I’m pretty sure I gushed over the Batman Legacy packaging when I looked at the last wave, but let’s do it all over again because this packaging is simply gorgeous. Its technically just a big glorified bubble on a cardback, but the way its designed makes it look more like an intricate window box. You get the colorful Batman logo across the top with an illustrated cityscape and a very fetching piece of artwork on the side panel featuring a comic-panel style illustration of the gal herself. The back panel has more great artwork and a little blurb about Catwoman. I think I may have shed a tear or two while I was shredding this thing to get at the figure inside.

If you aren’t familiar with this little sub-line of figures, Batman Legacy are figures that fit right in with your DC Universe Collection, which makes this one a great pick-up if you happen to collect DCUC. Catwoman has been released in the main DCUC line before, but only in her more modern catsuit. Here we see her in her more vintage dress and cape, which I’ve always enjoyed and I think it holds up pretty well today in terms of looking both retro and drop-dead sexy. The head sculpt is particularly well done and accentuates her almond eyes and pouty lips, complete with mask and adorable little cat ears. Her hair is focused a bit more down the back rather than poofed out as often seen in the comic artwork, but I think this look works well for the figure.

The outfit features a green rubbery cape that is sculpted in a separate piece and hangs around her neck. From the waist up, her costume is all paintwork, with a pretty pronounced plunging neckline, which while technically accurate, shows off considerably more than the vintage comic art ever did. Thems some serious mammories! The bottom half of the figure reuses parts from DCUC’s Raven figure, which was pretty obvious to me as soon as I saw it, but the boots are new, giving Catwoman a pair of proper high heels, as opposed to Raven’s rather disappointing grandma shoes. Overall the paintwork on the figure is excellent, with no real slop or bleeding to complain about and even her fingernails are individually painted.

Catwoman features pretty standard DCUC female articulation. Her neck is ball jointed, although the hair does inhibit the head’s movement a bit. Her arms feature ball joints in the shoulders, hinges in the elbows, and swivels in the wrists and biceps. Her legs feature universal movement at the hips, again somewhat restricted by the sculpted dress, hinges in the ankles and knees, and swivels in the thighs. I had some bad luck with my first Raven figure snapping at the thigh swivels, and I’m happy to report that Catwoman didn’t have any similar issues.

Catwoman comes with a gold, personalized stand similar to the ones that came with the last wave of Batman Legacy figures. Her lack of anything else is pretty disappointing, however. Her right hand is obviously sculpted to hold something, which makes the absence of a simple whip all the more conspicuous. Oh yes, she also comes with a rolled up comic cover poster.

I’m not collecting all the Batman Legacy figures, but I am jumping pretty quickly on the ones that I want so as not to miss out. The distribution on these in my area is pretty crappy and apart from the movie-based two-packs and Mr. Freeze, I haven’t seen any of these hanging around the pegs in the local toy aisles. I grabbed Catwoman through an online e-tailer and she ran about $20 with shipping. Its steep for a figure like this, particularly with no accessories, but I didn’t see a lot of other options, and unlike the last wave, I wasn’t interested in buying this entire assortment. And with the figure finally in hand, I’m not regretting the purchase, as she turned out really great.