Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Manufacturer
Moore Action Collectibles
Year
1999
Materials
plastic

Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

By David Rasmussen
17th Jul 05

Yes. Once again it has come to this. Another articles for the sake of filling time and space.
Once again same as the first, with the exception of the few comics extolling the beauties of lesbian relationships in Buffy I have about as much interest in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (and it’s spinoff Angel, as well as the rumored but never quite confirmed UK spinoff concerning Buffy character Giles) as I do in the subtle nuances of US House of Representative debates… I.e. none. But once again thankfully a family relation of mine does not feel the same way, and it is once again thanks to that person that I can bring you another pointless Buffy toy reviews… because somebody has to.

This week, continuing our Buffy the Vampire Slayer toy reviews, it’s a review of Spike from Season 2... Or (again) so I’ve been told. Once again you know the drill. These figures sold like hotcakes smothered in smack when they hit, and all those many many Buffy fans (who are out there… somewhere…) were buying them up like crazy. Nowadays? Do they even do Buffy/Angel toys anymore since the series sputtered and gasped to it’s conclusions? Let alone the CCG cards, statues, books, comics, and the rest of the merchandising done on Buffy/Angel? Maybe, maybe not.

Yes, once again I’m sure you’ve probably heard the same strange rumors that I have, that there’s going to be a Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie starring that Spike character with the gang from Buffy starring in it as well, but really! Joss Whedon is talking about that movie so it must be at least in pre production now. Anyway I guess there’ll be a revival of figure interest once the new movie hits… whenever that is.

But (once again) we’re not here to speak of the revival of the Buffy franchise with a new movie, we’re here to talk about the action figures of the early 21st Century. And this time that’d be the figure of the character who’ll star in this rumored Buffy movie… Spike.
Spike. He who watches the soap opera “Passions”, and was on the last season of Angel. That Spike. Before we begin let’s clear up one thing. This is NOT two different season’s worth of figures. When it comes to the vampire figures it seems that they’ve done TWO variants. One is human looking, one is a vampire version that is an exclusive release from some company of one sort or another. In this case Vampire Spike was a variant exclusive to www.fandom.com.

Before we go into the differences (only one) let’s talk similarities between the two releases. Both sport a rare “3D” clothing accessory, their clothes which is… trenchcoat or something… that flairs out as if the winds blowing it as the character walks. Of course it’s non-removable but it’s a nice effect. The characters each sport probably 15 POAs (it’s hard to see the hands but I’m guessing this has the same POA count as all the other 2000 era Buffy figures) and they both have a base/tombstone to stand on (looks like the same for each). Weapons are basically the same for each. We have a cane, as well as the ever popular (soon to be a maiming hazard) stakes that seemingly look different color wise on each. We also have a cross wrapped in cloth (since vampires are not supposed to be grasping crosses without the proper hand protection), a large ax, large machette thing and a pointy bladed stick thing to poke Xander’s eye out.
So, then, why have TWO figures? Well one is human looking Spike (sporting red trim on his top) while the other is Vampire Spike with ugly vampire face, vampire hands and black trim on his top… and that’s it. Honestly! This is nothing a change of head/hand gimmick couldn’t have accomplished! Talk about milking the Buffy fanbase for as much money as they could squeeze!

Thus we come to my complaint. The whole idea of having TWO figures where it wasn’t necessary. We’re talking about a cosmetic difference between these two figures that is so minor a simple detachable head (and spare head) and detachable hands (spare hands) could have solved, and for less money to boot!
So then, once again we come to the magical mystery question of… why bother? Here more than any other time that question is oh so relevant since we’re talking about such a minor gimmick that it shouldn’t even have to warrant a second figure, let alone warrant YOU having to dish out the money for a figure that is, for all intents and purposes, irrelevant since it’s not even different enough to warrant it’s creation (let alone it’s being sold for the price they want).

Yeah, yeah, Moore Action Collectibles banked on die hard Buffy fan(atics) to buy both without even questioning the reason to do such a thing, but you don’t have to do likewise if you’re considering this as a collectible for your collection. If you are going for it? I’d get the one you’re interested in the most.
If you like vampires you’ll get the Vampire version (with the scary face), but if you have a fascination for the actor (and not the vampire thing) then the regular one is your thing. Both, however, is wasteful overkill. It’s the same weapons, same base, same figure with minor touch-ups, same everything. And since the original asking price was $15-$20 (lord knows what it is now) the only way anyone can justify the expenditure for this is if they’re sold 2 for the price of 1, which won’t happen since one is an exclusive of an e-company (in this case www.fandom.com). Yeah. Die hard fans will buy both no questions asked, but for the rest of us that is probably not the scenario that is going to happen. Okay. I think we can wrap this up just fine on the breakdown… so let’s break it down now.

