Hot Toys Mark II Armor Unleashed

The Iron Man Movie Series has been good to Hot Toys.
In every movie we get to see a new Iron Man suit which translates to a new Iron Man figure from Hot Toys. With so many suits, we get more variants or new updated versions of previous releases!
The Mark II is no different. It was first launched in 2009 and 3 years later we have an unleashed version.
Mainly due to the fact that the suit was given another dose of screen time in the second movie plus a scene where it was stripped off its armour to show the insides gave Hot Toys the opportunity to come out with this version.
I don't like the idea of new version of previous releases because you basically pay full price for maybe an extra 20% improvement of what you already have.
However this time, I will make an exemption because I regretted not getting the original Mark II and now I get an unleashed one (@ a resonable price). Yeah!!

The packaging is pretty simple.
A front of the slipcase showing the head and shoulders of the figure . The inner box slides out from the right hand side and has a window to showcase the figure.
What I like about this packaging, simple as it is, is the silver duo tone color. Very true to the Mark II













What makes Hot Toys the master in sculpting Iron Man's suits is the effort put in to get every little detail right.
This Unleashed version, where we have the stripped down version of Mark II as seen in the second movie, allows Hot Toys to go crazy with the sculpting and detailing.
Every wire, nut, screw and everything mechanic are most probably there in the sculpt.
I am pretty sure many collectors will be displaying this figure in it stripped down form. It is too beautiful not to...
The head sculpt is of Don Cheadle as he was the one that uses the Mark II in the second movie. Looks like a reuse of the sculpt from the War Machine figure.
In this set we get three complete heads, one which reveals Don's face, the second with the light up lenses and lastly my favourite - the new empty helmet with detailing on its interior.

We all know Hot Toys is way above their competition in painting and when it comes to painting shiny metallic pieces, boy do they know how!
Who says that guys do not like shiny things.
The Mark II shines and sparkles! There is something darn sexy about polished metal.
It is amazing that Hot Toys could capture the essence and look of polished metal onto a plastic 12" figure.







Empty helmet


Devil is in the details!






What I like most about this figure is the ability to stripped down the Mark II suit. Hot Toys even threw in 1 autopsy display table.
Given that it is not of the highest quality but it serves its purpose.
I would love to frame and display the Mark II in its unassembled form...I bet it would look awesome.





















The figure comes with 2 display stands.




Like all other Hot Toys Iron Man releases, they all have to come with light up features.
Something we have come to expect!











Overall a damn sexy figure. This figure does not disappoint at all.
I am counting my lucky stars that I resisted on getting the first release of the Mark II.
This is definitely an Unleashed version!

Hot Toys DX Batman

I do not think that Michael Keaton made a good Bruce Wayne (come on! Bruce with curly locks!?!) but I think he made a good Batman!
He has a strong jaw and nice mouth which look very good when he dons the Batman's mask.
I have always liked the 1st movie's bat suit and I rate it as one of the best amongst all the bat suits.
The design is very simple as compared to the later Batman (Bale as Batman) movies but I think it suits the overall persona of how I see Batman.

I am glad that Hot Toys decided to do this version of Batman.
I did not pick up Batman from Batman Begins or Batman the Dark Knight but I knew that this version will be my first Batman from Hot Toys.

Hot Toys has made a name for itself for great packaging design but for this figure the design is very simple. On the front is the picture of Batman's head...well that's about it.
There are 3 layers in the packaging. The first layer holds the PVC transparency batman logo which will project the Bat-signal on the wall with a flashlight. The 2nd layer holds the figure and the last layer the accessories and base.
The yellow color used inside of the box is a nice contrast to the black.

Simple packaging design








1st layer


2nd layer


3rd layer


This is a DX figure hence it comes with the PERS eye system.
This system allows you to position the eyes anyway you like.
In order to move the eyes, you would have to remove the back of the head which is held in place with a strong magnet.
Unfortunately, the cover does not fit perfectly so you can see the line.



Eyes to the left


Eyes to the right


The obvious line


We don't get the full head sculpt of Keaton but we get the lower half. Keaton has a strong jaw and a nicely shaped mouth and I think Hot Toys managed to capture those in the sculpt. We get 3 different versions of the lower face. Close mouth, Open mouth and Wounded Open Mouth.
They are attached to the mask with a magnet.
Hot Toys painting is first class and for this figure it does not disappoint. The painting adds depth and details to the already awesome sculpt.



Mask without the lower half of the face. Notice the magnet


Attaching the lower half to the mask


Wounded Open Mouth


Closed Mouth


Open Mouth


In terms of accessories, you get the standard different hands and many bat gadgets.
The utility belt can be unbuckled and removed from the figure.
I thought majority of the bat gadgets given could be somehow attached to the belt but only the grapple gun and grapple hook can be attached.
I found the cape pretty hard to manage and could not pose it in the way as seen in the official pictures. I hope it is just me.

Hands


Batman's gadgets - I like the batarang!


Utility belt




Grapple Gun and Hook attached onto the belt


We get an extra item which is the PVC transparency batman logo which will project the Bat-signal on the wall with a flashlight. Okay it was fun for the first few minutes but I got bored of it pretty quick and now it is in storage...talk about a short product life-cycle.



I kinda like the base with the big Batman logo. The contrast of the yellow and black is so nice.
Being a DX display stand, it has light-up features, Batman nameplate, movie logo and the DX series title...do we really need it??



Overall a great figure which captures the Michael Keaton's Batman perfectly. It also displays very well with Hot Toys Superman, The Movie.