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Batman Toy Line: DC Superheroes Series 3 Manufacturer: Mattel Meat and Potatoes; 4.9 Perks; 3.0 Homer Factor; 4.0
					Description; ANOTHER version of the Dark Knight! This one is modeled after Jim Lee's interpretation of Batman during the 'Hush' story arc.  The figure is very beefy and meant to look like more of a fighter or boxer.  To follow that theme the figure has the best articulation of a Batman figure of this size.  A multitude of fighting positions are possible, FINALLY!!!!! The figure comes with a number of small weapons, such as miniature batarangs.  Unfortunately the character can hold none of them.  No, I'm not kidding.  Doh!!!!gines become the arms while the fuselage is the torso.  Starscream has multiple points of articulation and is mostly gray with red and blue high lights. He comes with a smaller, detachable missile launcher while his arm cannons pop out to become energy blades.
	Ah, the quest for the ultimate Batman figure.  I know how Arthur's knights felt during the quest for the Grail.  Hey, I got... never mind... hey, this one... forget it... but may be... oh, let's just drop it!  For a license that is so popular and moneymaking you would THINK it wouldn't be that hard to have the 'ultimate' batman figure.  Granted, nothing is perfect, but how hard can it be to make a Batman figure with enough articulation for a lot of fighting poses, cool cape, a few weapons, and a stand?  It's a bad sign when the best version comes from Japan. (link)  Doh! So with Mattel getting the DC license it was their turn to take this line over-the-top.  I am constantly amused by comparisons to Marvel Legends.  Good luck because those are reeeeeeeeeeeally big boots to fill.  The first version of Batman I saw, I yawned.  Ah, it's a repaint with a few more joints.  How quaint.  Well the third series promised a new sculpt, and shots from the Toy Show had a nice new look, rather Jim Lee-ish, so it was promising.  So what's the result... sooooooooooooooooo close!!!!!!!!!  Unfortunately close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and nukes. Meat and potatoes are really good up to one important point.   The sculpting and articulation are just right.  The sculpting is a beautiful take on the Jim Lee interpretation of Batman; not too muscle-bound but not too wiry either.  The articulation is flexible enough for quite a few good fighting poses.  Hey, this is promising!  The fists are nice and tight for good punching positions.  Ah, here's the problem... Perks.  GOOD news is Batman comes with a bunch o' different batarangs.  They're constructed of plastic and are nicely sculpted.  None of them can be attached to the figure's utility belt, but that's ok.  Just put the thing in the figure's hand and you can... yeah, just slip the weapon in the hand and... um... wait... THERE'S NO WAY TO HOLD THE WEAPONS?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?  Something this basic shouldn't be an issue.  The figure also comes with a cardboard 'stand' that is ok, but for $3 more I rather have a solid plastic stand like, oh, MARVEL LEGENDS. Homer factor?  High, but not as high as it should be.  Yes, I'm a Batman fan, and the figure looks beautiful, but a mediocre stand and weapons that can't be held by the figure put a MASSIVE damper on things. The end result is a good figure, but that's NOT necessarily a good thing.   The figure has so much more potential that it breaks your geek heart.  Yes, the figure looks good, has good heft, and has very good articulation.   But come on people, you give the thing weapons but now way to hold them?  What's up with that?  The most discouraging thing is it's FRUSTRATING.   The figure is good, but should be a LOT better.