1974 Chemtoy Batman

This is one of those vintage Batman toys that, on it's face, is pretty lame but still holds a special place in my old toy collecting heart.  This is Chemtoy's Batman figure from 1974.  I don't call him an action figure because he has zero articulation.  He's just a cheapo, single-pose figure that probably cost less than a dollar.

I had one of these when I was a kid in the 70s.  I had him about the same time that I got my first Mego Batman.  So, it's safe to say that this guy didn't get much play time.  I'm guessing he was an impulse kind of buy while I was out shopping with my parents.  You know, that kind of thing where you beg for something, anything, just so you didn't have to go home empty-handed? I'm still dealing with these impulses, today… maybe some therapy is in order.  Ahem… anyway, over the years, I've kind of developed a kind of love for this little ugly figure.  It's kind of become one those nice, warm little toy memories from very early childhood.  

Check out the sharp detailed paintwork on the calves.  Impeccable.

 So, I picked one up recently to reintroduce him to my Batman collection.  In the pictures, I know the figure's a little beat up.  However, take note of the exquisite craftsmanship that has gone into the paint details.  It really doesn't get much better than this.  I've included a shot with other Batman figures for scale and to help avoid anyone confusing this with a Hot Toys Batman figure.  

Sometimes, nostalgia can be much stronger than common sense.  I think that's something that all collectors can relate to, to some degree.

DC Direct Batman Year One DVD Maquette

In the mid-80s, Frank Miller reinterpreted Batman for a new age in the Dark Knight Returns.  While DKR tells the story of the end of Batman, Miller soon returned to write Batman Year One… a retelling of Batman's genesis.  Both stories have gone down in Bat-history as being some of the very best Batman stories and both can also be partly credited for the direction that the Bat-films took when kicking off in 1989.  With the 2011 release of DC Animation's Batman Year One DVD, DC Direct produced this statue to coincide with the DVD release of the film.  Not much merchandise, at all, was released with the film but we did get this beautiful statue from DC Direct.  The look of the statue is based on the animated version and not the comic (expertly drawn by David Mazzucchelli). However, the animated film somewhat closely followed the look of the comic.  So, in a sense, we get a look close to the comic but sort of "once removed."

I was very pleased when this statue was announced as the look of Batman in Year One is one of my very favorite looks for the character.  His costume is simple but sleek.  I'm a fan of several of Batman's looks but I tend to prefer him in a simpler, more classic style of costume.  This statue depicts this type of costume very well from the understated creases in his shorts to the amazing look of his cape. 

The sculpting on this statue (sculpted by Derek Miller) completely nails the look of the animated character from the Year One animated film.  He looks tough but sleek and his cape seems to have a life of its own.  The way this statue's cape billows, creases, and flows is truly something to behold, in person.  

This statue stands at about 10 inches tall.  So, he's bigger than your average DC Direct maquette and quite a bit bigger than the scale typically used for the Batman Black and White Statues.

There is absolutely nothing I'd change about this statue.  I think it's "spot on" and a great addition to anyone's statue collection or Batman shelf.

1966 Batcopter by Hotwheels

If your a batman collector a big part of your collection are the Bat vehicles.

This last year, 2012, Hotwheels released several of them.

Today I want to show you the Batcopter.

Mine is on one of the shelves in my Batroom.

 Here it is in it's natural environment.

This is a really nice replica I only wish I would have had it when I was a kid!

The first time I ever saw the Batcopter was in the Batman movie they made in 1966.

I didn't see the movie until it was on television in the 1970's though.

Before the movie the only vehicle I had seen Batman in was the Batmobile and I was totally fine with that.

The 1966 Batman movie gave us more vehicles to drool over though.

I did not know what I was missing? 

Yes! Of course Batman needs more tools to catch criminals.  

I love the paint on the front that lines up perfectly with the wings on its sides.

I am sure this struck the criminals with fear when they saw it in the air.

You can never have enough bat symbols!

I mean really I do love everyone of them!

No matter how many new bat vehicles they make I know I will like them but the color scheme from the 60's will never be beat.

Black with red is Batmans colors in my mind.

More please.

Brian B