Review – Batman Vinyl Invader
NOTE: This Batman Vinyl Invader* toy was sent to me by Funko. I was gonna buy it anyway, but since it was given to me by Funko I wanted to say: 1. Yay! Thanks, Funko! and 2. Obviously, it’s important that you know I was given this and didn’t buy it since that no doubt has influenced my opinion of the toy at least a little. You have been warned.
Following the Kiss Destroyer Demon Robot vinyl toy (review here) this Batman Vinyl Invader is the second in this new Funko toy series and, I hope, not the last. I love that Funko gave us a Batman “Shogun Warrior”-style toy and while the Kiss toy was fun I can say that this one is even cooler. Why? Because it’s Batman!
Sculpt
As amazing as ever, Funko nailed the look of this Batman robot toy with the straight-limbed look that we expect from Shogun Warriors. And while he may not have some of the details we saw on the Kiss Destroyer Demon Robot vinyl toy — such as those fun boots — there’s still a lot of sculpted bits here that are perfectly appropriate for Batman. From the stern face to that scallop-edged cape Batman has it all, but I think that my favorite details that give the toy real depth and style have to be the belt and bat symbol on his chest. If you click on any of the photos and zoom in nice and tight you’ll see what I mean; where they could have just painted on the symbol Funko instead sculpted it and the effect helps a lot. This is a real work of love.
Articulation
As expected, the Batman Vinyl Invader features the exact same three points of articulation that we got on the Kiss Destroyer Demon Robot vinyl toy (review here): swivel head and swivels at the shoulders. I’d still love the spring-loaded fist and wheels in the feet, but that’s only because I’m a colossal nerd and think that if Funko had gone all out — maybe even adding missiles in the chest — then a lot of collectors would have happily dropped another $25 to $50 on the toy. Maybe this line will perform so well that Funko will return to the idea in the future and give us double-sized versions with gimmicks. I’m in if that happens.
Paint
And now for the one spot I always hate to examine closely when I pull a Funko toy from the box. But maybe something has changed at the Funko factories — or maybe it’s because this was a gift — but I’m actually not unhappy with Batman’s paint apps. The paint is by now means perfect — the gold slops off of the utility belt and onto the surrounding blue — but it’s much tighter than we’ve seen on some earlier Funko toys that I’ve reviewed. Rather than just take my work for it, though, take a close look at the photos and decide for yourself if this toy’s got better paint than earlier toys from the company. I think it does.
Closing Thoughts
You must own this Batman Vinyl Invader* if you collect Batman toys because it’s big — 11-inches tall! — and is so unlike the other Batman toys that we usually get that it’s sure to pop out of your collection and attract attention. Funko maintains their excellent sculpt quality with this toy, improves on their paint apps, and generally does everything they can to make me quite happy with the robot. I can’t wait to see how the Kiss Demon Destroyer Robot reacts when this guy goes up against him. Will they fight, or will they just join forces and terrorize all of the other toys in my collection?
Philip Reed now wants a Batmobile toy that’s to scale with this robot and has a Batman Vinyl Invader sitting inside it.
Awesome review, I too hope this line continues. Funko has the Marvel license too, so perhaps an Iron Man. Tony Stark would build one of these.
Totally agree wih you Phil. Funko is improving their fit and finish overall. Paint on mine was nearly perfect, although there is some glue slop here and there, especially at the top of the legs, but you have to really look for it. This guy is a conversation piece that does look cool on the shelf. Like you, I am a Batman fan, and I am glad to add this to the herd. By the way, have you seen the upcoming Jim Lee inspired Batman that Medicom will be releasing? My wallet keeps get thinner and thinner my brotha!
@Snackcake – I’d rather have a MODOK-inspired robot than Iron Man. Iron Man feels too predictable. (Though I know I would buy an Iron Man version.)
@Zach – Thanks for confirmation on the paint quality! It looked better to me but I wasn’t sure if that was because it’s better or my opinion was colored by the toy being given to me by Funko.
And no, hadn’t heard of the new Medicom Batman. I’ll have to search around for pics.