Premium Format Batman Keaton Premium Format Figure

[brucecamblzchin]

pfffflmao best avatar

 

[DiFabio]

I think all the 89 Sculpts are really solid. I personally like HTs the best if i was to rank them, its looks more life-like. NECA without the cowl looks a little cartoony to me, but still a solid sculpt for the price. SSC should be great, just have to wait & see what the final is like.

Agreed.

However, as much as I love the Hot Toys one, I think the execution of the paint applications and the idealized shape of the head is what makes it more appealing (for me anyway). Aesthetically as the overall packae it's the best, but as a sculpt, I don't think it's the most life like. I think looking at it from straight on it looks fantastic, even a slight turn like the pics above. The profile of the head (especially with the mouths) and back however are hideous. It looks like he doesn't have a chin or if he does, it's melded with the neck and cowl.

- face plates jut out too far (makes it look less like a man in a cowl and more like a toy with mouths)
- PERS seam on the back of the head is hideous
- eyes could still be less cartoony as they keep pushing this PERS thing


The NECA figure has the best all around sculpt I think. Maybe better than Hot Toys. The back of the head is pretty much dead on, the profile is strong, the Keaton portrait is great and the cowl fits his face just like the film. The cowl also has noticeable imperfections on it that were evident in the film. It looks rough, slightly misshapen, JUST like in the film whereas Hot Toys sort of made it look as idealized as the Batman Returns cowl. The only thing that "ruins" the NECA and keeps it from being as life like are it's $85, mass produced paint applications. He's got the doll eye dot thing going on and his face is far too pasty.

Seeing as though I don't have the Sideshow one yet, I can't judge it. Hopefully the final outcome is the best of both worlds (Hot Toys paint application, NECA sculpt execution). The in-progress shot certainly makes it seem likely.

 

[Patriot666]

pfffflmao best avatar

Tops mine...

 

[Maglor]

I think the likeness is great. The cowl is what's making it look odd. Like you said his face seems too small or the cowl seems too large. It looks like a F'ing helmet.

Good point. Looking at the banner above and just looking at the flesh (ignoring the cowl), I see a lot of Keaton there.

Helmet indeed. Extremely distracting.

Looking at that banner again, it seems the image Dave used is a portrait shot that Sideshow didn't even use on their product page. I can't find the banner image to the left anywhere on their site. I know it's the same, but it actually looks better and more like Keaton/Batman to me. Odd.

Lighting is everything.

Weird. Banner picture does look a lot better.

Sarcasm noted.

But the bold part right there is why I'm gladly passing on this. I already own the best version of Keaton Batman in the Hot Toys figure. (Or as some here like to call it..."doll" ) Why would I pay more for a weaker likeness and fewer display options? Because it's bigger? Has more "presence"?

Of course even people who don't collect Batman, or don't even know much about pop-culture will recognize that this is supposed to be the '89 Keaton Batman. But for this kind of money, on this scale, it should be beyond "good enough" to wow the average Joe. You're right, Hot Toys (dolls) raised the bar for collectors--and specifically for 89 Bats collectors with the DX09; this PF is close but not quite there.

QFT.

I sort of hate the way action figures are perceived in these statue sections, but I don't mind admitting that I prefer dolls. They are technically dolls, nothing wrong with that term. "Action figure" is just trying to glorify them a bit. I'm a man that collects dolls and I find no shame in it.

As for the whole Hot Toys vs. NECA vs. Sideshow debate, well, I think each one has it's merits.

Hot Toys

- best paint application and sculpt combos
- has several display options and a plethora of accessories
- can own a Batmobile
- only figure to have a Joker displayable with it

NECA

- best face sculpt and most accurate armor design
- actually has a fully painted, Michael Keaton portrait underneath an actual cowl like the real deal
- foldable, accurate batarang
- unfurled cape pose is unmatched

Sideshow

- best cape
- only one with the ***** to get the NIKE swoosh licensing
- terrific Batcave environment as a base
- no fears of breaking crappy joints or deteriorating rubber



And that's if the final Premium Format looks like the prototype in the preview shots. If it's anything like the work in progress behind the scenes images of the portrait (Bruce with and sans mask), it's atleast on par with the sculpt Hot Toys and NECA have done.

