Review of Batman: Family
Q-Master Diorama Statue

Introduction

As a big Batman fan, I'm always looking for something different. I love collectibles that step outside the norm, and give a unique perspective on the character. It's tough to do when it's someone that has existed in popular culture for more than 80 years, and had countless interpretations.

Quantum Mechanix takes a look at Batman's softer side with their new statue. Obviously, we don't think of Batman as a family man, but he has been a mentor on more than one occasion. Okay, so it doesn't always end well, but he tries.

The statue is called Batman Family, and retails for $200 at the Qmx website. It's a limited edition of 5000. There's another version available through BBTS with an art print that is limited to 1500. There's also a second diorama up for pre-order called "Batman Family Knight Out" that features the kids as well.

Packaging - ***
The sturdy box will keep things safe, and the interior foam trays are dense, so no little flakes of styrofoam all over the carpet. There's a Certificate of Authenticity with the run size and specific number, which is also printed on the bottom of the base.

Sculpting - ****
This is a large statue, coming in at sixth scale. Batman is a bit over 12" tall himself, and of course the kids climbing on his shoulders push that quite a bit higher, closer to 15" overall.

The design is super cute. All the 'kids' that Batman has tutored are clamoring for his attention. There's Damian Wayne, dressed as Robin, along with Barbara Gorden as Batgirl, Jason Todd as Red Hood, Dick Grayson as Nightwing, and Tim Drake as Red Robin. The kids are adorable, each with their own personality and unique expression. It follows the "Q-Fig" art style that we've seen with the smaller figures, but while it's in that style, the kids here are much larger than the usual Q-Fig.

It's made from a new material developed by Qmx called "Everstone". All modern collectible statues are made from some sort of polymer/resin mixture, sometimes with actual stone, and depending on the amount of various materials, you get different material aspects. Many statues with more stone-like properties are brittle, breakable, and can have trouble with paint and sculpt details. Materials that are less porous don't absorb paint, and some must be painted because they can not be cast in color. For a great example of a critical difference, look at the flat, lifeless painted skin on most statues, and the more translucent, realistic skin on a Hot Toys sixth scale figure.

Qmx set out to develop a new material that maximized the best qualities, and the result is Everstone. It's heavy - really heavy. This statue is not hollow, and there's a lot of material here. The sculpt is detailed, with sharp cuts and edges, and a nice mixture of textures. It's also extremely durable - you won't bump a corner of the cape or an ear and have it snap off. I'll discuss the paint positives in the next section, but suffice to say Qmx has themselves a winner with this stuff.

The base is a separate piece, done in a more traditional plastic and in a bat-symbol shape. He fits on it thanks to foot posts, but he can also stand just fine on his own.

Paint - ****
The Everstone has some big benefits here as well. Because they are able to cast in color, large sections of the same color are consistent and even. Smaller surface details look great, from the flat black of a cowl to the metallic red of a hood. The skin has that translucent look that I love with higher end sixth scale figures, giving it a realism that far too many statues lack.

This is one of those items that ends up on my list for the Eddie Wires award, because the paint just isn't great, it actually takes the overall statue to the next level.

Articulation - N/A
This is just an FYI category, not a rating. This is a solid statue, with no movable parts and unlike something from the Kotobukiya style statues, no assembly. The base is a separate piece, and there are foot pegs to keep it attached, but even it is not necessary for him to stand on his own.

Value - **1/2
This is a large statue, and the $200 price point is well within line. Considering the quality of both the sculpt and the paint, and the sheer volume of material being used, I'm good with the cost. I'm hoping we see them expand this scale and material to a wider range of their licenses.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing. This is a sturdy, well made statue, and you should have no issues with it.

Overall - ****
This release is a double whammy. It's a fun, interesting, well designed statue on its own, and it's also the first release using a new material that I have very high hopes for. Quantum Mechanix has a winner on their hands with Everstone, and Batman fans would do well to check this particular release out. The sturdy material, with its ability to hold a sharp edge and tiny detail, should allow them to get really creative with their other licenses as well.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ****
Articulation - N/A
Value - **1/2
Overall - ****

Where to Buy 
You can pick it up directly from the Qmx online store for $200. Other online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth has the second release on pre-order for $200, plus free shipping.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I don't have any other reviews of Q-Master Dioramas - this is their first like this. I suspect we'll see quite a few more in the future.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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