NITRO RIDERSThe first entire all-Spawn series, the Series 16 Nitro Riders make its debut in March 2000 with four power ranger inspired motorcycle riders. This is a feature that McFarlane Toys has never done before: packaged vehicles with the Spawn action figures, playsets not included. Each figure, standing between 5¼” and 6” tall is accompanied by a giant motorcycle. There was no blurb to explain how they died and became Spawns? Probably, probation riders with too small a brain and too huge an ego.
End Cap 92 of February 2000 did devote space for it: "each of these figures comes with a large motorcycle that has fully rotating wheels and a kickstand. The figures themselves are slightly smaller than our normal lines, but because of all the detail and the large vehicles this line will cost a few dollars more than our previous series."
There are four distinctive Spawn figures in the Series and each Spawn has two other versions modelled after it. The original is in full colour, the exclusives are one-colour wash in gold and silver respectively. Both gold-washed and silver-washed exclusives are available only through the MTCC except Eclipse 5000 silver version which was made available as an Event Exclusive during the 2000 Japan McFarlane Toy Show. There are a total of 12 official figures.
After Burner Spawn
After Burner Spawn is the most human of the Nitro Riders. He got lots of pointy sharp little things, ranging from hair to body. He wored a black mask and is regarded to have the most rugged looking bike with fins sticking from the sides.
There are two packaging variations but we are not going into that.
After Burner Spawn
After Burner Spawn
Eclipse 5000 Spawn
Eclipse 5000 Spawn has shades of black and grey, he shares the same hairstylist as She-Spawn. There is a spike on his right shoulder ala Mandarin Spawn. This is a very curious figure because in Endcap 92, he is mentioned as "then there's the Spawn figure in the assortment, Eclipse 5000...", does this mean the others are not Spawns?
His bike is likewise black and the only bike in the series with a rotating front wheel. There are variations in the packaging, such as no TM symbol, unpainted eyes...etc but I am not interested.
Eclipse 5000 Spawn
Eclipse 5000 Spawn
This figure was also issued by Cult Work as an event exclusive during the 2000 Japan McFarlane Trade Fair.
Flash Point Spawn
He is essentially blue with a half-covered mask, body armour and jet packs on his back.
His bike has 5 jets and he carried a shoulder cannon.
Flash Point Spawn
Flash Point Spawn
Green Vapour Spawn
If After Burner Spawn is the most human-like Spawn of the Nitro Riders Line, then Green Vapor Spawn is the most machine-like, he even has hoses sticking out of his body.
His emerald bike has 18 jets shooting out from the back and it came with a clear dome that encased the rider and part of the bike.
Green Vapour Spawn
Green Vapour Spawn
