My huge Takara Batman review, with comparison shots

[creecher]

Too right Michael. If my Creature from the Black Lagoon and Metulant Mutant break down. So will yours. mwhahahahaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr.

 

[King Darkness]

Great comparison review...On a side note why does Connor sneak into most of your reviews? ...I look for him in all your reviews now

 

[Michael Crawford]

Well, the official reason that I tend to use the same handful of figures for reviews (Connor, Zipline Batman, etc.) is that you can then compare other figures against them. For example, if you see the Takara Batman with Connor, and awhile back you saw Jedi Luke with Connor, you have some frame of reference between those two photos as to how Jedi Luke would look with Batman.

That's my official reason. The actual reason is more along the lines of a) 95% of my collection is in storage, and will be for the foreseeable future, making other comparison shots tough and b) I'm too damn lazy to get others out.

Michael
MWC

 

[King Darkness]

and b) I'm too damn lazy to get others out.

Michael
MWC

...Cool, good to know the truth.

 

[sunohc]

Well, the official reason that I tend to use the same handful of figures for reviews (Connor, Zipline Batman, etc.) is that you can then compare other figures against them. For example, if you see the Takara Batman with Connor, and awhile back you saw Jedi Luke with Connor, you have some frame of reference between those two photos as to how Jedi Luke would look with Batman.

That's my official reason. The actual reason is more along the lines of a) 95% of my collection is in storage, and will be for the foreseeable future, making other comparison shots tough and b) I'm too damn lazy to get others out.

Michael
MWC

in storage?
why...why.....

make your toy room, TwO ROOMS!!
boy, one day when you sell them all, (if ever), it'll insure your retirement ;D

 

[sunohc]

Well, the official reason that I tend to use the same handful of figures for reviews (Connor, Zipline Batman, etc.) is that you can then compare other figures against them. For example, if you see the Takara Batman with Connor, and awhile back you saw Jedi Luke with Connor, you have some frame of reference between those two photos as to how Jedi Luke would look with Batman.

That's my official reason. The actual reason is more along the lines of a) 95% of my collection is in storage, and will be for the foreseeable future, making other comparison shots tough and b) I'm too damn lazy to get others out.

Michael
MWC

in storage?
why...why.....

make your toy room, TwO ROOMS!!
boy, one day when you sell them all, (if ever), that'll be a good retirement start

 

[Michael Crawford]

Yea, it sucks - trust me. But until I sell my old house, which is looking tough in the current market any time soon, there ain't no place for me to put them. Feel sorry for me? No, no I didn't think you would.

 

[sunohc]

haha.
There's a house next door to us and they've been trying to sell it for over a year.
Now they have to hire a real estate to take care of it >.>

you could make a toy museum with the little toy mazes

 

[figuremaster_les]

Thanks Michael, for a truly enlightening review. And, it can't be too long for me! I liked the detail you went into here. That made a HUGE difference to other discussions on this heretofore contentious and comparitive matter. I am still glad I got the HT one, but your comments sure were interesting.

This is the best comparison of it's kind that I have seen yet. Thanks for your honesty too.

The bit about the arm scares hell out of me, as the HT is all I have, now at least. And not ever seeing the Medicom, that was REALLY interesting to read about.

Again, thanks. Super job! Like I said, your's are the best toy reviews out there in my book. A real resource for any collector.

 

[drbrad1975]

Hi, I just got my Takara Batman and Hot Toys Superman in today. I thought I might as well get my two cents in too!!!

The Takara Batman is a great figure first and foremost. However, he isn't perfect as Micheal so eloquently pointed out. The headsculpt on the figure is amazing and the pictures on the net don't do it justice in my opinion. The body is very thin and the ankle boots don't come off quite right but you do get great articulation. I don't think there was a pose that I wanted to place him in that I couldn't get. All of the joints on my body were very tight, which made the figure feel like it was quality. The rubber of his outfit is very thin and has a bit of a tacky feeling to it. I do worry about the longevity of the outfit due to the nature of the material that was used. The extra hands that he comes with are great!!! However, the hands separate at two parts. One piece goes into the forearm and the there is a ball joint at the wrist. It is too easy on mine to separate the two on one of my hands, which makes switching hands a bit of a chore. The neck cut does not bother me very much as it does others here on this board. All of the accessories are great with the exception of the Christian Bale head. In my opinion, it does not look anything like Bale. It just looks like a generic head to me. My biggest problem with this figure is the cape. In my opinion, it is very thin, not lined, and it is not hemmed at the bottom of the cape. Very disappointing for an otherwise great figure. Overall, I give this figure a 9.5 on a scale of one to ten.

In comparison to the pictures that I have seen to the Hot Toys, the Hot Toys has a better cape, better batsuit, and it just looks more durable. Those are the major points that I give to the Hot Toys Batman. Also, why didn't Takara inclue a figure stand, especially at this price point? I am seriously debating on getting the Hot Toys now just so I can have both. Both figures have their strengths and weaknesses, and in my opinion, there is no clear winner.