Spike 2000 figures Breakdown
What’s Hot?
Ok. Yes. If you ARE a Buffy fan (born again, born late, or in the process of planning the complex “surgery“ to convert Willow & Tara action figures into Willow & Tara bedroom action figures) then you might be buying the figures… unless you’re just Willow/Tara fans then these are not the figures your looking for.
HOWEVER, when it comes to buying the pair, I can only see the most die hard fans actually shelling out the money for BOTH of these figures! I mean really! In all due respect to the fans who are die hard collectors of all thing Buffy that’s all well and fine for you, but I can’t see the casual Buffy fans even justifying buying two figures that are practically the same figures with only minor differences, let alone shelling out the money for the figures! It’s just not sound in my opinion!
Even if, for instance, we’re talking anime figures I’d expect a lot more differences between the figures than the “differences” present between these two Spike figures! Talk about a money making scheme here folks!

If the figures are for over $20 a pop it’s the domain of the die hard fan(atic).
If we’re talking buying BOTH Spike & Vampire Spike variant it’s the domain of the die hard fan(atic).
Bottom line is that Buffy figures are for Buffy fans, and pointless variants of Buffy figures is for the most die hard Buffy fans. While it’s true that a series dabbler, or a fan of the actor who plays Spike, MIGHT want at least one figure? You‘d have to be a downright die hard fan of the character or the actor in question to want both!

What’s Not?
You can’t tell me having a second figure that doesn’t even sport enough differences and variations to the original figure’s design is worth owning. It’s a damn bad gimmick and Moore Action Collectibles should have been ashamed of themselves. This is nothing a second variant head and replacable hands wouldn’t have cured. Having to make fans shell out an additional $15-$20 for a figure that probably wasn’t necessary was just plain bad.
Yeah, it’s a variant exclusive to a certain e-company so good luck finding it. Odds are it had an even smaller release number than the original figure, so these will be downright impossible to find if you even attempt to find it (another downer for the new fan looking to make a full set of figures).
Yeah. Variant figures are the spice of life but at least make the figure different enough from the original to justify that variant figure! This is just plain lazy variant figure making in my opinion.

Moments to Remember?
Once again I sought cheerful moments from the figures, and was ignored. Maybe they were tired of my mocking their lack of individuality but somehow I don’t think they want to look me straight in the eye… I must annoy them.

What to Ignore?
Just how much would a fan pay for bedroom action figure variant Willow & Tara figures anyway!
I’d tell you more but my Editors would have to censor that out so… well… we’ll leave it at that.
Yeah. Keep on ignoring me… only a few more weeks of me going on like that and I won‘t bring up Willow & Tara‘s only relevant in fanfics and flashback stories relationship anymore. You can make it! Be strong, readers, be strong!

Overall?
This is the first, but probably won’t be the last, time I go off about needless variants. Unless the variant figure is something unique, and not just a rethread of the original with not enough changes to warrant it’s creation? Then I’m going to complain about the need for a variant figure where no need seemed to be other than to make money off of said variant.
This is for the fans only, folks. You or me who might be interested are going to stick to the figure we find the most appealing. Two figures like this? Not worth it. Not by a long shot… unless you’re going to just resell it on Ebay and make a fortune, then of course you’ll need both figures. Otherwise it’s kind of pointless since there’s no incentive to have both, short of fan interest or the desire to resell them for a profit post the release of the Spike lead Buffy movie.

Next Week
Next time we’ll have two set of two reviews (one after another)! The last of the 2000 era Buffy figure reviews I’ll be looking at the following figures from the secondary cast of supporting characters.

Week 1
Giles - He who is supposed to have a spin-off series in the UK that nobody talks about.
OZ - He who was Willow’s main squeeze until fate took his hand and shoved him out a door. Hooray!

Week 2
Cordelia - She who moved to Angel, then fell into a coma, now needs work again.
Xander - He who -- well -- he’s here. Just look at the figure and forget… something.

After that we move from Buffy to Angel as we look at more Cordelia figures… why? I don’t know! All I know is one is another one of those hard to get exclusive figures!
That’s all in the next three weeks so stay tuned.

-- David Rasmussen 17th Jul 05