Hot Toys CMS The Dark Knight Returns 1/6th Scale Collectible Figure

[jye4ever]

Frank Miller's Dark Knight version of Batman is one that never really comes together well in a three-dimensional figure form*. There's always something off and it's because Miller's art was all over the place, with Batman's size/scale and proportions constantly changing throughout the Dark Knight pages. Miller was so into abstraction and expressionism at this point that consistency didn't matter as much as the raw energy of visual storytelling he could bring to the pages. That wasn't a bad thing in any way, and was in fact quite special to what made the Dark Knight so great. The whole thing was a mad mind-f***k of a trip from a writer/artist who had no restraints. If Batman's leg needed to be huge to convey a hard kick, then Miller would make it so. If Batman needed to be shown as an absolute beast, then Miller would fill a panel with Batman's shoulders. Whatever was needed to express the idea of the story, more than the traditional adherence to accuracy of anatomy.

I think this figure will look quite impressive, on a shelf, in a display, with other figures. If it's a large beast of a figure, like the Afleck Batman figures, then its mass and scale will surely be something. It really does have to dwarf other figures around it to feel like Miller's Dark Knight. If I have any criticism or suggestion, it's that this Dark Knight figure should be even wider and heftier, almost ridiculously stocky and blockish. It should almost be as wide as it is tall to approach Miller's mad vision of the character. Hot toys tends to do well with sculpts, tailoring and details, and they know how to pull a figure together nicely, so I have faith this will rock!

(* There have been a few figures that came close, like the Mafex Dark Knight and some statues that followed and closely emulated certain distinct panels of Miller's art, but for the most part there hasn't been a 1:6 articulated figure that nailed it. Well, it's probably hard to nail something that isn't fixed to begin with.)

Great post.

 

[Cap'n Cook]

The P1 piece is good. I think HT should’ve included the battle-worn Bruce portrait. View attachment 736796

Two.
Point.
0.

 

[SpiderBat]

No interest in tiny head, beefy body Batman but hopefully this means more comic versions are coming soon.

 

[jye4ever]

BvS Batman remains the best looking cinematic Batman costume for a reason, because it was based off the best looking comic book costume.

 

[Luisenigma1]

What are the odds for a Joker and Kerry Robin? I'd take the Muntant leader also which would look crazy. But you guys think this batman is big I'd lose it if HT did an Absolute Batman figure.

 

[jye4ever]

Absolute is absolutely a big boi but nowhere as iconic a design or relevance as DKR.

 

[Mondragon]

.

I'd take the Muntant leader also which would look crazy.

They'll likely repurpose Hulk or Venom sculpt, add a few studs, pants , goggles and call it a day.

But you guys think this batman is big I'd lose it if HT did an Absolute Batman figure.

Had to look that up


Deluxe should come with Horse... Don't know if anyone makes a horse big enough to cary him?

 

[highlander1]

This guy will look Amazing choking out a skinny joker. If can have bats holding him over a ledge. Ready to Break his 1 rule. Not to Kill!!!

 

[highlander1]

View attachment 736683

Here is a secret base video:

 

[i3link786]

Preordered with $200 of points from sideshow. Hoping we get blue and gray bats in the future from this line.

 

[Measles]

 

[Omega9300]

Have no interest in a Dark Knight Returns Batman but if they give Hush Batman this treatment...

Yeah I would buy this without a second thought and then figure out how to justify it with my one figure per character rule

 

[werewolf]

Yeah I would buy this without a second thought and then figure out how to justify it with my one figure per character rule

how does that rule work with say godzilla? he looks different every time

 

[Omega9300]

how does that rule work with say godzilla? he looks different every time

Yeah that would be difficult, but I just collect superheroes for the most part (mostly marvel and some DC). For me it is most challenging with characters like Iron Man who has so many great looking armors (I chose MK46).

Overall I try to have the version of a figure that in my opinion IW most iconic, or otherwise Is the best representation of that character.

In a few instances the way I have cheated this rule (I have maintained the rule for 7 years) is that I have BvS Batman and the first Black Panther figures at my work office. And have Tactical Suit Batman (2.0) and the latest Black Panther figure with my collection at home.

 

[AlanJG1]

Justin’s video from Hot Toys Secret Base:

 

[batfan08]

I’m probably going to sweat it out and wait until I get the low-stock warning to jump on this guy, but I want him. I don’t have any of the other third party releases and honestly? I kind of like that he’s ugly as ****. I think that’s part of the charm/what makes Miller Bats stand out. Dude’s been through the wringer and it shows; got that Mickey Rourke re-constructed ground beef face. I kind of hope this doesn’t become a line, though. If they want to do the cash grab blue variant (either with the oval and the leg belt or the other, battle damaged blue variant with the shredded suit/Batsymbol and the beaten-to-a-pulp face from the cover of issue 2), but, outside of maaaaaybe Carrie Kelly, my hope is very much that this is acting more as an announcement that they’re making Batman comic figures now….

I like Miller. I get the appeal. I hated him as a kid, but, as I’ve gotten older, there’s something about, specifically, TDKR that’s really unique, but it’s still bottom rung of the totem pole for me. You have such a legacy of incredible artists on Batman and Miller just can’t compete. He stands out, for sure, but when you have the likes of Neal Adams, Jim Aparo, José Luis García-López, Norm Breyfogle, Jim Lee, Alex Ross, Tim Sale, and so many others, it’s always been questionable to me how Miller’s gets so much more attention.

I’ll be honest: I got the Artist’s Edition of Year One earlier this year and I could write a whole ass paragraph about how beautiful David Mazzucchelli’s linework in that book is and how perfectly suited his Batman is to 1/6th scale. Like, that’s one of my most wanted figures in any scale, IMO. It’s super simplistic in that Mazzucchelli has a very naturalistic, European art style where Batman’s just a guy in a fabric suit, Hot Toys would have tons of reference to get it right between his turnarounds and just finding photos of Gregory Peck on the internet, and I feel like it would just look incredible on a shelf.