{"id":29656,"date":"2014-11-20T23:17:22","date_gmt":"2014-11-21T05:17:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=29656"},"modified":"2014-12-18T23:47:27","modified_gmt":"2014-12-19T05:47:27","slug":"dc-collectibles-the-new-batman-adventures-6-batman-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=29656","title":{"rendered":"DC Collectibles The New Batman Adventures 6″ Batman Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> As I sit down to write this review, the term \u201cout of practice\u201d comes to mind. Whenever I miss a few days, I feel like my mojo might be gone. Will the pictures be funny? Will the writing be enjoyable? Ugh. I know I\u2019ve missed more than a few this go round \u2013 parenthood is great when you\u2019re still measuring in weeks, but it doesn’t leave a lot of time for other things. Right now, little Sam is off at daycare \u2013 and I have the day off \u2013 so I feel kinda guilty. I mean, we had to pay for the daycare whether he goes or not, but I feel like I’m cheating a bit to get this done. <\/p>\n

Okay, so there, I got through a whole paragraph of this review. Though I didn\u2019t mention the figure at all. Strike one? Funny story, I\u2019m a huge DC fan \u2013 that much should be obvious \u2013 and I, like all but the most curmudgy of curmudgeons, loved the 90s DC Animation. BTAS, TNBA, STAS. Loved it. The DVDs are not 15ft from me right now. <\/p>\n

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But I didn\u2019t buy the figures right away. The figures probably started in 1993? I didn\u2019t really snap any up until I ran across Ra\u2019s Al Ghul. And that was probably 96? I couldn\u2019t tell you why I waited. I treasured my Super Powers figures. And I bought the various Batman movie figures every year, at least the screen accurate ones and choice Batman if the colors were cool. I was buying DC figures, but I said no to Animated versions for a while. <\/p>\n

That might make BTAS figures the first line I had to \u201cgo back and get\u201d. This is before eBay and any other modern collecting convenience. Somehow I managed it. Even got a deal on Penguin, who I recall being rare back in the day. Anyway, while I eventually went on to enjoy crazy Superman variants and amassed a huge JLU collection, I want my resistance to Animated figures on the record… because I feel like I\u2019m right back in that 1995 Wal-Mart, staring down that strange, armored Ra\u2019s Al Ghul (& the pegwarming Bane behind him). <\/p>\n

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I have alternately been overjoyed and intimidated by the announcement that DC Direct was going to go back and give the Animated guys articulated, six-inch scale figures. I love the idea! And the figures look amazing. I don\u2019t know if these are \u201cfigures the characters deserved\u201d as the vintage figures are still pretty awesome (most of \u2018em), but I certainly don\u2019t oppose this renaissance. What I am daunted by though, is the price. $25 a pop? $100 a wave? Admittedly, that\u2019s normal now a days \u2013 but it\u2019s still far easier for me to pay that online, rather than forking over $25 at a comic shop. I\u2019m weird, I know. <\/p>\n

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There\u2019s also which ones to get. Do I want them all? I never did like mixing the Animated styles (BTAS vs TNBA) back in the day \u2013 so this is almost like collecting two lines. I favor BTAS, but there are some designs where TNBA is superior, some where BTAS reigns, and plenty where both are pretty damn cool. In fact, looking at the advertisement insert that came with Batman \u2013 everyone looks awesome! Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, Baby Doll, Robin, & the Creeper from TNBA. Catwoman, Joker, Man-Bat, Harley Quinn, & Robin from BTAS. Visually, none of them are a miss. (And why toy companies don\u2019t do cardbacks and inserts is beyond me. That little piece of paper has worn down my will more than anything else so far). <\/p>\n

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Okay, so Batman. What makes the $25 easier to swallow is that he\u2019s plenty awesome. I have nitpicks (don\u2019t I always) and some issues, but overall, (spoiler alert) he\u2019s won me over. <\/p>\n

