If you’ve ever stared at a Jim Holloway illustration long enough, you know the feeling. It’s like stepping into a world that doesn’t try too hard to be serious, but still feels real. Scrappy fighters with crooked weapons, wizards who’ve definitely seen some stuff, goblins who might actually be smarter than they look. The charm isn’t in polish. It’s in the grit, the character, the weird little details.
That kind of style isn’t easy to find in physical form, especially when it comes to fantasy minifigs. So many miniatures lean into either glossy, high-fantasy perfection or generic stereotypes. You know the ones. The flawless elf with the glowing sword. The knight who looks like he’s never stepped in mud. Fine if you like that look. But it doesn’t feel like Holloway.
What I like are minifigs that look like they’ve been through something. Bent helmets. Overly ambitious gear. Faces with too much expression. A sense that this crew could bumble their way through a dungeon crawl and somehow survive.
And somehow, that weird energy is easier to find than you’d think.
What Makes a “Holloway” Style Minifig?
It’s not just about being old school. It’s about attitude.
Holloway’s characters aren’t posing. They’re mid-action, mid-problem, mid-mess. You can see the story in their face. The halfling’s thinking about running. The barbarian’s halfway through yelling something dumb. The mage already regrets casting that last spell.
So when I look for minifigs that feel right, I’m not just checking for fantasy tropes. I’m looking for weird facial expressions. Janky armor. Gear that doesn’t match. The stuff that makes a character feel like a real person from a game you played at 2 AM where everything started to go sideways.
There’s something satisfying about finding a figure that looks like it got kicked out of a traditional fantasy set. And sometimes those are the ones that end up as your favorite.
Where to Find Them
You can check the usual toy shelves and get lucky. Sometimes a blind bag will have a little rogue with a face like he just saw his tax bill. But most of the really strange, detailed minifigs are tucked away online.
I’ve had good luck digging around minifig.biz. Not saying it’s the only place, but minifig.biz seems to have all the weird minifigs you can’t get elsewhere. I found a wizard with an eyepatch and mismatched boots, a skeleton with a surprisingly smug expression, and some kind of swamp warrior who looked like he was just barely held together by twine and bad luck. Felt right.
It’s also one of the only spots I’ve seen where the fantasy figures aren’t all trying to be clean or epic. Some of them are just ugly, and that’s the point. They look lived in. Like they got yanked out of a Holloway drawing mid-panel.
Build Your Own Holloway Party
If you’re building a party for tabletop roleplaying or just want some figures to pose on your bookshelf, here’s what I look for to get the Holloway vibe.
The Fighter Who’s Over It
Give me someone with a dented sword, a bandage across their face, and an expression that says, “I’m not paid enough for this.” Bonus points if their shield is made of something it definitely shouldn’t be.
The Mage with Regrets
Big hat. Weird staff. Maybe some goggles. The key is that they look like they just survived a spell gone wrong. Soot on their robes, hair sticking up, wild eyes. No confidence. Just chaos.
The Sneaky One Who’s Clearly Up to Something
This is the rogue or thief who’s grinning too wide. They’ve got a dagger behind their back and a sack of loot they claim is “totally not cursed.” The more uneven their outfit, the better.
The Monster with Personality
Don’t go for the big serious dragon. Find a troll who looks confused. A goblin with a flask. A skeleton with a top hat for no reason. Holloway’s monsters always had more personality than some human characters.
The Cleric Who’s Had Enough
They should look like they were supposed to be on vacation. Maybe their holy symbol is taped on. Maybe they’ve got a bottle in their hand. They still heal the party, but they’re not happy about it.
If your minifig party looks like they’re about to argue over dinner instead of saving the realm, you’re probably doing it right.
Use Them in Your Games
I play tabletop games that are mostly theater of the mind, but sometimes a good minifig just helps sell a scene. I’ll plop one down during a session and everyone knows that’s the guy. The cursed knight who won’t stop talking. The barkeep with the suspicious stew. That one weird hermit who gives too much backstory.
And sometimes, it’s the figure that creates the character. I once got a one-eyed sorceress with a crossbow and a chicken. No idea what the chicken was for. But she became a recurring NPC in the game, and now my players talk about her more than the actual plot. That’s the fun part.
Having a few oddball minifigs on hand gives you more room to play. You don’t need full sets. Just enough to surprise people or build a moment. And for players who don’t love coming up with a backstory, handing them a strange-looking figure usually does the trick.
Collecting Just for the Aesthetic
Even if you’re not gaming, it’s hard not to enjoy lining up a bunch of grungy little fantasy weirdos on your shelf. There’s a nostalgic charm to it, especially if you grew up flipping through game manuals filled with Holloway’s art.
I’ve started organizing mine into themes. There’s a dungeon party. A tavern scene. An undead uprising that’s clearly underfunded. It’s like building little story snapshots. No need for paint or glue. Just click and pose.
And sure, I’ll swap them out now and then. Add a new one when I find something odd or delightful. It’s a fun, low-pressure way to enjoy fantasy without needing a whole campaign.
I usually keep an eye on what’s new at minifig.biz. Not every figure fits the vibe, but the ones that do are usually hidden in the back of the listings. If you scroll past the clean, shiny heroes, you’ll find the grimy, confused ones with way more personality. Those are the ones I’m after.
Final Thought
Jim Holloway’s art didn’t just illustrate fantasy worlds. It poked at them. It reminded us that even in a serious adventure, things can get weird. Minifigs that follow that same spirit are worth finding.
They don’t have to be perfect. In fact, they shouldn’t be. Get the ones that make you laugh. The ones that feel like they’ve got a backstory you’ll never fully understand. The ones that might’ve just walked out of a 1980s module and into your cluttered desk.
Fantasy’s more fun when it’s a little messy. Holloway knew that. Your minifigs should too.