From the back room of misfit toys.

§ September 3rd, 2012 § Filed under misfit toys § 12 Comments

Well, technically, today’s toy isn’t from the back room, where lurk even more toys both terrifying and depressing, but from a collection essentially dumped on us at the shop about a week ago.

I generally don’t buy secondary-market toys for the shop from collections. I mean, if something really cool and hard-to-find came in, sure, I’d buy it. But alas, like an old man telling me he has 1940s comics for sale and I look in the box and it’s Bloodlines annuals, every time I’m told “I have a bunch of really old toys for sale” it’s an endless parade of Spawn action figures. And frankly, the one endless parade of Spawn action figures already residing in our storage is enough, thank you.

Old McFarlane figures are very hard sells…well, I mean, there are the “hot” figures, only distributed one per case, or the few sets where most of the figures do command some collector interest. But 99% of the time, it’s, like, this guy. And even the Spawn figures from the very first series, which you’d think would be sought after, took literally years to sell after we picked up a few in a collection, mostly because, compared to the newer Spawn lines, that first series looks tame and unimpressive.

So, yeah, I don’t tend to buy a lot of old toys. But like I said way back when, back in the ancient times up there at the beginning of this post, I recently ended up with a handful of McFarlane figs, and I now have to figure out what to do with them. By which I mean, “throw on the eBay with low starting bids.” And as McFarlane figures go…these might sell. The Blair Witch and Candyman figures seem to get a variety of prices on eBay, and this Kaneda Akira figure hopefully will sell…but I remember having all these before and not having much auction luck with them. But, who knows, maybe things are slightly different now. And it’s not like I have a whole lot of money tied up in them.

And then there’s this figure:


Yup, Todd McFarlane his own self, immortalized in plastic and, once upon a time in the late 1990s, available exclusively through his Collector’s Club thingie. And sure, one could make fun, but I tell you, if I had my own action figure company, you’re darned tootin’ I’d have a figure made of myself. “ACTION MIKE, with Diet Coke and Stylish Toupée Accessories.”

Anyway, get a load of this handsome bastard:


The included “sketch” features a message with which we, as a people, can all agree:


And here is a close-up of one of his powerful gloved hands, which I’m featuring for no good reason beyond being amused at the idea that he’s out there street-fighting when not managing his Spawn empire:


So, yeah, ol’ Todd’s goin’ on the eBay, where, judging by past performance there, I might get a sawbuck. Or maybe some Loonies. Who can say?

Before you ask…no, I don’t know why Todd’s face is all slashed and blood-splattered on the figure’s backing. …Other than meeting certain levels of expectation, I suppose.

12 Responses to “From the back room of misfit toys.”

  • Anonymous says:

    Makes me wonder if they made a Liefeld figure with no feet and a petulant attitude.

  • Anonymous says:

    from swamp mark…not anon

  • Rich says:

    I suggest that someone buy that to make a Harry Dresden custom figure. He just needs a little leather duster.

  • MrJM says:

    I enjoyed Mr. McFarlane’s work on Infinity Inc.

    And now that I’ve gotten the burden that guilt off of my back, perhaps I can begin a happy and productive life.

    — MrJM

  • Suckmaster Burstingfoam says:

    Do you really wear a toupée? Interesting.

  • Anonymous says:

    I just saw the trailer for the Robot Chicken DC Special and Swampy and Abby are in it!

  • swamp mark says:

    They use the figure from ComicCon.

  • Corey says:

    At the comic store I work at, Spawn stuff still does fairly well for us. Spawn #1 is still an easy sell at $20, and while most of the McFarlane figures collect dust, any of the various versions of Spawn–even the really ugly old ones–are guaranteed to sell as long as the prices aren’t too ridiculous. It’s weird to me that Spawn still has a fairly solid fanbase after all these years. It’s the same thing with Carnage. I blame the Juggalos.

  • Doc Arkham says:

    Spawn #1 is an easy sell, but every 90s collection is almost guaranteed to have at least one copy in it. It’s such a readily available resource that it doesn’t even figure into an offer price.

  • Heli says:

    Unless I’m mistaken, that figure was actually originally thrown in with some Spawn movie playset or other as “the bum,” and then carded and resold through the club.

    I think that’s at least the origin of his powerful gloved hands. Can’t help with the bloody face picture, though.

  • Snark Shark says:

    What’s his “action feature”? Late-shipping his comics?

  • Snark Shark says:

    “I’m mistaken, that figure was actually originally thrown in with some Spawn movie playset or other as “the bum,””

    thaaaaaaaaaaat’s right! he started off as “Todd the Bum”.