Bowen Designs Namor Statue - Black Version

[Collection King 13]

Let me give this a try…
Today I received the Black Version of the Bowen Designs Namor statue. My 1st impression of the piece from the preview pictures is a piece I knew I had to own. However now that I finally own one I wish I didn’t. It has nothing to due with the sculpt; it’s all because of the skin tones on the factory paint job… The Sculpt and base and beautifully sculpted, but the tan lines on the skin kill the piece… The shades vary from too dark and too light… there is no medium… From my pictures it is hard to see what I am talking about because of the flash… Another thing I dont like is that RB intitialed the base on the top... You can see it in the picture below... We all know it was sculpted by him and I dont think he should've done that...

It does capture Namor perfectly in his black suit and the minor details on the base are cool… The scepter is very detailed also… In my opinion would compliment any aquarium, especially because of the base…

Front of Base
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/collectionking13/100_3399.jpg

Back of Base (The RB is engraved above the starfish on the aqua marine colored plant)
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/collectionking13/100_3396.jpg


The statue comes in 3 separate pieces… The base, the Statue, and the scepter with one hand… It’s really easy to put together.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/collectionking13/100_3385.jpg

Overall I rate this piece a 3.5 out of 5 because of the bad skin tones and the RB initials on the top of leaf behind Namor’s right Foot… I may just keep statue and have the flesh tones repainted, but I haven’t decided on that yet…

[Collection King 13]

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/collectionking13/100_3391.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h256/collectionking13/100_3394.jpg

[Bullseye]

Nice review CK. I bought this version as it was the one that didn't look like an Olympic Swimmer. I'm hoping my paintwork is not as noticable as your one.

[Ish]

i completely agree with you on the skintones, very dissapointing, but a great sculpt indeed. :)

[JDH]

Good stuff, CK - brief and to the point. I hope I like mine more when I get it. Yellow (gold?) type on the traditional forum skin is a bit of an eye-strainer though!:)

[Ish]

Good stuff, CK - brief and to the point. I hope I like mine more when I get it. Yellow (gold?) type on the traditional forum skin is a bit of an eye-strainer though!:)
yeah unlike bullseye's and bat_collector. :eplus2: :laugh:

[Bullseye]

Whats that supposed to mean...your full of wind.:)

[mofo_hedna]

I received my black costumed Namor statue this week. I thought it was well sculpted and nicely painted. A keeper for me ... very detailed base!

[moon_knight1971]

I don't know...the pics you just posted confirmed, to me at least, that this version is the way to go if I get SUB-MARINER. Looks ok to me.. :)

[heirtoasguard]

guys I agree with the skin tones. but I feel that on the classic, he was too pale.
I think that is what I would call it. of the 3 statues the black version has the best face. it's totally Sal Bucema. I mean I can actually that face in a comic book panel.

[Primal]

Do the initials really bother you that much?

[sons of set]

Personally, I thought the piece was fantastic. An excellent and well concieved rendition of Namor. The skin tones and shading/ highlighting are fine. Perhaps a little too critical? The fact that the initials "RB" had to be pointed out by you also perhaps shows a little over examination of the piece.

I feel this statue is just like every other sculpture/ drawing/ painting, etc, etc... if you look for flaws, you will find them. I'm not trying to be critcal of your opinion of the piece, it's just that I think some of the complaints are pretty minor on a full size with this much detail involved. Thanks.

No slams intended.

[bat_collector]

For ish's short attention span's sake. all observations made from Bullseye's statue, that I ordered and am shortly sending on its way to Ireland

1) base sucks. Appropriate for a fish tank, but not for my statue collection. Also, be careful handling this, you could snap parts off (like the sea horse)

2) don't like the pose, in that if you put it up high he's looking into your ceiling. it would be better to display this at eye level

3) nicely sculpted, but pretty generic. the spear is the best part of it.

Conclusion: hard hero's tops bowen's easily :buttrock:

[fossa]

Whats that supposed to mean...your full of wind.:)no. it's gas!


