Undead Phantom Corps Trooper Operation Monster Force Season Zero Apophis Legion Review

Huge thanks to Big Bad Toy Store for sending over the Undead Phantom Corps Trooper from Operation Monster Force Season Zero so we can get this Apophis Legion figure in-hand, because I have been seriously looking forward to spending some time with this release. This 1/12 scale figure highlights the continued collaboration between BigBadWorkshop and Fresh Monkey Fiction and pulls directly from the dark mythology of the Forgotten King and his resurrected forces, the Apophis Legion, made up of fallen special forces soldiers from around the world who were slaughtered and raised as his undead army. As I dove deep into this figure, I am genuinely impressed by the overall build, the realistic paint apps, poseability, and the generous loadout included with this trooper, all of which really elevate the premium nature of this figure once it is out of the package. What makes this even better is that the weapons are designed by Gridiron Studios so you know they will be realistic and accurate! This review also kicks off the first of a four-figure review series we will be rolling out, so stay tuned, as there is a lot more Operation Monster Force goodness on the way. Impressed by the figure? We definitely are and if you are too, head over to Big Bad Toy Store and add the Undead Phantom Corps Trooper Operation Monster Force Season Zero Apophis Legion figure to your shelf!

Apophis Legion Undead Phantom Corps Trooper (Season Zero)

The Apophis Legion is the undead army of the Forgotten King, a sorcerer pharaoh whose existence was erased from Egyptian history due to the brutality of his reign, and these soldiers are reanimated special forces operatives from around the world who were originally sent to stop him and failed. Known as the Undead Phantom Corps, these troopers retain their combat training and tactical knowledge from their previous lives, allowing them to operate modern weapons and function as a disciplined military force despite their supernatural condition. They cannot be killed through conventional means and serve the Forgotten King without question, making them one of the most terrifying threats faced by Operation: Monster Force. This Season Zero trooper represents the earliest visual identity of the Apophis Legion and embodies the idea that these are fallen soldiers twisted into instruments of an ancient evil.

This is a quick peek at what we’ll be diving into below, and right away the figure gives off a heavy, grounded feel that leans hard into gritty realism. I’m really liking how the zombie head sculpt blends torn flesh, exposed teeth, and a battered helmet without overpowering the military gear, letting both elements share the spotlight. The layered tactical vest, pouches, and straps feel dense and purposeful, while the camo paint apps show wear and grime that sell the undead soldier concept without going too far.

Packaging

Right out of the gate, the front of the packaging sets a serious tone, with a large character image that puts the undead soldier front and center without distractions. I like how the portrait leans into the damaged facial sculpt and torn uniform details, giving a clear preview of the paint work and texture you’re getting inside. The framing feels clean and deliberate, and the darker, muted color palette supports the horror military theme while still letting the figure read clearly at a glance. It immediately feels like packaging meant to be displayed just as much as opened, which already has me curious to see how the rest of the box carries that forward.

The back of the packaging leans hard into world building, and I like how it uses a full figure image alongside a large block of story text to establish the Apophis Legion threat without feeling cluttered. The write up clearly frames the Phantom Corps as an elite unit that meets a very bad end, and seeing that narrative paired with the damaged soldier imagery helps connect the figure to the broader Season Zero storyline. Along the bottom, the lineup callout does a nice job showing how this trooper fits into a larger collection, giving a clean visual rundown of what else is available while reinforcing that this is part of a much bigger universe they’re setting up right out of the gate.

Opening the storybook style flap immediately shifts the packaging into something more narrative driven, with a full comic spread that leans hard into the lore behind the Apophis Legion. I like how the panels are used to visually explain the supernatural turn without needing to pull the figure out of the box, giving context to why this trooper looks the way he does. It feels intentional and well integrated, turning the packaging into part of the experience rather than just a container, and it makes spending a little extra time with the box feel worthwhile before even getting to the figure itself.

The comic lays out the origin of the Phantom Corps as a first strike special operations unit sent in to neutralize emerging threats, with Declan Van Helsing embedded as their intelligence officer. When the Forgotten King is identified as a supernatural danger, the team is deployed and quickly realizes that conventional tactics are useless against him. Declan witnesses the unit being completely wiped out, only for the Forgotten King to resurrect the fallen soldiers as undead troops. That moment reframes the entire conflict, establishing the Apophis Legion as former elite operators now raised from the dead and bound to serve a new master.

The figure is neatly secured in a clear plastic tray that keeps everything visible and well organized right out of the box. I’m liking how the trooper is centered in a neutral stance, with the alternate head, multiple hands, and weapon laid out cleanly along the side so nothing feels crammed or hidden. Larger pieces like the rifle and display base are separated and bagged beneath the tray, which keeps them protected while still making it obvious how much is included. What really stands out here is that the interior artwork and fold out design allow the packaging itself to double as a diorama piece, something we’ll be showing off later once the figure is fully set up outside the tray.

