Review of Batman - black costume variant statue

Introduction

A few years back, Kotobukiya released a terrific Batman statue based on the design of Jim Lee. This statue was in the classic blue and gray colors, and sported a cool pose and flowing cape.

I really wanted one...but I just couldn't quite do it. As much as I liked the design, the colors weren't my favorite, and I balked until the cost of the statue was more than retail and I figured I'd missed my window.

But Kotobukiya is a smart company. With this summer's release of the Dark Knight Rises, they knew there would be a renewed interest in Batman...especially in a darker colored outfit. They've re-released the statue with a new color scheme and some minor sculpt changes, just at the right time for you to snag one for the big Batman fan on your Christmas list. Yes, it's less than 4 months away...

This guy will run you around $85 - $90 at most retailers, and I have some great suggestions in my Where to Buy section at the end of the review.

This isn't a limited edition of any kind, and the original statue even saw more than one release due to demand. I can't predict that will happen again, but you never know.

Packaging - ****
This box includes just about everything I love in a large collectible package. The graphics and colors are terrific, matching the license beautifully. There's very little excess space or waste, although this is a big statue. It's completely collector friendly, so you can easily remove and replace Batman without ever damaging the container. It keeps the statue safe, which is really job one. And it has several huge windows, allowing you to see what you're spending your hard earned cash upon. All around it's a great presentation!

Sculpting - ****
As I said earlier, this statue is a re-issue of the Jim Lee based Batman statue that Kotobukiya released several years ago. He's almost identical in sculpt, with just a few tweaks to make the suit and colors match up properly.

This is still a Jim Lee design, but it's one of his better, and I really do love the work on the musculature and flowing cape. Doing a dynamic cape properly in three dimensions is very tricky - it often comes out silly or cheesy. Not this time though, and the tattered edge of the cape adds another dimension to the story told by the pose.

He's a fairly large statue, coming in at almost 11" if you count the base. He stands great on his own with or without the base too - a nice touch for an action pose.

Unlike most Kotobukiya kits, this is a complete statue right out of the box. Just attach Batman to his base - if you want - and that's about it. He's a hard plastic or polymer statue too, no easy to break resin, and he has a nice heft and solid feel.

Paint - ***1/2
I loved the original statue, but never did buy one. Why not? The color scheme isn't my favorite for the character, and I've always been much more partial to the black and gray.

They've done up this combo proud with the new release, and the sculpted bat symbol jumps out with clean cut lines around the edges. There's a slight wash on the body which brings out some of the detail work, and the use of gloss black on the gloves and boots differentiates them nicely from the cape and cowl.

There's not a ton of small detail work, but what's here is mostly well done. There's a little slip here or there, but it's all so minor that the overall impression of quality work is not effected.

Articulation - Bupkis
Although this is a Bupkis in this category, it won't go against my Overall score. As a statue, you don't expect articulation, but some of the Kotobukiya kits do have a joint or two. I've included this category and score as information only - this is a solid one piece statue with a base, no articulation.

Value - ***
You can pick this guy up for around $85, which is very close to what he cost the first time around as well, and is also pretty much in line with the usual cost of any basic Kotobukiya statue or vinyl kit. Considering how much larger he is than the Batman Black and White statues that cost almost as much, I'd say he's a solid if not exceptional value.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.

Overall - ****
I loved the first version, but just couldn't managed to pull the trigger - now I'm glad I waited. These colors are my favorite, and combining them with the dynamic Lee sculpt makes for just about a perfect Batman statue.

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

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth is at $90.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I've reviewed somewhere just short of a billion Batman items - check the Search Reviews page to find a ton from the past and any other applicable reviews done after this one was published.

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