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c272/bobblegg/fartstorm.gif


:laugh:

[Ish]

For ish's short attention span's sake. all observations made from Bullseye's statue, that I ordered and am shortly sending on its way to Ireland

1) base sucks. Appropriate for a fish tank, but not for my statue collection. Also, be careful handling this, you could snap parts off (like the sea horse)

2) don't like the pose, in that if you put it up high he's looking into your ceiling. it would be better to display this at eye level

3) nicely sculpted, but pretty generic. the spear is the best part of it.

Conclusion: hard hero's tops bowen's easily :buttrock:
:laugh: :laugh: you're like a remote control, of course i'm kidding i enjoy yours and bulls reviews, but i must say bulls pics are a bit better. :eplus2:

[Ish]

no. it's gas!


http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c272/bobblegg/fartstorm.gif


:laugh:
:laugh:

[fossa]

:laugh:talk about a double-cross! i could not resist!! it was *perfect*!!! :buttrock:

[bat_collector]

:laugh: :laugh: you're like a remote control, of course i'm kidding i enjoy yours and bulls reviews, but i must say bulls pics are a bit better. :eplus2:
I hate you. :mad:

[Collection King 13]

Personally, I thought the piece was fantastic. An excellent and well concieved rendition of Namor. The skin tones and shading/ highlighting are fine.
Perhaps a little too critical? The fact that the initials "RB" had to be pointed out by you also perhaps shows a little over examination of the piece.

I feel this statue is just like every other sculpture/ drawing/ painting, etc, etc... if you look for flaws, you will find them. I'm not trying to be critcal of your opinion of the piece, it's just that I think some of the complaints are pretty minor on a full size with this much detail involved. Thanks.

No slams intended.
A little over examination? Really? As I said the Sculpt is great usually RB engraved would be somewhere that is not on top of the base... I dont care if its on the back but on top... I mean we all know he sculpted the piece... Now as far as the paint applcation goes it whouldve looked more like the bust... The skin tones on the statue are too dark... at least on mine anyway... maybe others are different...

[Ish]

talk about a double-cross! i could not resist!! it was *perfect*!!! :buttrock:
:laugh: :stick: shoul have known better than to trust a new yorker.

[Ish]

I hate you. :mad:
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_29_104.gif :laugh:

[fossa]

I hate you. :mad:there's ish, making more enemies. guess he will be banned again some time soon :peoples:

[fossa]

:laugh: :stick: shoul have known better than to trust a new yorker.:confused: :laugh:

[Jesse321]

Conclusion: hard hero's tops bowen's easily :buttrock:You really need to lay off that crack pipe Mike ... HH's Namor is too g@y even for ME! :laugh:

I agree with CK on his observations of the skins tones, they're by far too pink, but at least they seem to show the least in the black armored version.

Great reveiw CK.

[Ish]

there's ish, making more enemies. guess he will be banned again some time soon :peoples:
me and bats are best buds, right batsy? :) :laugh:

[Ish]

You really need to lay off that crack pipe Mike ... HH's Namor is too g@y even for ME! :laugh:

I agree with CK on his observations of the skins tones, they're by far too pink, but at least they seem to show the least in the black armored version.

Great reveiw CK.
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_103.gif :laugh:

[Collection King 13]

You really need to lay off that crack pipe Mike ... HH's Namor is too g@y even for ME! :laugh:

I agree with CK on his observations of the skins tones, they're by far too pink, but at least they seem to show the least in the black armored version.

Great reveiw CK.
Thanks Jess!

[buchieboy]

Nic Review CK
i agree with you on all points :)

this could have been great if the skin tones were corrected (if possible) :)

[wktf]

For ish's short attention span's sake. all observations made from Bullseye's statue, that I ordered and am shortly sending on its way to Ireland

1) base sucks. Appropriate for a fish tank, but not for my statue collection. Also, be careful handling this, you could snap parts off (like the sea horse)

2) don't like the pose, in that if you put it up high he's looking into your ceiling. it would be better to display this at eye level

3) nicely sculpted, but pretty generic. the spear is the best part of it.

Conclusion: hard hero's tops bowen's easily :buttrock:
b_c,

1) I completely disagree. I think the base is superbly designed and is extremely interesting. Appropriate for a fish tank? Let's remember Namor is the ruler of Atlantis, an undersea kingdom.

