Clown IV (Spawn XX)

Step 1: Remove from package

Step 2: Examine knife

Step 3: Snap or twist off knob on the end of knife

Step 4: Admire detail and paint job

Step 5: Krazy-glue small accessories to manhole cover

Step 6: Under no reason should you display him with his back to you!

Clown IV is the first figure in a long time that could, with a little modification, be turned into a plumber figure. His jeans are barely on… I mean, it defines “crack attack” to a tee. It just adds to the disturbing whole that is Clown IV.

The detail level is great. From his boots to the tips of his freakish hair, there isn’t much left to the imagination. His arms and grotesque belly, spilling over the top of his jeans, are exceptionally done. Facial features are very detailed and if you want to count his teeth, you can do it because they’re all visible. High marks all-round. Also, high marks for articulation placement that allows a good deal of poseability. His feet and waist articulation can quickly upset Clown’s balance, but the ball-jointed shoulders combined with seam joints at the wrists and elbows allow for many different poses - even more if you snap the knob off the knife. (Leave the knob on and you can’t 

take the knife out of his hand.) I’m still wondering why the knob is there in the first place because the knife fits very snuggly. The other accessories all fit Clown’s character. The rat especially is well done, but even the cigar, whisky bottle, and manhole cover, are worthy of attention. They deserve attention because you’ll lose these small bits if you’re not careful. As the recipe suggests, glue them down to the manhole cover so you avoid losing them. The puddle of whisky is an unnecessary accessory - it’s hard to figure out where it should go because the curved edge of it doesn’t allow you to put it snuggly against the manhole cover. Rigging it with the bottle is possible but it’s not easy.

Playabilty takes a few hits from all the small bits that are easily lost. As long as you don’t abuse Clown’s feet, he comes off as pretty tough. I managed to pop his right foot off just by turning it. That was slightly unnerving, but the rest of him survived the play test no problem. (I just jammed his foot back on - no problems since.) Considering Clown’s evil visage and big bloody knife, parents obviously won’t be clamoring to grab Clown off the shelves. However, they might not mind too much the mass-market version that features a big pizza. Clown is also proportional to the other figures in the series so there’s some play value to be had there.

Clown’s one evil bastard and it comes through in this figure, so fans of the comic should be more than satisfied.

- Omni