Thirty years after he took down the Deadites, Ash Williams is back in the Ash vs Evil Dead TV Series. After accidentally unleashing Deadites, our square jawed hero must once again face the evil that took his friends and his love so long ago. With new recruits Kelly and Pablo, “El Jefe” and the Ghostbeaters team sets out on a road trip to end all road trips, all while being pursued by the mysterious Ruby and police officer Amanda Fisher. They look to put the Evil Dead back in hell for good.
Just ahead of the Season 2 premier, NECA will be releasing their first series of 7″ scale figures based on Ash vs Evil Dead. The introductory wave includes Value Stop Ash, Hero Ash and the demon Eligos. They will also have a box set featuring a bloody Hero Ash and two Demon Spawn from the season 1 finale, which is due out later. NECA sent along the Ash vs Evil Dead Series 1 figures, and we have the first look at the final production version. Read on to check out over 135 photos and a full review!
Ash vs Evil Dead Series 1 by NECA
Pros
- Some of NECA’s best head sculpts
- Both Ash figures features great articulation
- Eligos sculpt is excellent and creepy
- Articulated jaw on Eligos
- Paint apps are spot on
- Hero Ash’s modular arm attachment
- All four Ash heads can be swapped across the 2 figures
- Chainsaw hand can be used on either Ash
Cons
- Hips on Eligos are a bit hard to position
Overall
The first assortment of Ash vs Evil Dead figures come packaged is great window boxes. These collector friendly packages feature character specific portraits and a very blood red color scheme using key art from the TV show. Each of the figures comes on a plastic tray, held in by a twist tie. Also includes is a blood red forest dio backdrop with each figure.
Value Stop Ash
In the series, Ash has ditched S-Mart for the easy life as a stock boy at Value Stop. This figure comes with Ash in his work uniform, complete with name tag. In the show, he’s attacked by a Deadite possessed Lil-Lori Ballerina Doll, and one of this little murder dolls is included here. Value Stop Ash also includes a wooden hand and an extra interchangeable head. The two portraits here are “Shocked” and “Screaming” head sculpts. The head sculpts are very easy to swap out, as is the wooden hand if you want to attach the chainsaw or modular attachment from Hero Ash.
This version of Ash looks good and has some excellent sculpting. Double jointed elbows are most welcome and are hidden well within the arms sculpts. This was the first of the figures I opened and I was immediately impressed by the head sculpts here. The fine details and the subtle skin paint work are outstanding. Across all four heads, these may be some of the best final production heads I’ve seen from them. They eye painting is equally noteworthy here. No cross-eyed or misaligned paints here. The likeness to the current age of Bruce Campbell is spot on.
Eligos
The Demon of the Mind; Eligos had a multi-episode story arc in the show. Ash, along with occult fanatic Lionel Hawkins, summons Eligos to get answers on how to end the Deadite plague. Eligos gets loose and torments the team in numerous ways over the next few episodes. The character design for Eligos is far different than anything we’ve seen from the Evil Dead series. Visually, the character looks like something designed by Guillermo Del Toro. The figure here includes no accessories, but does have an articulated lower jaw. Eligos has a great overall sculpt. In the show, you never get a look at the lower leg design, so it’s odd to see such a unique design. It adds to the overall creepy look Eligos has.
For this figure, since it’s essentially a naked demon, NECA went for a more streamlined sculpt, forgoing any waist articulation. I was fine with it, though it may bother some fans. The elbows here are also double jointed, giving Eligos a great range of arm motion. The mid-section is a very hard plastic, which actually hinders the hip movement a bit. I used a hair dryer to loosen that area up, allowing for much more dynamic leg poses. The lower legs, being essentially long arms and hands, help to keep the figure sturdy while posing. the paint work here is again outstanding. the running blood matches up perfectly as it runs over limbs. I have to wonder if there was some digital paint work in play here, as the lines across all the figures are extremely clean. Nothing feels “brushed” on and it has a very naturalistic look to the paint. The delicate handling of the sculpt, the well hidden jaw articulation and fantastic sculpt and design make me hope we get more demons and Deadites in this line.
Hero Ash
Faced with the demons from his past, Ash is once again forced to don his iconic outfit (with a little help from his trusty girdle). This Ash figure includes two head sculpts, a chainsaw hand, a modular arm attachment, a new power glove hand, a shotgun and a shotgun holster. The head sculpts included here are the standard, I’ll call it “Stoic” head sculpts, as well as an “Angry” head sculpt. Everything here is very easy to swap out.
