{"id":23698,"date":"2013-06-17T02:40:30","date_gmt":"2013-06-17T07:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=23698"},"modified":"2013-07-03T00:54:56","modified_gmt":"2013-07-03T05:54:56","slug":"batman-unlimited-dark-knight-returns-batman-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=23698","title":{"rendered":"Batman Unlimited Dark
Knight Returns Batman Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>I\u2019m still waiting on Wally West to arrive (I\u2019ll explain later), but I still felt like reviewing a DCUC figure to kick off the week. Since the retail line has pretty much abandoned my interests, I only have a couple of recent, non-sub DC figures to choose from. I wanted something fun, so DKR Batman got the nod. <\/p>\n

This Batman figure set off a bit of controversy when he debuted. He\u2019s intended to be a Dark Knight Rises Batman, of course, based on the story by Frank Miller. The figure does a damn good job of it too. He looks great. But, that\u2019s not what I see when I look at him. What I see is a Masters of the Universe Batman. <\/p>\n

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The reason for that is pretty clear: shared tooling. When this figure debuted though, the shared tooling was immediately discounted by some at Mattel. I think part of the reason was simply because some collectors had asked for figures like this, certain DC Characters with MOTU proportions. I admit that I never thought to inquire about a DKR Bats, but I did want Superman and I\u2019d still be pretty thrilled if Mattel got their Remco on and offered DC\u2019s Warlord in both their standard buck and on the MOTU buck. That would be wild, but I digress. <\/p>\n

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I\u2019m not sure how much shared tooling exists between the MOTU line and this Batman. Toy Guru said early on that he only shared shoulders and, well, it looks like he shares quite a bit more of the more common pieces than that. You can tell what\u2019s new for sure \u2013 the entire upper torso, the cape, the head, the boots, the forearms, and the classic undies. And, yeah, when you list it like that \u2013 it is the majority of the figure, but you can\u2019t deny this guy looks like a MOTU Batman and I guess I\u2019m still at a loss as to why some at Mattel ran with that denial. <\/p>\n

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All the new pieces are fantastic. The important costume details are all sculpted in. I love the chunky torso \u2013 I kinda wanna see it on He-Man. And I also love the head sculpt. Maybe I\u2019ve missed a parallel in the original art, but it rings true for the Frank Miller DKR look, but I also get a Kirby vibe from it as well. Speaking of that head and the shared tooling \u2013 Batman\u2019s head is as easily removable & swappable as any MOTU figure. This has lead to plenty of fun around my toy shelves, let me tell ya. Grizzlor in a Batman suit? Awesome. Or you could pull out Flipshot\/Icarius, plop that Val Kilmer head on Batman\u2026 and then burn it with fire. Continue to Page 2…<\/a><\/p>\n

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The figure has basically standard articulation for a MOTU figure which makes him one of the better articulated Batman figures in recent years. The MOTU hips allow for a nicer aesthetic (no thigh cuts) while retaining great movement. The neck has fantastic range. And, oh look, rocker ankles. Snap. <\/p>\n

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The figure doesn\u2019t need a lot of paintwork being molded in the mostly appropriate blacks & greys, but what paint is there is sharp. The eyes and jaw are thankfully crisp (my Planet X Batman looks like he has a little purple Hitler-moustache)<\/em> as is the symbol and the paintwork on the belt.
\nT
\nhough I didn\u2019t manage to scrounge it up for the review, Batman does include a chunky Batarang. You can see some great pictures of it in Michael Crawford\u2019s review here<\/a>. It’s the giant one that says CHINA all over one side. <\/p>\n

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My only concern with the figure is the soft, rubbery plastic on the undies. I suppose, when it comes down to it, it\u2019s just the cape material or similar to it, but a few of my older Mattel figures are exhibiting the white dust decay on the softer plastics and it makes me worry about this Batman in the coming years. I love the figure by itself, I love the \u201cinadvertent\u201d crossover appeal with MOTU, and I\u2019d hate to find that I \u201clost\u201d this figure one day to Mattel\u2019s bad mixes on the softer plastics. <\/p>\n

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Overall, this is easily going to be one of my favorite figures in 2013. He doesn\u2019t quite have a home in the display. He doesn\u2019t quite go with DC or MOTU, but that has also given him a coveted spot at the top with some of my more favorite stuff. And while Mattel seemingly wants no credit for double-dipping with the tooling, I really just want to ask for more. Well, within reason, I\u2019m not about to buy that funky New52 Darkseid of theirs even though he also appears to use some MOTU tooling. And while I would love a chunky Warlord (how often do you get to say that? I love this job)<\/em>, I would never take it at the risk of not getting a proper DCUC one. But, I desperately want a compatible Superman figure. The tooling is almost entirely done, so I know Mattel can do it. I hope will do it. They\u2019ve hit a home run with this Batman and I just bet that lightning would strike twice if they\u2019ll just go back to the well. <\/p>\n

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More DC Universe Classics Reviews:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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For all our DC reviews, check out our
\n DC Universe Classics Collector’s Guide<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":23782,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[6,34,10],"tags":[70,1626,1631,20],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.itsalltrue.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/batxx.jpg?fit=480%2C195","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pObc6-6ae","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20216,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=20216","url_meta":{"origin":23698,"position":0},"title":"DKR\/MOTUC Batman *UPDATE* 4H Say ‘Some’, Design Says ‘Two’","date":"August 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Amid the excitement over the possibility of the DKR Batman utilizing a MOTUC buck, I was privately getting worried that we were setting ourselves up. Unable to determine scale, I thought we might just be looking at a new \"chunky\" DC buck. I'm happy to report that my concerns were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ask Matty"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31970,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=31970","url_meta":{"origin":23698,"position":1},"title":"NYCC 2015 Armchair Coverage: DC Classics lives as Dark Knight Returns","date":"October 12, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "DCClassics.Com"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20202,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=20202","url_meta":{"origin":23698,"position":2},"title":"Details on Waves 2 of the Batman & DC Unlimited Lines","date":"August 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"So, I\u2019m in the middle of three-too-many projects at the moment, but Vault got my attention today with a simple text, \u201chave you seen the new DC figures?\u201d I had no idea what he was talking about. Apparently, new DC & Batman Unlimited figure pics had been circulating all day.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Toys"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29636,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=29636","url_meta":{"origin":23698,"position":3},"title":"Previews Exclusive: Mezco’s One:12 DK Batman","date":"November 19, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "DCClassics.Com"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28856,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=28856","url_meta":{"origin":23698,"position":4},"title":"Mezco Announces One:12 6″ Line w\/ DKR Batman!","date":"July 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19783,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=19783","url_meta":{"origin":23698,"position":5},"title":"Sponsor Announcement: Past Generation Toys Giveaways","date":"July 20, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This week @ PastGenerationToys.com PreOrders Preorder Marvel Legends Series 3 (Now with Images) Preorder Mattel's New 52 DC Universe Unlimited Action Figure and New 52 DC Universe Batman Unlimited Action Figure Living Dead Dolls Series 24 Now in Stock Batman The Dark Knight Rises DC Direct Busts and Statues Shao\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sponsors"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23698"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23698"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23883,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23698\/revisions\/23883"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}