Qahne Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 I ordered a couple of Batman I figures a while back from Bricklink, and I immediately saw something was a little off about them, but I put it down to a printing error. I ordered some replacements for them recently, and there definitely is something different about them - the torso printing has that raised effect that we know from the torsos they have in PAB, although the pegs are printed. The face print is horrendously distorted, and the arms have a serial number stamped up near the connection peg. These are 2006-2008 era minifigs, I had assumed that, pre-CMF, TLG only used Chinese plants for specialised parts and things like magnet sets and such. It crossed my mind that these Chinese figures could be from a magnet set, but the magnet was integrated into the actual figure back then. I've been scratching my head as to where these figures (Penguin and Mr. Freeze) actually came from. The figures from the Batman I sets I bought way back in 2006 don't have these same defects, so I don't think they're from a set.
Robianco Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 I don't think either of the figures you've mentioned have been bootlegged by any of the Chinese manufacturers so you should be OK as far as that goes... The raised print thing would be something that may set alarm bells going with regards to being digitally printed copies. I've seen several of the Batman I figures done digitally and sold on eBay as a cheaper alternative to picking them up. I think there's a UK custom minifig producer that's done Mr Freeze and Penguin although the stamps o the arms are something I can't help you with. I can check on my Penguin figure at home and let you know if there's anything similar on him.
Qahne Posted October 2, 2015 Author Posted October 2, 2015 Hmm that makes sense, but it is a shame since I was sold them as the genuine article - and at that premium.
Captain Nemo Posted October 2, 2015 Posted October 2, 2015 By the sounds of it, those are fakes. Most likely custom digital printed figures, often times passed off as the valuable real thing (I've been tricked by that too, it happens rather often). All you can do now is work with Bricklink to get refunded and/or dispense the deserved feedback to the sellers. Best of luck--from here on out! As this has been rather a straight-forward answer by myself and Robianco, I'm going to go ahead and close this topic.
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