[En Sabah Nerd]

I didn't bother pre-ordering this set because I already had McFarlane's first megafig Bane and I wasn't too keen on the comic shading effects with the paint here, but then I just found it at Target and buckled like a belt. I like it because I like Bane but I've still got issues with the paint. Batman particularly looks lazy/cheap since all of the battle damage exists only as paint apps, the sculpt is untouched. I will say I like how the cape came out, I'm usually not a fan of comic-based figures having soft-goods capes but here it makes total sense so Bane can break his back. Also Batman's agonized expression is just begging you to reduce him to being an accessory for Bane. Bane himself is largely the same toy as last time but with some notable changes. This version sports a new head sculpt, a new belt, a different venom tube, and no web gear or venom tank on the back. A common complaint I saw just about everywhere regarding the first megafig Bane was that he only had the grasping hands and no fists, this release has those same grasping hands AND a pair of fists. I will note, however, that the skin tone on this two pack Bane is much lighter so without extra work they don't look right on the previous release. The venom tube connecting from his head to his arm does put some limits on what he can pull off, particularly restricting how far left he can look. At the same time the removal of the tank does make him easier to just grab and mess with. Overall I prefer the first megafig but taken as a standalone set I do like this one for letting me have a permanent "Bane breaking the Bat" displayed elsewhere.