OK, time to try something new for our blog. I'm going to call it "The Best Of...". I'll pick a product, and give you what I think is my favorite example, and why. Those of you with comic dens will understand this one.
This week, I would like to focus on Batman statues. What would you say is the finest example of a great Batman Statue?
For me, I have had many favorites. The first I fell in love with was the Batman Black and White statue by Brian Bolland. This is an extremely fine statue of the Batman simply standing there. That's right, just standing there. Like, what you would see if you were the criminal running scared, rounded the corner after running forever, looked up and saw... the Batman.
It was my favorite statue, that is, until I carried that thing around for three days at the 2006 Comic Con just to get Mr. Bolland's signature on it. And then, when I finally found him in artist alley, he told me he was too busy catching up on his sketches (which he was being paid for) to sign the base of my statue. So, my tired arm and I lugged that thing the mile and a half back to my car and discontinued carrying it around the San Diego Convention Center floor. Right then and there I decided that I didn't like Mr. Bolland very much since he couldn't take the time to give a fan an autograph, and that this particular statue was no longer my favorite. Any of you who have walked the SDCC with a statue in hand will understand.
So, I guess my next favorite was influenced by a creator being an exceptionally nice guy, Steve Rude. I had had some transactions and meetings with The Dude (as he lives in Arizona), and had generally regarded him as a very nice and talented artist. About the time that Mr. Rude agreed to appear in our store for the 2007 Free Comic Book Day event, DC Direct released his version of the Batman Black and White Statue. The lines are classic, and the statue captures the motion of Batman's flowing cape. Steve has captured the original Batman at his finest. I look forward to displaying this statue along with the upcoming Bob Kane black and white statue. They will be quite a pair! And you know what? Steve Rude was happy to sign the base of my statue!
But, I have to admit... I have a statue that I prefer over both my previous favorites. And, it's not even made of porcelain! Simple PVC! But, imagine, a 1/6 scale statue for under $100! That is the classic Batman statue by Kotobukiya, and my new favorite. This statue also features beautiful movement of Batman's cape, combined with a stance of Batman that you simply wouldn't want to see if you were the bad guy! And although I prefer the Batman's colors to be more black and grey instead of the blue, I can live with the color shift on this statue. But gosh, if I had two, I know a certain artist who could airbrush it black for me. Hmmm, that could quite possibly make the most perfect Batman statue of all.What do you think? What is your favorite Batman statue? Go back as far as you'd like, and please post photos if you can.
