elvisdo's Full Review: Batman: Black & White Mini-Statue Designed by Bob ...
One of the most recognizable comic book icons of all time is, without a doubt, the Dark Knight himself-Batman. Ever since his debut in Detective Comics #27 back in 1939, Batman has evolved and changed over the years but his outward appearance remains relatively the same. DC Direct has decided to honour the man who helped co-create this cultural icon as Bob Kane's version receives the Batman Black & White statue treatment.
The statue is based on the art of the classic origin story from the cover of Detective Comics #33. This is one of the most iconic interpretations of Batman that has been greatly imitated throughout the years and it's great to see the original take come to life, as sculpted by Jack Matthews. All the proportions are rendered to Kane's design keeping his style intact. Kane's Batman isn't the physically-ripped and chiseled version that his currently portrayed by today's artists. That's not to say his Batman isn't defined. Instead, his form his more subdued, slimmer and sleeker in nature.
I don't mind the design. I think it's good with a great dynamic feel with the cape flowing out from his body. In fact, Baman's cape looks more like wings which is in line of what Kane wanted to accomplish. I think his original intent was to make it similar to what he saw in Leonardo da Vinci's sketches. Batman looks like he's getting for battle as he's ready to pounce onto the bad guys from the rooftop. The details are authentic with the small bat emblem on his chest, the sharp-like talons on his gloved-fingers, and a square, belt buckle. Even detail such as the stitching lining in each fold of the cape is featured.
My thought is that if you are going to choose a Bob Kane piece to emulate in statue form, I think there are a couple of better iconic poses to use instead of his one. In fact, while this is clearly a Bob Kane influenced piece, I want to see even an earlier version of Batman that he created with the longer ears and shorter gloves and boots. Kane did start to refine Batman's look but it's that first initial concept that may have more impact. Still, it does show the evolutionary state of this character and this is one of the oldest incarnations of Batman.
The disappointing aspect to this statue is the paint job which looks really weak. Parts of his mask runs into his face creating for a very sloppy presentation. Considering that the price of these statues has increased, I expect more for what I pay for and don't expect just mediocre finishing.
The other thing to consider, as with all of the statues, is attaching the figure to the base. Metal rods are used to insert them into a hole and make the stand. The problem is that the metal pegs are connected to the feet. Sometimes the pegs don't line up with the holes on the base creating a problem. If enough pressure is put on the legs, even a gentle push or pull, the feet or legs can actually break. This is actually a problem with all these statues in this series so it's always good to be aware of that when making a purchase.
Batman Black & White: Bob Kane Statue is not a bad one to have in the line-up. Completists will definitely purchase this regardless of how it looks or the price just so that the collection is complete. I'm of the mentality that if it appeals to me, then I will add it to my line-up. Even though this is number fifteen in the series, it's best to feature this statue as number one and place the other ones as they appeared throughout the decades. It's a great way to see the evolutionary state of Batman throughout the years when assembling the statues in this fashion. It definitely showcases how changes were made over time, but they all can be pinpointed back to the original source courtesy of Bob Kane.
Product Details Sculpted by:Jack Matthews Order of Release:15th in the series Edition Size:3,000
At last Bob Kane's Batman! And isn't it something? This ingenious design, based on the art of Bob Kane (the creator of Batman), reflects the style of ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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