The Latest Batman Item You've Acquired?

[AndyFish]

As an aside-- I'm a fan of Dan's 13th Dimension website-- but I'm wondering if anyone else is dumbfounded by the love of the 80s DC Character style guides being commercially released? As someone who worked for WB Licensing I had one of the "originals" which I gave to a kid I know who loved comic books a LOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG time ago. While I think Jose Garcia Lopez is truly one of the best illustrators working, I find these very generic looking and when they are still used on box art I'm often disappointed. I guess I just don't see the charm of them.
AM I alone in this?

[BiffPow]

Nope…

[AndyFish]

Thanks Biff- I honestly appreciate it-- sometimes I feel like I'm late to the party with these things and I'm totally lost.

[BiffPow]

Generic and disappointing. Both apt. I see the art and don’t even look at the product.

[SprangFan]

I'm a huge fan of JLGL's work and in some ways consider him superior to my other art hero, Neal Adams (heresy!).

That said, I agree the Style Guide features (intentionally) simplified, tidy and kid-friendly versions of the DC characters that to me lack any real "oomph." There is no way in a million years I could draw anything nearly as impressive, but for all their technical precision they come off as...I don't know...bland?

I also view the Style Guide as the end of the "Wild West" period of DC licensing art and the beginning of a long, long period of enforced sameness and repetition. There was a real and powerful charm to some of the awkward, off-model and even goofy versions of Superman and Batman we saw on licensed products prior to the 80s. They could range from truly gorgeous like the 1950s Superman lunchbox and the 1973 Ideal Playset (the latter with Curt Swan art) to the crude but endearing art on the Mego boxes and the slapdash mixes of styles on the Azrak-Hamway rack toys. I love the charm of the old Batman coloring book where his droopy ears make it look like he's got a glorified sack for a cowl, or the "almost there but not quite" portraits of the Dynamic Duo on the Corgi Batmobile box. Some licensees grabbed images from the comics, some attempted to produce their own images in-house, but it was always fun to see what they came up with. Once the Style Guide was in force, everything looked fine and I guess we weeded out the "fails" but it all looked the same. In my opinion, that not only takes a lot of fun out of collecting, it also takes some of the fun out of JLGL's art. The packaging becomes less interesting, and the comics start looking like coloring books...and t-shirts...and lunchboxes. Yawn.

I keep going back to the articles promoting the release of this book, and the more previews I see, the more I know it's not for me. A collection of JLGL's Superman or Batman comics (or even his Atari Force!) is a no-brainer, but this book is a hard pass.

I'm happy for those who've wanted it for years, though. Maybe it helps if this was THE look of all things DC in your youth. But for me, as I said, it was the end of the fun.

[AndyFish]

THIS exactly! Same thing happened with Universal Monsters when they tightened up the licensing details, it removed all artistic interpretation.

[BATWINGED HORNET]

Jose Garcia Lopez has never been my cup of tea as an artists. His work is so incredibly generic and free of artistic character, and it did not do wonders for any products bearing his work. When I think of various Batman products from the 60s to the 70s, and see so many with the art of Infantino and Adams, I recall how exciting it was, as their work became the standard for the character, so there was a strong visual continuity between comic book and product packaging, even if the actual item was cheap and off-brand.

I'd rather see a book on the licensed DC art which appeared on Silver/Bronze Age products (e.g., puzzles, Our Way stickers, cups, etc.), than anything from the hand of JGL.

[AndyFish]

I would love to see a book of the off model 60s and 70s licensing that was used. So much more interesting.

[Lou Szabo]

On the plus side, my blue Bat gloves were restocked.

[AndyFish]

That's great Lou! I would expect to see you defending the neighborhood very soon!

I am sorry to have hi-jacked the thread, let's move on to a focus on our new Bat-stuff!

[AndyFish]

My son's have launched their own online comic business-- they also deal with vintage toys- they got these items in-- first up Ideal Batman and Robin figures-- original owner/original paint. They are in really nice condition. No cracks or splits on the capes. I would have gotten them myself but I already have a set.

Next up-- Corgi Batmobile-- also original owner collection. Nice suspension, flame moves in and out when the wheels roll, has Batman and Robin, no cracks or splits on the windshield. The right rear batwing is a little bent but overall a nice piece.

They originally came to me for a price and I gave them one-- then did as son's do and did their own thing-- 15% off if you use the Coupon Code RIPShrinkys

You can reach out to me if you're interested, or contact them directly. I know they are open to offers. They also have some other vintage toys as well as comics.

ROBO PICTO store

[Ben Bentley]

My son's have launched their own online comic business-- they also deal with vintage toys- they got these items in-- first up Ideal Batman and Robin figures-- original owner/original paint. They are in really nice condition. No cracks or splits on the capes. I would have gotten them myself but I already have a set.

IDEAL BATMAN.jpg

Next up-- Corgi Batmobile-- also original owner collection. Nice suspension, flame moves in and out when the wheels roll, has Batman and Robin, no cracks or splits on the windshield. The right rear batwing is a little bent but overall a nice piece.

CORGI BATMOBILE.jpg

They originally came to me for a price and I gave them one-- then did as son's do and did their own thing-- 15% off if you use the Coupon Code RIPShrinkys

You can reach out to me if you're interested, or contact them directly. I know they are open to offers. They also have some other vintage toys as well as comics.

ROBO PICTO store

Holy Clean Examples, Batman!

[Boy Wonder]

Just got this yesterday.

[AndyFish]

Love that statue! Perfect pose great likeness!

[Boy Wonder]

Love that statue! Perfect pose great likeness!

Yeah, me too.
I'm not as crazy about the Batman version because something seems off to me with the likeness.
However, I'll probably still pick one up at some point because it's a companion piece.