NECA: 1/4 Batman 1989 Michael Keaton figure

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DiFabio said:
The Hot Toys seems a little weirder now having both of them in hand though. The Hot Toys is clearly better from a quality and paint applications stand point, but that rubber suit, I dunno. Now it looks way too fat looking to me, especially the torso, biceps and thighs. I think the armor and proportions on the NECA, save maybe them birthin' hips are way more accurate. The chest armor is less soft looking and closer to the source, as do the sharply sculpted boots. It actually looks like he's wearing segmented armor instead of this big, one piece rubber suit. I prefer the shape of the ears and head on the Hot Toys, but then again it still looks way too idealized. Those scallops and the chest symbol itself seem thicker and more toy like than the thinner material used on the NECA. Then there's that damn PERS panel that makes it seem like he's a robot.

Still, atleast I can actually handle the Hot Toys one without fear of breaking it. The NECA one is scary to handle, especially around the torso and hips.

Also, I don't know if you want to try this Maglor, or if it even bothers you but I modded the NECA figure a bit to have a fuller neck. I don't really like how the ears protrude through the cowl or how there's a noticeable difference between the head and the neck within the cowl. I decided to pop the head off, heat it up a bit and bulk the neck up with some cotton *****. Looks a lot better.
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Thanks for the tip about the cotton. The protruding human ears does bug me.


I admit that the Hot Toys figure does look a little puffy. And the thickness of the cowl is nice on the Neca figure. But people actually prefer these proportions?


IMG_7565.jpg



The legs are... bizarre... really strange looking. And the chest and rib cage are tiny. The Hot Toys figure does some idealizing, but NECA seems to have gone out of their way to make him look dorky. I prefer a little idealizing.


2 things I like about the NECA figure:

1) The segmented armor is a nice idea. Though it's poorly executed (or would be at a higher price point). The armor is not form fitting at all - especially in back. They could have made it more form fitting, as there is very little torso articulation anyway. The ankle guards are nice.

2) The sculpt of the abs are excellent. This is the one area where the idealizing on the Hot Toys figure bothers me. I definitely prefer the NECA figure in this one respect.



Despite the rubber on the Hot Toys figure, I find him much more articulate than the NECA figure. I have never had trouble raising arms on my Hot Toys Bat, and a handful of joints cant compete with a fully articulated True Type when it comes to the subtle adjustments that make a figure come to life and look like a real person. Also, the elbows on the NECA figure (especially his right arm) are extremely restrictive, making poses with the arms in front very limited.



All that said, this figure is worth every penny. At the size, he makes for an imposing shelf presence, and at a distance (like a high shelf in my case) he looks pretty good if you keep those thighs in shadow.


A quick tip for those who worry about weak ankles. Mine took a shelf dive (from the top of my detolf), and thankfully survived without harm. I've fixed the tip forward problem by rolling up and trimming a section of electrical tape and sticking it between the front of his ankles and the ankle armor. I got the idea from the Mime Joker which comes from the factory with a piece of white foam stuck in the front of the shoe serving the same purpose. Now I only have to make sure the legs and torso are correctly positioned and he will stay standing indefinitely.



Now to see if I can get the wrinkles out of the cape...
 
I think the upper body and arms have great proportions, it's the thighs that kill it in my opinion. I don't even think it's the actual mass that's the problem than it is the issue of the legs jutting out at the hips. It just looks so unnatural.

Oddly enough, the figure's left leg in your photo looks great and relatively normal while the right one throws the look off completely. It's something about the joint socket in those hips I think. I have two of this guy and there's always one leg that seems like it could be positioned up in the socket a little bit more to make it flow from the ribs, to the lower torso to the hips more naturally.

I agree about the form fitting critique too. I think it would have been better off gluing the chestplate to the lower abdomen so it hugged the body more. I really wouldn't have cared if they sacrificed that ab crunch.
 
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At least the Neca can be covered with Tony's cape and look bad *** at $155.00.

Hell, Enterbay's $420 Batman has a bad hip that can't be popped back in which forces a feminine pose, then add the high sitting belt, glossy cowls, weak belt magnets, plastic accessories and required clip/chest/shoulder/crotch MODS.

Arguments against Neca are invalid. :lol
 
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Why not just enjoy the figure? I got mine and didn't go over each little detail about proportions and this and that. Just enjoy that we're getting these figures from NECA or HT. Be happy ;)
 
DiFabio said:
I think the upper body and arms have great proportions, it's the thighs that kill it in my opinion. I don't even think it's the actual mass that's the problem than it is the issue of the legs jutting out at the hips. It just looks so unnatural.

Oddly enough, the figure's left leg in your photo looks great and relatively normal while the right one throws the look off completely. It's something about the joint socket in those hips I think. I have two of this guy and there's always one leg that seems like it could be positioned up in the socket a little bit more to make it flow from the ribs, to the lower torso to the hips more naturally.