The sculpt is pretty well dead on. If the show were on now and there was a high quality line of figures to match \u2013 this is what they would look like. The only area that seems off is the chest. The line marking where the chest is distinct from the abdomen. It\u2019s just a little too harsh, too inorganic. Add that the also slightly-off symbol overlaps it and it just creates one odd area on the final figure. So much of the rest is right, that I\u2019m almost over it though and probably won\u2019t care the longer I have the figure. Oppositely, the head sculpt is very well done, almost modeled after the original toy and is one of my favorite parts of the figure. <\/p>\n

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The real prize here for the folks excited about this line is probably the articulation. And there\u2019s a lot to be excited about. Ball-joints at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and ankles (sorta), the h-type hips found on DCUCs, hinge knees, as well as waist & boot swivels. For the most part, everything works well. He\u2019s fun to pose \u2013 to play with a TNBA Batman figure and get more playability out of him than ever before. And it\u2019s addictive. Continue to Page 2…<\/a><\/p>\n

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For some, the big problem is the visual at the hips. Those exposed pins facing forward bug folks. I get it \u2013 and DCC does too. Future figures (Wv2 & Beyond) won\u2019t have them. For the most part, they haven\u2019t bothered me, but I do notice there are a lot of cuts and sculpt breaks crammed in that area. The real problem, though is the ankles. They are ball-joints near as I can tell, but mine won\u2019t budge and are basically hinges. Plus, I\u2019ve heard stories of ankle breakage on more than one friend\u2019s Batman, so I don\u2019t want to force them. They also don\u2019t hold in each pose I want them to, but that can also be blamed on the design. He\u2019s kinda walkin\u2019 on tooth picks. C\u2019mon, Bruce! You knew there\u2019d be toys! Heh. <\/p>\n

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One quick note on the paint \u2013 the figure appears to be mostly painted. This is great for a smooth finish, but it does mean damage can happen just about anywhere to be careful. Factory wise, I got a well painted one \u2013 except for the symbol. It\u2019s pretty sloppy on the bottom edge, so I may need to break out the paints and fix it. The one I left behind had smeared paint at the hip and a scratch \u2013 so hopefully you get lucky ordering online or you can choose from more than one at your local comic shop. <\/p>\n

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Alright, what really helps with the $25 price tag is the accessories! The first cool thing is multiple capes. I didn\u2019t really get a highlight picture, but both appear in the review. There is the base design with the cape draped over the shoulders and one with the cape pulled back to allow better shoulder movement. I love it. Every Batman figure outta have it. Only downside? Makes me want a mostly closed cape for standing in the shadows. Love it. <\/p>\n

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He also gets a Batarang. He\u2019s a Batman figure after all. He also includes two Bat-grapples. One is loose and separates into two pieces, anchor & handle. The second grapple comes molded in an alternate hand, though the anchor pops off that one too. Neat. Speaking of alternate hands \u2013 that\u2019s where this figure excels. The grapple hand. Two fists. Two Batarang hands. Two gripping hands. And I guess two relaxed hands? I ended up with two relaxed left hands. I\u2019m guessing that was a mistake? The wrists change out easy \u2013 just as the heads does for the capes. As fragile as I feel about the ankles, not so with the wrists and head pegs. Weird, I guess. <\/p>\n

Finally, there is the stand. Normally, I don\u2019t care about stands. And the figure can mostly stand without once you get a pose, but, hey, the stands are cool! They use the control art from the show and there\u2019s a post & clip to help contend with those aforementioned tooth pick legs. <\/p>\n

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Overall, I know I\u2019m happy I bought the figure. There\u2019s been an unanticipated joy in having him (it\u2019s only been a day, give it time). The look alone brings plenty of good memories back. And the articulation does, I hate to say it, feel like the figures are finally better realized. I love the old ones, I do. But I\u2019m an articulation guy. I admit it. There\u2019s just something ineffable I\u2019m feeling as he\u2019s sitting next to the computer. I\u2019m hooked just like I was back in 1995. I don\u2019t know if I\u2019m buying them all. And I\u2019m not buying this guy in Red or Caramel like I used to (least I hope not!), but I will be buying more. As long as the breaks stay rare, and the quality stays high, DC Collectibles is on to something with these throwbacks. <\/p>\n

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More DC Direct Reviews:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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For all our Reviews, check out our Review Index<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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