Todd McFarlane's Spawn

Todd McFarlane's Spawn

Ultra Detailed action figure

Todd McFarlane's Spawn is one of the most popular comic book characters outside of the characters created by the big two (DC and Marvel) in the american superhero comics industry. It's popularity has spawned a movie, an animated T.V. Series, and a revolutionary toyline. The origins of this character can be tied to the emergence of the superstar comic book artists driven fan base during the early 90's (which prior to that time, comic book sales rely more on the characters than the creative teams). The early 90's saw the mutiny of Marvel's top comic book artists to form their own comic book company which they called Image Comics. Todd McFarlane was one of them. He got his big break with Marvel Comics doing art chores for Spiderman. When he formed Image Comics, his first character contribution was Spawn. Spawn would be his ticket to fame as it's popularity opened up a lot of merchandising opportunities, chief of them, is the growing action figure toy collectibles demand. McFarlane would revolutionized the action figure industry by producing highly detailed action figures that were never seen before during it's time. Starting with his very own Spawn, his toy company would nab key licenses on movie, music (like my previous post The Beatles), sports, and other pop culture figures which grew his business from comics to action figures. But despite all of his success and current endeavors apart from Spawn, it will still go back to the character that started it all, SPAWN

The Hellspawn

Character Bio: Spawn was a creation of a being from hell called Malebolgia. Before he became Spawn, he was a mortal called Al Simmons. Simmons worked for the C.I.A. as a covert mercenary before he was killed during a mission by a fellow mercenary. Because of his past transgressions as an assassin, Simmons was sent to hell where he tried to make a deal with the devil. Malebolgia wanted to make Simmons a Hellspawn (Hell's soldiers) and had him lead the rest of his fellow Hellspawns in a war. Simmons agreed to be turned into a Hellspawn but under one condition, he wanted to see his wife for one last time. He would get his wish  and was sent back to Earth but Malebolgia had already turned him into a Hellspawn with little memory of his past mortal life. He would see his wife for one last time but was broken to see that she had already remarried and bore a daughter with his new husband. He was emotionally shattered and was torn between fulfilling his part of the bargain or not. This marks the start of his adventure as he became an anti-hero targeting criminal elements. Spawn's existence is some sort of a cliche. Though he was created by a demon to lead an impending war, his actions to rebel against his creators would cause him to be hunted down by the demon's minions themselves. Complicating matters, the realm of Heaven would also send their Battle Angels to hunt him down and end his existence. Spawn battles for survival as he tries to stay alive from the attacks of Heaven's soldiers while finding ways to return to Hell to fight against evil.

Powers and Abilities: Spawn's core powers comes from the necroplasm that makes up his body. This substance grants him superhuman strength, speed, agility, endurance, and healing. This substance also grants him the necro-magic, which gives him flight, teleportation powers, phasing, resurrecting the dead, and necro-energy blasts. He also can summon the energies of evil men and dark animals to enhance his powers. His suit is a symbiote that he can mentally control to make himself shape shift to any form that he wants. He also carries a vast variety of military arsenal, being a soldier in his previous life. 

Weaknesses: Although Spawn is an immortal, he can still be easily killed when he is struck by a weapon that comes from heaven or from his own necro power. He also looses his immortality when he reaches places that are beyond the influence of hell.      

Spawn ready to do battle

Spawn 3: Ultra Action Figure

The Action Figure: The first series of Spawn action figures (though highly detailed) was more in line with the popular 90's action figures of it's time. But  as time progressed, sculpting details became the top priority, sacrificing the articulation of the figures. Majority of the Spawn action figures released by then were more statue like than toys that you can actually play with. It features close to none or limited articulation, thus limiting the figure's playability factor. It took a rival toy company by Marvel Comics called Toybiz thru it's action figure toyline Marvel Legends to up the competition. McFarlane toys would release a highly detailed and highly articulated Spawn action figure which they dubbed as the 10th Anniversary Spawn action figure in honor of the character's 10th year in existence. I don't own that figure because it is quite too pricey for my budget. But what I have instead is the SPAWN 3: Ultra Action Figure. This figure is the second best highly articulated Spawn action figure that was ever released. I think this was McFarlane's first attempt to create a highly detailed action figure with a decent amount of articulation. I got it at a very good price. The figure's sculpting details is quite amazing. It features articulation on the neck (swivel), shoulders (swivel), elbow (pivot), Wrists (swivel), hips (swivel), and knee (pivot). 

Spreading the wings

Green glowing eyes

 The cape also has a springing action. Press the skull sculpted belt buckle and the cape springs up like a wing. This makes the figure look intimidating when displayed together with other 6 inch action figures. The cape has some holes on it, and it's shape makes it look like a bat wing. The figure also come with an axe, a Bat and an Owl (both not pictured). The figure's green eyes also lights up if you raise his right arm. The figure's tons of gimmicks makes it a very neat figure. My only qualm for this figure is that the plastics used is not as sturdy as I think. But the details are really good. Of course, I think the 10th anniversary figure still is the best Spawn Action Figure ever created, and although there are other impressive Spawn figures released in this line, in terms of overall sculpt and playability, this figure ranks second to the 10th anniversary one. The price that I got it for makes this figure even worthwhile. Sad thing though is that this figure might be displayed by it's lonesome in my display shelf as Image action figures aren't as many as DC and Marvel's and is hard to track down nowadays. But finding a Savage Dragon (Erik Larsen), Shadow Hawk (Jim Valentino), Wild C.A.T.S. (Jim Lee), Wetworks (Whilce Portacio), Youngblood (Rob Liefeld) and Cyberforce (Mark Silvestri) might help this Spawn find it's rightful place in my display shelf (the names mentioned are the other rebel artists and their respective creations that joined Todd Mcfarlane in creating the Image Comics imprint).