I’m torn. On the one hand? I haven’t had a TDK Batman since I sold my DX 02 off years ago and I actually think this looks pretty damn good. On the other? I don’t know. These Hot Toys releases are weird, man. I don’t even look at what’s new, anymore, so much as what’s not new. Gloves, no alternate expressions/faceplates for the cowled head, etc.; because, in my mind, there’s nothing precluding Hot Toys from revisiting it again when they get the urge and, at this juncture, I honestly think anything they don’t do is intentional, planned obsolescence.
They’ve got more in common with a tech company than a collectible company with these constant updates and revisions and their weird little before/after photos like it’s an infomercial for cosmetic surgery or something with every new release makes it even more apparent. “Try our new and improved Batfleck! Now with 30% more lean beef! Introducing Darth Maul, he has even worse dental hygiene! You like The Dark Knight? We fixed those shoulder pads!” I get the logic of it: showing that you’re now committed to hearing the bitching and bemoaning that took place a decade ago because there’s a new kid in town who can steal those voices away with a better product, but it’s also like “why the hell would I buy this one when it’s just going to be the next ‘Before’ picture in 3 years, if that?”
They’re in this weird place where they seem like they’re genuinely improving in some respects, but they’re just doing the same stuff over and over again. More Bale, more Star Wars; I suspect, at some point, they’ll start revising the MCU output with new and improved Phase 1 figures and start that ball rolling all over again and, hell, I might even be down to buy a few, but I’m still like “same old Howard…”