Can anyone that doesn't like the headsculpt of this thing in the product pics honestly say they don't think the images above are on par with what the other companies have done? I'm not sure why people wouldn't give this PF a try and see what it looks like in-hand based on those unpainted heads alone. It's not like it's a $400 gamble. There will always be a desire for a Premium Format Batman Ex.

The lips alone on the NECA figure puts it after the HT likeness IMO. Those are cartoon Keaton lips. Recognizable, yes. But only because it's a caricature.



Also, what is this head sculpt I keep seeing (on right)?

 

[Josh-A-Tron]

...now I'm watching the 89 Batman

Sent from my LG-MS770 using Tapatalk

 

[lava206]

Preordered, as if I even had a say in the matter. And if HT does come out with a 1/4 scale, well, that will be bought as well.

 

[DiFabio]

Good point. Looking at the banner above and just looking at the flesh (ignoring the cowl), I see a lot of Keaton there. Weird. Banner picture does look a lot better.

Yeah, looks completely different. The cowl even looks more like a mask and less like a helmet.

Surprised Sideshow doesn't have more close up portrait shots like that? Maybe more without the dramatic lighting?

The lips alone on the NECA figure puts it after the HT likeness IMO. Those are cartoon Keaton lips. Recognizable, yes. But
only because it's a caricature.

With the NECA portrait, I think it's the paint that throws it off a bit and makes it look like a caricature. I think the actual sculpt is pretty much dead on, especially the mouth. Hot Toys, while great, has a mouth that looks a little small in comparison.

Then again, I could go into either Hot Toys or NECA '89 thread and look at dozens of pictures . . . and they'd all look different due to lighting, angle, lens' etc. So who knows.

Also, what is this head sculpt I keep seeing (on right)?

The head that this Premium Format is sporting. The other day on the Statueforum I guess the sculptor saw the activity and stir the preview pics were causing and sent a mod that photo of his current in progress sculpt,


https://www.statueforum.com/showpost.php?p=4747700&postcount=620

 

[Uncle Bingo]

All I know is once in-hand pictures start coming in (hopefully within 3 years knowing Sideshow) grown men will stop playing with their HT and Neca dolls, thier jaws will drop, people who did not order will wish they did, and some of them will drop at least $800 for an EX on eBay, and us who preordered this piece today will be saying "I told you so". I'm just glad I get to be one of the ones saying "I told you so" instead of being one of the ones who will be spending $800+ on eBay.

 

[Solarsailor]

The head that this Premium Format is sporting. The other day on the Statueforum I guess the sculptor saw the activity and stir the preview pics were causing and sent a mod that photo of his current in progress sculpt

That sculpt without the paint is hands down the best likeness of Keaton out of all of the formats - HT/NECA.

The only thing is either that's a different one from the production pictures or they have painted it in such a way that it destorys the likeness. I really really love this statue but I can totally see where the people saying "it's not Keaton" are coming from because it's not.

If they do replace it with that unpainted version then it's spot on.

 

[DiFabio]

That sculpt without the paint is hands down the best likeness of Keaton out of all of the formats - HT/NECA.

The only thing is either that's a different one from the production pictures or they have painted it in such a way that it destorys the likeness. I really really love this statue but I can totally see where the people saying "it's not Keaton" are coming from because it's not.

If they do replace it with that unpainted version then it's spot on.

Yup. We'll just have to wait and see.


I always take "Prototype shown, final product may be slightly different" and "Product and colors may vary".

 

[Solarsailor]

Yup. We'll just have to wait and see.

It's not enough to deter me from buying it personally but I can understand those on the fence. Likeness is a big factor for a lot of people and that's a pretty fair point. I'm not sure this one will have as many orders as the comic version also coming so soon after that one may rule some people out for little while.

