Hey look, kids – it’s another Batman action figure! You have some Batman action figures, don’t you? Lots of them, even? Well kids, I can tell you right now that you do not have ANYTHING like this new Batman figure from Mezco Toyz. The first offering in their all-new One:12 Collective premium line, Mezco has brought innovation and quality to this Batman figure that is unlike anything we have really seen before. Game changer? Yeah, possibly. Insanely awesome Dark Knight Returns Batman action figure? Oh, you better believe it.
So, to give you some background on this figure if you have not been keeping up, last summer at the San Diego Comic Con, Mezco Toyz not only unveiled the prototype for this new DKR Batman, but they also revealed an all new concept that they were planning for a new action figure line: The One:12 Collective. This is a premium figure execution that is 1:12 scale (that is 6 inches) and features a fully poseable, super-articulated base body that is supplemented by high-end sculpting and soft goods (cloth) costume. On the surface, that sounds simple enough, I suppose, and a few companies like 3A have been doing something in the same vein for a while now, but just seeing the Batman figure in the booth (under glass, of course), it seemed different from anything else.
Obviously, this piqued a LOT of interest and, of course, the questions started to pour in. How would the final costume work? How would it look? What material would it be made out of? Would the articulation hold up being covered in cloth? You get the idea, but those were all valid questions and while showing off the figure at SDCC certainly did a GREAT job in generating buzz, the wait until the planned release date was going to be KILLER.
That is not to say that Mezco did not do a good job in keeping us updated, because they absolutely did, and we got regular looks at the sculpt, accessories, packaging and costume updates. However, it was difficult for them to placate the functionality questions because, well, with something like this, experience is EVERYTHING. So we continued to wait, and it took until Toy Fair a few weeks ago for me to finally be able to literally get a hand on how this figure would turn out.
Hagop and I had an appointment with Mezco’s Pierre Kalenzaga at the show and as soon as we walked in the booth, you could tell he was just as excited to talk about this figure (and One:12 in general) as we were, and I am positive that by the time we got there, he had talked to a lot of people. That is the thing about this, Mezco is very excited about this new line and they are getting behind it 100%, and let me tell you – it is with good reason. Look, I was excited to see the final product, and since I am naturally skeptical of soft goods, but Pierre was ready and had a figure ready for us demo (that is, you know, play with).
It was pretty much at that moment when it all fell away because hagop and I kept looking at each other with a bit of disbelief because the figure completely justified the hype and the excitement and any possible reservations I had about the execution in general left that day, and they are never coming back. The quick-thinking hagop asked if we could shoot a quick video right there in the booth, and of course, Pierre was accommodating, but holding the figure in hand and moving the joints and posing him was kind of like moving an action figure for the first time, it was a very different experience.
It was then I knew we would need to have a video in our review to really show off the articulation and range of movement in the figure, as well as the functionality of the costume material. So here it is:
Pretty great, right? I am not sure I could describe how well it all works together or show it in pictures, and I have never shot a video for a toy before in my life. However, I think it speaks for itself so please check it out. If the movement/posability/costume was a question for you, please let it be answered: Mezco has pulled it all off beautifully and I think this is going to make for an entirely new direction for the company, and lots of insane figures for us in the future.
Pierre mentioned that is was very important to “Mez” to nail this figure, and I believe every detail was considered and the meticulous oversight of the production process was obviously stringent. The costume looks natural, even at this scale, and the material does very little to inhibit the range of movement, at least in natural poses (that includes action). The joints are tight but fluid and he can hold his poses well. Plus, he is nice and sturdy with a low center of gravity so he balances very well, even on one foot, which is always impressive (and fun!) for any action figure. The cape is nothing to sneeze at either and while it does not get in the way of any posing, it is designed to hang naturally is heavier at the bottom. That is forethought.
So, while the base body functionality and costume were the big things, Mezco also went all-out when it comes to the sculpt and accessories. With this release (we have the Black and White Toy Fair version), you get two heads, four sets of hands, a grappling hook, figure stand and even a little zip bag to keep all of the stuff you aren’t currently using nice and safe. Since this is the Dark Knight Batman, both heads are pretty gritty in terms of expression, but you get one with a slightly more placid look and one with gritting teeth. The sculpt style captures Miller’s art very well and it is cool seeing it portrayed in black and white, just like he stepped off the page.
For the hands you get fists, “grippers”, opened and my personal favorite, the Batarang “claws”. These all pop on and off easily, but stay put with no issues. Since this is a premium figure, it is really nice to have all of these included options because it not only helps with the price, but it gives infinitely more options when it comes to posing and display. Let’s face it, this DKR Batman is a tank fighter and he has the joints and options to put up his dukes against any action figure in your collection, so you might as well take advantage of it.
Speaking of which, still not convinced of the scale? I understand, every time I see a picture of him I think I am looking at a 12-inch figure, but check out this action:
Pretty great, right? He is going to fit in with just about any other DC 1:12 figure you have, and while he will blend, he will make them all seem a bit less impressive. The new Marvel Legends Daredevil looks a little small by comparison, but I think he is still in range, at least to fudge the scale just a bit. Could you imagine a Miller One:12 Daredevil standing next to this figure? EEP!
Putting all of that together, and I have to admit that I have not been this impressed with a new action figure expression in a long, long time. Mezco has hit a homerun right out the gate and from the hints that they are dropping, they have huge plans for the One:12 Collective. We already know there are three other Batman variants (black and grey, dark blue and grey, and light blue and grey), but it looks like we are going to have the Mutant Leader for him to clobber soon as well. Oh, and Judge Dredd. With his bike. Yeah… Plus with all of the other licenses Mezco currently owns, I think we are going to see everything from Star Trek to horror and the look and feel of a lot of collections is going to change rapidly.
Now, keep in mind that this is a premium figure, so you are going to look to pay around $60.00, but this is one of those examples where you really get what you pay for. This is a fantastically executed and sturdy figure that is super-posable, has a fully functioning cloth costume, lots of interchangeable parts and stand. I can think of a lot of other things similarly priced where you won’t get nearly the value.
Kids, the One:12 Collective is the real deal and I think that just about every collector that took even a slight interest in this execution is going to be very, very pleased. Luckily, the log jam at the west coast ports is starting to break up and these guys are slowly trickling in, I cannot wait to see people’s reactions to the figure. Trust me, I think this guy is going to appeal to Bat-Fants, superhero collectors, premium figure collectors and action figure fans in general and don’t be surprised if other companies start to attempt to emulate what Mezco is doing here, this could really be a game changer. Absolutely fantastic.
*Thanks to Pierre and the team at Mezco for letting us preview this figure, and thanks to Matt K for adding his magic. I cannot wait for Dredd!
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