The Joker is Wild

Joker is the definitive bat-villain. An unpredictable and terrifying enigma, the Clown Prince of Crime is able to be portrayed in various ways. I liked painting the greenish-white skin, the hair, and the red-rimmed eyes.

This version- my favourite of these sculpts- is the Jim Lee portrayal seen in Hush (2003). I don't know if my miniature is warped, but I like the crazy tilt. I do wish there was a 'bang' flag for his revolver.

Joker

Hush- Batman #613 (2003)

In the Scott Snyder run (2011-2016), Joker had cut off his face and this mask became a horrific totem. This Joker really emphasised the terrifying aspects of his personality, wearing his skin as a mask and dressed as a mechanic- Mr Joe.

Mr Joe

Batman #13 (2012)

This last Joker is more physical, jacked up on Venom.

Venom Joker

Batman: The Dark Knight #3 (2011)

I painted these thugs in a matching palette, and was surprised at how easy it was to apply clown makeup.

Joker's Gang

Joker's Gang- handguns

Joker's Gang- melee

Bat-tally: 186/ 215 (86%)

Batman: Comic battle report

I have painted enough figures to get some games in! Here's photos from our first game- click to embiggen!

This mission was fairly straightforward, but slightly anticlimactic insofar as the baddies (me) simply couldn't hack enough computers to win, denying the goodies a chance to punch and counterhack to victory. It was nevertheless undeniably fun and quick. We played a few more games which were also good fun, including an epic police raid on a subway tunnel. Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of these.

It is a solid mechanical system; an advance on Monolith's fine earlier Conan ruleset.

Let me know if this format works or if I can tweak it at all!

Comics made with LensFX iOS app and Comic Life 3.

Batman: Rogues' Gallery 3

I've got another collection of not so familiar bat-villains today.

Red Hood

Red Hood (not to be confused with Red Hood) is a villain from Batman's earlier career, and is a strong contender to have become the Joker following a bat-related industrial accident. He wears a red glass dome which I painted gloss. His gang wear anonymising masks, and are ordinary Gothamites blackmailed into participating. None of them know each other's identity.

Red Hood

Red Hood's gang

Batman #24 (2013)

Solomon Grundy

This incredibly hulking figure is a simple soul who lives in Gotham's sewers. He is often coerced into crime by villains who need some muscle for a job.

Solomon Grundy

Long Halloween #2 (1997)

Deadshot

The deadly mercenary marksman with gun-gauntlets.

Deadshot

Suicide Squad #12 (2017)

Ratcatcher

The creepiest thing (and there are many) about Ratcatcher is his fingerless gloves. Fingerless!

Ratcatcher

Batman Eternal #24 (2014)

Killer Moth

Killer Moth was a, well, colourful baddie from the Silver Age (~1955-1970ish). He's been re-envisioned as a bit more grounded, but still using gas and compressed air weapons. He's still far from a top tier baddie.

Killer Moth

Green Arrow #25 (2014)

Firefly

This pyromaniac carries off the insect schtick better than Killer Moth- a better name, mostly.

Firefly

Batman Eternal #50 (2015)

Bat-tally: 175/ 215 (81%)

Gotham City SWAT

I can't wait to get these bad-ass lookin' dudes on the table, and have them and their tacticool gear taken out by murder clowns and bat-freaks.

GCPD SWAT

The basic guys are great generic SWAT figures. I like the lettering on their backs. The visors grew on me- I painted them pale blue-grey, then blended down a Paynes grey, then added white reflection streaks. The mould lines in the photo are killing me- they're not that noticeable in real life!

SWAT

These guys have bomb disposal skillz. I chose orange for their cases as it is a great contrast with blue, and I'm getting better at painting it.

SWAT Specialists

The heavies have non-lethal sticky foam dispensers. They weren't working for me until I increased the highlights around the face, which I maintain is the focal point of any miniature.

SWAT Heavies

Batman Eternal #33 (2015)

Bat-tally 165/ 215 (77%)

Gotham vigilantes

Beyond the semi-formal inner Bat-family, there are other vigilantes who fight crime.

Huntress

The daughter of a mob boss, Huntress now fights crime in her practical outfit. Her miniature has a swirling cape which is quite dynamic.

Huntress

Hush- Batman #619 (2003)

Black Canary

A nightclub worker pushed too far? This figure is based on art in Frank Miller's All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder (2005-2008), which should be avoided if possible- lovely art, terrible writing.

Black Canary

All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #6 (2007)

Katana

Seeking revenge after her husband's murder, Katana's katana contains the souls of those it has killed. Sometimes she is depicted with grey skin, which I have replicated here- I'm not sure I like it.

Katana

Katana #7 (2013)

Batwing

I don't know much about Batwing, but he's the son of Lucius Fox (played by Morgan Freeman in the Nolan films).

Batwing

Signal

A fostered child, he patrols Gotham by daylight.

Signal

All-Star Batman #3 (2016)

Azrael

A religious cult's assassin, Azrael saw the errors of his ways and now fights crime.

Azrael

Batman & Robin Eternal #9 (2016)

Green Arrow

Another billionaire philanthropist vigilante, except this time with a Robin Hood fetish. His love interest is Black Canary.

Green Arrow

Green Arrow #6 (2016)

Bat-tally: 153/ 215 (71%)

Riddle me this...

In these morally turbulent times, it is refreshing to see clearly branded and distinguishable villains and henchmen. More recent portrayals of The Riddler show a rogueish swagger, away from the weakly nerdish earlier portrayals. He's highly punchable.

The Riddler

The Riddler

Riddler's Gang

Riddler's Gang- handguns

Riddler's Gang- batons

Hush- Batman #615 (2003)

Batman #33 (2014)

I'm in a bit of a painting rush so these were mostly a wash without highlighting.

Bat-tally: 146/ 215 (68%)