Hello, Mez. I’m DisThunder. I’ve been with you guys since the Hellboy days, but it’s been since One:12 Collective that I’ve really landed in your corner. Dark Knight Returns Batman came out at a time I was seriously wondering if I was going to continue collecting 6-inch figures. He made that decision a really easy one, and I haven’t looked back since.
Sigh … but I’m going to follow up my comments of gratitude and adoration with a request. I think it’s just human nature. To be honest, I started writing this as just a regular email. I thought it was an “oddball” request; I was going to lament the cancellation of your fantastic-looking One:12 Knightmare Batman figure. I figured even though I’d loved the design and have been craving a figure of it since the first glimpse in the trailer, it was still a one-off — a 5-minute costume in a movie that can be at best considered divisive among fans.
But when I hopped on the Internet to start … well, complaining, I was surprised to see the reaction was already out there, shared by far more people than I would’ve thought. See, I loved the look and the design, and even I was surprised at the amount of outcry on social media and message boards about his cancellation.
So, since I actually could be speaking for more than myself, I decided to make this a more public plea than just another “tell us what you think” drop in the “contact us” bucket:
Please save that Knightmare Batman figure, Mezco. It’s too damn cool not to join our collections.
Obviously, it’s an awesome design. Just the concept of a Batman in BDUs, shemagh, goggles and a trench coat, wielding a FN Scar and a 1911 — I literally looked around the theater and wondered if this was just something I was imagining. This was a Batman pushed to the end of the road. He’s always been a little contentious about the firearms, but you knew things had gotten bad enough that the rules and the moral codes just weren’t holding up. In a fight against a totalitarian Kryptonian and legions of Parademons, that line had to have been crossed a long time ago.
While Knightmare Batman is an excellent name, I can think of a few others: Rebel Batman. Apocalypse Batman.
Mad Max Batman.
It’s not the first time the idea has come up. Even the comics did a little variation on the theme during the Year Zero event, and it was pretty cool.
The concept of an unleashed, resistance-fighter Batman is something I encountered in a comic actually a long time before:
That would be the Adventures of Superman, Elseworlds Annual #6 from 1994. How’s that for some geek cred?
It’s a great little two-parter, if a bit cliched, but sometimes the ones you remember most are the ones that remind you of other things. Simply stated, Earth is attacked by a federation of alien outlaws who, after not being able to beat the resident superheroes, basically blackmail them out of action by massacring civilians any time those superheroes take them on. Pretty old-school occupier tactic, though it rarely works. Here, though, the carnage is bad enough to convince the heroes to hang it up, or in some cases get hung themselves. Except this one guy …
This Batman was also forced to become a guerrilla fighter in occupied territory. And he certainly looks the part. The goggles, the battle damaged suit, the holsters, the web gear — he is essentially a proto-Knightmare Batman. And like his screen counterpart, he is certainly less averse to lethal force. Especially in this case, where a survivor would mean a witness to his actions, and that could mean reprisals. This is a Batman that can’t afford prisoners.
So to see that same look brought into the modern age, on the big screen no less, and get a shot at that idea in figure form from some of the best in business, well, I have to give this a shot, too. And you guys definitely gave it one helluva shot. That prototype figure ranked up there with the Hot Toys version. It’s absolutely worthy of a release.
And based on Twitter, Facebook, and Pierre’s great interview with Rick’s Nerd Life, I think there are plenty of fans who would give it a good home. This Batman looks like he’s suffered plenty. Don’t let him fade away without an awesome One:12 figure.
Any little part I can do. 🙂
I’ve actually been banned from your forums–didn’t leave a great impression, apparently. But I’ll definitely pop in here in the articles from time to time! I like this place too much to stay away! 😉
Agree 100% with you! Superman is the weaker of the BvS set, especially with those wobbly legs! But you’ve got to get one of their Fetts. Not sure which one to recommend, but they are both amazing!
Okay, now that you guys got this done, now you need to do the same for the Classic Punisher that had super short run!
