Sofubi Vinyl Batman by Medicom

I was positive I wanted this sofubi vinyl Batman after discovering him on the internet some time ago, but was turned off by the high price at retail. That said, a mere twenty dollar drop in price, no tax, and free shipping was enough for me to cave in. Made of soft vinyl by Japanese company Medicom, this 10.5" doll has the kind of retro styling that appeals to myself and a whole community of serious collectors, some going for two to three times what I paid for this Batman...

Though articulation is limited to swivels at the arms and neck, this fun toy has a removable cowl and big, irresistible design! The snap on the cape and oversized head really adds to the aesthetic of this figure, announcing it's unapologetic status as a fun toy!

Another figure I love in my burgeoning collection of vinyl toys is my Funko Vinyl Invaders Batman. While I have a few other characters in vinyl, Batman is my obsession in this subcategory of my collection. There's also a Joker, Superman, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Bizarro in this retro Medicom series, and Harley Quinn, Riddler, and Spider-Man on the way for 2015.

My Mattel 8" Retro-Action Batman has a great deal in common with the sofubi Batman, and several attributes in styling I admire in a Batman. I like this Silver-Age color scheme on a Batman, the blue on gray with black shorts and yellow oval behind the bat symbol on the chest. And a removable cowl, no matter what the complaints, always sells me!

Pictured below, some Silver-Age blue/gray Batmen in my collection:  Mattel 5" Stealth Strike Gear Up Batman (also w/removable cowl), Mattel 8" Retro-Action Batman, Medicom 10.5" Sofubi Batman, Mattel 6.5" Arkham City Batman, Mattel 6" Power Attack Batman, and 4" Power Attack Batman...

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Amazing Spider-Man 30th Anniversary Issues, 1992

Back in 1992, Marvel was printing issues by the millions to satisfy the glut of speculators buying comics in multiples, hoping to see an increase on their investment. But as Stan Lee poignantly remarked, what made Golden-Age comics worth so much was their rarity, and because of that I can find these Amazing Spider-Man 30th Anniversary issues in the dollar bins. Comics nearly didn't survive the speculative bubble created, with about two thirds of all the specialty shops closing their doors, and Marvel Comics declaring bankruptcy finally in 1997. 

Artist Mark Bagley's rendering of Venom in Amazing Spider-Man #375, originally a Spider-Man costume design conceived by an Illinois fan, used in the 1984 Secret Wars storyline. Later written into Marvel lore as Venom by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane in 1988, the character has become one of Spider-Man's most popular enemies among readers.

But in 1992, Marvel was churning out these foil embossed and holographic covers to entice collectors, which have retained a fraction of their retail value. In all fairness, I was entertained by the multiple feature issues of The Amazing Spider-Man and Web of Spider-Man, the latter of which had a really fun gatefold poster of Spider-Man and his 2099 counterpart by artist Rick Leonardi, then a brand new character that seems to have enjoyed a nostalgic renaissance of sorts in recent years. 

Amazing Spider-Man #365 included a preview of this futuristic Spider-Man, and a Stan Lee penned/John Romita Sr. penciled story "I Remember Gwen", centered around Mary Jane's ruminations on the tragic circumstances surrounding Peter Parker's late girlfriend and her own relationship with the webslinger. Among other featurettes, including the return of the Lizard and Peter Parker's parents in "Fathers and Sins",  #365 also had it's own Carnage/Venom gatefold by artist Mark Bagley, who's style I admired in the day, along with along with that of fellow Spider-Man artist Erik Larsen.

Web of Spider-Man #90 had the best story, in which Mysterio tricks Spider-Man into believing his career is run by an agent who booked his first appearance as the masked webslinger all those years ago when trying his powers out as a wrestler. Illusions of the Green Goblin, Galactus, the X-Men, Venom, and even the dearly departed are used in attempt to bring our hero down! Spectacular Spider-Man #189 was my least favorite of these, Harry Osborn's return to his father's legacy as Green Goblin threatening Peter Parker's secret identity as well as his own family's safety. Sal Buscema delivers on the art, but the melodrama between Osborn and his estranged wife and child didn't interest me. Amazing Spider-Man #375 seemingly concluded Venom and Spider-Man's ongoing rivalry in "The Bride of Venom". Eddie Brock's ex-wife, the Wild Pack, and Peter Parker's fugitive parents also make appearances in this issue preceding Venom's first solo run in the six issue Venom: Lethal Protector.

