ALL72022

Half-orcs must be pretty important in some fantasy worlds as this is the fifth set in the range to depict them. As a hybrid of both orc and human, it is understandable that these creatures might have troubling fitting in to the worlds of either species, but they are apparently particularly good at fighting, so if someone can persuade them to be on their side then they make a formidable ally. In terms of their look they are much the same as the previous sets, so their armour and weaponry looks similar to that of orcs, although here there is much less armour and more bare torsos, revealing a musculature like that of a exceptionally powerful human. The faces are largely hidden beneath the helmet, but the mouths are visible, and look more orc than human to us. Weapons are mostly swords and a 'T' shaped device that we assume is some sort of hammer. Shields are angular and with pointy bits, and look like fearsome weapons in themselves. One creature holds a very long torch but is unarmed, and it has been suggested that this is the one about to ignite the bomb at Helm's Deep in the Two Towers book of the Lord of the Rings, which is confirmed by his having two arrows sticking out of him, as seen in the film version of that book (2002).

The poses are quite lively, and most of the weapons are being handled in a believable way, but the last figure in the second row holds a sword with the hilt at a ninety degree angle to the blade, which we would have thought would make it impossible to use, but then again, we are not half-orcs so perhaps we underestimate them. Our main query with this set is the five figures in the bottom row, which as you will observe have no base. They don't make any sense lying on the ground, so we must assume they are for placing on siege machinery perhaps, or for climbing an escarpment or fortification. Some have their feet in a position that might suggest climbing a scaling ladder, so that must be a possibility too, for example at Helm's Deep again. The sculpting is good, and the one not wearing a helmet reveals a nicely-done face. There is very little flash on these figures, so a useful reinforcement for your half-orc armies.