I think he's even better now. So... I'm glad the commission fell through? I'm not, I promise. That sucks.
Seriously, I think this is the first figure where you skills are so much on display beneath our scrutiny (your orcs, which I LOVE, are hidden under a lot of clattering orcish things) that looks just... better than I had even hoped. He is just amazing. You know I love figures that are just loafing or doing something not obviously 'epic'. He was marching to war, to battle even, I think, but now he's just leaning on his shield with his mysterious little friend in a camp maybe, long after the siege or the stalemate has ceased to exciting and filled with fear. Or maybe the battle is over? But they're just... hanging out.
Now, if you're selling sculpts for commission, and the customer wants something 'dynamic' maybe he's not as good as the first version. But if you're selling to me, I am much more eager to paint the second. Keep up the great work!