Today we’re looking at the Fallout 76 mothman, and although I reviewed a mothman already this one is not actually based on the cryptid, but the video game creature from Fallout 76. For those unfamiliar, Fallout is a post-apocalyptic role-playing video game series that takes place in a timeline that deviates from our own in the 1950’s and retains many of the characteristics of that decade. In the series there’s a nuclear war in 2077 and the games take place at various points afterwards. Although I have not played Fallout 76, I am quite fond of the franchise and have played many of its other entries. Fallout 76 takes place in Appalachia in 2102. The setting includes West Virginia, which is where Mothman lore originates.
The mothmen in Fallout 76 are not supernatural or extraterrestrial beings but a mutated species of insect. In the game there’s a religious faction that worships the creatures known as the Cult of Mothman. Different variations of mothmen exist in the game, with some being timid and others hostile, this figure appears to represent the basic mothman. Although they’re insects the mothmen in Fallout have an owl-like quality about them, which makes sense when you consider the actual Mothman was quite likely a misidentified owl.
This mothman is the first Funko Pop! figure that I HAD to have, because of my love for cryptids and because the style of the figure is reminiscent of the original Linda Scarberry eyewitness sketch. In my last review I said that I preferred Mothman reconstructions that were less humanoid and more insectoid, and this was the figure I had in mind when I wrote that, which is why I’m sharing them back-to-back. But this is not the only mothman by Funko Pop! They made a figure of the folkloric Mothman, based on the Linda Scarberry sketch and released under their Pop! Myths line. Both figures are out of production and command a high price on the secondary market, but the Fallout mothman generally runs cheaper.
Since this figure represents an evolved insect, it is entirely based on insect anatomy, just altered in such a way that it resembles the Mothman cryptid. It has a head, thorax, segmented abdomen, six jointed limbs, feathery antennae, coiled proboscis, and compound eyes. The eyes are particularly unique for a Funko Pop! figure, since nearly all their figures have flat, black eyes. In addition to being textured like a compound eye, they’re also red, like the Mothman cryptid. In the game the eye color varies with the type of mothman. The folded wings are detailed with veins and drape down over the back, like a cape, and the moth stands with the aid of its wings and last pair of legs.
Although Funko Pop! has a unique aesthetic that enlarges the head and eyes it doesn’t deviate too much from the source material in this instance. The video game creature has a similarly enlarged head and eyes. The figure is black with dark gray wings and aside from the red eyes the only other color on the figure is a red patch on the wings. The head and thorax are furry, with a nice, layered texture on the back.
Credit must be given to the Fallout game developers who have taken the idea of Mothman and translated it into a “believable” animal. Further credit must be given to Funko for then making a fantastic figure of the video game creature. I adore this mothman and it’s my favorite Funko figure that I own, as well as one of my favorite monster figures. Since this figure is no longer in production you’ll be looking to pay $40-50 minimum for it. With the packaging it costs considerably more but if you’re a Mothman fan or cryptid enthusiast it’s worth seeking out, even if you’ve never played the game it’s based on. It almost makes me want to play the game, but the game is online only, and I don’t generally like online games.
… reposted this!