2) This pose is taken from the ultra-iconic John Buscema Sub-Mariner #1 cover. Very powerful and regal. Is it a "museum" style rather than an action style pose? Yes. Now, yes, he is looking up but my lcs has it displayed on a top shelf in a glass cabinet vs. mine displayed at eye level and, I have to say, his display makes Namor look even more imposing and powerful when you are looking up at him. But, yes, the statue is looking up so that may be an issue.

3) See my #2. Generic vs. Silver Age iconic is in the eye of the beholder. I disagree on this point. And it's not a spear, it's the sacred trident of Neptune.

I don't think HH's tops Bowen's. I actually think just the opposite, Bowen's is superior. HH's is too cartoony for me, though the design is very creative, and the paint job's just all one uniform color. Uninteresting. Doesn't work for me but, hey, that's just me.

CK13, I bought the classic rather than the black costumed version and, while I thought the skin tone was too pale I've come to change my mind. The shading on his body really looks great but, maybe, the contrast of the black costume really calls this out more in that version.

RB's sig doesn't bother me. You really can't even see it unless you're looking for it.

[Jesse321]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_103.gif :laugh:I'm sorry, but you put leg warmers on him and he looks like something out of Flashdance! :laugh:

RB's sig doesn't bother me. You really can't even see it unless you're looking for it.I honestly didn't notice it, and probably never would have if CK hadn't pointed it out in his review.

[nolilia]

For ish's short attention span's sake. all observations made from Bullseye's statue, that I ordered and am shortly sending on its way to Ireland

1) base sucks. Appropriate for a fish tank, but not for my statue collection. Also, be careful handling this, you could snap parts off (like the sea horse)

2) don't like the pose, in that if you put it up high he's looking into your ceiling. it would be better to display this at eye level

3) nicely sculpted, but pretty generic. the spear is the best part of it.

Conclusion: hard hero's tops bowen's easily :buttrock:

Huh???? I dont think so. :laugh:

[ickwinzs]

I have both and quickly put the Bowen back in the box and sold it. The HH Namor beats the other hands down classic, red, or modern.

[wktf]

Different strokes for different folks. I gave my reasons on the prior page for preferring the Bowen over the HH but it's great there's enough product out there to please nearly everyone!

[ickwinzs]

Different strokes for different folks. I gave my reasons on the prior page for preferring the Bowen over the HH but it's great there's enough product out there to please nearly everyone!
you are correct my capitan!!

[Jack8022]

I have the Green-trunks version and think it turned out great. The skin tones look pretty good on the Classic version. Maybe there's something to the thought that the black on the costume does raise the eye-awareness to the skin-shading's contrast. If anything on the paintjob, I would've rather had the coral painted a little brighter (especially the browns which could've used an orange drybrushing effect).

Since I prefer museum-poses over action-poses, I like the issue 1 pose over HH's water-pose. The sculpt is also top-notch. While the base is cool, I still do wince when I think about how this turned into a $200+ FS because of it (that bothers me more than Randy's initials).

Overall, I'd live it a 4.5 out of 5 (I live it the extra .5 because the Classic came with the Horn of Whachamacallit).

I saw the BD, HH and DS Namors all lined up in Midtown Comics in NYC and was happy I went with the BD. I'm not knocking the other two but to each their own.

[wktf]

Overall, I'd live it a 4.5 out of 5 (I live it the extra .5 because the Classic came with the Horn of Whachamacallit)...
Ha! "Horn of Proteus". :)

[Jack8022]

Ha! "Horn of Proteus". :)

What can I say? I'm still tired from the weekend! :rolleyes2

[BOWEN NUT]

I recently picked this one up for $98.00 shipped! I really like it. I have no problems with the paint job that came with mine. He's standing next to the Dr. Doom FS and behind the Fantastic Four mini statues. Looks great.

[pablocruze]

b_c,

2) Now, yes, he is looking up but my lcs has it displayed on a top shelf in a glass cabinet vs. mine displayed at eye level and, I have to say, his display makes Namor look even more imposing and powerful when you are looking up at him. But, yes, the statue is looking up so that may be an issue.


