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The true essence of a complex hero is captured in this black and white sculpture! Batman Black and White VOL. 1 and 2 are stunning collections of short stories by award-winning talent, showcasing noir-flavored tales of the Dark Knight. Painted in monochromatic tones, this limited-edition statue reflects the mood of BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE and measures approximately 6.75″ tall x 6″ wide x 5.5″ deep. It features a logo-shaped base and is packaged in a black-and-white box.

BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE: TIM SALE: BATMAN
Statue Manufacturer: DC Direct
Sculpted By: Jonathan Matthews
Dimensions: 6.75” x 6” x 5.5”
Released: 2007
Retail Price: $69.99
Circulation: 5000

Whether you’re a Tim Sale fan or not, you’ll find this statue is exquisitely rendered by sculptor Jonathan Matthews with close attention to detail. One of many in a black and white run of Batmans based on the highly acclaimed Black and White short stories, Tim Sale’s statue of Batman proves to be one of the best.

In case you’re not familiar with the series, a few years back, a collection of renowned artists and writers created a dark noir anthology of Batman stories with eight pages given to each writer. The stories were all, you guessed it, illustrated in gorgeous shades of black and white. Though all were limited in length, each story weaved a dynamic and pretty unforgettable tale surrounding Batman.

While the series states “Black and White,” the statue is black and grey throughout – but I’m not complaining. Each of the colors are uniform in consistency and do not exhibit signs of bleeding. The cracks from the muscle placement are rendered in a pleasing darker grey, which softens an otherwise purposefully hard-looking figure. The statue’s best quality is all the detail visible in the muscles, belt, face, and fabric folds. Each muscle and fabric fold is intricately depicted throughout the entirety of the statue. Tim Sale’s extremely recognizable work was captured skillfully in the statue’s face. Five seconds looking at it, and you just know it’s Tim Sale.

The statue is ready to display out of the box, so no setup is required. It is moderately heavy but not uncomfortable to hold, and certainly not too big to fit on a delicate shelf (as in my case).

The base of this statue is also something to write home about. Rich black and white colors contrast with each other in Batman’s symbol on a sturdy platform. Underneath lies the description of the figure as well as its limited production number. This lends a feeling of rarity to the item. Though I have misplaced it in my trek from the South to La La Land, the box this statue comes in is also art in itself.

Personally one of my favorites out of the series, I give this statue a 4.5/5. Matthews was able to capture the essence of Sale’s design, creating a figure that emanates the dark, noir mood as depicted in the stories. Batman fan or not, this statue is a must-have addition to any collection, as well as a stand-out piece in the series. Worth it!

For previous editions of Gotta Have It!, click here.

Melissa Kay
@melissa_kay
melissa@comicattack.net