We're taking a look at the Hot Toys DX19 release from "The Dark Knight Rises"—Batman and the Bat-Pod.
Ki's Toy Journal Page:https://www.facebook.com/ki0079.robot.workshops
The moment the re-release was announced, I pre-ordered it without a second thought. I wasn't in the Hot Toys game when the first version dropped, but now, I'm completely hooked. There's been a ton of online discussion about this DX19 Batman, but I'm here to focus on my own hands-on experience and personal impressions.
I primarily collect figures from Bandai, so I'm more accustomed to the articulation of robot toys. I'm not as experienced with posing Hot Toys figures, which often prioritize realism over a wide range of motion. But that's fine—as long as it's a great figure, that's what matters! Since I don't own the previous version of this Batman, this review won't be a comparison.
Let's kick things off with the highlights!
1. The Head Sculpts are Incredibly Lifelike!
In my opinion, the head sculpts—both masked and unmasked—can only be described as works of art. The resemblance is absolutely stunning. Of course, there will always be a difference between a toy and a real person, but to achieve this level of detail on a figure you can actually handle? What more could you ask for? This was the main reason I had to get this set; the sculpts are just that good.
And don't think the excellence is limited to the unmasked Christian Bale portrait. The cowled head, revealing only the lower face, is equally outstanding. This set includes four interchangeable lower faces to choose from: a neutral expression, a clenched-jaw expression, a slightly open-mouthed expression, and a teeth-baring grimace. Each one offers a different mood. The neutral mouth plate perfectly matches the unmasked sculpt. Some previous Batman figures have had a slight "off" feeling with the cowled head, but not this one. It genuinely feels like the real actor has been shrunk down into the Hot Toys world.
The entire head sculpt package is phenomenal and a joy to behold. With portraits this good, you've already won half the battle in toy photography—it's almost impossible to take a bad picture.
2. First-Class Production and Excellent Textures!
The craftsmanship and design of the Batsuit are beautiful. Honestly, just putting the figure in a simple museum pose is enough to make it look incredible. Additionally, the small staircase diorama base is also meticulously detailed.
As for the arsenal, my favorite accessory is the Grapnel Gun. The slide can be pulled back slightly and springs back into place.
The barrel of the EMP Rifle can be retracted, and the muzzle features a light-up function. The detailing is exquisite, but the grip is a bit too small, making it difficult for the hand to get a full hold. More on that later.
The Sticky Bomb Gun starts as a rectangular block and can be transformed, which is a really fun feature. However, be extremely careful: the foregrip is connected to the gun's body by a tiny metal pin that can fall out very easily, and you might not even notice it's gone.
The three Batarangs have a sharp, crisp design. I only wish they were a little larger.
Two mini mines are also included, and their sculpts are equally impressive.
3. The Cape is Incredibly Smooth!
The cape contains no wiring—it's just a single piece of fabric that you tuck into the shoulder armor. Without wires, it can't be posed dynamically, so for photography, I stuck to static or low-action stances. However, a lot of thought clearly went into the cape itself. It feels incredibly comfortable to the touch, not like some cheap or grimy materials that you wouldn't want to handle.
The Downsides:
1. Difficulty Holding the Guns.
For some reason, the designated gun-holding hand has a tough time gripping the weapons properly. With the EMP Rifle, for example, the hand can't fully wrap around the grip because the thumb obstructs it, and the fingers are too thick to fit inside the trigger guard. It feels like the hand is scaled too large for the weapon—like trying to fit a large-sized hand into a medium-sized glove. It doesn't feel great in hand, but thankfully it doesn't ruin photos.
This hand does manage to hold the Grapnel Gun well enough, and for the Sticky Bomb Gun, you can pretty much just jam the grip into the fist.
2. Limited Articulation.
With a figure that prioritizes an accurate on-screen look, the tight-fitting suit naturally sacrifices articulation. That's an understandable trade-off. However, even the range of leg motion indicated in the instruction manual is difficult to achieve. A slight bend is possible, but the legs can only spread apart about 20 degrees, which is quite restrictive and makes even mounting the Bat-Pod a struggle.
The arm articulation is better, but only slightly.
Overall, the aesthetics are top-tier, and the head sculpts alone are worth the price of admission. As for articulation and playability, I think it's fair to lower your expectations. If you're looking for a figure you can put into extreme action poses, this one might leave you disappointed.
Here are some other photos:
The Bat-Pod:
This Bat-cycle is just awesome. I thought it was the coolest thing ever when I first saw it in the theater as a kid. Now, approaching middle age, I finally have the funds to bring one home. Since I can't ride a motorcycle in real life, I had to indulge in the 1/6 scale world! This bike can also be used for Catwoman, so I can do another photoshoot when she arrives! (I'm a huge fan of Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Catwoman).
Pros:
Meticulous Detailing!
This point almost goes without saying. All the details of the motorcycle are faithfully recreated. The massive tires and the two large cannons on the front give it an incredibly powerful presence. Displayed on its own, it's virtually flawless. But the problems start when you try to put a rider on it.
Cons:
1. Difficult to Pose and High Risk of Damaging the Figure's Suit
Getting Batman into a proper riding pose is extremely difficult. After positioning his legs (which need to be slightly bent with feet on the pegs and knees flanking the chassis), the limited waist articulation makes it hard for his hands to reach the handlebars. Once I finally got his hands to the grips, I found his legs couldn't bend properly anymore. As I continued to try and find a pose that worked for both the arms and legs, I noticed stress lines already forming on the suit's crotch area. Once you see that kind of damage resulting from your own "attempts," you'll likely give up immediately unless you have a spare Batman figure to burn. This is the biggest issue with handling the Bat-Pod.
Even if you achieve the correct riding posture, some level of wear and tear on the Batman figure seems unavoidable.
Furthermore, how are you supposed to get his hands to actually grip the handlebars? I spent a good amount of time trying to figure it out and ultimately failed. To avoid causing irreversible damage to either the figure or the vehicle, I decided to cut my losses and stop trying.
2. The Bat-Pod is Huge, Requiring Significant Space for Photography.
As the sub-heading says, my home is small, and bringing this behemoth home was a real challenge. The photoshoot was a nerve-wracking process. This thing is cool and incredibly satisfying to shoot, but its sheer size also made it very difficult to work with. If only I could get a bigger house one day! Though, I'm not sure how my wife would react if I told her we needed to move for my toy photography, haha.
A Small Suggestion: Include a Posing Guide in the Manual.
It would be incredibly helpful if Hot Toys provided a guide showing how they achieve the poses seen in the official promo photos. Honestly, there are some poses I just can't replicate no matter how I try (my skills are limited...). I'm very curious how the pros do it. For example, a tutorial on how to properly seat Batman on the Bat-Pod would be essential, especially given how easily the suit can be damaged. What's the point of succeeding if the figure is all scuffed up by the end?
This Bat-Pod is a perfect display piece on its own. If you have the space, putting Batman on it looks great. However, because the suit's crotch area is so susceptible to pressure marks, collectors need to be extremely careful when handling it. Here's hoping the upcoming Catwoman figure has better articulation and is easier to work with!
Ki's Toy Journal Page:https://www.facebook.com/ki0079.robot.workshops