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Manufacturer: Sideshow Toy, Inc. (www.sideshowtoy.com) |
HOME...REVIEWS...TOYS...BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
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Continuing the expansion of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer line from Sideshow Toys, here comes the Spike figure! Spike, also known as William the Bloody, originally was introduced on the show as a villain for the first half of season 2. The character proved so popular that he managed to gain a reprieve from being killed off after his planned arc was finished. After joining the cast permanently in Season 4, Spike stayed with the show until it ended, and then migrated to Angel for that show's finale season.
So does the extremely popular Spike get a well-made figure? Lets find out.
Packaging:
Spike comes in a front flap box similar in presentation and style to the
Buffy Summers and
Angel figures. and this time the color
chosen is a dark green.
The front features a photo of James Masters, while the left and right sides of the
box display a photo of the upper body of the Spike figure from different
angles. The back of the box features a mini bio for James Masters,
including his birth city and his first performance acting, as well as
upcoming performances in film. Below this biography are various shots
from the BtVS show.
On opening the Velcro flap, the box reveals to the Spike figure, fully visible via a plastic window in the packaging. The figure itself comes in a plastic tray, and is held fast by a few twist ties and plastic bands. On the opposite side of the flap is included information on the Spike character, including background information on him that occurred before the start of the show.
Like the Buffy and Angel figures, the packing for Spike really shows the figure off well and is a great presentation.
Sculpting and Paint:
Sideshow Toy's previous action figures from the BtVS line have all
had great paint and sculpting, and Spike is no exception. The molding on
the figures head captures James Master's features perfectly, even
including the raised cheekbones and hollow look beneath them. The rest
of the molded facial features match up as well, including the lines on
Spike's brow.
The painted details help bring out more of the detail, such as Spike's trademark scar over his left eyebrow. His eyes are a brilliant blue, and the whites of his eyes are slightly bloodshot, similar to the whites of the eyes for the Angel figure.
Spike's hair is molded to show off a slicked-back look and is painted a light blond yellow. Light brown highlights help the hair ridges stand out, capturing a good representation of how his hair looks on the show.
Spike's hands are wearing his black leather gloves, with lots of small details on them. You can see straps that encircle the wrists and tiny buttons painted on them. Sideshow's attention to fine detail extends even to the seams where the glove fingers are sewed on, as you can see tiny stitches.
Articulation:
Spike uses the standard Sideshow male body, just like the Angel figure. As such, the figure has some amazing articulation. Spike can assume any pose a human body can, even, with the help of the stand packaged with him, some nifty action poses.
Costume:
Spike wears an outfit you might see him wearing during an episode of the
show. The main part of this is his duster coat, which he got from a
Slayer he killed in New York during the 70's. It's a full-length body
coat that goes all the way down to Spike's shins. Made out of a
synthetic black leather material, the duster includes tiny buttons
sewn onto the fabric. Opposite of them are little threads sewn into the
duster to approximate the buttonholes. The duster's sleeves also
include straps on them.
The duster is removable, but to take it off, you have to slip the figure out of it. This is because the bottom two corners of the duster are sewn together. While this does make the duster look like it is half closed on Spike, it makes removing it is a bit difficult; you have to position his arms out behind him while doing so. It's like removing a shirt.
Beneath the duster, Spike wears a short sleeve, buttoned down burgundy shirt. The shirt is made of a slightly iridescent material that shimmers in the light. Underneath this, Spike is wearing a black t-shirt. Both shirts look nice and functional; the burgundy shirt even has little black button heads that are the size of a pinhead.
Spike is wearing a set of black pants that match with his outfit. These are made of a heavier, coarser material then the t-shirt. The pants feature the nice detail found in the rest of his clothing, including belt rings and a button to open and close his pants.
The last part of Spike's outfit is his big black boots. These are molded in rubber and cover his feet and legs all the way up to his lower shin. The boots have really nice detailing on them, including laces and stitch work. One really nice detail on the boots are the soles, which have crisscrossing treads on them. The treads are worn down in some places, to give the appearance that Spike was actually walking in them for some time.
Accessories:
Spike comes with only two accessories. The first is a railroad spike.
In the show, Spike was said to have been fond to hammer such spikes
into people for fun. It was from this hobby that he got his nickname.
The railroad spike he comes with is easily held in his hand, and really
looks like an actual railroad spike. It is colored a rusty color, with
the edges colored black.
The other accessory Spike comes with is actually two accessories in one. This accessory is the du Lac Cross, featured in the Season 2, two-part episode "What's My Line?" The cross is an ornate piece of work, complete with heavy detail. One can even make out the little irises on the cross' ends. The cross is molded in gold plastic.
The top of the cross comes off, revealing another accessory! This is a knife that Spike can hold in his hand. The knife continues the heavy detailing from the cross, including a painted blade. It is a really nice little accessory.
Like the other figures in the BtVS line, Spike comes with a special stand that features the show's logo on its base.
Overall:
So, is Spike worth it? It certainly is a nice figure that really captures the appearance of everyone's favorite bad boy vampire well. The real downside to him is his trademarked duster. While it's understandable why it is sewn together like that, it is still annoying, since it also limits some of the ways you can display Spike. A button on the lining could have solved the same problem of keeping the duster together, and made it easier to remove.
Other than that tiny problem, Spike is a really nice figure. If you are a fan of the character, you should try to get him if you can.
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