McFarlane Reveals the Arbiter
McFarlane Toys revealed this last week (or so) their version of the Arbiter from the mega popular, sweet ass, you should be dead if you haven’t heard of it yet, Halo 3.
This version promises to have whopping (especially for McFarlane Toys) 18 points of articulation along with two weapons that either fit on his back or leg.
He looks damn pretty, but let’s face facts. The Arbiter is totally second fiddle to Master Chief. I remember first playing the Arbiter in Halo 2 and being split on how cool it was to be playing on “the other side” and how at the same time it sucked that I wasn’t playing as Master Chief who is one of my favorite video game characters of all time. The Arbiter is Laverne and Shirley to Master Chief’s Happy Days.
The Arbiter also kind of got the shaft in Halo 3 where he serves as a tag along character that adds a bit of color commentary now and then. Its nice that the story of Halo 3 focuses on Master Chief (as well it should), but The Arbiter is a shadow of his former self. You can’t even use his camouflage like in the first game! Talk about neutering the poor guy.
If you need to have your very own Arbiter, you’ll have to wait a bit. McFarlane is giving a June 2008 release date for this. Until then, play some Halo 3 online to pass the time. If you see me be sure to say hi and let me win for once. Damn it.
A bit behind on your Halo toy news? Click here for all of Toy Bender’s Halo coverage.
January 4th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hey Paul–do you think McFarlane’s going to miss the boat on these with the spring release date? I played H3 constantly about three months ago, but I haven’t touched it since November. While I’ll definitely pick up the Master Chief and maybe the Grunt two-pack, I can’t say I’m as psyched for this line as I might have been a year ago.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Well…. I’d say he def missed out on the mega mainstream momentum that Halo had, but it is Halo after all. I’ll bet when you see these you’ll want to start playing again.
I think the big problem wasn’t McFarlane’s, rather it was JoyRide having the rights for so long and by the time McFarlane got them they were behind on the release schedule of the game.
January 6th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Hasn’t McFarlane been running consistently behind schedule for a while now? A LONG while? Starting at least with Corpse Bride, and definitely continuing up through The Simpsons Movie. Is it really any surprise Todd missed the boat on Halo?
Of course, with articulation, these will be sellers no matter when they come out…
January 6th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I know this is totally off topic, but I noticed the banner ad for an insurance company (?) at the bottom of the page appears to show TF movie Bumblebee (the same car make and design) in the background. Wonder if. . .?
-PJ
January 6th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Hey Man,
I dig your news updates like a cat digs catnip, but why don’t you ever post pics of your own toys and such?
January 6th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Because a: my toys aren’t that interesting and b: my photography skills are horrible.
I haven’t had a lot of time to work on posts that aren’t newsy, but I’m trying like hell to make time.
January 7th, 2008 at 1:34 am
Fair enough.
January 7th, 2008 at 4:32 am
OMG, it’s the Cloverfield monster, revealed!
Oh, wait a tick…
(Tell me that there isn’t an uncanny resemblance, though, between Senor The Arbiter and the latest promo photos for Cloverfield:
http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/real-cloverfield-monster-concept-art-revealed-maybe.php )
January 7th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
That thing is swank looking! I just got set up with H3 at my place! befriend me Paul. I’m kidcharm on XBox live.
January 7th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Okay will do Quincy. If you befriend me first, I’ll accept your invite. You can see my gamer tag on there right side bar there —->
Maybe if we can convince GWS to get off his arse and buy an XBox he can join us… oh yeah we have to get Poe to stop playing Mass Effect long enough to team up with us too. hehe
January 8th, 2008 at 1:53 am
“You can’t even use his camouflage like in the first game!”
I’m pretty sure you meant the second game. Unless you wanted to say the first game he was in, but that would still be Halo 2. Of course, you could also say the first Halo if you wanted to use the excuse of him being an “off-screen” Covenant guy back then.