It's Batman! How on earth do you review a Batman toy, when there have already been 10,000 of the things made over the years? Join me as I consult the Bat-Computer for this review of Mattel's DC Universe Classics Wave 10 Batman, in all his black-suited glory!
Name: Batman
Line: DC Universe Classics, Wave 10, Figure 7
Manufacturer: Mattel
Released: Fall 2009
Price: Retails: $13.00-$15.00, Online: $50.00+ on Ebay
Scale: 6.00 in. (Figure in 6.50 in. tall)
Accessories: Batarang, Bat-computer
Collect & Connect Piece: Figure Stand
This Batman's sculpt is exactly the same as the Batman from Wave 1, and the two-pack, and the five-pack. Despite its age and use, it's a fine looking body that suits Batman pretty well. The proportions are solid, it doesn't seem too bulky or slim for a modern Bruce, and all the important costume elements are sculpted in instead of just painted (like boot and glove tops). There are details snuck into an otherwise very smooth sculpt, such as the cloth wrinkles at his ankles and hips, and even creases on the palms of his hands. The cape hangs nicely and shows off some deep folds along with crisply pointed ends like every Batman should have. The head sculpt still looks good, wide-set jaw and neutral expression perfect for the character. My only big complaint like usual is the totally flat crotch, which isn't quite so terrible in this color scheme. I also wouldn't mind seeing a new and sightly longer cape, which I think would fit this interpretation of the character more than Wave 1 Bats' short cape. Although I think both accessories are pretty ugly, they each feature tight sculpting that shows off a lot of technological details, so they definitely help in this category.
Sculpt Score: 9 / 10
It only takes one glance to see that this toy is 95% black, meaning there aren't a lot of opportunities to flex any painting talents. All the same, Mattel did take a few extra steps to improve things here, mainly by making his boots and gloves glossy instead of matte. It's not a huge difference, but it adds some authenticity to the costume, much like they've done in the past (i.e., Nightwing). Unfortunately, there's one big gaping flaw with the applications to counter any positive steps; look how high up his Bat-Symbol is! It's actually partially covered by his cape, and while this might seem like a rare occurence, I checked the other Wave 10 Batman I have (lucky, I know, but I'm giving it away!) and the same problem was present. I can't imagine this was an intentional design choice, but only that the cape is attached after the emblem is painted, so there is a mixup from painter to assembler. Either way, I'd still prefer the bat to be about 1/8th inch lower or so. Batman's face and belt are both perfectly clean and clear on the applications side of things, as are his accessories. There is some slop on his cape, a big stroke of brown of all things (a return to muddy Batman?).
Paint Score: 7 / 10
Another perfect example of the standard DCUC articulation set. Batman joints are actually the tightest of any DCUC figure I've purchased yet, meaning his poses come very easily without being so tight that they're difficult to move. His ball neck offers a wonderful range of motion, so personality will be oozing out of this toy, and there aren't any other problematic joints either. Everything looks good, particularly with the black color scheme that tends to hide gaps and joints well. The only way this could get any better is with a few more joints here and there, like rocker ankles or sivel/hinge wrists.
Articulation Score: 9 / 10
Not to sound repetitive, but, it's Batman! There is a reason 10,000 Batman toys have hit shelves, because the character is such a blast to pose and to play around with, fighting bad guys, solving toy murders, or flying down from the table to attack unsuspecting goons. This toy allows you to do those things very easily thanks to his great articulation and sleek black design. He also comes with his very own portable Bat-Computer, meaning murders will be easy to solve, as well as a high-tech Batarang for thwarting fleeing thugs. The packaging isn't amazing, but it gives you the basic back-story and some statistics to provide for more pkay scenarios. Nothing's broken or frustrating about the toy, and that helps to preserve points. He does actually come with a stand for Imperiex, and since that's such a non-essential item to build the Collect & Connect figure, it doesn't add a lot to the fun.
Fun Score: 9 / 10
At $13, Batman is a pretty fair deal. Again, the lack of a vital C&C piece makes him a little less necessary to many colectors, but given the fame of the character, he'll still be much-desired on Christmas lists I'm sure. The inclusion of two accessories doesn't hurt, and while he's not an enormous figure, there's still a pretty solid amount of plastic on supply. The figure works perfectly, should entertain for hours, and only has a few small problems to detract from his value (the two paint screwups). Batman fans probably won't hesitate on this one, but I think he would have been slightly more attractive at the old $11 price point, and at the upcoming $15 one for this line, he would have been much too overpriced. There's also the fact that many DCUC collectors have 2-3 Batman figures from the line already, and since this one is just a repaint, I don't know how much money many will be willing to spend.
Value Score: 7 / 10
81 / 100 - This is a Great Toy
It's Batman! There are some issues here to hold Batman's score down a little, but it's still a great interpretation of the character, and is sure to make a lot of DC Comics fans and classic toy enthusiasts very happy.
-The Articulated One
This could be the figure given away in this month's Review Commentator Contest. Join the discussion by leaving a comment for a chance to win!
Articulated Discussion is also giving away three DC Universe Classics Wave 10 figures, so check out the DC Universe Classics Wave 10 Classified Contest to see how to win!
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