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Introduction
Okay, I get it, you hate Batman v Superman, you hate Suicide Squad, you hate DC movies, and damn it, why does Wonder Woman have shaved pits? Not all of us are quite that negative on DC films...yet...and while I'm less than impressed with every outing so far, I do have very high hopes for Wonder Woman. And as a Batman freak, I have to say that I'm pleased with the character in his latest incarnation, and am looking forward to any individual movie as well as the team up Justice League. More Batman, please.
For collectors of prop replicas, Quantum Mechanix are a well known entity. They produce some amazing items, with exacting standards and quality. Of course, that also means they are often extremely expensive, no real surprise. I'd kill for one of their Tesla Artisan Props, or their Artisan FX version of the Farnsworth, both from Warehouse 13. They do occasionally release something I can afford, and perhaps the best example of that has been the truly terrific Malcolm Reynolds pistol, a beautiful repro that's affordable as well.
There's a new player in their 'affordable but sweet' game - the Batarang! Based on the look from the new films, this replica will cost around $50 at most retailers, and is currently shipping.
And yea, those are my finger prints in the photo below - hey, the shiny metal picks them up like mad. Easy to wipe off though, when you notice them!
Packaging - ***1/2
The heavy duty box is attractive, and keeps the 'rang and it's base safe and sound. It's branded as Qmx 'Caliber Metalworks', so I'm hopeful that this will mean more
releases under the same brand.
This is NOT a limited edition, so there's no Certificate of Authenticity or numbering on the box or base.
Sculpting - ****
This batarang is big and heavy - hit someone in the head with this, and they're going down. It measures about 8 1/2" from tip to tip, and is made from a very solid zinc
alloy. It's quite thick too, giving it a lot of heft. The edges and points aren't super sharp, but I wouldn't expect them to be - this is a bludgeon, not a knife.
There's one mold line that runs along the top edge, but is fairly well hidden and doesn't detract from the overall bad ass appearance. This thing is super sturdy, super realistic, and extremely well made.
Paint - ****
There's not a lot of traditional 'paint' here, but there are two different colors and textures.
The polished, cut edges of the batarang are a bright, shiny silver. This contrasts nicely with the flat gray back and front of the beast, which also has a slight texture. These textured surfaces remind me of a Teflon coating more than paint, perfect for hosing off the blood.
It's a super consistent, super clean coating, and there's not a single ding or mark anywhere to be seen. Like I said earlier, you'll be constantly wiping your finger prints off the bright edges, but that's a minor price to pay for such beauty.
Accessories - ****
I'm calling the included base an 'accessory', since you don't HAVE to use it if you don't want to. But why would you not? The back of the batarang has a strong,
round magnet embedded in the body. This snaps tightly to the post on the detailed base, holding the weapon at a jaunty angle. It looks terrific, and the base itself has
a cool textured pattern designed to mimic the look of his suit in the recent films.
The bottom has a soft rubber pad of course, with relevant information printed on it, but not an edition size or number. Remember, this is NOT a limited edition.
Value - ****
Fifty bucks? Seriously? I doubt Bruce Wayne gets them this cheap. It's almost impossible to get any replica for under $100, let alone one of this quality, thanks to the
market drivers and licensing costs. No, you're not getting some super low edition size, but do you really care when you can have a batarang in your home theater?
Things to Watch Out For -
Don't drop it on your foot. Assuming you can avoid acts of stupidity and clumsiness, you should be good.
Overall - ****
This is a very high quality replica for a very good price. You can't ask for much more than that.
I'm hoping we see Qmx do more in this vein, especially with the upcoming DC films. Maybe some Wonder Woman cuffs?
Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***1/2
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ****
Accessories - ****
Value - ****
Overall - ****
Where to Buy
Online options include these site sponsors:
- Entertainment Earth varies a little. It's $50, but not yet shipping.
- or you can search
ebay
for a deal.
Related Links -
I have reviews of a few of the other Qmx prop replicas, including the Argus Cube from Super8, and both the first release and second release of the Malcolm Reynolds pistol from Firefly.
The only other batarang prop replica I have is the 1966 version that came with the terrific belt replica by Mattel.
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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This product was purchased for the review by the reviewer. Photos and text by Michael Crawford.