Hero Ash is the unquestionable best figure of a very good series 1. With the number of accessories and the ability to use both heads from Value Stop Ash, this may well be an Ultimate figure. Another terrific sculpt capped off by two more stellar head sculpts. The body sculpt has some nice touches, such as it clearly looking like Ash is either wearing that girdle, or sucking in his gut. Hero Ash also has great double jointed elbows, again hidden will within the folds of his sleeves. The best part of this figure, though, is the new modular right hand pieces. In the later episodes, Pablo and Kelly create a new power glove hand for Ash. This comes with the added ability to swap his hand out with the chainsaw. So, not only does Ash include the direct connect forearm for the early episodes with the chainsaw, but also another forearm piece for the gloved hand, and the modular arm attachment, than the chainsaw can also connect to.
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Bottom line is that this is a stellar introduction to Ash vs Evil Dead figures from NECA. The figures have the look and quality sculpting of their hand painted prototypes we always see at cons. The Ash head sculpts are pretty much perfect and having them be swappable between both figures is an added bonus. If you’re a fan of the show, or of the Evil Dead franchise at all, then you’re going to enjoy these figures. Check out some highlight photos below and over 135 photos in the full gallery after that.
Toyark 1st Look - Ash vs Evil Dead Series 1 by NECA




These figures are phenomenal. You're not kidding when you say that the head sculpts are NECA's best work yet. Seriously amazing, and highlighted with an equally amazing photo shoot, Joe.

You mention of the possibility of digital painting being used on these figures brings me to a question I've always had...exactly how ARE action figures painted in China before being shipped over here? By hand? By machine? A combo of the two, or some other method? Can you share any knowledge on the process, Joe? Figure paintjobs are just always something that I've taken for granted.
BTW, this pic made me legit LOL:
You mention of the possibility of digital painting being used on these figures brings me to a question I've always had...exactly how ARE action figures painted in China before being shipped over here? By hand? By machine? A combo of the two, or some other method? Can you share any knowledge on the process, Joe? Figure paintjobs are just always something that I've taken for granted.
BTW, this pic made me legit LOL:
Paint applications depends on the company, really. Some companies, especially in the statue business, have people at the factory that hand paint entire items, specific parts or specific paint applications. These usually include weathering effects, eyes, small details, etc. Some companies forgo that and use computer controlled layouts and let machines apply paint apps. Tamashii Nations/Bandai have been using this digital method for their faces for a while now.
These look fantastic, I'll definitely be picking up Hero Ash for sure. Was going to get Eligos as well, but since he's missing any kind of torso articulation then no buy for me. I understand the desire to keep the sculpt looking nice, but they should have done a soft rubber/plastic body with some kind of skeletal underlay.
I'd love to have had some movement in the torso for sure, but I get why it's not there.
I've had this series' hero Ash on pre-order but the wait can't end soon enough. With this series and the ultimate figure having just come out there's a lot of good Ash out there right now.
Shouldn't these have come out last year when Season 1 was relevant?
I'd love to have had some movement in the torso for sure, but I get why it's not there.
They didn't even get the license until, what, last SDCC? It takes roughly a year to make figures. They couldn't exactly start making figures for season 2 when there was no season 2. Why start off with Pablo and Kelly when you had no idea if anyone is going to care about them.
The first season just came out on blu ray. This is perfect timing. Any word the exact time for these to see release? I am freaking overjoyed for these. Any word on a second series?
I might have to get a couple of each, just to display with all the options. NECA is killing my bank account. But, in a good way.
I'd love to have had some movement in the torso for sure, but I get why it's not there.
Sadly, ever getting a Bennett figure is far less likely.
I gotta say, Joe Moore, I don't think anyone has ever done more with one photo shoot to persuade me to part with my money. I figured beforehand that I'd probably get Hero Ash, but having repeatedly studied your photos, I am in for the entire trio.
NECA owes you a debt of gratitude. Beautiful work, man.
They got off light, I think!
Ash vs Evil Dead On NECA Ebay and Amazon Stores - The Toyark - News
Finally got mine! They'll be dominating my photostream this week!
Evil Fuckin' Dead by Monte Williams, on Flickr
Eligos by Monte Williams, on Flickr
Evil Never Rests... and Neither Do Name-Brand Savings by Monte Williams, on Flickr
Keep reading: Ash vs Evil Dead 1st Look Gallery - Page 2
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