Buffy the Vampire Slayer PALz Spike review

Oh Spike, how could they do this to you?! I love “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” and Spike is easily my favorite character (my heart goes *thump-thump* for James Marsters). In fact, of the actual action figures that I have from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” I’ve only got one Spike sculpt because I’m so picky about things like articulation and accuracy in construct. Therefore, when I received a bunch of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer PALz figures as a recent gift, I was horror-struck to see that a blocky Spike sculpt was in the mix.

I already had a deep dislike for the block figures that had been hitting the market and gaining in popularity, and I probably had the deepest dislike for the Minimates figures (the “Watchmen” ones especially). However, as far as pose-ability goes in block figures, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer PALz figures aren’t bad and actually do have quite a few points of articulation, especially for two-inch-tall sculpts. However, they’re not even anywhere near the same level as the six-inch standard action figures from the show as far as pose-ability goes. Plus, even when posed, these two-inch figures really can’t do justice to the actual characters as far as likeness goes.

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer PALz Spike figure is, like the other Buffy the Vampire Slayer PALz figures, two-inches tall and blocky in shape. While the Spike Palz figure is nowhere near an exact replica of the character played by James Marsters, it is recognizable on a few levels as Spike. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer PALz Spike figure features both the “human”-faced Spike as well as the Vampire-looking Spike, and he comes dressed in his standard black pants, bright-red shirt, and long black jacket. 

The accessories that come with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer PALz Spike figure are the only thing I really don’t hate about this figure. Firstly, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer PALz Spike figure comes with a pack of cigarettes, an accessory that I wish came with other Spike figures that I actually like. I thought it was amusing that the brand of cigarettes that Spike comes with are Morley’s, the brand of smokes from the “X-Files” that viewers of the show may note that the “Smoking Man” is often seen with. I suppose it’s convenient since I know that Palz also does “X-Files” figures. Spike is also featured with a cross, a censer, and body part from “The Judge,” a character from Season Two of Buffy that is destroyed by a non-forged weapon. 

Despite the cute accessories, and my joy at seeing a Spike figure that finally comes with a pack of smokes, I still cannot recommend the Buffy the Vampire Slayer PALz Spike figure. True fans of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” are more likely to want to invest in the six-inch figures that have better articulation and that are more accurate sculpts of the characters.

Pros: Good idea…(comes with smokes!)
Cons: poor execution…

/ [Nioniel]

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