Captain America: When I saw Charlee Flatt's Captain at the Dearborn, MI comic show, I knew I had to have one like it. I loved his figure's look, but I wasn't too hot on the head sculpt. I wanted mine to look more like Jack Kirby Cap., right down to the color scheme. I modeled his look after the cover of Captain America #100 (the one where he's busting through the cover of the newspaper). Which is why he has that half-open smile. The head is an original sculpt and I took a page out of Flatt's book by giving him a rounded neck so he could look up and down as well as rotate (the head is attached via elastic to a post that goes through the pelvis). I gave him cloth boots b/c I wanted him to be more posable. The stripes are pirated from a beat-up captain outfit by mego, but the rest is completely original. Notice that I sewed the upper half of the costume with shiny material to simulate Cap's chain mail, but I sewed the legs with dull blue material. The shield is from a Toy Biz Captain and Bucky 2-pack, which is miraculously in scale. Everyone head out right now and replace that crappy one Mego made. Finally I gave him more muscular arms and red leather gloves. To achieve the tight fit of the costume, I sewed a seam up the back like Charlee Flatt does, as opposed to Mego snaps. It is just a simple over-hand stitch though, so it slits easily if I need to get the costume off. This may be my most intricate custom ever. He is my favorite Marvel custom.

Dr. Doom (newer version): I made this guy after Nancy asked if she could have my previous version and remarked that "I like him-- he's cute." Cute?!? he's not cute! He's a world dictator! This is all Richard's fault! Richaaaaards......! Oh well-- she ended up getting him, so I had to make another for myself, and I decided to correct my mistakes. This Doom has the same head as the last, a Mego torso and pelvis, but the arms and legs of that great new line, "Mystic Knights of Tir-na-Nog." (Anyone interested in how I did this can e-mail me for instructions). I used putty to cover up the designs of the armor, then spray painted it chrome. Then I reseamed the suit using this really cool fabric called "Chintz." Man does this stuff rock in terms of look and texture.

Dark Knight Returns Batman: I wanted to achieve the look of Batman as he appeared in the second chapter of the Dark Knight Returns: "The Dark Knight Triumphant." In particular, I was going for his look where he comes out of the tank to fight the Mutant Leader (still one of the all-time great comic book images). I am very proud of the head sculpt and the pouched utility belt. Cape opens into full batwing. As with Captain America, Flash, and Phantom, I made his head like Charlee Flatt's, in that it can look up and down as well (and cock to the side quizzically, great for my revamped Michael Myers custom). I gave him more muscular arms and achieved the tight fit of the suit by sewing it closed up the back (suit was entirely original, no mego pieces, except the boots). Of the four Batman customs I've done, this is my favorite. The next one planned will be a Batman a la the cover of Detective Comics #27. I have also made a Carrie Kelly Robin to go along with this figure, but she is being reworked due to my being unsatisfied with part of her look.

The Flash (comic version): I made this figure shortly after Captain America by retooling the Captain's mold. I love my animated series version of Flash, but wanted one that looked more realistic as well. As usual recently, I added some Flatt touches in that I gave him muscular arms, a tighter fitting suit, and that great Flatt innovation-- the rounded neck that allows the figure to look in all directions (see most recent article on how to accomplish this little innovation). I should repaint the head though, as those eyes look a little buggy to me. I gave him cloth boots to be more posable. I may eventually do this to all of my Megos.