If you were standing on the bottom of the ocean, you'd probably be looking up too... :)

[Ink]

If you were standing on the bottom of the ocean, you'd probably be looking up too... :)

and if you lived there long enough, you'd be alittle pale too :)

[Mastermold]

I've considered this statue several times but I've concluded that the Namor MB I already own is more than enough Namor for me. :laugh:

[rychehitman]

so, what would you rate it out of 10? :confused2

I dont think the "RB" thing is even worth mentioning. I have no problem with where Randy initials his stuff. Its always someplace you have to look for it to see it, it doesnt JUMP out at you.

I can see where you are coming from from the paint perspective. That is sad to see. I really want to pick this piece up at some point, as it too struck me as being a "must own", but the paint turn me away!

[JadeGiant]

so, what would you rate it out of 10? :confused2

I dont think the "RB" thing is even worth mentioning. I have no problem with where Randy initials his stuff. Its always someplace you have to look for it to see it, it doesnt JUMP out at you.

I can see where you are coming from from the paint perspective. That is sad to see. I really want to pick this piece up at some point, as it too struck me as being a "must own", but the paint turn me away!

I pulled mine out of the box to inspect and didn't notice the paint at all. Didn't jump out at me as being bad but then again I didn't look at very long.

The RB is a non-factor IMO ... I didn't even notice it when inspecting for breaks.

Very happy to have this in the collection (and for $100 no shipping, I can't complain)

[Collection King 13]

so, what would you rate it out of 10? :confused2

I dont think the "RB" thing is even worth mentioning. I have no problem with where Randy initials his stuff. Its always someplace you have to look for it to see it, it doesnt JUMP out at you.

I can see where you are coming from from the paint perspective. That is sad to see. I really want to pick this piece up at some point, as it too struck me as being a "must own", but the paint turn me away!
7 out of 10...

[lord odin]

I need to find a broken namor to turn into Black Adam
Come on people somebody drop one or snap something so I can buy it.

[Mastermold]

Well, I was able to score a good deal on one of these so I went for it. Between this version and the two naked versions I prefered this costume, and based on the pics I think I'll like it.

[F.O.O.M.]

Has anyone got either all 3 versions or even just the classic and black versions, if so, any there pics available?

I've got the classic and am very tempted to get the 70's version.

[Mastermold]

Got my black costume Namor and was surprised by how much cooler it looks in person than the pics let on -- the base is obviously a high point but the statue itself is very cool. Glad I went for this clothed version over the naked versions. :D

[Force of Nature]

Hi guys,

beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course but I must say that I really like my black Namor. It's a beautifully sculpted piece and it shows NAmor in his full power and glory. This guy is the ruler of the sea and the King of Antlantis and that's exactrly what BD has given us: a FS of a very powerful, self-confident and majestic ruler of the sea.

When I first unpacked the statue I felt like saying 'How are you doing, Your Majesty?' :)
If that doesn't show what a royally beautiful statue this is then what will?

Rainer

*****************************************
Nothing can stop The Juggernaut... NOTHING!

[P1X4R]

When I first unpacked the statue I felt like saying 'How are you doing, Your Majesty?'


all smiles when i read that!

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8267.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8268.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8269.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8271.jpg

[P1X4R]

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8272.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8273.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8274.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8275.jpg

[P1X4R]

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8276.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8277.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8278.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8281.jpg

[Mastermold]

Yeah the black costume was the way to go with this one. Very cool! No speedos!

[cma3]

Yeah the black costume was the way to go with this one. Very cool! No speedos!

Ditto that.

[Ink]

Yeah the black costume was the way to go with this one. Very cool! No speedos!

I like the green trunks version

[stormshadow75x]

He looks cool to me...

BTW has anyone actually tried to put him in an aquarium??

[Quicksilver]

I just got a black costume Namor and he's so awesome! Way better in person then I thought he'd be. The detail in this piece is way better then most other Bowen statues...I wonder why it's one of the cheaper ones?

[jsnchrry]

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w193/p1x4r_2007/Bowen%20Designs/Full%20Size/Submariner%20black/IMG_8275.jpg[/QUOTE]


hmmmm......