Toy Review: McFarlane Toys Mortal Kombat Baraka, Kitana, and Spawn

Wishing all day long that McFarlane Toys had the rights to earlier Mortal Kombat games, as Storm Collectibles does, won’t make it so. The company is stuck solely with game 11, which features overly complicated outfits for its characters. Outfits which, to be quite honest, would make martial arts far more difficult. In a video game, it’s cool to see how much detail is possible. In toys, the clothing can hinder articulation. Fortunately for the latest wave, however, McFarlane has two characters whose gear looks way simpler. Baraka, who wears no shirt, and Kitana, whose outfit is mostly skintight. Then there’s Spawn, same as before but with a new weapon, exclusive to Target.

Let’s deal with Spawn first, as he’s Malibu Stacy with a new hat. The Mortal Kombat Spawn figure is fantastic, and a best-of-year contender. Fans knew it, too, so the original version sold out rather quickly. Two subsequent runs feature different weapons: one has a mace, and the Target version wields an ax. It is a very nice ax, and the figure is otherwise the same.

In a sign of alternate color schemes to come, this Baraka is dubbed “Tarkatan Beefcake” while Kitana wears “Edenian Blue.” The latter makes more sense as a hue. Her headband, bra, mask and gloves add a metallic shimmer, while her bodysuit is flat black and blue. Just like her opponents, if things work out well.

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Kitana comes equipped with two fans — one folded, one not. The sculpt and paint of each brilliantly make it look like they can open and close, but sadly, not so. And it would have been nice to get two of each fan, but costs are what they are.

For a third weapon, she gets a sai, which looks as though it may be meant to clip on to other things. (If so, they eluded me.) Another open fan ought to take that spot.

Both Kitana and Baraka feature standard McFarlane 22-joint articulation, but the company is getting much better at hiding the wrist and ankle ball joints, adding cuffs and hems to cover them up. And a particularly nice aspect to Kitana is that she doesn’t have the typical model body. With hips wider than her bust, and healthy sized thighs, she’s built more like a real woman than fighting games typically go for.

Baraka has some serious body horror going on. He looks like what might happen if DC’s Killer Croc were flesh colored, and the answer is something way freakier. Included as an accessory for him is a brain that can get stabbed and run through by one of his flexible bone claws.

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He’s better dressed for a fighting tournament than most, with baggy shorts, taped forearms and knees, and open-toed samurai boots. The belt seems a tad unwieldy, but could protect against hernias, maybe. Like Wolverine, he’s evolved from metal claws to bone. They’re non-removable, but flexy enough not to stab people for real. The spikes on his shoulders, though, are solid.

Being a monster, he can also work with smaller figures because he doesn’t have to be the same scale. Human figures feel more limited that way. But there’s plenty to do with him in Kombat. Using a McFarlane flight stand and a Hasbro flight stand with explosions from Black Widow, some great battles can commence.

Instead, these figures just come with the flat disc stands. Those help hold standing poses, but flight stands might serve as a great addition. Maybe for some deluxe repacks.

If the line continues to improve, it’s in good shape. By choosing less elaborately dressed characters, McFarlane calls attention to the poseability, which for this property is essential. Check out a few more poses in our gallery below.

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