Web of Spider-Man #90: the Venom symbiote takes over a movie prop Galactus in Mysterio's illusory assault on Spider-Man.

Pencils by Alex Saviuk.

I just love anniversary and "giant-sized" issues, old and new, even if all the content isn't that great. It may be my deep love of the medium at play here, but these kinds of books often entertain some "what if" elements and/or take a character to a different place. I bought very few comics during this era, a poor art student at the time, but had fun absorbing this slice of Spidey from the early '90s recently. Did you have any of these 30th Anniversary issues, or maybe buy two of each in hopes it would appreciate in value ...?

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More of the Hot Toys Amazing Spider-Man!

My new Hot Toys Amazing Spider-Man was a little too outstanding to confine to one post, and was a really special purchase for me, so I made a little video to highlight some of the several dozen photos I shot, including size comparisons of other action figures in my collection...

Some other Amazing Spider-Man action figures within the Super-DuperToyBox:  3 3/4" Ultra-Poseable Amazing Spider-Man,  3 3/4" Funko POP Amazing Spider-Man, 6" Hasbro Legends Movie Series Amazing Spider-Man, 7" Marvel Select Amazing Spider-Man...

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Kai Play Arts Arkham City Batman

I've been after some more premium action figures lately, especially Batman action figures, and found this Kai Play Arts Arkham City Batman for a discounted enough price to pique my interest. At 1:7 scale, these 10" Kai Play Arts figures don't fit in with DC Direct 7" figures, nor with 1:6 scale, but that doesn't matter to me, and a character like Batman can display alone anyway.

He came with a generous number of accessories, including an extra pair of hands to hold a batarang and grapple gun, and an extra head with clenched teeth. My first fifteen minutes were spent trying to get the peg into the figure's neck- it came detached for whatever reason, and likes to pop off if pushed beyond it's range. To complicate matters, it's hard to get the peg back into the hole, so I don't like messing with the figure's head...

This figure has great detailing in the paint and sculpt! His larger size allows more room for deco minutiae in his body armor plating and texture. I love the shading in the arms, legs, and torso, and black washes on the utility belt. The figure's gauntlets and shin guards have a realistic metallic texture and paint, and the cape is deeply shaded as well.

The figure has ratcheted elbows, hips, and knees. The wrists, ankles and elbows are ball-hinge equipped, as are the hips, and the torso has two ball joints. His biceps and toes have swivels, and his knees are double hinged. Batman's shorts, utility belt, and shoulder cape sections are cast in a flexible softer rubber to allow more range, but the figure's weight and oversized cape hinder his poseability. Still, he can be worked with, and is an exceptional looking figure with a heft that feels high quality.

Batman's grapple gun has an interchangeable claw with cable in case you want to pose the tool deployed. The handle fits snugly in the grip of his pistol hand- it looks pretty great!

As previously mentioned, Batman's cape is somewhat a hindrance on the ground frankly- a little too heavy and low hanging for a variety of posing. With no holes on the soles of his boots, he can't borrow a pegged disc stand from any of my other figures (note the unique toe swivel on the boot), but this action figure seems best suited for display on a flight stand anyway. I'm somewhat disappointed one was not included considering the retail price for these- he'll borrow my Sideshow Batman's stand until I pick one up for him at the hobby shop. I think a short, saddle type doll stand would be most effective for standing and leaping poses.

Batman holds his large batarang best in his trigger hand- an accessory every Batman figure should include...

