Conquistador
Review from AFM magazine issue #38
REVIEW WRITTEN BY MIKE FALCIGNO FOR
AMAZING FIGURE MODELER MAGAZINE
"Since early childhood I have always loved the
walking dead; Frankenstein's Monster, Vampires, Mummies, and most of all -
Zombies! As a small boy visiting NY City to see the Ringling Bros Circus I
remember walking past what must have been a Times Square grindhouse cinema
entrance. My youthful eyes zeroed in on an image so profoundly grusome I can
honestly call it my first encoumter with sleazy horror cinema. The image of a
jagged toothed corpse, it's cheeks a bloody pulp, maggots pouring out from an
empty eye socket... with the words "ZOMBIE:WE ARE GONG TO EAT YOU!" filling the
border in bold red type captivated me. Screw the circus! I wanted to see that
film. Criminally mislabeled as a rip off of Romero's Dawn of the Dead, Zombie
(AKA: Zombi, Zombi 2, or Zombie Flesheaters) is infact, a unique "spaghetti
splatter" living dead romp directed by Italian goremeister Lucio Fulci.
This character, referred to by hardcore fans as The Conquistador has been the
subject of several resin interpretations, most notably William Paquet's ultra
rare bust from the 90's and his more recent sublimely grotesque full resin kit.
Those 2 pieces aside, this bust from Tony Gibson is the best new version
available. Gibson has done an admirable job of capturing the nastiness of his
subject, infusing a gritty look to the sculpture others have missed. All the
facial pitting, leathery skin, and crusty wounds are authentically rendered.
The bust ends sharply at the upper shirt lapel with some movie accurate
sections of the zombies rotten shroud thrown in for good measure. For a simple
bust Gibson sculpts in texture quite nicely, offsetting clumps of dirt with
smoother sections like the zombies malformed ears really adds some "bite" to
the bust.
Modelers who hate prep work will be happy to know that I couldn't
even find a seam line thanks to the casting prowess of Trev at NT Productions.
The coolest thing about this bust is that with an afternoon of customising
modelers can effectively recreate the scene from Zombie depicting the
Conquistador rising from his earthen tomb.
If the thought of painting rotten flesh makes you hungry.... the Conquistador
(like a Zombie Snickers Bar) is sure to satisfy even the vilest of appetites."