It’s pretty interesting that the most popular and beloved character on The Walking Dead is not only not the main character of the show, but also one that never even appeared in the comic series it’s based on. With survival skills that put Bear Grylls to shame and better aim with a crossbow than Cupid could ever dream of having, Daryl Dixon instantly became a fan favorite, and one of the most badass dudes to ever grace a television screen. In fact, the character was so loved by fans right out of the gate that the original plans of having Norman Reedus as a short-term actor on TWD were completely changed after the first season, and Dixon was promoted to a main character from Season 2 onward.
You’d be hard pressed to find a Walking Dead fan who doesn’t list Daryl at the tippy-top of their ranking of favorite characters on the show, and I’d go so far as to say that he’s the least expendable one out of the bunch, and one that I’d be more surprised to see meet true death than Rick Grimes himself. AMC and the various companies that put out TWD merchandise have of course realized how important the character is to the show and how much fans have embraced him, which has led to Daryl starring in his own spinoff video game and even appearing in a Super Bowl commercial for Time Warner Cable earlier this year.
Be jealous, Mr. Grimes. Be very jealous.
It was in 2011 that McFarlane Toys announced they would be putting out action figures based on the Walking Dead universe, in separate lines for the comic series and the TV show. Just two years later, Series 4 of the TV line is gearing up for release, with the fifth series already up for pre-order. If you guessed that the most popular toy that’s been released in the line thus far was Daryl, then give yourself a cookie.
Originally released in Series 1, the very first Daryl Dixon figure quickly sold out and became the most sought after toy in the entire McFarlane line, and he can often be found selling for around $200 on eBay. Realizing what a cash cow the character is, McFarlane got to work on finding as many different ways to make more Daryl figures as they could, with a repaint of the Series 1 figure seeing re-release in an upcoming two-pack with his brother Merle, and Daryl even getting his very own Deluxe Edition 10” figure later this year. Toy collectors have been complaining about the small size of McFarlane’s Walking Dead offerings these last couple of years, and who better to give the biggie size treatment to than Daryl?
Today we’ve learned that yet another Daryl toy is headed our way: McFarlane this time is presenting him alongside his iconic motorcycle, the very first vehicle to make its way into the TWD line. A brand new sculpt that is in my opinion the best toy likeness we’ve seen of the character thus far, the figure was created from a full 3D scan of Norman Reedus, and will be included in a box set with his hunting knife, crossbow and the aforementioned chopper.
Here's some close-up images of the set, which for now are digital renderings whipped up to give you an idea of what the finished product will look like:
The Daryl Dixon Deluxe Box Set is set to begin shipping next March, and you can pre-order yours today over on Clark Toys for $34.99.
If you’re looking to line your shelves with even more Daryl Dixon toys, you’ll find everything from plush dolls to bobbleheads and busts to vinyl figures, from companies like Funko and Gentle Giant... and something tells me that all of this is only the beginning of Dixon’s reign over the toy aisle!