Crimson Mist Batman
Elseworlds Series 1:
DC Direct, 2006

BATMAN CRIMSON MIST written by Doug Moench, art and cover by Kelley Jones and John Beatty is an exquisitely rendered tale that concludes the Elseworlds trilogy of a dark Batman's battle with demons both within and without that began in the pages of BATMAN AND DRACULA: RED RAIN and continue in BATMAN: BLOODSTORM.

To defeat the legion of vampires overrunning Gotham, a bitten Batman pays the ultimate price. Batman, who becomes a vampire after battling Dracula, is an even more terrifying vision of vigilantism. When vampires are defeated, and the undead no longer stalk the streets of Gotham, Batman, now lies with a stake through is heart. However, when the undead return to Gotham, James Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth must remove the stake from Bruce Wayne's heart. Will reviving Batman unleash an even greater threat?

SPECS:

The figure stands 7 1/2 inches tall and has 18 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, gloves, hips, knees and wings) long crumpled plastic cape, wings and comes with a wooden stake and a display base.

PROS:

Clearly the creepiest Batman figure ever produced. A ball jointed head sticks out on the longest neck on a Batman figure. The wings have a ball joint that snaps into holes on the back. The long cape makes it very stable to stand on it?s own without the base.

CONS:

It will depend if you like Elseworlds style figures and in particular Batman as a vampire for you to like or dislike this figure. With the exception of the arms and head, there is really only one pose for this figure.

OVERALL:

I almost passed on this figure, but I got all the others in this series, so I picked up the whole case. I don?t think this figure is for everyone, but I do think it?s cool enough and different enough to take a look at. PICTURES:

REVIEWED BY:

Red SOn Wonder Woman
Elseworlds Series 1:
DC Direct, 2006

Red Son, written by Mark Millar; Art by Dave Johnson, Andrew Robinson, Kilian Plunkett and Walden Wong. In this Elseworlds tale, the ship carrying the infant who would become Superman lands in the middle of Cold War-era Soviet Union in the 1950s. Superman becomes the defender of the Soviet Union and our favorite Amazon is a Soviet peace ambassador and The Man of Steel's comrade against capitalism and she is also the only person on Earth who can match his might

This Wonder Woman is in a Russian Red and Gray color scheme, but still maintains stars on her skirt rather than the Soviet Hammer and Sickle. She even has red stars on her black shorts underneath the skirt.

SPECS:

The figure stands 7 inches tall and has 12 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips and knees) a rope lasso and comes with a display base.

PROS:

CA solid sculpt and nicely articulated figure. This is proof that you can put decent articulation of a female figure and not make it look ugly. This figure even has articulation at the waist. Of all my DC Direct figures this is the only one I have that has that feature. The lasso is gold string that hangs on a hook on her waist and can be taken off.

CONS:

It may depend if you like Elseworlds style figures and in particular Red Son for you to like or dislike this figure. While it does have a cut head joint, there is very little movement due to the long hair, she can’t look left or right, just straight ahead.

OVERALL:

Elseworlds is a different look at our favorite heroes and villains in a different world we don’t often get to see. This is one of the nicest Wonder Woman figures made. In addition, there is a Red Son Superman in this series and a Red Son Batman and Red Son President Superman coming up in series two. PICTURES:

REVIEWED BY:

Thrill Killer Batgirl
Elseworlds Series 1:
DC Direct, 2006

This figure is from the miniseries by Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton Batman: Thrillkiller. It?s an Elseworlds (an alternate reality, not in normal timeline continuity) Batman tale set in the early sixties. Bored heiress Barbara Gordon teams up with free-spirited Dick Grayson in 1960's Gotham. Bruce Wayne's parents' death had left him penniless and Barbara Gordon purchased Wayne Manor, and teamed up with the Boy Wonder, Robin, to become Batgirl.

Batgirl?s long flowing red hair comes out of the back of a gloss black cowl. Gloss black low rider pants and a gloss black cropped top with an orange bat logo that sweeps up over the shoulders. Extra tall semi gloss black boots and extra long gold gloves along with a loose low slung Utility Belt complete the costume.

SPECS:

The figure stands 6 3/4 inches tall and has 14 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, gloves, hips and knees) a small Batarang and comes with a display base.

PROS:

I find it odd to call an Action Figure hot, but this incarnation of Batgirl is smokin?. It reminds me a lot of Kenners Legends of the Dark Knight Batgirl from 1998, the same year Thrillkiller was released. The articulation does not get in the way of the sculpting and it goes to show that thin arms can have decent articulation if you try.

CONS:

None. It may depend if you like Elseworlds and in particular Thrillkiller for you to like or dislike this figure, although what?s not to like?

