Legion returns to greatness with the impressive BATMAN .
Review by Matt Cummings
As we enter the half-way point for Year 2 of the DC Legion of Collectors subscription box, it's certain been a mixture of highs (SUPERMAN) and lows (WONDER WOMAN). However, we have yet to see a truly disappointing box from them, something we saw quite regularly with Loot Crate and eventually GEEK FUEL. In reality, Legion has only had a couple of misses, which is understandable and even forgivable, considering what we got this month. BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES is one of the best Legion boxes ever, with a great shirt, an awesome Pop!, and a vehicle...yes, a vehicle from a line you wouldn't assume would be in that business.
The Promise
The Delivery
We use QUALITY and TIMING to base our reviews, so let's see how this box stands up. As always, we'll end our review with some additional thoughts after the unboxing:
This is perhaps the biggest box we've received from Legion, and it was well worth trying to get all it under camera as cut open the tape reveal its awesomeness. Upon opening the box, we are treated to a very nice first layer, complete with the tyically great Pin/Patch set. This time, it's none other than the Animated version of The Joker and Catwoman. Both fare very well here, but I have to give credit to the incredible likeness of The Clown Prince of Crime. This is another excellent likeness, with the stitching showing off wonderful detail. The Catwoman pin is also very well done, with Selena Kyle's suit looking color-perfect from the series. As I've said, the P/P sets have become a mainstay in Funko's boxes; each of them look great, and this set is no exception. From these images I think you'd agree that this is a WIN and WIN.
The Comic
Perhaps the best comic cover we've gotten this year comes from the now classic opening to the animated series, with Batman standing atop a building, just after capturing the bad guys. According to information included in the box, this has been attached to Batman: The Animated Series comic book, which was originally produced in 1992. I'm not sure if this is taken from that run or a more recent one, but the iconic image is a keeper for sure. Count this is a serious WIN.
A Surprising But Awesome Pop!
It goes without saying that we love Funko's sculpts. They really capture the essence of the character but do so with the usual Funko traits. This month's box features an interesting selection: Dr. Freeze. Now, I'm not using "interesting" to mean, "Oh, that's terrible!" as this sculpt is impressive. The colors are accurate to the show, and his features (including the gun and back tank) are to scale. My only concern - the choice of Dr. Freeze himself - is explained in the box information: Freeze was a fan selection, which does show that Legion is listening to its fans. This isn't as good as the Diana we received in May, but we have to remember that the cartoon did not feature a lot of detail in those characters to begin with. Therefore, I'd count this as a WIN.
Batman Comes to Town
The inclusion of a wearable - and some pretty damn good ones over the year - has become another hallmark of the box. This time, it's Bats himself who's featured, but it's not an ordinary scene. Here, we get the classic 'poster-style' image taken from the show's credits. Someone at Legion is obviously a Batman: TAS fan, as we've gotten the two iconic images from that series in this box. Still, I might sell this shirt, not because it's of poor quality, but because I have so many of these Funko shirts. For someone with a smaller inventory, this is an automatic keeper. WIN.
The Most Impressive Dorbz Ever?
Wow is all I can say. After a run of disappointing Dorbz that stretches back to the opening box, the company might have found their jam. Just like a recent GUADIANS OF THE GALAXY box that featured a ship, Legion also arrives with the amazing Batmobile from their RIDEZ series. Just looking at the rear image on the box shows you how amazing this little baby is: they get the scale of the ride perfectly, with the large grill and flare-out fenders. These are not meant to actually house a character in scale, but you can replace this Batman with another Dorbz. Colors are also excellent - they get that cartoon gray so damn well! I have to imagine that the price tag on the secondary market will be fairly high, perhaps even matching the cost of the box itself. It's not often that I open things, but I am seriously tempted to do so here, as everything about this screams quality. WIN.
The Bottom Line
I've written for awhile about whether these boxes can survive long-term, and it all goes back to quality. Should Funko continue to deliver boxes with incredible offerings like this (and keep the inconsistent releases to a minimum), there's no reason why Funko can't produce these boxes for a quite awhile. Unlike WONDER WOMAN, this box gets the cross-marketing that super-charges fan interest: wear the shirt, read the comic, watch the show. Timing and Quality here are top notch, so I'm happy to grant this box such high marks. Now, it's on to September's DC's MOST WANTED, and I'm looking for big things and another winner. For now, it's time to wear my shirt, read my comic, and play with my Batmobile. YAY!!
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Discuss this review with author Matt Cummings at @mfc90125.
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