Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jul 21, 2020 | 1 comment

EXCLUSIVE: A serious playset on serious shelves…

When you were a kid, where did you put your Mego Batman villains after they were captured by the Darknight Detective?

In our house, we had a set of dining room chairs that had vertical bars on them and I’d sometimes use that to incarcerate foes like the Joker and the Riddler.

Well, now you no longer have to improvise: The Toyroom’s Anthony Durso’s latest custom Mego-style playset is none other than Arkham Asylum.

Dig this EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK:

“After Wayne Manor, Arkham Asylum is probably the most important structure in Gotham City,” said Anthony, who is also a regular contributor to 13th Dimension. “This version was inspired by the Arkham Asylum insert included in the polybagged collector’s set for Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1 (1992). Other reference material was used in researching a look, including Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean, but it seems its design is often open to interpretation. And that goes for inmates as well.”

“With the cells I chose the classic villains that define Arkham to me. I tried to give some uniqueness to each, but not all, of the cells. Mr. Freeze’s for example, would probably be temperature controlled. Harley Quinn’s cell is smack-dab in between Poison Ivy and The Joker. Ivy’s cell is dark, brooding perhaps because Harley and Mr. J are chatting away. Two-Face’s cell is divided, of course, half in the light and half in darkness. Croc and Clayface’s cells both show the residue of escape attempts,” he added.

“Obviously there doesn’t seem to be a lot of preventative tech or caution at play here because how else can you explain the repeated escapes of these dangerous criminals?” Anthony joked.

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A few thoughts:

— You know who’s not in here? The Penguin. And I totally agree with Anthony for not including him. The Penguin may have his fetishes but he’s not insane. State pen for that fine-feathered fink, I say. And Catwoman? Well, even when she’s a villain, she’s not mad. Good calls on both.

— In addition to these displays, The Toyroom’s 8-inch-scale sets currently include: Superman’s Fortress of Solitude (click here), Lex Luthor’s Lair (click here), the Batcave/Wayne Foundation (click here), the 1966 Batcave, the 1966 Batgirl apartment and changing room (click here), the 1966 Batman movie United Underworld HQ (click here), the Joker’s Ha-Hacienda (click here), the Riddler’s hideout (click here), Wonder Woman’s Paradise Island (click here), Wonder Woman’s TV series IADC headquarters (click here), the Green Lantern HQ on Oa (click here), Aquaman’s Aquacave (click here), Captain Marvel’s Rock of Eternity (click here), the JLA Satellite (click here), the JSA Brownstone (click here), the Super Friends Hall of Justice (click here), the Super Powers Hall of Justice (click here), the Hall of Doom (click here), The Fantastic Four’s Baxter Building Lab (click here), Iron Man’s Armory (click here), the X-Men’s Danger Room (click here), a Star Trek: The Animated Series Enterprise (click here) and a Scooby-Doo haunted house — with more to come.

— And as I always feel compelled to point out, I don’t make anything from this. I just love showing it all off. Each set — including case, artwork and complete assembly — is $85 plus shipping. Contact either thetoyroom@yahoo.com or you can message Anthony, who also owns Retropolis Tees and is a 13th Dimension contributor, through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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MORE

— EXCLUSIVE: Classic Batman WAYNE FOUNDATION Playset Makes a Comeback. Click here.

— INSIDE LOOK: The ‘Mego’ JOKER HA-HACIENDA Playset You’ve Been Waiting For. Click here.