There were two things that shined brightest at this year's SDCC 2015. The first was the latest Planet of the Apes Trio Bundle from NECA that we reviewed yesterday, and then this unbelievable Batman figure that we got from our friends at Toot's Toys (they have a few in stock so check them out). These guys truly specialize in offering harder to find collectibles so earmark their page for incredible sales offers, and a quality personal touch to packing/shipping - they truly cater to collectors! Made your publisher quite happy this week.
Check out DC's video with the incomparable Jim Lee:
Oh, yes, we are talking about the latest DC Comics Blueline Edition Batman styled by Jim Lee. One word, brilliant! Truly a stroke of artistry within the world of action figures, this Batman is an in-box collector's dream. Yes, indeed, the box, in and of itself inside/out, has to be one of the best curio type presentations in over a decade. This thing appeals like fine gems.
FIGURES!: As for the figure itself, one look and you are intoxicated by something of a three-dimensional drawing come to life in the form of an action figure! Indeed he's got almost the fresh feel of a lead pencil and charcoal to paper. The lines are clever and help define the chiseled look to the figure, almost as if you have a prototype white canvas (paper) upon which Mr. Lee's markings come alive. Take a look at all these lines.....
If you look closely Lee's lines almost create an eagle shape in the chest plate. The comic cell springs alive in the form of this figure - with a bit of a robotic/mechanical feel, given the slimline design of the sculpt and the super-clean black and white throughout. To say this is a necessary collectible for Batman fans is a bit of an understatement. It is, in fact, a limited edition (we were unable to clarify the exact number actually produced) so nab this guy before he's only a symbol in the sky. It's simply stunning.
The purity of the white cape/cowl almost makes him look a bit statuesque, like a biblical type figure, especially with the gorgeous scallop at the bottom of the cape, and it slight upturn - which also acts to hold the figure upright. The inside of the cape is almost an abstract shadow reflection of an inverted Gotham. Smart design all around here. This is what we REALLY think:
RATING
Design: 9.5/10
Paint: 9/10
Articulation: 8/10
Packaging: 10/10
Collectible Factor: 9/10
When these were available at this year's big convention there were two variations made available - the one we are looking at today ($75 approx), and the more expensive version ($300) which was in an even more limited edition of only 150, and included an actual drawing by Jim Lee in place of the very lovely substitute print (above, done on a nice toothy drawing cardstock paper). The 150 were broken up into three different drawings (50 each of: Batman, Harley Quinn and the Joker - see sample below). These were sold through an elaborate number/auction system and you pretty much needed to be there and then to get one at the offered price. These sets are upwards of nearly a grand now on the secondary market, ca-ching. Hey, original art does not come cheap, even at this small scale! Anyhow, the included print is pretty much framable as is and pretty much looks close to an real drawing, and if this is a limited edition, this was a smart collectible to pick up for its value, but it's way more than a simple investment!
All we can say is hopefully DC understands the winning combination they have here and will continue this as a series of various Batman (and other) figures by real living artists - some of whom you saw represented in the two earlier 75th Anniversary quartet sets that came out over the past year. Over and above, this rather minimal piece really stood out in a convention that had the bells and whistles of a 1/6th scale Millenium Falcons and full-scale Game of Thrones Kingdoms. It looks like Toot's has two in stock, so what are you waiting for?!
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