Review of Dick Grayson - Batman 1966
Mini-Bust

Introduction

Diamond Select Toys continues their series of low cost mini-busts based on the 1966 Batman television show with the release of Dick Grayson. I believe this is the first time we've gotten a Burt Ward Dick Grayson - not Robin - collectible, and it's long over due.

This bust actually comes with a second 'bust' of Shakespeare, the art work in which the button to open the secret entrance to the batcave was hidden. The price point remains very low, coming in at around $50 - $60 depending on the retailer, and they limited the production run to just 1966.

Packaging - ***
Nothing too exciting about the box, but it's collector friendly of course. The interior trays are the softer foam, which tends to break apart and end up all over the place, but there is a nice Certificate of Authenticity with the edition size and particular number.

Sculpting - **
The final sculpt is pretty rough stuff. And I mean that literally. The edges around the lips, nose, and ears for example, are rough and harsh, and there's a choppy, early American carving look to the final product. There's a texture to the skin and clothes, but it doesn't look particularly intentional, but rather like there was air trapped along the surface.

It kinda looks a little like Burt Ward, but certainly not enough that you'd recognize it out of context. I'm also not sure what the pose is supposed to represent - slapping his left fist into his right hand? Getting ready to fight? Yea, overall this is just a mess.

The sculpting on Shakespeare is much better though, and saves this from being an overall disaster. Scale is pretty good, and the smaller base matches the theme appropriately. It helps that this is a bust of a bust - you aren't surprised by its rougher, bronze sculpture appearance. But a sculpture of a person requires a bit more realism and life.

Paint - **
It's another rough - literally - job. The surface has some dirt and clots, the edges are poor just about everywhere, the eyes are uneven, and even the white 'teeth' run down onto the lower lip. I suppose a plus is the consistency of colors - the skin tone is even, and the red of the sweater has a light wash to add some visual appeal. But overall the paint work is about as disappointing as the sculpt.

However, the bust of Shakespeare is much better. You don't have the issue of details of course, but the bronze look is pretty realistic.

Value - ***
One of the big positives of this line in general is the price point. Getting a mini-bust at $50 - $60 in this scale is largely unheard of these days. However, you can't cut so far back on overall quality to get to that price as to sacrifice the entire bust.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing. I'm assuming there won't be much variation in the quality, so you'll probably get what you're going to get.

Overall - **
I've picked up pretty much this entire line, being a huge fan of the goofy, campy show. I appreciate the low cost alternative, but we've seen DST do this with other lines - think BTAS - and still maintain a reasonable quality level. They missed the mark this time.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - **
Paint - **
Value - ***
Overall - **

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth is at just $50.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I've reviewed Catwoman, Bookworm, Mad Hatter, and Batman.

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