Batman: The Animated Series was one of those cartoons that revolutionized superhero culture in the mainstream media. It combined Tim Burton's gritty Gotham with the film noir style of the classic Superman cartoons from Fleischer to create a fresh new Bat-Universe. Sure Batman and Batman Returns were huge hits, but this cartoon series provided an everyday all-ages exposure for years. Most mildly-nerdy adults I meet nowadays had their perceptions of Batman formed from this very series. To be perfectly honest, I was never a huge fan of the series. Although I was young, I already had a definitive Batman in my head and this Timm-verse Batman was not it. It grew on me over the years of course. And one of the highlights of the series was the deeper development of great female characters like Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. This BTAS action figure series from DCC is one of the most unexpected yet amazing toy lines I can think of. This Catwoman is perfect. Let's check her out below!
The sculpt by Irene Matar is perfect. I've been a fan of her since she showed us her talents for capturing unique animated styles with the Super Best Friends Forever line.
Catwoman comes with a ton of accessories: Two extra sets of Hands, A Jeweled Necklace, a Whip, Binoculars, her cat Isis, and a Figure Stand.
Here is the figure stand assembled. The base has her animation model sheet printed on it.
Catwoman's articulation is pretty amazing and unlike anything we've seen from DC Collectibles before. She has a ball-jointed head; hinge-and-pivot shoulders, elbows, and wrists; DCUC-style hips; hinge knees and ankles; swivel boots; and rocker feet. The only improvement I would make would be to increase the range of motion in her elbows. Mine can only bend about 45 degrees. I would love to pose her in a classic hand-on-hip contrapposto, but she isn't able to.
Isis is a genius addition to her accessories. She has a ball-jointed head, simple leg cuts, and a rotating tail.
Here are some images of Catwoman from the show.
Time for some Group and Comparison Pics!
Cheers!
This is such an amazing figure!
ReplyDeleteAlong with Playmates Star Trek Next Generation, BTAS was the first toyline I really collected as a youngen. I've wanted a line of nicely painted & articulated versions of these designs forever.
I saw they are making the re-design Poison Ivy, but I hope they make a version of her from the first two seasons. I didn't see many episodes after the change in designs.
DCC are knocking it out of the part these days!
Yes I want BTAS and New Adventures versions of Catwoman and Poison Ivy at the least. Batgirl and Harley were similar enough that both versions aren't a priority for me at all. What I really want though is a Batwoman from the Mystery of the Batwoman movie. It could be a Batgirl variant as a convention exclusive or in a box set. I love that design and I'm sad it never got a toy made.
DeleteI don't love the hip joints tbh, but that cat that has with her is too cut to ignore.
ReplyDeleteYeah the hip joints and pegs are a bit baffling, but I don't mind them that much. They remind me of the 6" Cheetara from Bandai. Everyone hated the pegs on her but i just shrugged it off.
DeleteGot it. Love it. And yes the cat is adorbs.
DeleteMight get this one, but I am really holding out for Harley! I also really want Killer Croc, mostly for Baby-doll, who was never made in any other toy form before.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the Roxy Rocket teases? She'll be in interesting figure. Hopefully she's not super expensive because of her rocket. Harley, Ivy, and Batgirl are literally what I'm looking forward to most in 2015 (for now).
DeleteI had forgotten about the Roxy Rocket tease! Very excited about that one.
DeleteReally hope they make Red Claw too (voiced by Kate Mulgrew!)
Calender Girl & Phantasm would also be nice.
DeleteI never heard of Red Claw before. Just watched some youtube clips and I agree sh'ed make an awesome addition. And Calendar Girl.. are her henchmen male strippers? All the images I found look it haha
DeleteWHAT?!?! Roxy Rocket?! I had not seen that tease. Oh man, that will be a must have for sure! Expensive or not, just thank Goddess these aren't being handled by Mattel, or she'd be some sort of subscription exclusive or other madness!
DeleteWow, these Batman TAS figures look really amazing, I will say the problem with translation from the animated control models to three dimensional toys is that when adding articulation, it breaks the sculpt, hard. But honestly I don't care these all look great, especially Harley; I'm excited to see what her accessory count is.
ReplyDeleteThe accessories for these (and the Li'l Gotham line as well) has been amazing. The fact that Batman has two capes is was a total surprise. I hope Harley has a hyena but I know that's pretty much not gonna happen.
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