

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 2½ inches 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.

The "Series 1" Mulder is a decent likeness of the lanky FBI agent I know and love. He's got a full head of Mulder-hair and is wearing his typical snazzy suit and tie (dark suit, blue shirt, red tie) with his FBI badge on his lapel. Although the face is a decent enough likeness, I find he doesn't look quite as much like Mulder as the Scully figure looks like herself -- perhaps because one of Duchovny's most distinguishing features (his nose) isn't present (no PALz figures have noses).

Since these little blocky figures are all the rage with collectors, there is a "chase" or harder to find variant version of Mulder (to artificially boost the re-sale value).
The Mulder is a "Men in Black" version, as seen in the "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" episode. The "Men in Black Mulder" figure is wearing a black suit with a black tie. He also wears black sunglasses that cover much of his little PALz face.

PALz figures typically come with tons of accessories, and the Mulder PALz is no exception. Included with both versions of the Mulder figure are:
» His ever-present cell phone
» The wallet version of his FBI badge (complete with PALz-Mulder's face on the id)
­­­­­­» His gun
» A copy of the book "From Outer Space", as written by Jose Chung (as seen in the much-beloved "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" episode)
» An X-File. The one with the "regular" version of Mulder reads "X-1013-0225" and "Anasazi". "Ten Thirteen" is the X-Files production company as well as creator Chris Carter's birth date - the numbers frequently appear in various forms in numerous X-Files episodes as a little inside joke. The episode "Anasazi" was episode number 25 of season 2, so the numbers on the file are a spiffy little in-joke. The file with the "MIB Mulder" reads "X-40253" and "Mulder, Samantha" -- so this is the X-File of Mulder's long lost sister, Samantha. The hunt for his sister is the reason he started working on the X-Files in the first place.
­» A little clear clip is also included so the various characters can hold the little file or Jose Chung's book in their hands easily
­­» A flashlight (and any X-Files fan knows that Mulder and Scully need their flashlights)

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


Our Thoughts & Experiences:

I love the Mulder character. As much as I adore the beautiful and ultra-intelligent Agent Scully, Mulder will always be my favorite. He's the dreamer, the hard-headed idealist with the photographic memory, the guy who never gives up no matter the odds. He's such a fantastic character that I kind of hate the fact that his PALz figure looks like, well, just some guy! If it weren't for the FBI badge I wouldn't recognize him. Even his chase figure isn't that cool. I could think of many other versions of Mulder that would be more interesting than the MIB Mulder we get here (Speedo-Mulder from "Duane Barry" springs to mind...). I do like his accessories, especially Jose Chung's book, but think that they should have included a mini pack of sunflower seeds too (Mulder tended to chew on them regularly, especially in the early seasons).

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 Scully, Frohike, Deep Throat, a Gray Alien, The Flukeman, The Conundrum, and Donnie Pfaster. 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 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:

These PALz figures are a must for any obsessive X-Files fan, and are pretty cool and inexpensive for non-obsessive fans as well. Even though I think the Mulder figure isn't the best likeness in the world, I still had to have him to go with my Scully atop my desk at work. You simply can't have one without the other, and no matter how bad the likeness everyone can tell who they are as long as they are together. They are super cute and super articulated, with great attention to detail. I love my PALz!

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

My X-Files Season-based 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