H.P. Lovecraft is a prime example of an artist who was ignored in his own time, but became massively popular after his death. He was reported to have skipped meals so he could afford the cost of sending letters, but at this point his most famous creation, Cthulhu, is ubiquitously recognized and the inspiration for Warpo’s Legends of Cthulhu line of action figures. His work is rightly famous because he invented cosmic horror—the unfathomably powerful malevolent forces, like Cthulhu, who often drove Lovecraft’s narrators insane with fear and helplessness.
Lovecraft himself was afraid of everything, and before I get into the actual toy, I want to point that H.P. Lovecraft was a massive racist, championing segregation (at his politest) and supporting his racist views with false science. He was a level of racist that made other people in the 1900s feel uncomfortable. It’s important to acknowledge that baggage when talking about Lovecraft rather than pretending it didn’t happen. It doesn’t mean that it’s wrong to enjoy his work or make products based on it, but his work needs to be read with the knowledge that he held these detestable views so they won’t be transmitted to an uninformed reader.
Warpo’s Spawn of Cthulhu action figure (and as far as I can tell the whole line) avoid those views nicely, and focus on the works themselves. Spawn of Cthulhu is a good-looking, sturdy action figure.
Everything about this Spawn of Cthulhu action figure is high quality, starting with the packaging. It’s a blister card, and the art on the front is good, creepy cult artwork. There’s some kind of summoning ceremony going on to the right of the figure, which is a very nice touch. I’m not sure if the robed characters are supposed to be summoning the Spawn of Cthulhu or they’re waiting for the Spawn to bring father Cthulhu.
The art on the back looks cool as well. I’m not sure exactly what part of Lovecraft they’re referencing, since Cthulhu and the Deep One are from different mythos, although both are living in the ocean. It also doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to have a protagonist. Is there an H.P. Lovecraft story where this particular Professor shoots the Spawn of the Cthulhu or the Deep One? I don’t think it would effective. Lovecraft’s go to ending is for the character to lose their mind, so maybe this Professor character is just pre-mental break.
Another H.P. Lovecraft trope is the Necronomicon, a book of ancient secrets and spells. The coolest part of Spawn of Cthulhu is that he comes with a tiny plastic version. It’s the essential evil book for summoning, and I’m really happy that Warpo included it as an accessory.
The figure has only six points of articulation. They’re in the shoulders, hips, heads, and wings (if you want to count the wings. I’m on the fence about whether they’re an accessory or a point of articulation because of the way they come off). I’d prefer a figure with more movement, but that’s not what Warpo is trying to do. Like Funko’s Reaction figures, these are going after an aesthetic that calls back to older action figures rather than competing with more modern higher-end figures. The aim is to call back to the 70s, and it does that well.
Because it has almost no joints, the figure looks seemless. The artist did a great job with that, and with the tentacles. It gets the Spawn of Cthulhu into that creepy sweet spot of the uncanny valley so it seems enough like a human beard that it’s uncomfortable to look at. Both hands have good shapes, but the one shaped like a hexing gesture really pulls the figure together.
The green of the figure is also perfect. The solid color that covers most of the figure accentuates the bumps the sculptor put in. The yellow belly adds a tinge of realism, and the black eyes with the perfectly centered red dots keep it scary. It’s a simple design, but it’s executed well.
I recommend this figure to all fans of H.P. Lovecraft or Cthulhu. Warpo will be putting out a 12-inch Cthulhu, but I’ve got the 3 and ¾ inch Spawn and am going to pretend it’s Cthulhu instead. As far as I can tell from the pictures, they’re the same figure but one is nine inches taller and going to be way more expensive. Save a few bucks, but don’t skimp on this. The 3 and ¾ inch Spawn of Cthulhu is well worth the money.
You can buy Warpo’s Spawn of Cthulhu for $19.99 from Warpo , for $19.99 from Big Bad Toy Store, for $17.49 from Amazon, and you can always search on eBay for this Warpo Toys Spawn of Cthulhu action figure.
