One of the best things about blogging about geek-related stuff is that occasionally I get muse somewhat misty-eyed on occasion about little plastic men and the comics books that go with them.
Sometimes, it can even be a little melancholy.
Not this time.
Nearly three decades of waiting for the perfect rendition of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns in action figure form is about to end. Sure, we’ve had (then) DC Direct and Mattel take a crack at the title, and each represents one of the best offerings of its time and range.
But this is something different. Mezco has embraced the best kind of innovation — the kind that draws on the origins of the action figure itself — and has fused modern high-level articulation with high-quality cloth goods, the likes of which we’ve never seen attempted in 1/12 scale before.
Now, there’s a phrase that describes this technique, and it’s a damn good phrase that got used and abused and became a buzz term. But it’s still applicable once in a while, such as this instance: this line is a game changer.
It’s obviously very, very, very early to talk too much about what this line is going to actually achieve. If successful, this might be a huge step toward bringing 1/12 scale out of its occasionally maligned bastard middle child status and into the company of its very refined big brother 1/6 scale. And I think there is very good chance of this line being successful.
Showing off three Batmen was enough to put me in a collector coma for a couple days. When I finally shook it off, I started thinking about out what else Mezco might do with the Collective. So far DC, Judge Dredd, and Universal Monsters were mentioned by name, and that’s excellent. Eagle-eyed con-goers also noticed the 1989 Batman logo and the Mortal Kombat dragon in the case — Mortal Kombat appears to be getting its own separate line from Mezco, but if the license is already in their house, I don’t know that I’d rule it out.
And, really, if that’s the case, that’s one hell of a start for this line. Mezco has already commented on how this is a long-term investment for the company, and clearly this is intended to be their flagship line.
One of the best things about lines like this is those early days and weeks, when the information just can’t come quick enough. Sure, we know Batman will be coming this October, and while we might not know how much, price is a formality at this point. But in those early hours of a new line, there’s this almost overwhelming sense of possibility. Anything might be possible.
As time goes on, we’ll get a better sense of what this line is and can do. But for right now, all that I know for sure is that this is one of the most exciting reveals since the original Marvel Legends debut over a decade ago.