Lol! I saw it this morning! Nice work fellas!
DID YOU SEE?!! CHECK THE MEZCO FACEBOOK PAGE!!!
HEY HEY GUYS! WE DID IT!!! HE’S COMING OUT OF CANCELLATION! CHECK THE MEZCO FACEBOOK PAGE!!! SOMEBODY TELL DISTHUNDER!!!!
Rick, mission accomplished my friend! Looking forward to more videos, and hopefully see you around. Thanks for the support!
I hope they’re still including it! I was wanting to throw it on the regular suit Batman figure if possible. I think I’ll get the figure either way especially if Mezco won’t be making one.
I didn’t like the movie, but that is a very cool alternative look for Batman.
Man..that’s the part I was ordering for. Without that Affleck head…damn I don’t know…
The unmasked head or the extra armored Batman head? They just showed the armored Batman figure at Wonder Fest and he had the alternate battle damaged head, so I think that one for sure is still coming with the Knightmare figure. The unmasked Knightmare head I’m not so sure about.
I have their BvS Mafex line as well. Really enjoy it. Apart from Superman’s odd skin tone I have no problems with my Mafex figures. I really want to get one of the Bobas as well, but can’t decide which!
I’m afraid of being one of those unfortunate cases that experience some QC issues with Mafex, but so far so good. I really hope they do improve their QC control, I love their style and I like their scale better than Figuarts.
I’ll be on Twitter too. I got your six.
I have high hopes for the Mafex figure. Then again, I am a rare mega fan of Mafex having the BvS trinity as well as both of their Boba Fetts. Plus, I have their Suicide Squad Joker on it’s way in the mail. I don’t know, I just think Mafex is picking up their game a bit. And their figures, despite their flaws in QC, are really fun to pose and photograph.
I’ll be tweeting Mezco everyday with this article imbedded. I’d really like to own this figure! I have the Mafex on preorder, but the look/costume is so perfect for a Mezco 1:12 figure!
I haven’t bought any One:12 figures. I was going to buy this one.
Mezco, this NEEDS to happen.
Sincerely, I’d watch a whole series of movies taking place in that Knightmare scenario.
Awesome to see someone so cool and passionate about makin the figs we love. This line is in good hands.
AGREED with everything EXCEPT that its as good looking as a Hottoys, its BETTER LOOKIN and cooler in so many ways! PLEASE PLEASE Mezco, make this figure!!!! 🙂
I agree. That sequence was the highlight of the movie for me. This would have been my first Mezco figure. I’m surprised at how disappointed this makes me feel (as a collector).
Oh yeah, the BvS Batsuit is outstanding. While I like the Batsuits in the other movies, this is the first ever live-action movie Batsuit – and first live-action Batsuit overall in 50 years – to actually be the grey suit with black and/or blue accoutrement, instead of just being an all-black suit. Plus, unlike those others, which were either rubber or armor, this one is actually skin-tight fabric.
Great interview!
The knightmare stuff was the best part of the movie, to the point where I wish it hadn’t been a dream and that WAS the movie. I’d be in for a Mezco Knightmare suit for sure.
Only hope I feel is Mafex. I really hope Mafex releases it with the Ben Affleck head they promised.
Thanks for doing the interview!
https://youtu.be/wuvmRXM1yZM (for those who might have missed it) keep up the good work!
What? They officially cancelled this guy? So disappointing! I was looking forward to this one. I’m one of those crazies that loved BvS and Knightmare Batman is, in my humble opinion, the coolest live action Batman – eh, suit? outfit? costume? – we’ve seen so far! I like it so much I broke down and bought the Hot Toy! It’s the only Hot Toy I own.
And now that DC Collectibles has cancelled their 6″ line we’re only left with the icky icky Mattel Knightmare Batman and the Mafex Knightmare Batman in 6″ scale, and who knows how that will turn out . . . Throw him out there, Mezco! I’ll buy it!
Hey, wow! Thanks for the shout out!