SPAWN

SPAWN - Series 1
Figure: Spawn, the FIRST spawn. Al Simmons upon returning from the depths of hell after making the deal with Maelbolgia. Mine is the Unmasked Version made by Macfarlane toys after they changed from TODD TOYS. Thus he only comes with a comic book, no trading card, with lightning style sheet and pics of figures from series 1-6 on the other sheet. Both of which cover both sides of the comic.
Accessories: The already mentioned comic book providing some basic background info on Spawn, his "swinging" cape, two rubbery chains which can be taken from his waist and placed in his right hand, skull chain collar with pegs that fit into the cape in front of Spawn's neck, a small plastic dingus which connects Spawn to his cape and finally a very UN-SPAWN-ish type of weaponry… a piece of wood with a claw spike sticking through it. Even more bizarre, the claw is yellow…?
Comments: The burnt head is VERY well done! Sadly it appears more detail was used on the head than the rest of the body. All over his head you see the icky burnt flesh, dark parts of sinew showing through, maggots crawling about his charred face, the top of his head has a large bit of skull showing through as do bits about the sides. At the base of his neck you can even see his spinal column! The face itself is just a pretty, burned noseless face with glowing yellowy-green eyes and his teeth bared (since his lips are, after all, burned off). Spawn is about 5 ½ inches tall with his cape adding another half inch. He has articulation at his neck, shoulders, hips and knees for a total of 7 points of articulation. His cape is supposedly supposed to swing open, but does a poor job of doing so. And to add insult to injury, the odd hollowy plastic used on the cape easily weakens so simply trying to "swing" the cape a few times in a row causes the hinges to start turning slightly white showing that it will very soon tear off. I noticed this and did my favorite hot water trick which healed it up thankfully. Altogether the first Spawn was quite nice for a display piece, looks great in the package in which I recommend you keep him because outside there's just not as much to him as expected.
Overall: Nice try, but no cigar. I suggest you try Spawn 5 instead. **

SPAWN 4 - Arsenal of DOOM: Special Edition
Figure: Spawn as an advocate for the NRA! :P This is the unmasked, unscarfed Spawn 4 from series 12 which a certain sister of mine affectionately refers to as "The 'everything with guns' series". Which is somewhat accurate because even if one doesn't have guns… Spawn has enough to share. ^_^' Accessories: Spawn 4 SE comes with his lovely stackable/hangable acrylic display case. Illustrated Cardboard Covers on the top and bottom , and inside the case is lovely depiction of Spawn 4 shooting at… umm… everything! Also included are: A Spawn logo shaped stand which is too flimsy under Spawn's weight to be used as such. 6 small black pegs, 2 of which are to be placed in the holes in Spawn's feet and then inserted into one of the many holes making up the bottom of the case where the figure stands. A semi-automatic pistol, a combat knife, a large gun with a clip sticking out the left side, a gun about the same size with a brace and bayonet, and a MASSIVE gun. Which is somewhat difficult to get Spawn to hold so it has a peg which allows it to be placed on his back. Comments: Spawn 4 is profuse with bullets, shells, grenades, skulls, bombs, pouches, straps, and spiked body armor all about him as well as 2 real chains dangling off his chest and waist. Spawn is about 6 ½ inches tall with his massive gun on his back adding another inch and a half. He has articulation at the neck, hinged-rotating double joints at his shoulders, his elbows, wrists, waist and hips for a total of 11 points of articulation. To be blunt, he is one mean lookin' hombre. The detail on this is exquisite, some of the best I've ever seen from MacFarlane toys, he's both scary and awe inspiring at the same time. Totally suh-weeeeeeeet! On his right shoulder it appears he has a flashlight (Gotta see em' ta shoot 'em!) he also has a small sheath for his knife strapped to his right calf over his body armor. He can hold all his weapons, but he holds the knife and pistol best. I used a clear rubber band to strap the large gun with the clip sticking out securely in his left hand and I have the pistol in his right. I keep the big gun mounted on his back because is adds very much to his appearance, despite it being the gun with the firing action (wind up the gatling part, pull a switch and it spins. Woo hoo.). He rules, nuff said.
Overall: Incredible. People who never took any interest in Spawn stop to check this out and many even buy it! This is VERY highly recommended!!! Despite that he has neither mask nor scarf he just plain RULES!!!!! And since these are limited I suggest you add him to your collection ASAP!

Special Edition: Future Spawn - Series 3 deluxe boxed figure
Figure: A totally hypothetical hellspawn of the future who seems he was in absense of many an appendage when he died and his costume replaced each one with a cybernetic part instead... well maybe not EVERY one :P Anyway, This is simply the big boy from series 3, not too hard to find.
Accessories: Apparently he is supposed to come with a missle to fire out of the cannon in his chest, but alas mine doth not HAVE a missle. >_<
Comments:
Overall: Semi-stupid idea turned into BIG neato figure, perfect rival for the Cyborg Violator II. He comes slightly recommended, kinda fun, but not quite worth the effort of hunting down. Violator - Series 1
Figure: The Violator, the demon sent to observe Spawn and keep him "with the program" under the human guise of Clown. And when he either loses his temper or feels he needs to give Spawn a slight reminder, he transforms. This is the three horned, bug eyed pain in the arse who Spawn must overcome, but much of the time Violator is not as loyal as Malebolgia hopes… This is a landmark as the FIRST Violator figure released and came in 3 colors white/gray (regular, painfully easy to find), Black (Macfarlane toys club exclusive, not really all that rare, but now becoming hard to find) and Red (INCREDIBLY hard to find, rarest and more expensive than any other Spawn figure I've run into... even though he really suck >_<).
Accessories: Violator comes with an exclusive comic (which has rather bad art) and being the original TODD TOYS version, he comes with a trading card. That's it.
Comments: I thought it was some sick joke. But I was wrong. Violator is VERY cool, but the first breed of Violator toy… was not. Think Gumby… Think Violator… Think of their lovechild… THAT is what this thing is. First off, he is painted a sickly whiter than gray color with nowhere NEAR the amount of careful detail shown in the catalog photo (also the catalog photo seems to be from the Violator of the limited PVC Spawn VS. Violator boxed set) and his whole head is rather badly shaped. His gimmick is that his arms and legs and bendable and that when you move the horn on his back, his lower jaw moves slightly for a so called "biting action". Difficult to stand, to pose, etc. which makes him something of a pain to display.
Overall: Bad idea unless you're a completist of Spawn toys or a huge Violator fan. If you get one and you're neither, then DO NOT OPEN HIM! He looks okay in his package, but once he's out he stops being okay. Whatever color, variant or version you get of Violator I, be afraid… be VERY afraid! :O DO yourself a favor and get Violator II or one of the Manga versions, far better figures.

Violator II - Series 3 (Both Variants)
Figures: The second Violator figure made, and for laughs I suppose, two versions were released: (Cyborg) Violator made as a freakish cybernetic monstrosity, I believe the rarer of the two. And (regular) Violator, without cybernetic arm, lower jaw, rear horn and eypiece and in their stead; typical demon appendages. Nothing too flashy.
Accessories: The Cyborg's eyepiece can be removed, other than that neither have any accessories.
Comments: Let me begin by saying that making Violator into a cyborg is idiotic at best... being a demon of hell, why would he NEED *MAN*-made cybernetic implants?!?! One of the stupider ideas of late... but no matter, apparently MFToys took the whole "total chaos" motto to heart (even though it never came out until around Spawn series 6) in that they should make cool toys for cool toy's sake. Which... I can actually agree with ^_^ Now then,