And finally, a favorite way of mine to play in the Super-DuperToyBox, BIGTOY/littletoy! Kai Play Arts Arkham City Batman with my DC Direct Arkham Asylum Batman: having the larger, more articulated Kai doesn't take anything away from the DC Direct for myself. In some respects, the DC Direct has a smoother presentation and more realistic body proportions, At any rate, I respect them individually for what they are, and am happy to have them both... 

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Batman '66 #14

     I only bought the first three issues of Batman '66, but it was too hard to pass on issue #14 with the gigantic Batrobot by husband & wife art team of Michael & Laura Allred! I really became a fan of their work when reading the Marvel Now! FF title last year, and picked up the new Silver Surfer title when they launched that title. Several other perfectly complimenting artists have taken turns on the interior art, but the Allreds draw me in with their covers! The stories I've read in this title have been fun, the spirit of Adam West left intact.
     In issue #14, Batman & Robin have taken advantage of the engineering talents of reformed criminal Professor Overbeck in developing a 24/7 Gotham sentinel in the form of Batrobot! Subsequently, Bruce Wayne and his young ward Dick Grayson enjoy some time off fishing, as Gotham seems calm after Batrobot takes over. Eventually, the Dynamic Duo must return, the strictly logical deductions of the Batrobot undone by the mad schemes of the Joker and Riddler! "Machines... computers... they have enormous values. Yet ultimately, they are tools, not a substitute for people. When we hand over  our lives to them, we stand to lose much in the process.", concludes the Dark Knight.

*See my Funko Vinyl Invaders Batman Robot!
*See my Batman: The Brave & the Bold Cyber-Tank!
*See my Batman: The Brave & the Bold Proto Bat-Bot!

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Sideshow Collectibles Sixth Scale Batman

I had my eye on this incredible Sideshow Collectibles Sixth Scale Batman for several months, finally ordering him when I did my Hot Toys Amazing Spider-Man, another favorite character that warranted having a premium format figure in my collection. Like that figure, this Sideshow Batman is in a class above what I normally buy. I found one for $189.00, shipping included, and finally caved (pun intended). I'd normally feel guilty about paying that much for an action figure, but not after having him standing there in front to me- pretty impressive. Batman came with a respectable number of accessories as well: three sets of extra hands and one kryptonite ring-bearing fist, an extra head with longer ears, two interchangeable face expressions, four batarangs, a grapple gun, and a figure stand...

What appealed to me about this Sideshow Batman was his "evergreen" quality- he's not a movie franchise Batman, nor is it an homage to any particular artist's rendition of the character or reference to any published story arc. He just a classic, comics-inspired Batman in Silver Age blue and gray, and I like that...

This figure isn't quite as articulated at the Hot Toys Amazing Spider-Man, but he does plenty. The neck has decent range, and his ankles have rocker joints that make wide stances easy. While the torso swivel is somewhat limited, the pelvic joint completes the figure's needs. The single jointed elbows are fine as the biceps are too muscular to allow for much more range there. The knees have nice double joints, his hips a hinged swivel with an additional swivel at the top of the thigh, and the shoulders have a butterfly hinge inside the torso that adds subtlety to the figure's range in this area...

Batman's grapple gun has a rope incase you want to display him with the hook deployed, which has three articulated claws at the end. His hand grips it quite snugly... 

I've warmed to the New 52 Batman without boy shorts and grew to love the all-black '89 Batman, but grew up with the traditional Dark Knight garb. I like the seams down the front of Sideshow Batman's shorts. The utility belt is military-style with lots of great detail, it's lined pouches inspired by Frank Miller's Dark Knight. I prefer the short eared cowl, which features lots of nice shading repeated in the gloves and boots. Cast in plastic, the sculpted stitching and creasing in the gloves and boots is extremely detailed...

The clenched facial expression can be plugged into a hole in the mouth of the cowl, adding a great deal of personality to the figure. Sideshow Batman's eyes are silver without pupils, set deeply into the cowl under a furrowed brow like in the comics- a feature I admire in a Batman figure.

