Review Detail

This DC Direct 13 inch Batman Classic figure conveys an amazing likeness of the 1970s Neal Adams comic book artwork. The colors and design are a perfect representation of the character from that era.

While the likeness of this Batman action figure is clearly from the comic books, the overall look of the figure is taken very seriously and doesn't come across as being "cartooney". Starting with a very dramatic head sculpt, Batman appears serious, mature, and ready to kick some butt. The face has a lot of personality and really captures the essence of Batman. While the overall design and colors might be considered simplistic especially when compared to some of today's insanely detailed movie figures, the simple and clean design is perfect for keeping the character tied to his comic book roots.

Batman is dressed in a medium gray bodysuit with fully detached blue trunks over the bodysuit. The form-fitting material used for the bodysuit and trunks is made from an tough material that doesn't run or pull easily. The matching blue cape is not poseable but looks fantastic due to the vertical stitching which segments the cape giving it the popular bat-wings look.

The forearms of the gloves are made from a glossy pleather-like material with stitching near the wrists and elbows. This material ends at the wrists but matches the color and texture of the interchangeable hands really well. DC Direct definitely made the right choice here -- Full gloves completely covering the hands just don't work well for figures with this level of detail.

Batman's boots are made from the same blue pleather-like material as the gloves and utilize a zipper running down the length of the calf (much like a real boot).

The yellow and black chest bat-emblem is absolutely perfect in size, color, design, and placement. The emblem appears to be a durable decal which was adhered directly to the bodysuit.

Batman's utility belt is also perfect in design, color, and material. The horizontal belt is made from a soft vinyl-type material and the buckle and columns are made from a stiff plastic. Surprisingly, the belt can be removed in exactly the same way you would remove a real belt -- by flipping the belt buckle back and sliding the belt out.

As with the rest of the DC Direct 13 inch figures, this Batman Classic action figure is surprisingly light. This is probably due to the fact that much of the body is hollow. This was probably done by DC Direct to keep manufacturing costs low. While this doesn't really affect the overall quality of the figure other than it might break more easily if you were to drop it, you definitely expect these figures to feel more substantial than they do based on how they look.

The 13 inch Batman Classic comes with a black display stand which can be a little tricky to get around his waist due to the fact that it's sort of tight in proportion to the figure's waistline. You have to be careful not to damage the material of the bodysuit or to break the clutch of the stand when putting it on or taking it off of the figure. Subtly displayed on the base of the stand is the iconic Batman logo from that era which has Batman's head and cape engulfing the word "Batman".

Overall, this is a really great figure. If you're a fan of Neal Adams artwork and the 1970s style Batman, this Batman Classic figure is a must-have.