The Inspiration:
Zoloworld's awesome Realm of the Underworld action figures (underworldfigures[dot]com) have me back in the custom game, working in the 80's fantasy style of my youth. They are riffing off the old Remco lines that kids could play with alongside their MOTU figures but have developed their own characters and story combining Greek myth and general fantasy. Best of all the figures have interchangeable heads and limbs for customizing!

The Story:
Fang-Ra broadens my personal ROTU universe beyond just greek myth. He’s got some Egyptian influence but I could see these two ancient cultures crossing paths – particularly where sorcery, angry gods and powerful artifacts are involved. Fang-Ra is a warrior/sorcerer who’s cult was on the rise. He gets duped by Acromancer (the big bad in ROTU) into joining forces and then double crossed when Acromancer “steals” his followers by turning them into Archfiends (skeleton minions). The loss of his cult makes Fang-Ra see the error in ever partnering with evil - even if the promised outcome is good. Armed with the mystic Serpent Staff artifact, he becomes a bitter enemy of Acromancer and friend to the overworld rebels.

The Build:
I did it just like they did in the 80s. What made Remco figures stand out from MOTU, was their use of vinyl, cloth and cord to create "outfits" for the figures - things like capes, tunics and fur pelts. For Fang-Ra, I when with a snakeskin tunic I cut from vinyl with a braided black cord for a sash. The headdress is from another 80's line (Supernaturals) and the staff is a combo of a Cobra Commander staff and fodder.

He fits right in with my Remco and ROTU figures. Keep an eye out for more figures in this style - I'm on a bit of a retro revival right now.