Dark Alliance has recently expanded its fantasy line with many sets, most of which depict classic fantastic creatures like orcs, half-orcs, elves, dwarves, Amazons, Cymmerians and other humans, demons and zombies. However they also issued several sets of human figures based on popular culture icons and 'Survivors' is one of them. A complementary title: "Antizombies" explains what these people are surviving - a classical zombie apocalypse.
There are 48 figures in the set. 4 identical sprues (see below) contain 12 poses that could be useful to many modern settings or projects.
The first row starts with two male law enforcement officers (who in the typical zombie scenario encounter the monsters relatively early). One of them is shooting a revolver, by the size this could be a 6 inch barrel one. He does not have any headgear - might have lost it in combat - which makes him more versatile. He is also assuming a rather peculiar shooting stance but if we assume this is Rick Grimes (one of the characters from „The Walking Dead” TV series) than it makes a perfect recreation of some scenes. The second officer is holding an AR rifle and seems to be holding guard. His hat narrows his use to certain state and county agencies but it is a perfectly fine figure nonetheless. Police officers are not often seen in the hobby and these two represent them well. Next to them there is probably the only figure that makes sense despite wielding two handguns - a gangster or perhaps a drug dealer. Dressed in baggy trousers and a large amount of jewellery this is probably more of a nod to a number of 'gangsta' movies and rap culture than a representation of any actual gang members. The last figure on the right is a male dressed in simple trousers, motorcycle jacket, moving while holding his AK rifle at low-ready. An extremely useful position to compliment many projects - he can be a terrorist, a covert operator or police officer, a bike gang member or anything else, really.
Row two starts with a male wielding a crossbow - this figure bears an uncanny resemblance to Daryl Dixon, one of the recognizable 'Walking Dead' TV series characters. Next to him stands a female figure that does resemble one of the main protagonists from the 'Terminator' series, Sarah Connor. However her clothes (as well as idealized proportions) suggest a cross-over with Tomb Raider series main character, or most probably this is Rosita ('The Walking Dead'). Next to her stands another female figure, dressed more appropriately for long travels in adverse weather. This is Alice, a main protagonist of the 'Resident Evil: Extinction' movie, depicted as in one of the fighting scenes. This figure holds two large kukri blades in a useless pose that many would call 'heroic'. Last figure on the right is a chef - a rarely portrayed profession in this hobby. He is apparently fighting using his pan as a shield and his chopper as a blade. He can be however placed in any busy kitchen and properly adjusted to be a really busy food preparation specialist.
Row three begins with a young boy swinging a baseball bat with spikes. Next to him there is a perfectly good civilian in a smart dress (still wearing a tie and jacket) and a survival backpack firing a pistol, whose figure is absolutely ruined by a heavy machete wielded in another hand. Why anybody would choose to do that is beyond comprehension and it ruined a really promising and multi-purpose figure. The third figure from the right is a female wielding a katana-style sword while carrying a sniper rifle on her back. This is probably Michonne from 'The Walking Dead' TV series. The pose probably limits her usefulness unless we want a female ninja sniper in action to be placed somewhere on a diorama. The last figure in that row is a male figure that - contrary to most figures in that hobby - accurately represents a post-40 male by having a significantly exposed abdomen. This person is firing a shotgun which is a common self-defense choice and therefore can be placed in many scenarios as a threatened civilian.
The sculpt of these figures is consistent and well executed. All proportions feel normal. The flash is minimal and there is a good potential for customization. The whole set is an interesting addition to any modeller (or wargamer) who intends to add something unique to his project, despite several poses ruined by wargaming industry standards that sadly Dark Alliance chose to adhere to.
