Review of Batman DC Steel Night
Sixth Scale Action Figure

Introduction

When it comes to robot figures - and robot-like figures - nobody beats 3A. Working with the terrific artist Ashley Wood on the World War Robot and Popbot series, they've expanded into other licenses like Real Steel and Transformers.

When they announced they were working on DC related characters, it seemed an odd fit...at first. But the idea is a unique one: the villains have won, the heroes are dead, and robot versions of them are implemented as a fall back to battle evil. Ashley Wood has re-envisioned the heroes in this series, and Batman was their first release.

This guy comes in three versions that I know of - Day (bluish suit), Night (black suit, reviewed here), and Artic (white). I believe all three are available at retailers right now, and will run you around $220 or so.

Packaging - ****
I love the artwork on the exterior box, and I believe all three versions have unique designs. I know the Artic version is different, so I'm assuming the Day version is slightly different as well. The heavy card stock and thick foam interior ensure your figure gets to you safe and sound, and of course, it's all very collector friendly. The foam inserts give the package a high end feel, something the usual plastic trays do not.

Sculpting - ***1/2
A reminder - this isn't Batman. This is a robot version of Batman. He's bigger than a normal Barman, and his body proportions are more in line with other Ashley Wood designs.

If you're not a fan of Wood's other work, you won't like this one. The head is sharply defined at every edge, with a nice, stoic, Terminator-esque expression. There's no emotion here, all business. And the business is kicking your ass.

The segmented neck and shoulder armor looks great, and the layered plates remind me of an armored insect. They are made from a heavy plastic, creating the impression of metal. This is a tall figure too - robots are always bigger than humans, no? He comes in at 14" if you measure all the way to the tips of his ears.

The overall body is thin, with some very funky, gangly legs. If you follow other lines from ThreeA, then you would expect the long, thin legs, and it means this particular Batman can fit in with other series like WWR. The highly articulated fingers are long and skinny, which would be weird if he wasn't a robot, but looks perfectly natural in this context.

The figure came with some basic instructions that included the info that you can straighten the ears with a hair dryer if they are bent in the package. Mine were arrow straight, but perhaps this is an issue they've seen earlier, and are being proactive in letting you know how to remedy it.

Paint - ***1/2
This is a worn, weary, battle damaged robot, designed for fighting, and he's seen his share. Again, there's nothing unique about this if you're a fan of their other lines.

The armor is heavily weathered, and he's even leaking some fluids around the face, a terrific looking effect. I think some of the wear is over the top, particularly on the chin, where it looks like he's been dusted with paint rather than a natural effect. There's dirt and wear on the costume itself, including the heavy cape, and this looks terrific. A little less wear on the 'face', and I would have gone the full four stars here.

Articulation - ***
The marketing info claims 50 points of articulation, and there's certainly plenty. The segmented armor on the neck allows some tilt and lean, although not as much as I'd like. It's particularly hard to turn the head side to side, due to the way each plate lays over the other. The shoulders feel like rotating hinge joints, but the armor and cape make them a bit moot. The elbows and wrists become critical for arm poses, and both work well. The wrists are a bit restricted, again by the armor, but the fingers are crazy poseable, with multiple joints on each one, mirroring the real deal.

The torso turns, leans, and tilts nicely, even in the restrictive costume. The hips, knees, and ankles can take fluid short to medium stances, but deeper stances are tough, thanks to the tight suit. It doesn't help that the ankles almost have no movement, almost completely restricted by the tight, high boots. The left ankle on mine looks pretty wonky too, but I couldn't get the boot to fit over it quite right.  You can't easily remove the boots, and when I worked the feet too much they popped loose. I was able to reattach them without any real trouble, but it's worth taking some care.

All the joins are tight, and he will maintain any pose you manage to create long term.  But the costume and armor is quite restrictive, making all those wonderful joints a lot less impressive in person.

Accessories - **
While I suppose a robot wouldn't need a lot of extras, this Batman is mighty light in the Accessories category. He does come with two very cool batarangs, which he can hold in his articulated hands or slip inside his belt. Scale is good, and the unique design is a big plus, but that's all the mechanized cape crusader has to work with.

Light Feature - ***1/2
This guy has light up eyes, and they are very easy to use. This is the sort of feature that you'll actually turn on once in awhile, thanks to the overall design.

You pop the head off at the jawline, and underneath is the open battery compartment. Pop in three AG1 (aka 364) batteries, and his eyes light up a very bright blue.  You'll have to supply the batteries though, and these suckers cost about five bucks each.

The only annoyance is also a plus - the on/off button is on the back of his neck.  It's a negative because it's pretty obvious looking at the figure. It's a plus because it's very, very easy to use.  It does appear like they were cognizant of the ugly factor, because they made the button the same diameter as the other large 'rivets' on the back of the shoulder armor, perhaps hoping it would blend in a bit better.

Outfit - ***1/2
The costume and cape are made from very high quality materials, and the construction and tailoring are top notch.

The cape is tight over the shoulders and arms, but the heavy vinyl is easier to work with than I expected. You won't be able to get the arms above the chest, but you will be able to fold and manipulate the cape enough to get some good arm poses.

The tight body suit is made from a leather like material, and while it is stiff, it is also very durable and realistic. The stitch pattern on the chest and legs is part of the design, but I'm not sure I'm digging the light color against the black suit. The boots are one piece, tight fitting, with a real string lace.

The final accent is his belt, complete with a ton of cloth pouches. These pouches slide freely on the belt (you'll have to hunt for the buckle when you pull him out of the package) and are closed with velcro. Each has a soft foam insert to fill them out.

Fun Factor - ***
While there's lots of joints, the articulation isn't quite what it needs to be to get a huge score in this category. You'll pose him occasionally, but you'll eventually find one pose you prefer and stick with it, rather than going back to this figure over and over. The best feature in terms of this category is the light up eyes, which boost the Fun Factor thanks to their ease of use.

Value - **
You can expect to pay at least $220 for this guy, and some retailers are charging $240. I'm going to assume the lower score for my rating, and if you end up paying $20 more, you can knock another half star off here.

While he's unique and includes the nice light up feature, he's very light on accessories, and with multiple versions being released, you can't claim a low production run is driving the higher cost.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not much. I would be careful messing with the ankles, simply because popping a foot off is pretty easy to do, and I'd hate to be stuck trying to get it back on. Otherwise, you should be good to go.

Overall - ***1/2
If you're a fan of Ashley Wood and his unique artistic style, you'll like this guy quite a bit. Yes, he's a funky looking Batman, but it's also clear he's a robotic Batman, at least to anyone that pays attention. The quality and construction of the outfit is what you expect in the current market, and he's certainly not something you'll see from any other manufacturer.

Of course, the art house mentality means you'll be paying a little extra, and while the price point is a little high for what you're getting, it's no real surprise. I don't know if I'll be picking up any other DC Steel, but getting this unusual, conversation starting Batman for the shelf was a great idea.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ****
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ***
Accessories - **
Light Feature - ***1/2
Outfit - ***1/2
Fun Factor - ***
Value - **
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth has them at $240.

- Sideshow has Night and Day available for $240.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
Other products from 3A include the 1:12 Lawmaster, and Judge Dredd. In 1/6th, there's the Halo Carter, and I have a ton of guest reviews of the Popbot and WWR stuff.

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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