I’ve really been freeform talking instead of getting into the nitty gritty of action figure reviewing here. That’s because, despite my massive enjoyment of the figure, there’s not much new going on here. This is the same Batman figure we’ve seen a dozen times with a new head sculpt and a head deco. The head sculpt is great. I love the slight smile and the nose being offset from the bottom of the cowl.
The colors here are a little brighter with some nice paintwork. I love the blue airbrushing on the undies as a highlight as it brings back many memories of great arguments about what color the undies were supposed to be. And the articulation here is what we’re used to; nothing notable except the usual lack of rocker ankles and some slight restriction of the neck joint (Batman can’t look up).
If you pick up Batman at a store that’s not K-Mart, he’ll come packaged with a comic-sized poster and a stand. I’m not really into the posters. I wish Mattel would just pocket the profit and not give me something extra to throw away, but some folks may love them, I don’t know. The stand is the same as the other figures in the line. It’s a nice piece, though the peg needs to be a wee bit taller.
If you pick up Batman at K-Mart, then you get an extra special bonus: the Bat-Mite! I was pretty excited for this little guy. Yeah, he’s a leftover from a sillier time in comics, but modern writers have done a great job including him one way or another by making him a 5th Dimensional Imp (a la Mxyzptlk) or a hallucination. I’m just happy to have him in the line.
I’m not sure of the Four Horsemen has a specific source material in mind for this head sculpt or if they were simply trying to make the face a little less cartoony, but I like the result here. It’s a little bit Mad Magazine, but it works for Bat-Mite. The costume details are all spot-on from the bent ear to the potbelly and baggy costume. The paint along the bottom of the cowl is a little spotty, but he’s painted well otherwise. He’s a great pack-in and something I wish Mattel will do more of in the future.
In the end, I can’t believe I ended up with yet another Batman figure to display on my shelves, but this is one figure that’s just too cool to end up in a box somewhere. And that does leave me wanting Golden Age versions of Superman & Wonder Woman more than I would normally. Actually, I am interested in more versions of Superman overall. I have four iconic Batman figures on my shelves and I’m still of the belief that we don’t have a great basic Superman figure, but that’s a conversation for another day. Right now, this GA Bats is screaming out for a GA Supes. Bat-Mite brings up similar issues because I won’t be happy until he’s got a Mxyzptlk to hang out with.
For more DC reviews, check out our
DC Universe Classics Collector’s Guide.
Is that a photoshopped Aquaman with the beard or is that a real custom?
It’s fairly obvious that it’s a photoshop. You honestly can’t tell?
Looking on my phone with no ability to zoom in, no I couldn’t tell…but then again I’m not a photoshop expert like you are. Next time I have a question I’ll consult you first.
Also, I hate you for making me want to track down another Guardian figure after I sold mine.
Ah, I’ve been worried I’ll end up kicking myself for not jumping on this one; but I have the DC Direct Earth-2 Bats and couldn’t justify him. But Bat-Mite…darn.
you know, BatB was great for a lot of things, and i finally got the whole family to sit down and watch that final episode and everyone loved it, even my non-comic obsessed wife. it’s a testament to the power of a well crafted character, and the joy that silliness brings to people. batmite and ambush bug were both excellent in that ep, and i’m sure batmite’s previous appearances on BatB were the genesis of that pack-in. just saying… sometimes, silly is good.
as for supes… i’d say your odds are better for him than a great flash or a hook handed arthur… but i still don’t see a great defining supes in the pipe. he’s tough to do because while he’s clearly comic booky over-exaggerated, he’s not that over exaggerated compared to a design like batman that almost begs for a certain amount of either grit or schlock… and when those are your choices, batman almost can’t fail, while supes can easily go too heavily one way or another and end up looking like garbage.
*sigh*
I’m fully down the rabbit hole now. I’ve managed to pick up 6 or so DCU figures, the latest being an ‘all star’ Batman, the all in black one. man, I have to assume everyone else thinks that a pure shout-out to the Toybiz Batman movie fig?
Now I want this Batman. THIS is the Batman from my comic book youth. Dammit. 🙂
Local hypermarket Meijers is doing a massive blowout of the DCU figures they have in stock, half off (call it $7.49) but all that’s on the pegs is Jonah Hex and Eclipso. Bah.
i wonder why JH and eclipso are the only ones on the pegs… hhmmm….
Yeah, gee, it’s a puzzler, innit? Why, Hex was a huge hit in theaters, kids were playing Hex in schoolyards all across the country! And Eclipso, well, he’s one of the most important DC baddies ever! Everybody was just WAITING for him to come out!
*sigh* can’t do it anymore. The packout on these assortments are SO DAMN CRAPPY!
I found some more figures at another Meijers, OMAC and JEMM. Meanwhile, a trip to KMart in search of this reviewed Batman turned up nothing, but I did see some Indigo Lantern Atom figs that almost made me want to grab one to convert to Paul Kirk Manhunter…
i think you just sold me on golden age batman and joker with these pics!
An Earth-2 Golden Age Batman. What’s not to love? And he works just as well for early Silver Age and Brave & the Bold, too. Loving that JSA group shot!
Headswap this and the yellow oval Batman, ultimate Super Friends Batman is done.
Great review!
After my DC fig purging, I still aaaaaalmost want this Bats.
this was one of my favorite figures…before I jumped ship on DCUC…so glad I did that
you guys sure are lucky to have people just send you things
okay…
Bearded Aquaman – what’s the story? custom or photoshop?
(and I’m guessing he’s going to keep the sideburns in his nu52 figure? @_@)
Qwsp actually got some play in the JLA/JSA crossover several years back, Crisis Times Five, making him the evil counterpart to Mxyzptlk and nearly destroying several dimensions in the process. (and no mention of Bat-Mite, I don’t think?)
Did WW ever have a Wonder-Mite? or is Glszp (sp?), Mxy’s spouse the closest we’re going to get?
oh yeah, Crisis Times Five was when we found out the “true Origin” of the Thunderbolt and Jakeem took over.
I love this GA Batman figure, especially when paired with the GA Robin. It reminds me of the animated opening of The Batman TV show (with Adam West and Burt Ward, for the youngsters out there ;^)