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Series: Spawn 21 Alternate Realities Craftsmanship: 8.7 out of 10 - Great amount of detail - Perfect accessories - Near-great articulation and poseability - Perfect unhealthy color Playability: 8.9 out of 10 - Next to vehicles and war toys, pirates will be played with - Accessories to lose - May be too intense for younger kids
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Pirate Spawn (Spawn 21)
As dastardly as pirates were/are there persists a romantic aura around pirates, especially Captain Morgan, rum-seller extraordinaire and about as macho as Captain Hook. There’s nothing romantic about Pirate Spawn – he’s a zombie pirate if there ever was one.
The level of detail is extremely good. While the sculpt is very well done – the exposed muscles, the etched boot and peg-leg, the real string on the gunpowder horn, the skull belt buckle – the real indication of the detail is the hand musket. Check the nameplate on the pistol – it clearly says “A. Simmons 1818.” The print is tiny and the fact it’s on an accessory shows the dedication McFarlane has for the small details.
The sculpt and articulation placement allows for a decent number of poses. (Shoulder ball-joints and a hinged left elbow would have been welcome.) Stability is helped by the fact the peg leg pegs into the included barrel accessory. It’s possible to stand him without the barrel but it makes him very tippy. Display value is increased by the variety of accessories. He comes with the flintlock pistol, a big sword, a mace hand, a hook hand, the barrel, and a |
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gun powder horn. The right “hand” can be swapped and the gun and the sword fit easily in his left. Keeping track of the accessories could have been a problem but most can be stored on his person. (Big points for this feature.) The sword can be put on his back and the pistol can be secured on his chest (through the belt). The hooked hand can be hooked in any number of places, but the mace hand has to be pegged to his wrist to eliminate the chances of losing it.
Color is good if somewhat drab – but if he looked like a Care Bear I’d subtract marks. The paint is consistent and applied very well. |
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Playability is very high, but somewhat tempered by the ease at which the small accessories can be lost and/or choked on. However, those in the know, are aware of the position of pirates on the list of most played with toys – #3, behind army men and vehicles. Pirate Spawn is a prime candidate for assuming control of the Playmobil pirate ship playset. While the scale’s not right, it still makes for some fun. Then there are the possibilities while playing in the bath – fighting sharks, big rubber ducks, and maybe teaming up with Aspen Matthews from Fathom.
If you own a bait shop or boat rental place, buying Pirate Spawn in a no-brainer. He’s a solid display piece (and won’t fall over at the drop of a hat) with higher than usual play possibilities.
- Omni (April 11, 2002) |
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