1/6 Hot Toys Batman & Batmobile - Batman Begins

[ShadowGuardian]

Following Hot Toys trends over the past while, I can't say I'm surprised with this release and all the issues it has. Hot Toys once raised the bar for this hobby in many ways, now they continue to tarnish their reputation and lower the bar. I will say, at least in comparison to the prices of other recent Hot Toys, $255 on Sideshow is a little better than I was expecting. However, paying 1/4 of a grand for this still just doesn't feel like you're getting your moneys worth.

Even the new stand is crap. Remember when people complained about the 1/4 Begins stand? That looks a lot better now in comparison to this. Can't even get a simple cheap metal plaque anymore.

Hot Toys seems to hate pleasing fans and collectors, or at least the ones that have stuck with them long term. Hot Toys has just slowly been turning into the Hasbro of high end collectibles, but it's a lot less excusable when these things cost so much and are only for adult collectors. I just hope people speak with their wallets, but inevitably that won't really happen and they'll still snatch up thousands from new comers for subpar releases such as this Batman.

 

[sj2106]

Cape still looks terrible to me. Clips in completely the wrong position. Cape should come over his shoulders much more so he can fully cloak himself.

It would be okay for most Batman figures including the Dark Knight version but the cape is such a huge part of the Begins suit.

Cape wrapped around him, head slightly bowed, that is the classic Begins look.

 

[Nine Inch Nails]

Cape still looks terrible to me. Clips in completely the wrong position. Cape should come over his shoulders much more so he can fully cloak himself.

It would be okay for most Batman figures including the Dark Knight version but the cape is such a huge part of the Begins suit.

Cape wrapped around him, head slightly bowed, that is the classic Begins look.

But they keep you happy as long they release every single marvel character and trooper variant out there.

 

[Spanbauer]

The figure needed to be redone from the ground up.

Let?s put things in perspective real quick. This figure/mold/bash is Hot Toys second Batman they ever did, the first being the MMS 13 from 2006. By Hot Toys Batman standards, this figure is OLD.

Imagine if you will, if every TDK suited Batman we?ve gotten were just variations of this instead,

View attachment 509688



The lack of weapons and gadgets is appalling. Sure, it?s better than Forever Robin that doesn?t come with anything, but this is still pretty bad. That cowl headsculpt was awesome back in 2008, I loved it, but that was over a decade ago. There have been so many improvements in this hobby since then. I?m beginning to think the rumors are true and Hot Toys did lose a bunch of their artists. This would surely explain the influx of rereleases vs. actual new sculpts. They could have easily shrunk down that QS 1/4 Begins Batman if they wanted, but ultimately chose not to. Between this and the recent Knightmare Batman, I definitely think we?re going to see straight up reissues of Batman related figures with zero thought and artistry going into them.

Makes that Batman Forever Sonar Batman from last month a breath of fresh air.

Right but this isn?t the 2005 MMS13 figure, it?s a reissue MMS155 figure from 2011 Toyfair with several enhancements and improvements. But I agree they shouldn?t have left out obvious accessories like the grapple gun if this is intended for newcomers, and they should have and could have scaled down their far superior quarter scale cowl and mouthpieces for this one at the very least.

 

[a-dev]

I mean I have no horse in this race, but it looks pretty freakin' good here, no?

From that particular angle, maybe. Might not look great from others. I just prefer a natural draping cape as a default - I find it's very difficult to achieve a natural drape with a wired cape where it's fully dependent on you to manipulate it in exactly the right way - you get the bottom looking good and in the process you create some weird puffing further up. In general, just very frustrating when a normal drape cape would automatically take the kind of position you want.

 

[Mike86]

The neck looks long, but if you look at stills it does look long in them too.

 

[Spanbauer]

From that particular angle, maybe. Might not look great from others. I just prefer a natural draping cape as a default - I find it's very difficult to achieve a natural drape with a wired cape where it's fully dependent on you to manipulate it in exactly the right way - you get the bottom looking good and in the process you create some weird puffing further up. In general, just very frustrating when a normal drape cape would automatically take the kind of position you want.

Sure, I get that with my '89 Keaton stock cape. But that one also doesn't have wires strong enough to do "blowing in the wind" type poses like they're doing here with this figure in the promo photos. I can understand the appeal of both something like what they've done here but also just a heavy cloth cape that naturally falls into place.

 

[irok84]

View attachment 509635

I was gonna post my pic on here but I see you beat me to it. All jokes aside this is still a great looking figure and I'm still gonna pre-order it.