OVERALL:

Elseworlds offer a legitimate reason for the Batman Variant figure. It is a different look at our favorite heroes and villains in a different world we don?t often get to see. DC Direct did a series Kingdom Come figures, another Elseworlds tale and Kenner?s Legends of Batman had a few Elseworlds figures in it including the fore mentioned Batgirl. PICTURES:

REVIEWED BY:

Thrill Killer Batman
Elseworlds Series 1:
DC Direct, 2006

TThis figure is from the miniseries by Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton Batman: Thrillkiller. It?s an Elseworlds (an alternate reality, not in normal timeline continuity) Batman tale set in the early sixties. Barbara Gordon is Batgirl and Dick Grayson is Robin, while Bruce Wayne is a detective on Commissioner Gordon's team. Their own servants murder Wayne?s parents and Bruce was left with nothing. He sells his house, to Barbara Gordon, who had earned a fortune off her murdered mother's insurance. Bruce entered the force and became a decorated detective while Babs went the Batgirl route. Only recently did she acquire the man wonder known as Robin. After the death of Robin, detective Bruce Wayne adopts the mantle of Batman to continue his crusade.

The base figure has a costume that is flat black. The extra long gloves and extra tall boots along with the cowl are gloss, while the cape is semi gloss. A small red Bat logo on the chest and a red Utility Belt accent this otherwise monochrome figure. The eyes are silver, not the normal white.

SPECS:

The figure stands 7 inches tall and has 12 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees) a plastic cape and comes with a display base.

PROS:

A solid sculpt and nicely articulated figure. The ball joint head is something I think needs to be standard on every Batman figure. The ball joint shoulders are almost Mattel like and better than most of DC Direct?s ball jointed shoulders.

CONS:

None. It may depend if you like Elseworlds and in particular Thrillkiller for you to like or dislike this figure, although what?s not to like?

OVERALL:

Elseworlds offer a legitimate reason for the Batman Variant figure. It is a different look at our favorite heroes and villains in a different world we don?t often get to see. DC Direct did a series Kingdom Come figures, another Elseworlds tale and Kenner?s Legends of Batman had a few Elseworlds figures in it as well.

To further twist things around, in Thrillkiller the Joker is a woman, a cold-hearted self-proclaimed *CENSORED* named Blanca Steeplechase. I?ve never read Thrillkiller, but hope to one day and I would like to see a Thillkiller Robin and Joker in an upcoming wave of Elseworlds figures. PICTURES:

REVIEWED BY:

Crimson Mist Batman
Elseworlds Series 1:
DC Direct, 2006

BATMAN CRIMSON MIST written by Doug Moench, art and cover by Kelley Jones and John Beatty is an exquisitely rendered tale that concludes the Elseworlds trilogy of a dark Batman's battle with demons both within and without that began in the pages of BATMAN AND DRACULA: RED RAIN and continue in BATMAN: BLOODSTORM.

To defeat the legion of vampires overrunning Gotham, a bitten Batman pays the ultimate price. Batman, who becomes a vampire after battling Dracula, is an even more terrifying vision of vigilantism. When vampires are defeated, and the undead no longer stalk the streets of Gotham, Batman, now lies with a stake through is heart. However, when the undead return to Gotham, James Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth must remove the stake from Bruce Wayne's heart. Will reviving Batman unleash an even greater threat?

SPECS:

The figure stands 7 1/2 inches tall and has 18 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, gloves, hips, knees and wings) long crumpled plastic cape, wings and comes with a wooden stake and a display base.

PROS:

Clearly the creepiest Batman figure ever produced. A ball jointed head sticks out on the longest neck on a Batman figure. The wings have a ball joint that snaps into holes on the back. The long cape makes it very stable to stand on it?s own without the base.

CONS:

It will depend if you like Elseworlds style figures and in particular Batman as a vampire for you to like or dislike this figure. With the exception of the arms and head, there is really only one pose for this figure.

OVERALL:

I almost passed on this figure, but I got all the others in this series, so I picked up the whole case. I don?t think this figure is for everyone, but I do think it?s cool enough and different enough to take a look at. PICTURES:

REVIEWED BY:

Red SOn Wonder Woman
Elseworlds Series 1:
DC Direct, 2006

Red Son, written by Mark Millar; Art by Dave Johnson, Andrew Robinson, Kilian Plunkett and Walden Wong. In this Elseworlds tale, the ship carrying the infant who would become Superman lands in the middle of Cold War-era Soviet Union in the 1950s. Superman becomes the defender of the Soviet Union and our favorite Amazon is a Soviet peace ambassador and The Man of Steel's comrade against capitalism and she is also the only person on Earth who can match his might

This Wonder Woman is in a Russian Red and Gray color scheme, but still maintains stars on her skirt rather than the Soviet Hammer and Sickle. She even has red stars on her black shorts underneath the skirt.