400-500 for the EX would be fair but then this could go nuclear and end up in the thousands.

 

[batfan08]

The overall piece looks phenomenal, but, for some reason, I see R. Lee Ermey under that cowl. If those unpainted sculpts wind up being the final product, though, then this will be one hell of a piece.

 

[pixletwin]

That is the most awesome John C Reiley likeness I have ever seen!

 

[Hewitt89]

PO'd! Hope (and expect) it won't come out until next year though, I have way too much going on this year.. Now bring on Wonder Woman, SS, and I'm starting to have the pieces and characters that I want.

 

[Ponyboy]

The NECA figure has the best all around sculpt I think. Maybe better than Hot Toys. The back of the head is pretty much dead on, the profile is strong, the Keaton portrait is great and the cowl fits his face just like the film. The cowl also has noticeable imperfections on it that were evident in the film. It looks rough, slightly misshapen, JUST like in the film whereas Hot Toys sort of made it look as idealized as the Batman Returns cowl. The only thing that "ruins" the NECA and keeps it from being as life like are it's $85, mass produced paint applications. He's got the doll eye dot thing going on and his face is far too pasty.

So basically the Keaton portrait isn't great, then?

I feel the exact opposite of you. The NECA feels like a toy version of Keaton's Batman, with lots of imperfections and the Hot Toys one looks and feels more like he came out of the movie. Mind you, I'm using the Tony Mei cape on mine...

 

[DiFabio]

So basically the Keaton portrait isn't great, then?

I feel the exact opposite of you. The NECA feels like a toy version of Keaton's Batman, with lots of imperfections and the Hot Toys one looks and feels more like he came out of the movie. Mind you, I'm using the Tony Mei cape on mine...

I'm talking about the sculpts.

In the hands of a talented painter, I'm convinced the NECA sculpt would look better than the Hot Toys version (which I love). It'd be great to see what someone like Skiman could do with it. If that NECA portrait went through the Hot Toys application process, I think it would kill it, easily. That's not even me saying the Hot Toys version sucks, far from it, I have multiples of the DX 09, it's one of my favorite Hot Toys figures (and yeah, two Tony Mei capes) but I do think the combined efforts of NECA's sculptors (Kyle Windrix and Co.) is superior. Even the armor chest plates and boots are better sculpts.

Now overall package with accessories, paint processes and all that? Sure, Hot Toys. If we're talking about purely sculpting though, I think NECA edges them out. It looks like Bruce Wayne in his cowl (because it is). It looks like he's wearing segmented armor on a wet suit like the film, instead of Hot Toy's one piece rubber costume. The cowl isn't idealized, it's rough around the edges. The mouth opening of the cowl is the perfect shape. The belt and capsules are better (and the grapple gun the proper size). The boot sculpt is sharper, the batarang folds, etc. There are shots in that thread that look like they were from Herb Ritts Batman photo shoot, texture, nose air bubble imperfections and all.

 

[BurningRage]

I can't believe I passed on the HT DX 09. It was readily available when I started collecting too.

 

[DiFabio]

I can't believe I passed on the HT DX 09. It was readily available when I started collecting too.

Don't worry. Knowing Hot Toys' track record, they'll probably turn around and make a DX '89 Batman 2.0

They'll slap on some new faceplates, maybe his armory vault and pass it off as "new". Probably before they even touch the Returns line they claimed was "coming soon". If they do make a new one, it'd be cool to see them rework the suit and have actual segmented armor over the basic body suit. Almost like what Robbie and Commtech attempted,

https://www.sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?109587-DX9-Batman-Armor-Upgrade

 

[NASEDO]

Not sure if I'm going to get this yet. Probably hold off until the HT 1/4. Not liking the Face here. Will see tho. 50/50

 

[Agent23]

Ordered the exclusive through SS. I'm happy with way it turned out, and it's a keeper for me. Bale Batman next please SS, and Nightwing (after the previewed Ledger Joker).