Originally published April 14, 2017. This article preserves One Sixth Society’s original reporting and images; product availability, pricing, and opinions reflect the original publication period.
For years, comic and film fans alike have been craving a high-quality figure of Michelle Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Gotham’s favorite siren: Catwoman. Patience has paid off as collectors now have access to the NECA 1/4 Scale Catwoman. She is certainly a strong release by the company with a variety of accessories, albeit with a few things to keep in mind.
Two handling concerns stand out. First, the figure is extremely tough to balance on its own. The included stand helps, but we still found it difficult to keep her balanced. Secondly, her outfit consists of several threads that hang off of it to simulate the hand-stitched nature of her costume. However, if you are not careful the threads can be pulled off. Keep both points in mind when handling the figure.
Articulation and costume
Catwoman’s double-jointed knees and elbows give her a useful range of movement. One leg on our review figure was extremely stiff, though; we could not tell whether that was a manufacturing fault or shipping damage. The costume is sculpted plastic, with paint and gloss that capture the look of leather.
Two portraits and accessories
Catwoman does come with a few accessories as well. She comes with two pairs of hands in different poses. The hands are intricately detailed. She also comes with a taser emblazoned with a cat logo, as well as her whip with an internal metal wire for posing. The most exciting part of the release is perhaps the inclusion of two head sculpts. One sculpt is battle damaged, with her blonde hair flowing out of the mask and a snarl across her face, while the other is more stoic and clean. These two sculpts take the figure to another level, as they are both amazing to look at. The only accessory that could really be better would be the stand, as it is still not the best option in keeping the figure standing.
NECA has really been on fire lately, from their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles offerings such as Donatello to their Batman figures they are showing themselves to be quite formidable in terms of high quality releases. For anyone who is a Batman fan, this release of Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman is an appealing addition. Just make sure you have a good stand for her.
The Corset and Smaller Joints
The corset is a separate rubber part over the body, with molded laces rather than working fabric ones. It can move slightly as the figure is handled, but it is not meant to come off. Around the torso, there is some forward and backward movement without the firm clicks of a ratcheted joint. The head also has useful tilt and turning movement.
The high-heeled feet are separate from the boot uppers, allowing some ankle adjustment. That movement still does not make the supplied plate a secure solution for this sample. Its small peg fits a hole under one heel, and the figure continued to fall during the review. The good arm and knee range is best enjoyed with reliable support already in place.
Watch the accompanying NECA Catwoman Video Review: 1/4 Scale Batman Returns.
Choose the Portrait Before Arranging the Whip
The clean mask suits a composed Catwoman, while the damaged portrait and exposed hair suggest a more frantic moment. Arrange the wired whip around that choice rather than bending it simply to fill empty space. Keep it clear of the loose costume threads so changing an accessory does not pull at the stitched details.