SPECS:

The figure stands 7 inches tall and has 12 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips and knees) a rope lasso and comes with a display base.

PROS:

CA solid sculpt and nicely articulated figure. This is proof that you can put decent articulation of a female figure and not make it look ugly. This figure even has articulation at the waist. Of all my DC Direct figures this is the only one I have that has that feature. The lasso is gold string that hangs on a hook on her waist and can be taken off.

CONS:

It may depend if you like Elseworlds style figures and in particular Red Son for you to like or dislike this figure. While it does have a cut head joint, there is very little movement due to the long hair, she can’t look left or right, just straight ahead.

OVERALL:

Elseworlds is a different look at our favorite heroes and villains in a different world we don’t often get to see. This is one of the nicest Wonder Woman figures made. In addition, there is a Red Son Superman in this series and a Red Son Batman and Red Son President Superman coming up in series two. PICTURES:

REVIEWED BY:

Thrill Killer Batgirl
Elseworlds Series 1:
DC Direct, 2006

This figure is from the miniseries by Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton Batman: Thrillkiller. It?s an Elseworlds (an alternate reality, not in normal timeline continuity) Batman tale set in the early sixties. Bored heiress Barbara Gordon teams up with free-spirited Dick Grayson in 1960's Gotham. Bruce Wayne's parents' death had left him penniless and Barbara Gordon purchased Wayne Manor, and teamed up with the Boy Wonder, Robin, to become Batgirl.

Batgirl?s long flowing red hair comes out of the back of a gloss black cowl. Gloss black low rider pants and a gloss black cropped top with an orange bat logo that sweeps up over the shoulders. Extra tall semi gloss black boots and extra long gold gloves along with a loose low slung Utility Belt complete the costume.

SPECS:

The figure stands 6 3/4 inches tall and has 14 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, gloves, hips and knees) a small Batarang and comes with a display base.

PROS:

I find it odd to call an Action Figure hot, but this incarnation of Batgirl is smokin?. It reminds me a lot of Kenners Legends of the Dark Knight Batgirl from 1998, the same year Thrillkiller was released. The articulation does not get in the way of the sculpting and it goes to show that thin arms can have decent articulation if you try.

CONS:

None. It may depend if you like Elseworlds and in particular Thrillkiller for you to like or dislike this figure, although what?s not to like?

OVERALL:

Elseworlds offer a legitimate reason for the Batman Variant figure. It is a different look at our favorite heroes and villains in a different world we don?t often get to see. DC Direct did a series Kingdom Come figures, another Elseworlds tale and Kenner?s Legends of Batman had a few Elseworlds figures in it including the fore mentioned Batgirl. PICTURES:

REVIEWED BY:

Thrill Killer Batman
Elseworlds Series 1:
DC Direct, 2006

TThis figure is from the miniseries by Howard Chaykin and Dan Brereton Batman: Thrillkiller. It?s an Elseworlds (an alternate reality, not in normal timeline continuity) Batman tale set in the early sixties. Barbara Gordon is Batgirl and Dick Grayson is Robin, while Bruce Wayne is a detective on Commissioner Gordon's team. Their own servants murder Wayne?s parents and Bruce was left with nothing. He sells his house, to Barbara Gordon, who had earned a fortune off her murdered mother's insurance. Bruce entered the force and became a decorated detective while Babs went the Batgirl route. Only recently did she acquire the man wonder known as Robin. After the death of Robin, detective Bruce Wayne adopts the mantle of Batman to continue his crusade.

The base figure has a costume that is flat black. The extra long gloves and extra tall boots along with the cowl are gloss, while the cape is semi gloss. A small red Bat logo on the chest and a red Utility Belt accent this otherwise monochrome figure. The eyes are silver, not the normal white.

SPECS:

The figure stands 7 inches tall and has 12 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees) a plastic cape and comes with a display base.

PROS:

A solid sculpt and nicely articulated figure. The ball joint head is something I think needs to be standard on every Batman figure. The ball joint shoulders are almost Mattel like and better than most of DC Direct?s ball jointed shoulders.

CONS:

None. It may depend if you like Elseworlds and in particular Thrillkiller for you to like or dislike this figure, although what?s not to like?

OVERALL:

Elseworlds offer a legitimate reason for the Batman Variant figure. It is a different look at our favorite heroes and villains in a different world we don?t often get to see. DC Direct did a series Kingdom Come figures, another Elseworlds tale and Kenner?s Legends of Batman had a few Elseworlds figures in it as well.

To further twist things around, in Thrillkiller the Joker is a woman, a cold-hearted self-proclaimed *CENSORED* named Blanca Steeplechase. I?ve never read Thrillkiller, but hope to one day and I would like to see a Thillkiller Robin and Joker in an upcoming wave of Elseworlds figures. PICTURES:

REVIEWED BY: