Batman: 0-100 years and in-between

Today, various Batmen reflecting different stages in his 'career':

Zero Year

This Batman is an early, starting out Wayne. He doesn't have his bat-gadgets refined- he's carrying at least three knives, an axe, a crossbow, and a torch. The purple gloves are homage to the first appearance of the 'Bat-Man' in Detective Comics #27 (1939).

Zero Year Batman

Zero Year (2013)

Detective Comics #27 (1939)

Thrasher Bat-suit

The Thrasher power armour has appeared occasionally in recent years.

Thrasher Bat-suit

The Dark Knight Returns

DKR (1986) was a tale that brought Batman back into seriously serious territory after the Adam West years. A 60ish Bruce Wayne takes up the cowl again because he misses the violence. Highly recommended. I did a dark blue cowl and cape that I'm pretty happy with; it is a more interesting colour than black.

The Dark Knight Returns

Dark Knight Returns #2 (1986)

Year 100

Every now and then DC lets an author off the leash to do something with Batman. Year 100 is a tale of Batman in 2039, fighting a dystopian police state. He's got a decidedly retro look with leather lace up boots and shorts, and memorably wears fangs to terrify baddies.

Year 100 Batman

Year 100 (2006)

Bat robots

The Ro-bats popped up a couple of times in the late 2000s.

Bat-robots

Bat-tally 136/ 215 (63%)

Batman: Objective tokens

Some useful generic scenery pieces. I couldn't help myself, and put them on 20mm square Renedra bases. The dynamite boxes are pretty small! I like the retro beige computer monitors.

Dynamite

Control panels

Computer terminals

Safe

Bat-tally 128/ 215 (60%)

Batman: Rogues' Gallery 2

More villains! There's a few rogue scientists and clinicians today.

Killers Croc

Killer Croc has a nasty skin condition which has seen him ostracised from society to the sewers and to crime. There are two miniatures, to reflect different artists' takes. I'm pretty satisfied with the trenchcoat, which was Army Painter Desert Yellow then a wash of Soft Tone with Wash Medium, no further touchups or highlighting required.

Killer Croc

Hush- Batman #610 (2002)

Killer Croc

Batman Eternal #18 (2014)

Hugo Strange

Not Marvel's Doctor Strange; this Doctor Strange is a rogue psychiatrist with a terrifying chin-beard. I like how his lab coat came out. I painted it with lots of thin white over white and a black wash.

Hugo Strange

Doctor Death

Doctor Death was a very early Bat-baddie, appearing in 1939. He was reimagined in the 2014 comics as having developed a serum that causes uncontrolled bony growths, resulting in him being able to heal grievous injuries but with a horrific appearance.

Doctor Death

Batman #26 (2014)

Deathstroke

I don't know much about this deadly mercenary assassin, but I'm not a fan of his boots.

Deathstroke

New Suicide Squad #3 (2015)

Professor Pyg

Pyg wears a pig mask, and operates on his victims to 'improve' them.

Professor Pyg

Batman & Robin #1 (2009)

Scarecrows

Another rogue psychiatrist, Scarecrow uses his Fear Gas to exert control. I'm not a fan of painted 'effects' like these smoke clouds, but I think they came out OK and give the figure tabletop presence. There's an alternate sculpt with a scythe, and some Hazmat Goons.

Scarecrow

Scarecrow

Hazmat Goons

Scarecrow and Hazmat goons

Batman & Robin Eternal #14 (2016)

This Bat-batch takes me well over the halfway mark!

Bat-tally 115/ 215 (53%)

Citizens and bystanders

More quickies- just a basecoat and shade for these figures.

Citizens

Bystanders

Bat-tally: 103/ 215 (48%)

Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn, rogue psychiatrist, has an interesting path. Her character was first seen on the 90's animated Batman show and became a fan favourite, transitioning to comics and the silver screen. Originally (but no longer) the Joker's girlfriend, she has somewhat struggled to throw off the shackles of that strong association.

Harley Quinn in her 'classic' look, with spring boots

Hush (2003)

Harley Quinn

In Poison Ivy (2016)

Harley and her hyaenas, Bud & Lou

Bud & Lou

Harley and her goons

Harley's goons

She's got a strong colour scheme. I really think I nailed the skin tone on the more modern Harley, IMNSHO.

Bat-tally: 95/ 215 (44%)

Batman: Thugs and brutes

I meant to get these bat-fodder painted up much sooner, because they're generic and are used in many of the scenarios. But their blandness and the choice of painting them all differently really took the wind out of my sails. They were pretty much all a base and a wash, yet took longer than they should have.

Mooks

Thugs with crowbar

Thugs with firearm

Brutes with chains

Brutes with shotgun

Bat-tally: 87/ 215 (40%)

One giant leap

I have been geeking out recently about the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. I have always been fascinated by space travel and exploration, and the work of these pioneers still moves me.

'Tough and competent'

-Gene Kranz

I treated myself to a Lego Lunar Module, which I built with the Skirt Swisher:

I've really enjoyed the BBC World Service podcast 13 Minutes to the moon. I can also highly recommend the documentary In the shadow of the moon, about the space race in general.

I've heard of the HBO series From the earth to the moon; is it any good? What about First Man?

Never change, Buzz. Never change.