GOTHAM'S MOST WANTED 2: RIDDLE ME THIS...

It was the uber-brilliant actor/impersonator Frank Gorshin that made me fall in love with Edward Nigma. As an elementary schooler, I was obsessed with the 1960s Batman TV show that was re-running then on cable, and every time The Riddler made an appearance, it was a treat. To this day, nobody's quite been able to do what Gorshin did nearly 50 years ago. As I got older, the more sinister, calculating super-genius from Batman: The Animated Series became my go-to reference for the character. 

Much like The Penguin, this Riddler had a previous, less successful incarnation. Just like his avian pal, I really disliked the original base head I'd chosen, and it kept me from feeling like he piece was truly done. When brainstorming the second series of Gotham's Most Wanted, I knew Mr. Nigma had to be a part of the line-up, so I chose a new, more appropriate head (from the 3.75" Abrams Star Trek line), new bowler hat (from the accessories Graveyard), and new coat, all topped off with a vibrant lime green. His color scheme is inspired by his Animated Series counterpart, with a little more mobster grime added. 

My favorite part of the custom is that cocky little smirk, like he's got something on his mind that he's not telling...

"RIDDLE ME THIS, BATMAN: What looks like a bat, but has four wheels and is under MY COMPLETE CONTROL?"

GOTHAM'S MOST WANTED 2: OSWALD COBBLEPOT- THE COLD, CUNNING PENGUIN

OSWALD COBBLEPOT- THE COLD, CUNNING PENGUIN

The Penguin, oddly enough, was an early childhood favorite. Because of his numerous appearances in cartoons of the 70s and 80s with The Joker, I always thought they were a team and found it odd when I discovered just how different the modern comic versions were. But when you look back on their Golden Age exploits, it's much more in line with their Hanna-Barbera incarnations.

Mr. Cobblepot is a fusion of original, vintage GI Joe parts (Headman torso & waist) and modern (GI Joe movie Destro arm), topped off with a third party sculpted head, with some accessories courtesy of Indiana Jones' Henry Jones Sr. 

For Gotham's Most Wanted, I wanted to ditch The Penguin's tux and go for something a little more mobster-y. The Penguin was actually one of the very first villains I worked on when I started my Batman universe, but I was never quite happy with the head and hands. Once I found suitable replacements, I rediscovered my love of the character and knew he had to be in GMW 2... though I may not be quite done with Mr. Cobblepot. I've always wanted an on-model version of The Penguin from Tim Burton's holiday favorite, Batman Returns...

GOTHAM'S MOST WANTED 2: THE DEMON'S HEAD & LEAGUE OF SHADOWS NINJA

THE DEMON'S HEAD-

As with many of The Batman's adversaries, I first really got to know Ra's Al Ghul via Batman: The Animated Series. Though seemingly plain-clothed and not over-the-top like the rest of Batman's foes, it was really Ra's Al Ghul's respectful, gentlemanly approach that drew me in. I loved that he called Batman "Detective," and that Ra's was really just trying to get Bruce Wayne to join the family business. He just had a criminally insane way of doing it. 

Ra's Al Ghul is an example of a piece where the parts pretty much dictated what was going to happen. It all started with that head, taken from a Star Wars figure based on Terrence Stamp. I always thought Stamp would make an amazing Ra's Al Ghul, so I worked on the head first. I just slightly modified it with Green Stuff and repainted it. 

Working on Ra's, I brainstormed about bodies... I didn't necessarily want to go with his notorious green business suit, but did want to pay homage to it. The head looked best on a Cobra Commander body, which gave it the formal appearance I needed, while also having a sort of late 19th century-early 20th century gentleman. This was inspired by an episode of Batman: The Animated Series set in the Old West, starring Jonah Hex. 

While working on Gotham's Most Wanted 2, I wanted to play with the idea of a variant/"chase" figure. Ra's Al Ghul was the natural fit, because he wears a number of different costumes, each with a different purpose. For Ra's in his League of Shadows uniform, I popped the finished head on the...

LEAGUE OF SHADOWS NINJA-

Ninjas have been a usual thorn in The Batman's side for decades, so when I saw the new ninjas released for the GI Joe 2 movie, I knew I had to make some. By far the most deadly of all The Batman's enemies are Ra's Al Ghul's personal army: The League of Shadows. Known by many names, counting an untold number of operatives, and led by one of the most brilliant men on Earth, they had to be the first "henchmen" made for Gotham's Most Wanted. 

Ever since I saw them in Nolan's Batman Begins, I knew I would have to make a figure inspired by Ra's Al Ghul's ninja guard... to do that, the figure is almost entirely a GI Joe 2 ninja with 25th Anniversary Storm Shadow armor and Batman forearm "spikes" grafted on, then hit with a coat of black paint and accessorized with a giant katana from my accessories Graveyard. 

NEXT TIME: OSWALD COBBLEPOT- THE COLD, CUNNING PENGUIN

THE SENTINEL OF LIBERTY

Months ago images surfaced of Chris Evans in costume shooting the upcoming film Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and I was immediately smitten with the design of the suit. While I had seen the all-blue costume in the comics before (worn by Agent Steve Rogers), I'd never seen it combined with Cap's mask/helmet combo... I thought it looked bad-ass and immediately had to make one to fit into my universe. 

Completed in July 2013, Captain America is primarily constructed from a GI Joe Shock Trooper/Riot Viper base, topped with an Ultimate WWII Cap head. Web gear from a 25th Anniversary figure from the fodder bin completes the ensemble. The shield is from a Marvel Universe Captain America. The rifle was also borrowed from Ultimate WWII Cap.

My take on this costume is that it's Cap's stealth uniform, for more top secret/black-ops missions... I keep picturing something like a cross between Captain America and Solid Snake from Metal Gear solid. To go along with Cap's more subdued look, the shield was painted in tones of gunmetal, inspired by a teaser poster for the movie, where all of the red and blue paint has been stripped off, just leaving the Vibranium.

Hydra Facility 1941: Ambushing a Hydra Soldier

Spotted by an evil Nazi robot!

"One of Zola's designs... I'm getting close."

The face of evil: Dr. Arnim Zola

Very much looking forward to Captain America 2, but I see this Cap as more of a pulp hero version of the character in my universe... without the more blatant, costume-y aspects of the red, white, and blue design. He's meant to fit in with my pulp heroes collection, and to go on those adventures. A globe-trotting super-spy that has partnered up with everyone from the US Government to The Avengers, to vigilantes like The Batman...

So now that I've made two Caps, what good is he without The Winter Soldier? I've already got some concepts in mind, but for now, he'll just have to be content knocking out countless Nazi stooges, giant evil robots, mad scientists, and the most vile of all.. The Red Skull!

TOP SECRET: FROM THE S.H.I.E.L.D. ARCHIVES 

Infiltrating HYDRA bunker, 1941

On the hunt for Dr. Arnim Zola

Assault on German command center 1942

Waiting to strike...

"That laugh... Red Skull is here..."

"Ah... Captain. So predictable. What took you so long?"

Coordinating a strike with the vigilante known as The Batman. Before he could be apprehended, Batman disappeared in a cloud of hallucinogenic smoke that induced paralyzing fear.

With S.H.I.E.L.D. head Nick Fury, 1940

One of The Avengers' first missions, 1938. Dr. Bruce Banner is still grey, since he had not experienced his secondary mutation, which turned him into the green-skinned Hulk.

The Sentinel of Liberty

COMING UP: GOTHAM'S MOST WANTED 2