Figure Name: Fighting JC
Figure Maker: threeA Toys
Retail Price: US$80
Available At: Sold out, but plenty of after-market sellers 

The box itself is a work of art. There's a gorgeous painting of Fighting JC on the front, which is also seen closer up on the back. On the side is one of several quips adorning the packaging: "YOUR LAST SUPPER." I have to admit, it elicited a giggle, or something slightly manlier than a giggle but still giggle-like, from me.

Right away, you get a good view of the product — and Adventure Kartel's tagline. A Zomb head is on top of the rest, wrapped in plastic. It was at this point that I was absolutely frothing at the mouth to get him out of the box, but I took a few pictures just for you guys.

Oh, the detail. And The dirtiness. In fact, the first thing that struck me about JC after I lifted the plastic lid was the smell. I'm not sure what kind of aging process this was put through, but there was a definite chemical odor to it. Granted, the dirt on it looked plenty real, and perhaps it was, and I've never smelled the dirt from China. Actually, an important point to make note of is that if you plan to pose this figure, you will get dirty. As opposed to most designer vinyl or PVC figures, you'll want to wash your hands after touching this one.

Of course, that's part of the appeal. From his head to his feet, JC has obviously seen better days. His cloak (slash tracksuit?) is covered in dirt, and is flexible due the metal cord embedded in the red highlights, allowing you to pose it in whatever position you desire.

JC isn't bashful about who he is — one look at the back of his cloak will reveal this. I loved when I turned him around to see this embroidered. Again, just look at all that dirt. The amount that transferred to my hands when posing him for the photos was impressive, if not a little disturbing,

One more thing to make note of — JC has ink. Lots of ink. As you can see from his hand, he's ready to take war to the Zombs, That was a nice touch, especially with the blood spatter surely left from beating his enemies to a pulp.

Of course, he's got his signature "GODLIFE" tattoo, clearly parodying the "THUGLIFE" made popular by Tupac. It doesn't stop there, though. He has an "AK" (Adventure Kartel) tattoo on his arm, and more.

On one side, he has his signature "F JC" (as in "Fighting JC", of course), along with some crosses and bandages.

On the other, he's sporting a Jesusfish, plus more bloody bandages and crosses.

But all of these pale in comparison to the tattoo of Mary on his back, followed by a passage from Job. The amount of design work done just on the tattoos is impressive, whether or not you believe JC would be down with it to begin with.

Next up: the accessories. JC's sporting all sorts of bags, and the detail on these is nothing short of phenomenal. The stitching, the tiny clasps, and again, all that dirt ... they're all miniature, functional bags.

The bag to the right in the picture above seems to be meant to hold a knife (not included), and the one to the left with the mesh and pull-string is usually shown holding the included Zomb head.

Of course, you don't need to keep the head in the bag — and it looks great up-close as well. You've gotta love that expression.

Another fine detail would be his kicks, clearly Adidas. The detailing on these is also great, including the soles.

Speaking of the soles, this would be a fine time to point out the awesome poseability of this figure. It's awfully familiar to a Hot Toys True-Type body, if you're familiar with those, although clearly not quite the same standard of quality. It does squeak a bit when posing. While I wasn't able to get him to stand on one foot without leaning him on something for this shoot, I was beforehand. That allows for dynamic poses such as the one above. Whether he's just kicked a Zomb or is about to punch evil in the face, I love this particular angle.

Overall, this is a fantastic figure, and a great addition to the Adventure Kartel line. It's also the first of that line that I've owned, so I was in for a few surprises. Apparently, each of these releases comes with a double-sided poster, one side being a comic strip explaining how he fits into the AK universe. The other is a large print of the painting you see on the box. You can check these out in the gallery.

If I had any complaints about this release, it would be the smell (which I suppose is linked to the aging process it's undergone) and the lack of extra hands. It would be awesome to have a couple more options, perhaps flat palms so I could pose him kneeling in prayer. But overall, for an US$80 figure with plenty of accessories, clothing, embroidery, and the sheer awesome factor, he was a steal.

Of course, as with most threeA toys, if you don't pre-order quickly, you're out of luck, but there are plenty for sale on the secondary market. Even if you end up paying a bit more than US$80, I'd say he's worth it. Fighting JC has definitely taken a top spot in my list of favorite designer toys of 2011.