I agree about the form fitting critique too. I think it would have been better off gluing the chestplate to the lower abdomen so it hugged the body more. I really wouldn't have cared if they sacrificed that ab crunch.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's hard to capture the hips on camera. If I had moved a couple inches to the left the right hip would look okay and the left would look like it's jutting out.

Anyway, with the cape all in front I don't notice them.

ocielz said:
Why not just enjoy the figure? I got mine and didn't go over each little detail about proportions and this and that. Just enjoy that we're getting these figures from NECA or HT. Be happy ;)
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Don't mistake criticism for unhappiness.

I am happy. And I don't even need a high end cape. :)
 
Your stock cape looks awesome, great job.....as usual, no surprise there.

If Neca had increased the length a bit more I would've not purchased the custom cape.









































Yeah I would've.
 
Great portait shot Maglor. Other than the doll dots it looks superb.

I steamed my cape twice and unfurled it on a flat surface to flatten it out. It's pretty much perfect and I'm really impressed with how it hangs and drapes. The over the shoulder look is particular is very impressive. I was thinking about getting Tony's for a good bit, but I dunno. It would feel a little weird paying more for the cape than I did my actual figures. Besides, I bought two custom capes for my DX 09 and never used em after I tried them out. They are still in their bags, stuck together, probably permanently.
 
jye4ever said:
Your stock cape looks awesome, great job.....as usual, no surprise there.

If Neca had increased the length a bit more I would've not purchased the custom cape.







Yeah I would've.
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I do wish the cape was longer. I just like the idea of spending only $55 on a figure. :D
 
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I couldn't resist, his 1/4 for this figure is his best yet.

I will use the stock for his raised arm pose on my 2nd figure, great for that.

But laying close to the body nothing beats his cape.

Yup, the cost of the cape being close to the cost of the figure certainly stung.

My EB remained with the stock cape, but 89 Batman he is not.
 
DiFabio said:
Great portait shot Maglor. Other than the doll dots it looks superb.

I steamed my cape twice and unfurled it on a flat surface to flatten it out. It's pretty much perfect and I'm really impressed with how it hangs and drapes. The over the shoulder look is particular is very impressive. I was thinking about getting Tony's for a good bit, but I dunno. It would feel a little weird paying more for the cape than I did my actual figures. Besides, I bought two custom capes for my DX 09 and never used em after I tried them out. They are still in their bags, stuck together, probably permanently.
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Tony's capes are fantastic. Especially the Nolan capes. But there is something about the leathery quality of the '89 cape that customs don't quite capture. The customs hang much better, but there is a loss in texture IMO.


Also, when you say "over the shoulder", do you mean like I have him above? I can't get the cape to look good back behind his shoulders... plus then you can see those thighs. I prefer him with the cape in front.
 
Maglor said:
Also, when you say "over the shoulder", do you mean like I have him above? I can't get the cape to look good back behind his shoulders... plus then you can see those thighs. I prefer him with the cape in front.
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Yeah, like you have it. I don't have him holding his grapple gun though.

Behind his shoulders is a little bit trickier, but I got it when I warmed up the cape for a second time. I actually like draping it right above his gauntlets near his elbow and biceps, sort of like a half way look from completely behind him and completely covered. I don't know yet though. I decided the second one I bought would be left in the cape unfurled look with the metal rods. I'm just trying to settle on a look for the first one. I was thinking of maybe having one side of the cape be over his shoulders/arm, then have the other side open, gripping his belt with the grapple on it. That way I could have both looks displayed as one. I love how the cord/wire plugs into the grapple gun grip like in the film so maybe I'll do that. There's enough space up to my ceiling where it can hook on and be permanently straight without having to actually suspend the figure.
 
DiFabio said:
Yeah, like you have it. I don't have him holding his grapple gun though.

Behind his shoulders is a little bit trickier, but I got it when I warmed up the cape for a second time. I actually like draping it right above his gauntlets near his elbow and biceps, sort of like a half way look from completely behind him and completely covered. I don't know yet though. I decided the second one I bought would be left in the cape unfurled look with the metal rods. I'm just trying to settle on a look for the first one. I was thinking of maybe having one side of the cape be over his shoulders/arm, then have the other side open, gripping his belt with the grapple on it. That way I could have both looks displayed as one. I love how the cord/wire plugs into the grapple gun grip like in the film so maybe I'll do that. There's enough space up to my ceiling where it can hook on and be permanently straight without having to actually suspend the figure.
Click to expand...


I really want to have him displayed with his "wings" out, but again... those thighs.

Am I missing something with the rods? Do they just hold the wigs out with friction, or is there more to it?
 

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