BlackStar's BTAS HARDAC Batman (Patreon)

BlackStar is back at it again with another killer BTAS fig! I’m glad to see them back on the scene after their two year absence; and coming out swinging at that!

BlackStar’s sudo radio silence between their Bruce Wayne fig from 2022 to now has all made sense! For what was truly a middle of the road fig back then, I like many collectors were a bit concerned BlackStar was getting out of the game, but no! They were taking the time to convert from a preorder business model, to an in-stock method of getting their figs to the public and I’m all the more happy for it!

(what’s that? this fig was sent to me in June during my big move and I’m only just now talking about it? shhh I don’t know what you’re talking about! I’m not still unpacking! Stop looking at me like that!)

This new bat-fig in isn’t quite the “rereleased variant” I was prepared to claim it as. While it’s a great way for BlackStar to print more BTAS Batman parts, all things included here are new. Minus the arms & legs, from the hips up it's all new. There are lots of reprinted parts, or straight up just additional accessories that elevate this from just a standard re-release.

If you recall from the Batman/Robin Two-Pack, that bat fig came with the big action-flowing cape and a wrap around the shoulder cape. Both are excellent elements! But this new figure provides a third entry into the mix that you can use on either that original fig, or the new one! I really love the dynamic shaping BlackStar worked into this piece!

But my particular copy of this new cape was covered in paint gunk!

Just look at all these spittle marks (that could’ve been like dust in the air while painting, or sticky stuff from their weird heat-sealed bags the fig was shipped in or ,as you can see even on the outside of the cape, extra blue ink from what should only be on the inside…

It’s a shame too because I couldn’t just wipe it away with microfiber cloth 🤷🏻‍♂️

But this new BlackStar cape pairs well quite with BatBrick’s BTAS Batman so maybe it's not a total loss!

As for the cowl, you actually get two! One is the same 3D design as the previous, but now with some snazzy blue highlight-print (no doubt inspired that recent BatBrick’s fig)

But the second cowl is where the magic happens! In tandem with the excellent face-print (a face we were teased with back with their Bruce Wayne fig), updated here to fill the negative space of the robotic head and create some really neat depth to the head of this fig! The fig looks great with that Bruce Wayne head/hair too!

That cowl is also nice and shiny, which is a plus! Technically the show animated this robot in a flat light-grey color, so this shiny silver feels like a nice upgrade! This cowl piece even goes to add the molding of the torn fabric instead of just printing it on a flat surface, so it looks great from a ton of angles!

As for the last two molded parts... well they aren’t as impressive to me (solely by comparison to the last ones we looked at from BatBricks)

I mean this grapnel gun is HUGE. To some folks, that may just feel more “Lego like”. And technically this is compatible with bars and studs which makes this piece far more “functional” than BatBricks’. But for me, the aesthetics take priority for me and this thing looks like a hand canon

The batarang is a little nicer though! Again, a little on the larger side of things, but I like the different design concept BlackStar went with here. When we look back on Sandgreen’s Batarang, I still prefer the ability to hold the tip of the piece. But this one with the horizontal bar also works pretty well!

One thing this fig could have included was his sword. Not that it’s a necessary requirement, but it’s pretty commonly included with BTAS action figures and other collectors statues and things like that. Ya know, given the culmination of the Silicon Heart story ends with a sword fight between HARDAC and Bruce, it only feels fitting… but nope. No sword.

I will most certainly be giving him one from here on out! Just strange that it wasn’t included. …or maybe it was planned and then cut from the release to save costs? Who knows!

As for the prints of this fig, I guess that comes second priority to me since (for the most part) the overall design is unchanged from the original 2022 BlackStar release. But that’s a good thing, thankfully.

You can see up there in that comparison shot earlier, outside of the heads and the front of the torso, this print is nearly identical. Again it’s a great way to get your hands on a BlackStar BTAS Batman now a few years on (I hear that original pair of figs go from close to $400 on the secondhand market these days!)

But the fig right here in front of me is just different enough with all the new parts for me to have collected it and not feel like I’m being duped into buying two of the same fig.

Oh AND before I forget, BlackStar produced a color chase variant of this fig seen here…

…and from what I heard through the grapevine, BlackStar’s production was so (artificially) limited, that these blue boys sold out on day-one at a range of $200-$300 (PER FIG!) which I think is just NUTS! So I guess all of my positive opinions I wrote earlier should be taken with a grain of salt. The world of Custom Lego Minifigs is cruel and unkind. As soon as I think I’ve given it grace, it spits in my face.

But!

For this standard edition with all it's bells and whistles going for around $100 with no preorder, I’d say this was a great deal no matter how you slice it (our opinions on chaser figs aside)

It’s just great to see BlackStar back in action! I can’t wait for what their next Bat-Fig will be! :)