"I am the night - I am Batman!"
Shine the signal, and the protector of Gotham City will emerge from the shadows to fight crime and bring justice. This is the Sideshow Collectibles Exclusive DC Sixth Scale collection Blue & Gray Batman 12-inch action figure which I got recently (see the toy blog post of my September 2014 haul HERE). This is the first figure I got directly from the company because the Sideshow Exclusive version which is only available if you order from them comes with an additional head sculpt, the Brawl Damage Portrait which I wanted. Plus it doesn't cost extra either. It's the same price as the regular version.
This Batman is supposed to be the DC Comics version and looks nothing like the movie / film versions who are dressed pre-dominantly in black suits except for the 1966 Adam West Batman. Adam West Batman actually looks much happier than this grim looking Batman collectable figure LOL. I was looking at the 75 years of Batman iconography (posted earlier HERE) and the Batman logo on his chest looks closest to the 2003 Gotham Knights Batman. The blue and gray color scheme for the costume also seems to fit the look of 2000s HUSH Batman (Batman Infographic: Every Significant Bat-Suit Ever Created posted HERE)
Though the Batsuit has been drawn many different ways by different artists, and the stories themselves have described Batman as modifying the details of his costume from time to time, it is most often depicted as consisting of: matching blue (or black) scalloped cape, bat-like cowl, gloves with a series of scalloped, fin-like protuberances, boots, and outerwear briefs; a yellow utility belt; and, a skintight gray body suit (with a stylized, black bat insignia emblazoned on the chest -- either without, or within, a bright-yellow ellipse).
Scroll down to see the rest of the pictures of this Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics 1/6th scale Blue & Gray Batman 12-inch collectible action figure. Click on the pictures for bigger and better views.
The design on the box is simple and clean. Nothing fancy. This shoe-box style box packaging has been adapted for almost every 12-inch figure in the market. Once you lift up the lid, the contents are revealed inside. The back of the box has a rather interesting art style. The line art reminds me of the style adopted by Brazilian comic book artist and writer Rafael Grampá.
Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics 1/6th scale Blue & Gray Batman 12-inch figure comes with: New 12-inch fully articulated Batman Body, One (1) short ears Batman portrait, One (1) long ears Batman portrait. Detailed belt with pouches. Sideshow Exclusive: Brawl Damage Portrait. These are all found in the top tray when the lid is lifted.
Under the top tray are the 1/6 scale accessories neatly stored: Three (3) bat shurikens, One (1) Batarang, One (1) grapple hook gun, One (1) fist with Kryptonite ring and various alternately posed hands, and one 12-inch figure display stand.
After witnessing the murder of his parents as a child, Bruce Wayne vows to avenge their deaths and swore revenge on criminals, an oath tempered with a sense of justice. As an adult, Bruce Wayne springs into action as his famed alter ego Batman.
Inspired by a number of timeless comic book appearances, the Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics Batman Sixth Scale Figure invites collectors to further define their favorite look for the Dark Knight with short and long-eared mask options, and two no-nonsense facial expressions able to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. Equipped with a variety of hi-tech 'Bat'-prefixed gadgets, utility belt and grapple hook gun, the Caped Crusader is always one step ahead of his foes... and for times of true crisis he keeps a powerful gift from his closest friend nearby in the form of a green Kryptonite ring.
Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics 1/6th scale Blue & Gray Batman 12-inch figure features a newly developed fully articulated muscular body design. The hand-tailored blue and grey fabric Batsuit and cape is done very nicely. The pouches on the utility belt are fabric and looks like the cartridge belts worn by WWII U.S. soldiers. The pouches cannot be opened. The feet, like the hands, are separated so that they can move on their own. This allows for the changing of different hand types and for the feet to have more articulation and pose-ability.
The basic foundation of the Batsuit is a tight-fitting bodysuit, similar to many superheroes. In early depictions, contrasting briefs are worn over a unitard or union suit, similar to the garb of early 20th century circus performers. Batman #1 revealed that there is a ballistic vest sewn into the costume. In modern depictions, the briefs are integrated into the main costume, so that section of the costume constitutes only a seam and color change from the rest of the suit. The bodysuit has varied in color and style as depicted by different artists: grey tights with dark blue briefs, light blue tights etc.
As different artists have taken over the responsibility of drawing the costume, the details of the suit have changed considerably. The original incarnation of the cape was a wing-like structure that may have been inspired by drawings by Leonardo da Vinci. This eventually evolved into a more cape-like design of varying length. The cape here is non-poseable, unlike that of the Play Arts Kai Square Enix "Batman: Arkham Origins" Batman 10.5-inch action figure (reviewed HERE and HERE)
Check out the close-up pictures of the Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics 1/6th scale Blue & Gray Batman cowl (short ears version) / head sculpt / portrait with grim no-nonsense facial expression. The cowl conceals Batman's features and contributes to his imposing appearance. In the comics, unlike the films, you cannot see Batman's eyes because the cowl contains shifting lenses that identifies suspect's identities, as well as their weak points (through medical records), while simultaneously avoiding the possibility of eye identification. The cowl has special visions, like infrared vision (heat sensors), night vision, and ultraviolet vision. The cowl's visor is also a digital camera for obtaining evidences.
Batman's utility belt is his most characteristic prop, much like Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth, or Green Lantern's ring. The exact contents of this belt are not known because Batman usually changes it to suit his needs. His uncanny ability to carry unusually appropriate tools is legendary. Batman's enemies are especially interested in the utility belt as they believe it will give them an advantage over him, but the belt's compartments are locked and only Batman knows how to open them.
The bat symbol on Batman's chest has alternated from a simple black bat, to a bat design on a yellow ellipse (to lend a logo-like appearance more akin to Superman's "s"-in-shield logo). The yellow ellipse was introduced in 1964 as part of the "New Look" Batman stories. In Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, the yellow ellipse design was explained as being a heavily under-armored, intentional target, to draw enemy fire away from his unarmored head and body. Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics 1/6th scale Blue & Gray Batman does not have the yellow ellipse design.
The Batman I grew up with had long ears in the comic books but I've grown to like the short ear Batman more. Maybe because I see more of the Frank Miller Dark Knight in this figure. That's why I chose to use this short eared mask option for my review of this Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics 1/6th scale Blue & Gray Batman 12-inch collectible figure
1/6 scale accessories laid out: one 12-inch figure display stand and various alternately posed hands. The figure display stand looks like some kind of torture device LOL
Close-up shot of the seven various alternate Batman gloved hands: left and right hands for holding the Bat-shurikens, left and right salute / karate chop hands, right fist with Kryptonite ring, left hand for holding batarang and another left hand for grasping his grapple hook gun. This does not include the fists that came with the figure.
Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics Batman 1/6 scale accessories laid out: One (1) grapple hook gun with grappling hook and line, One (1) Batarang, Three (3) bat shurikens
Here's Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics 1/6th scale Blue & Gray Batman 12-inch figure with grapple hook gun
Close-up of the 1/6 scale grapple hook gun with grappling hook
Another shot of the 1/6 scale grapple hook gun with grappling hook
You can order this from Sideshow Collectibles
NEXT: More pictures of Sideshow Collectibles DC Comics 1/6th scale Blue & Gray Batman 12-inch figure including alternate facial expression.
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