Eaglemoss Batman Universe Bust #10 -- Batgirl of Burnside Review

Street Date: 2018-09-19
MSRP: $25
Price I Paid: $25
Edition Size: 4250

Eaglemoss is primarily known for making very small figures and chess pieces based on pop culture intellectual properties.  Recently, the company has begun making upsized, 1/6-scale versions of its DC products.  It's also making busts of DC and Star Trek characters.

Eaglemoss has branded the DC busts as the "Batman Universe" line.  This line includes Batman cowls.  If you subscribe to this line, you also get exclusives.

The Barbara Gordon Batgirl of Burnside bust (the tenth in the line) was released during the second half of 2018.  The pose is based on the cover of New 52 Batgirl Issue 35.  This was the debut issue of the Burnside costume, designed by Cameron Stewart and Babs Tarr.

New 52 Batgirl Issue 35

I saw pictures of other busts from this line, and the paint apps looked worrisome.  I took a chance on Batgirl because she's my favorite comic book character and because the pose is based on a memorable "first appearance" cover.  Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed with the final product.

The bust arrived in "half a box".  There's nothing covering the top of the box, so the plastic trays holding the bust aren't fully protected.  The bottom of the base shows a number, 4250, which I assume is the edition size.  My copy was labeled "AAF", which might mean that it was a factory, production, or manufacturer's sample (aka Artist Proof).

The decal on the phone's "screen", which mimics the screen of a smartphone while one is taking a selfie, is a nice touch.  However, the phone has ugly protrusions to allow it to be glued between Batgirl's fingers.  One expects to see some paint bleed on a $25 statue/bust, but this one has too much black paint on the purple areas, especially the arms.  The black paint is supposed to imply shadows, but on my copy, it makes the bust look dirty.  The right ear has black paint slop.  The left hand has molding issues.  The base is chipped and has a few bumpy areas.

Some collectors might treat a piece like this as a DIY project, but if I have to paint a statue/bust myself, I'd rather it be an all-white paint kit rather than a fixer-upper.  I've already prepared a Return Shipping label and will be going to the UPS Store after I'm done typing this review.