 

[dukefett]

What other accessories would you have really included though? The grapnel gun, which all of us who have a Bale Batman have multiple of? It has two sculpts, the ski mask, harness, two Batarangs, and the grenade deal. Not a ton, but it’s not a bad package. I agree the release in general is a tad on the lazy side, but seeing as I don’t have a Begins Batman this is better than overpaying for the old release, which had the known ankle issue.

The vast majority of people who will be buying this don't have any Bale Batmans right now, let alone multiples. It should have at least matched the 1/4 scale's accessories. Joker card? Stuff like that.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I'm waiting for Keaton to get some reissue attention. After Beginsgate I fear for whatight be coming.

 

[Mike86]

The vast majority of people who will be buying this don't have any Bale Batmans right now, let alone multiples. It should have at least matched the 1/4 scale's accessories. Joker card? Stuff like that.

I mean there are plenty of Bale Batman figures, as well as the DX19 coming. Maybe not everyone has multiple, but there have been plenty over the years released was my point. Joker card wouldn’t really make sense for this release as it’s the wrong film, and what would you really do with it anyways?. The grapnel gun is really the only thing I can think of that’s truly missing in this release. The only other thing I can think of that maybe could have been included was that device that he uses and then gives to the kid. Maybe that’s what this palm computer deal that isn’t shown is supposed to be?

 

[medicomsucks]

I didnt get the batmobile the first time but maybe i will this time. I'm not preordering though, just buy it when it's in stock.

its weird that i hated the camo batmobile but now i think that would work better for knightmare batman.

 

[DiFabio]

I mean there are plenty of Bale Batman figures, as well as the DX19 coming. Maybe not everyone has multiple, but there have been plenty over the years released was my point. Joker card wouldn’t really make sense for this release as it’s the wrong film, and what would you really do with it anyways?. The grapnel gun is really the only thing I can think of that’s truly missing in this release. The only other thing I can think of that maybe could have been included was that device that he uses and then gives to the kid. Maybe that’s what this palm computer deal that isn’t shown is supposed to be?

He's got the Joker card at the end of Begins. I think that's what dukefett means. That'd be cool, especially in an evidence bag.

As far as accessories go, the grapnel gun is a must. Every Bale Batman release has had one, why not this? Then yeah, give him the periscope he threw to Prince Joffrey, why not. Retool his boots too to have the sonar caller for the bats.

In addition to that, why not give him some TDK gadgets? The DX 19 is technically TDKR but has TDK components like the Sonar eyes head and the sticky bomb gun. No reason Begins Batman couldn't come with the pneumatic mangler gauntlet since he used that in this suit. How about the radiation detector box to scan the marked bills. Hell, he's got the first night out look, where's the stapler!? The palm computer is the little ipod thing he uses to call Alfred. All the MMS figures had it sculpted/glued to the belt, guessing this one snaps off. Again, would be nice to see pictures that illustrate this.

It's just a lazy release all around.

 

[a-dev]

its weird that i hated the camo batmobile but now i think that would work better for knightmare batman.

Hmm, good idea.

 

[Mike86]

He's got the Joker card at the end of Begins. I think that's what dukefett means. That'd be cool, especially in an evidence bag.

As far as accessories go, the grapnel gun is a must. Every Bale Batman release has had one, why not this? Then yeah, give him the periscope he threw to Prince Joffrey, why not. Retool his boots too to have the sonar caller for the bats.

In addition to that, why not give him some TDK gadgets? The DX 19 is technically TDKR but has TDK components like the Sonar eyes head and the sticky bomb gun. No reason Begins Batman couldn't come with the pneumatic mangler gauntlet since he used that in this suit. How about the radiation detector box to scan the marked bills. Hell, he's got the first night out look, where's the stapler!? The palm computer is the little ipod thing he uses to call Alfred. All the MMS figures had it sculpted/glued to the belt, guessing this one snaps off. Again, would be nice to see pictures that illustrate this.

It's just a lazy release all around.

Oh right, I did forget the card in the evidence bag at the end of the film. I guess could be kinda cool, but not an absolutely necessary thing.

 

[DiFabio]

Oh right, I did forget the card in the evidence bag at the end of the film. I guess could be kinda cool, but not an absolutely necessary thing.

Can we agree that this release isn't any fun? I know people seem to have missed out on the original costume and toy fairs versions, but shouldn't a release be something more than just a collection slot filler? This should be a standalone that all collectors can enjoy.

Every Batman has usually been a leap from the last. MMS 13 to MMS 61 was huge. MMS 71 to DX 02 was insane. It was the origins of PERS, light up eyes, cool display stands. Hot Toys' innovation always came from it's Batman releases. By the time we got to BvS, those Batman figures were all game changers, each one more unique than the last.

