SPAWN: DARK AGES - THE SAMURAI WARS

By: SCOTT COLLURA
Date: Thursday, December 20, 2001

A few days back I reviewed McFarlane Toys' "Spawn: Classic-Series Twenty" line and mentioned how the proliferation of action figures in the toy and collector's market has caused a seemingly unending variety of dolls that sometimes barely resemble the original characters or comics which inspired them. A good case in point for this phenomenon would be the company's "SPAWN: Dark Ages The Samurai Wars" line of figures, which are pretty far removed from the original comic book tale of man-turned-Hellspawn Al Simmons.

But if

the origins of the Samurai Wars line are a bit murky, there's no denying that this collection of five action figuresand one deluxe box set figuremaintain the quality and finesse that is expected from McFarlane, while also providing a new spin on the look and mythology of SPAWN. Having not read the SPAWN comics in some years, I'm a bit rusty as to the various versions of the Spawn characterthough I'm pretty sure these figures have no basis in the comic and were simply created as original toys.

"Samurai Spawn" is the key figure in the line, a feudal Japan recreation of the character. The bio on the toy box explains that the Samurai Spawn was originally a Bushi warrior known as Takeda, circa 1185, who, much like his modern-day counterpart Al Simmons, lived a less than perfect human life and was killed by his feudal lords. He was given the chance for vengeance by the dark powers of the Underworld, and was reborn as a Hellspawn. Helping him along his journey for revenge, the figure comes with a large broadsword, extensive and intricately designed body armor, huge bony protrusions attached to some of his appendages and, last but not least, a feudal mask and helmet that are distinctive for its time but also quite clearly mark its wearer as a Spawn (the green eyes sort of give it away).

The "Lotus [IMG5L]Angel Warrior" is the female of the group, and of course is beautifully designed and painted. Like many of the female warriors found in the SPAWN comics, Lotus is an angel who is on Earth to battle demonsand whose path inevitably crosses with that of the Samurai Spawn. The figure features two swords, a staff that is bigger than the character herself, and fancy yet revealing armorincluding a detailed headpiece. Like the rest of this line, Lotus is realized in dark browns and golds, giving the Samurai Wars characters a distinctive feel.

Two more devious fellows are the "Jackal Assassin" and "Scorpion Assassin," who are explained to be the actual murderers of the Samurai Spawn's human form, Takeda. The two will live to regret that mistake, but the figures are suitably lethal in their appearance. With complicated, serrated and big swords, the two are ready to do battle with Spawn, whatever the outcome. They both feature heavy body armor and nice helmets/masks that are removable, but one complaint about these two would be that some of their ball joints and points of articulation are too obvious on them.

"Dojo" is

a short, squat, nauseating Clown-type character, described as a "heartless beast from the depths of the Underworld" who, also like the Clown of the modern Spawn mythology, hides a devilish beast inside himself. That would be "Jyaaku the Nightmare"a three-headed dragon type creature that, more or less, walks upright and wears armor like a man, but... well, has three dragon heads. Dojo hopes to guide the Samurai Spawn to true, unredeemable evil, but this feudal Spawn is not so easily turned. Both figures are, of course, highly detailed. Dojo has screaming souls embedded on its round belly, a spiked tail, hooves for feet, various bone and horn outcroppings and a removable helmet. The thing also comes with a club and a pair of shrunken heads. Meanwhile, Jyaaku is actually the slightly over-sized box set figure in the Samurai Wars line, and is equally meticulous in its grotesqueness.

Additional accessories for these figures are apparently available through McFarlane's toy club, but as it is each doll comes pretty well equipped. And if these aren't classic SPAWN characters, well, the storyline explained on each toy's box sure paints a vivid enough pictureas vivid as any of the SPAWN comics that I can remember, anyway.

SPAWN: DARK AGES - THE SAMURAI WARS

Grade: A-

Reviewed Format: Action Figures

Distributor: McFarlane Toys

Retail Price: $9.99 each; "Jyaaku the Nightmare" box set: $15.99