The chest piece that has the stylized bat symbol is completely new as well as the helmet and the gauntlets. Where it differs though is where it counts. It's very similar in sculpt to the Knightfall figure with the legs, torso, and under armor being exactly the same. This version for KnightsEnd simplified the design that was supposed "to grow with Jean-Paul" as Quesada put it, and evolve as his time as Batman went on. That figure was released back in 2022 and is very hard to find. There have been a couple of iterations of this Batman look, the most famous being designed by Joe Quesada with the Knightfall costume. Originally appearing in Batman: Sword of Azrael, Jean-Paul Valley became the second Batman during the Knightfall, Knightquest, and KnightsEnd storylines in the early '90s. The figure sculpt itself is great, and has more balance than previous entries to the line.įirst Appearance Batman (Platinum Chase Variant):Ī lot is going on with this figure. The glove sculpt is really nice, too with creases and folds for that homemade look for a billionaire that hadn't discovered body armor yet. It's not cloth, like you would expect from Super 7 or NECA, but a polyester so it's more lightweight and easier to sculpt.
The biggest upgrade with this figure is the wired cape. It's got nice flat colors, outside of the yellow belt standing out. It's a deep cut, but none of the hands given really hold the piece well enough to look right. The accessory he comes with is a wrench in a pastel blue color, a nod to a scene in Detective Comics #27 where Batman uses it to smash out of a glass gas chamber. The figure comes with three sets of hands: open palm, closed fist, and a weird claw position, with the ability to mix and match. Like most McFarlane figures, this Batman has 22 points of articulation and stands 7" tall. It's a weird design at first glance, but there's also something instantly classic about it.
There was a Mattel toy and DC Direct but those were more than a decade ago-DC Direct was 2004! There was also the Black and White statue based on the design, but not a whole lot of action figures. If we're talking about a design that hasn't been made a lot throughout the years, it would be this one. These won't be out until mid-May, but McFarlane Toys have provided GameSpot with an early sample of both versions of the Azrael Armor and First Appearance Batman. The First Appearance Batman is the latest figure to join the first appearance line with Superman, and Alan Scott's Green Lantern having been released late last year. Fans have wanted that classic Azrael armor since the White Knight Azrael figure came out a few years ago in Wave 3. The pre-orders for the company's latest offerings, Azrael Armor Batman and First Appearance Batman, dropped last Friday and went through several sellouts at Amazon and Gamestop. That being said, when McFarlane does do highly desired Bat-characters or designs, the clamor intensifies. While it has been criticized that McFarlane is mostly in the Batman business, the company has provided figures based on classic DC stories and has spread across DC's pantheon of heroes and villains. For the past five years, the company has been delivering high-end figures for DC Comics to rival Hasbro's Marvel Legends line. McFarlane Toys is celebrating its 30th year and while it started by making toys only for Todd McFarlane's comic book creations, it's become a powerhouse in the toy industry.