Cheers,

Brad

 

[Gruff Old Bear]

While I think the Bale sculpt looks very much like Bale, I agree with Brad about the other two points. I've had the same situation with the hands popping off and leaving the long peg still in the wrist. Nothing broke, but it was a bit more of a chore to switch hands than I expected. And the great looking costume reminds me a bit of the rubber accessories on Marx styrene horse and rider sets of the 1950's. Eventually the rubber rotted and scored the styrene. I'm keeping this one away from heat, direct sunlight, and dust.

Sure looks good with Hot Toys Supes, though.

 

[Viking28]

My .02 is Tak Bat is great and the reason why no stand? Mine has no problem at all in the standing positions and if need be I can always use a sideshow stand.

 

[drbrad1975]

While I think the Bale sculpt looks very much like Bale, I agree with Brad about the other two points. I've had the same situation with the hands popping off and leaving the long peg still in the wrist. Nothing broke, but it was a bit more of a chore to switch hands than I expected. And the great looking costume reminds me a bit of the rubber accessories on Marx styrene horse and rider sets of the 1950's. Eventually the rubber rotted and scored the styrene. I'm keeping this one away from heat, direct sunlight, and dust.

Sure looks good with Hot Toys Supes, though.

It's funny how two people can see two different things looking at the same item. I just don't see Bale in that head. I know others see it but I don't. Maybe a repaint can bring out the sculpt better. But I agree to disagree!!! He does look great with the Hot Toys Supes. I am totally geeking over these two figures right now. I do hope the suit resists aging but I have my doubts. The same thing happened with my stem. I had a really tough time taking it out. It really snaps in there!!! I am glad you are happy with him Gruff. He is a great figure!!!

Cheers,

Brad

 

[drbrad1975]

My .02 is Tak Bat is great and the reason why no stand? Mine has no problem at all in the standing positions and if need be I can always use a sideshow stand.

Mine stands too but I would love to have the added security of a stand. I have extra stands from all of years of collecting. I really like the custom stands of SS and Hot Toys though. They really are just a great touch. It still would have been nice for Takara to include one.

Cheers,

Brad

 

[figuremaster_les]

I have never seen such spirited dissent and discussion on the subject of any two figures of the same character in my life!
This is great! Somebody pass the popcorn!

It just keeps on going....

Can it be solved?!?!? I think not...

 

[gdb]

...All of the accessories are great with the exception of the Christian Bale head. In my opinion, it does not look anything like Bale. It just looks like a generic head to me.

I foresaw two different philosophies at work on these figures: Hot Toys going for a more film accurate version at the expense of articulation and accessories (I didn't foresee them giving him such a large, glossy head, though) and Takara going for articulation and a more styalized body. My personal taste led me to Hot Toys with one string sticking out -- I wanted that Bale head! I would love to pose my Batman with his cowel off like the scene in the Batcave. So if you ever get truly disapointed in the Bale head, send it my way. I'll give him a good home.

 

[MiskatonicNick]

My .02 is Tak Bat is great and the reason why no stand? Mine has no problem at all in the standing positions and if need be I can always use a sideshow stand.

Or, given his origins, a Cy/Cool Girl stand works just as well and is a lot less obvious

Nick

 

[Michael Crawford]

I foresaw two different philosophies at work on these figures: Hot Toys going for a more film accurate version at the expense of articulation and accessories (I didn't foresee them giving him such a large, glossy head, though) and Takara going for articulation and a more styalized body. My personal taste led me to Hot Toys with one string sticking out -- I wanted that Bale head! I would love to pose my Batman with his cowel off like the scene in the Batcave. So if you ever get truly disapointed in the Bale head, send it my way. I'll give him a good home.

Uh...except it's not film accurate. The outfit is NOT film accurate on the Hot Toys version, as the body suit in the movie is an all rubber deal. On top of that, the head sculpt is not accurate - as shown here, Bale does not have a defined cleft chin.

 

[Murderofcrows71]

Uh...except it's not film accurate. The outfit is NOT film accurate on the Hot Toys version, as the body suit in the movie is an all rubber deal. On top of that, the head sculpt is not accurate - as shown here, Bale does not have a defined cleft chin.

Actually the body suit in the film was a wet suit (Oakley I believe) with foam rubber pieces glued and then sewed on just like the other films. I made a Batman Begins outfit for Halloween last year and paid strict attention to detail, plus some of the other guys over at the brotherhood of the Bat board had some inside sources and lots of pictures of the actual suit on display. So the Hot Toys suit is pretty much accurate.

sorry for that geek in the picture

 

[Michael Crawford]

Actually the body suit in the film was a wet suit (Oakley I believe) with foam rubber pieces glued and then sewed on just like the other films. I made a Batman Begins outfit for Halloween last year and paid strict attention to detail, plus some of the other guys over at the brotherhood of the Bat board had some inside sources and lots of pictures of the actual suit on display. So the Hot Toys suit is pretty much accurate.

sorry for that geek in the picture

Doesn't look like a wet suit with foam rubber glued on to me...

I've seen better images as well that I can't find right now of course, but while in reality it might BE foam glued to a wet suit, it certainly looks like all rubber. The Tak suit (outside of the boots) looks much more like the film to me, whether the actual materials match or not.