British horror scribe Clive Barker is joining forces with Todd McFarlane Productions to create a totally new and original line of action figures, which will be unveiled at this year's Toy Fair in New York City next week.  Barker, who is best known as a writer of imaginative horror fiction, is also an illustrator, director, playwright, and creator of the ill-fated 'Barkerverse' series of comic titles.  Todd McFarlane is of course the creator of Spawn and the founder of the hugely successful McFarlane line of toys.

Tortured Souls, the first series of toys ever created by Barker, consists of six original figures, each of which is accompanied by a 1000-2000 word story.  Put all six stories together and you have a novella, which will narrate the origin of the Tortured Souls characters.

The six figures that will be released this summer include:

The Fix---the hideous result of numerous botched surgeries.

Lucidique---A deadly figure who comes complete with weapons and nine points of articulation.

The Scythe Meister---A grim reaper who stands 6 ? inches tall.

Agonistes---Bound in agony with hooks, chains, and eight joints.

Mongroid---Nine points of articulation plus more hooks and chains.

Venal Anatomica---Another grotesque with nine joints and assorted

weapons.