Sideshow Batman comes with three smaller shuriken, and one larger batarang, which he holds pretty well, their wings fitting snugly between his thumb and curled forefinger...

And a starring feature of this figure is, of course, the cape. What could be more important on a Batman figure? It's satiny outer finish looks appropriately leathery, it's seams running from his cowl to it's scalloped ends. The enormity of this cape is notable, yet it drape over the Dark Knight's frame quite nicely. It's really something. I've seen some reviews that criticized it for not having wires inside the seams for posing, but I'm personally glad it didn't.

An action figure like this deserves more than one post, so I'll retire here with a promise for that in the future- this initial photo session was executed right out of the box and there's more to do. If you are a sixth scale collector, pick this one up. If you are a Batman fan, buy this action figure. There is little to nitpick about with this Batman, and it is without a doubt the best in my collection now. While I regret not ordering the Hot Toys '89 Batman awhile back, this Sideshow Batman makes up for that.

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Hot Toys 1:6 Scale Amazing Spider-Man

My love of Spider-Man goes back to my early childhood in the '70s- some of my first comics featured the webslinger, I had both the 8" and 12" Mego Spider-Man dolls, and was fascinated by the Amazing Spider-Man TV show starring Nicholas Hammond. The animated Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends show followed in the early '80s, cementing my childhood love of the character first introduced to me through his appearances on The Electric Company in 1977. I have several Spider-Man action figures I love, but have thus far never purchased any action figure of quite this caliber. I've often admired Alex's world class 1:6 collection at ToyHaven, and have a respectable collection of DC Direct's 13" Deluxe Figure line, but Hot Toys is in an entirely different class. I'd long been in search of a larger scale Spiderman of this caliber, and as a fan of the redesign of this character's costume featured in the 2012 blockbuster, this Hot Toys version was the one for me...

I scored this for about twenty-five dollars below it's initial retail cost, shipped free, and must say the packaging is the most deluxe I've ever laid my paws on, The "shoebox" Spidey came in has a funky, angled lid, decorated in a beautiful, full color theatrical image, glossy web patterning over it's surface, which reflects subtly when viewing from different angles. Inside, the accessories are plenty, including four webs, four extra sets of hands, two extra wrist pegs, a display stand, and an interchangeable Peter Parker head...

Andrew Garfield's likeness in the extra head accessory is pretty great, resembling the actor with realistic accuracy. There's a difference plainly evident when you pay for a Hot Toys figure as compared to those half the price, and the facial paint and sculpt are a big part of that. The slender body type also fits Garfield's physique realistically, completing the illusion...

The masked head on this is incredible! The head is sheathed in fabric so it creases realistically when moving side to side, locking down easily onto two prongs mounted in the body. The honeycomb pattern in the lenses looks fantastic- the kind of deep detailing that set this Spidey apart from others.

The rubberized texture of the mask extends down onto the chest of the bodysuit, raised webbing neatly highlighted in black, repeated on the boots. The blue spandex has a thin honeycomb pattern of  rubber throughout, giving it a tactile quality as such, but far more flexible than I first imagined. The boot soles are movie accurate, like that of an athletic shoe, and Spidey also has the webspinners at his wrist. I'm not sure he could look more like who we saw in The Amazing Spider-Man. Again, while some were not so enchanted by the movie's reimagining of Spider-Man's iconic blue and red garb, I thought it honored the classic design and am quite fond of it. I love a variation on iconic character's outfits.

Spidey is super-articulated with double-hinged knees & elbows, two abdominal joints, butterfly joints in the shoulders. double-hinged hips, swivel biceps, and more. It's my understanding there was a snafu in the engineering of the figure leading to a number of broken shoulders, and Hot Toys recognized this by including a slip of paper illustrating the threshold of articulation in that area. That said, you could break this body if confused about what position the joints are aligned in, hidden by the body suit. He is slender, delicate, and to be handled with care. Still, I put him through the paces in three pretty extensive photo sessions, so expect to see another post or video here with more of this amazing action figure...

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