Weapons and Accessories

Laid out altogether, the loadout really shows how much thought went into this release without feeling excessive. You get six pairs of hands that cover a wide range of grips and gestures, along with a pistol, holster, knife, and separate knife sheath to build out different configurations. The SAW machine gun anchors the set as the main weapon, backed up by blast effects that add some visual punch when it’s in hand, plus an extra portrait and a helmet loaded with accessories for alternate looks. There’s also an extra patch included, and everything wraps up with the gravestone style display base, which ties the undead theme together and gives the figure a solid footprint once it’s fully geared up.

Figure Details

Right out of the package, the figure buck immediately feels solid and well proportioned, with everything sitting where it should. The combination of the undead head sculpt and modern tactical gear comes together cleanly, giving a clear sense of the character without needing any accessories attached yet. Even in this neutral, straight out of the box setup, it already reads as a cohesive base figure, setting the stage for a deeper dive into the sculpting, paint, and articulation in the next shots.

From the back, the figure shows consistent detailing across the tactical vest and uniform, with the rear armor plate sitting flush and the straps and buckles clearly defined. The camo pattern continues evenly across the legs and arms, with torn fabric areas and exposed damage carried through to the shoulders and calves for visual consistency. The holster placement and belt details are cleanly integrated, keeping everything aligned without interfering with the silhouette.

This close up really shows how well the blood, gore, and splatter effects are balanced across the figure. I’m impressed by the way the reds are layered into the sculpted wounds, while finer splatter hits the surrounding fabric in a more controlled, uneven pattern that feels intentional rather than excessive. The contrast between the glossy damage and the flatter, dirtied camo helps everything read clearly, giving the injuries a realistic presence without overwhelming the rest of the sculpt.

This shot really puts the swappable hands to good use, showing off how the different sculpts change the attitude of the figure without forcing anything awkward at the wrists. I like how the hands carry the same level of paint and damage as the rest of the body, with subtle blood hits and texture that keep them consistent with the upper arms and torso. Up top, the vest, straps, and pouches all sit naturally against the chest and shoulders, and the layered detailing across the upper body feels dense without looking cluttered, which helps everything come together cleanly in hand.

This close up really lets the helmet shine, with the textured shell, mounted optics, and comms earphone gear all reading cleanly and feeling properly scaled to the head underneath. I like how the helmet sits low enough to frame the face without hiding it, which puts the face sculpt front and center with its exposed teeth, torn cheek, and layered paint giving the undead look real depth. The contrast between the hard, clean lines of the gear and the rough, damaged skin underneath works well, and it makes this head and helmet combo feel like a key part of the figure’s overall identity.

This setup shows how much the mask accessory changes the look when added to the helmet, giving the figure a more sealed, tactical appearance while still letting parts of the face peek through. I like how the mask fits snugly without throwing off the proportions of the helmet or crowding the head sculpt underneath. The knife pairs well with this configuration, sitting naturally in the hand with clean sculpting on the blade and handle, and it reinforces how easy it is to shift the figure between different loadouts.

This closer look really shows how effective the blast effects are when they’re actually in use on the weapons. The translucent orange pieces taper naturally from the barrel and catch the light well. I like that they’re sized just right to add visual interest at the muzzle, giving the pose more depth when the figure is displayed on the shelf.

This shot does a good job showing how the smoke effect adds an extra layer of visual interest when paired with the pistol, giving the weapon a bit more presence. I like how the translucent piece curls upward in a natural way. You can also see how swapping or repositioning the helmet mask changes the overall look, letting the face be more exposed or more covered depending on the setup, which makes it easy to give the figure a different personality from one pose to the next.

This close up really highlights the level of detail packed into the SAW machine gun, from the layered panel lines and venting along the body to the sculpted rails and barrel assembly. I like how the proportions feel substantial, and the matte finish helps all those mechanical details read clearly. Paired with the blast effect at the muzzle, it feels like a centerpiece weapon that matches the intensity of the figure and anchors the entire loadout.

This tighter shot really lets the blast effect and SAW machine gun do the heavy lifting, with the translucent orange flame sitting cleanly at the muzzle and adding a strong visual punch without hiding any of the sculpted detail on the barrel. The weapon itself still reads sharp and mechanical, with all the panel lines and surface texture coming through even in close proximity to the effect piece. It’s also cool to notice the exposed ligaments in the forearm right next to the grip, a small but effective detail that ties the undead damage directly into the action pose instead of keeping it isolated to the legs or face.

This shot puts the tactical vest front and center, and it’s cool to see that the Phantom Corps chest plate is fully swappable rather than being locked into the sculpt. You can remove the branded plate and replace it with the blank option, which instantly changes the look of the figure and makes it feel more like a generic unit or rank and file trooper. The vest itself sits naturally on the torso, with layered pouches and straps that don’t interfere with posing, and the plate swap adds a simple but effective way to customize how this figure reads on the shelf.

As a final look, everything comes together in a way that feels cohesive and deliberate, with the figure reading clearly as both a modern soldier and an undead threat without one side overpowering the other. The balance between gear, damage, and accessories gives it a strong shelf presence, and the poseability lets you find stances that feel natural and supported by the sculpt. It ends up feeling like a figure that rewards time and handling, where the more you adjust and display it, the more the design choices start to click.