One of my favorite things to collect, over the past few years, has been DC Direct's line of Batman Black and White statues. Each statue is presented in an entirely black and white paint scheme and is based on a specific artist's interpretation of the character. They are not big statues. This one is about 7 or 8 inches tall. There have been quite a few released, and I've picked up a handful of them along the way.
This is Batman as he was characterized by Artist, David Mazzucchelli, from the fantastic 4-part series, Batman Year One (written by Frank Miller). This series was first released as standard comic book issues in early 1987 and has seen print as a collected volume since. The series tells the story of Batman as he is just beginning his crusade against crime. In fact, more than a few story elements from this comic story found their way into the 2005 film, Batman Begins.Mazzucchelli's art style in Year One was definitely a departure from the norm. His deceptively simple drawing and line work, somehow, added realism and credibility to the story told.
The pose used for this statue is taken from a promotional drawing used to raise awareness of the, then, forthcoming Year One story in Batman comics. Sculptor, Jim McPherson, has done a great job of capturing the look of that now iconic image.This is how I like to see Batman. He's not over-muscled with bulges, veins, and striations bursting out of every nook and cranny of his physique. A lot of artists depict Batman looking like he's practically naked with a cape and has been spray-painted gray. I prefer this simpler style that realistically shows what cloth looks like on a human body....you don't see every muscle and detail.
Ever since the Batman Black and White line of statues began, many (myself included) had hoped that DC Direct would eventually get to a Year One Mazzucchelli Batman. We finally got it and it doesn't disappoint.
8 comments:
Great pictures.
very cool - good points about how Batman's physique has been rendered over the years. You mind if i ask how much this statue set you back?
Matt,
Retail on this statue is $80 US. However, you may be able to find a better deal if you shop around.
DC Direct has raised the price on these by quite a bit since the line started. They used to be around $50.
This is awesome. Being a BATMAN fan. I am in awe of your collection. I am a bigger Three Stooges collector than Batman, but I am impressed.
Thanks, Greydon! To be honest, I think we've only barely scratched the surface. We just need to find the time to get rolling with more stuff. :)
Thank you. I'm glad someone likes this. It did lose some subtle detail all over which it needed. However I was trying to make the piece resemble the art style from inside the book. And I think it still does I would want the details sharper though. We definitely wanted the suit to look like it was thick with muscles indicated as they were in the book. Anyway I tried really hard,and learned a lot. I hate figures that just have the standard type of face and muscles that the sculptor always does without trying to get these details correct to the drawings.
best,
Jim McPherson
Hi Jim! Thanks for stopping by. You did a beautiful job on this piece. I especially like some of the details that were not in the original drawing...like the way the cape gathers in his grip on the back. Very nice work!
http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=67083
Link to a site that shows how the statue was done, (and how much detail was lost.)
best
Jim McPherson
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