There's none of that anymore. They peaked. This was a chance for them to go back to their early archives and completely redo their first ever Batman. Begins is worthy of a DX treatment imo. No reason he couldn't get an all new body suit, shrunk down heads of the 1/4 version and all the accessories he had in BB and TDK. The first night out gear is absolutely worthless too. Notice, they don't show the baclava on the Bruce Wayne head. 1. it won't look right with the hair and 2. it'll no doubt stain the headsculpt. Then there's the fact that he doesn't have the symbol on his chest in that prototype garb. The film is 16 years old and Hot Toys still hasn't gotten it right.

Other than a wired cape, what work did they put into this release? At this point, 2 capes should be mandatory anyway. Mezco has the right idea. They give you a nice cape that drapes beautifully and another cape with a wire built into it. Both capes are held securely by magnet. This is 1:12 scale. Absolutely no reason Hot Toys couldn't do it for 1:6. They're cheap and lazy.

 

[Mike86]

Can we agree that this release isn't any fun? I know people seem to have missed out on the original costume and toy fairs versions, but shouldn't a release be something more than just a collection slot filler? This should be a standalone that all collectors can enjoy.

Every Batman has usually been a leap from the last. MMS 13 to MMS 61 was huge. MMS 71 to DX 02 was insane. It was the origins of PERS, light up eyes, cool display stands. Hot Toys' innovation always came from it's Batman releases. By the time we got to BvS, those Batman figures were all game changers, each one more unique than the last.

There's none of that anymore. They peaked. This was a chance for them to go back to their early archives and completely redo their first ever Batman. Begins is worthy of a DX treatment imo. No reason he couldn't get an all new body suit, shrunk down heads of the 1/4 version and all the accessories he had in BB and TDK. The first night out gear is absolutely worthless too. Notice, they don't show the baclava on the Bruce Wayne head. 1. it won't look right with the hair and 2. it'll no doubt stain the headsculpt. Then there's the fact that he doesn't have the symbol on his chest in that prototype garb. The film is 16 years old and Hot Toys still hasn't gotten it right.

Other than a wired cape, what work did they put into this release?

I don’t think it’s a great release by any means. It is a lazy effort by Hot Toys, but like I mentioned earlier not having a Begins version of Batman and the fact that the old version was expensive and known to have broken ankles as a common issue.

I’m satisfied to get a release that isn’t obscenely overpriced. I would like a better release, but I had contemplated getting the 2011 figure many times in the past. This is just giving me the opportunity to get that figure in a new package without paying some ridiculous amount.

 

[a-dev]

It warrants updating so why not look for it to be done.

I was reading comments on facebook and someone happened to mention that it's T2's 30th anniversary this year. Another guy responds something like ''oooh yeah, reissue the DX10 and DX13 Hot Toys''. Talk about asking for the bare minimum from them. F that. Make a brand new Uncle Bob - revisit the body in line with the new scale - it's kinda weird when your Arnold Schwarzenegger figures are some of the smaller, more lightweight figures in your 1/6 collection. Give the body more Arnie-specific detailing and shape, puts some actual muscle and vein detail in the neck instead of this stupid looking barrell with a head plopped on top that we have with DX10, do a new headsculpt and make sure it fits the damn neck with minimal gaps. Provide new tailoring of the leather outfit, a belt that won't disintegrate, the works.

DX13...well, an admittedly great release but if the clean version is to be bigger then this one has to be aswell. The heads were an improvement in likeness but they were the wrong shape for Arnie - fat faced and had excessively rounded off hair low on sculpting detail.

So asking for straight up reissues is frustrating when the potential to be better is there, especially on figures that are that much older.

 

[sj2106]

I'm waiting for Keaton to get some reissue attention. After Beginsgate I fear for whatight be coming.

But at least the 89 and Returns Batman are great figures to begin with. If they are straight up reissues on slightly taller bodies and a wired cape I can live with that. Gives us a chance to get them at retail again.

Reissuing a figure that had huge innacuracies, as HT have done here, is hard to understand.

 

[Vortex]

It looks like a straight reissue but on a 2cm taller body.

On second thoughts I won't be getting this. It's a disgraceful release from HT. Yes I could make it look good with a custom cape, cowl and repainting the gauntlets but if we keep buying lazy trash they'll keep releasing it.

I hope people don't rush to pre-order this. There is no way it will sell out in pre-order, if you really want it just wait a while to see if they make improvements.

As Dean Knight said in his reaction video HT show Batman Begins no respect. It's a movie that deserves so much better.

In spite of what many here think HT do listen to feedback on their social media channels. Everyone who wants a great Begins figure should, without being abusive, let them know via their Facebook or Instagram that this figure is simply not acceptable.

Thanks for not being a sucker. It's people like you who put pressure on HT to do better thus benefiting all of us. Cheers