Diamond Select is producing a new series of statues, called the Premiere Collection. Sculpted by Clayburn Moore, this series will highlight both modern and retro versions of the ladies of the Marvel universe. This Black Cat is the modern version, while her retro counterpart should be out in July. The next character to receive the treatment will be the White Queen. Suggested retail on these is $150.

Of course, Clayburn Moore is best known for his own action figures, busts and statues, and they always feature women in some way. He also likes his ladies in as little clothing -- or as tight-fitting clothing -- as possible. Even when he did FUTURAMA, he managed to give us a Leela figure in a skimpy bathing suit. This guy likes his women.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, you can always reach me at mwc@mwctoys.com. If you enjoy this review, take a minute to check out my other site at Michael's Review of the Week, and let me know what you think. Now on to the review!

"Premiere Collection Black Cat"

As I said, this is the modern version of Black Cat, with a retro version coming out soon. The run size on this first statue is 5000, and I'd assume a similar size on future runs. You can expect to find the ladies at your local comic shops, and I have a couple suggestions for on-line options at the end of the review.

Packaging - ***

It's a nice big box, showing a full size photo with lots of detail on the statue inside. It will keep the statue safe, and there's a nicely done Certificate of Authenticity with it. I don't know if I've mentioned this about the Diamond statues and busts before, but I like how the interior styrofoam pack has the name of the character embossed on the outside.

Sculpting - ***1/2
I'm going to try really hard not to make any sexist jokes here. Really. It's going to be tough, but together I think we can get through it.

Miss Cat has excellent detail work in her hair, body and costume. If you're a fan of Moore's style, you won't be disappointed. The skin-tight outfit -- if she had any moles, you'd know it -- looks realistic due to the appropriate wrinkles at all the right spots. Have you ever seen someone wear that latex body paint? That stuff isn't this tight. Not surprisingly, she has huge breasts. There, I said it. Fortunately, they aren't quite as large as her head, but they have that size and shape of a Vargas girl. While Moore is a classically trained sculptor, even studying in Florence, his work always reminds me of the 1940s and '50s pin-up artists. This statue is very much in that vein. We sometimes forget that this style of bodacious ta-ta was quite the rage back then, long before little Mister Silicone came along.

Black Cat isn't a stick figure either. She has that classic voluptous appearance, with a pair of healthy thighs and a butt that could crack walnuts. This isn't the physique of a runway model, but Molly Sims couldn't go toe to toe with the Vulture. This is the body of a woman who could kick your ass, and you wouldn't even realize it til it was over. Nor would you care.

Now that I'm done raving about the sculpt below the neck, let's look at her face. Yes, she has one, but it's a tad generic. Again, this isn't that unusual for a Clayburn Moore work, but it still bugs me a bit. The eyes are excellent, but the expression is a tad vapid, and the 'flipping my hair' pose leaves me a bit cold. I would have prefered something with a bit more of an action feel, but it's not a major issue.

The last part of the sculpt is the base, done in an Egyptian style, due to their fascination with cats. There's a lot of detail work here, and the base looks great.

Paint - ***1/2
The paint ops are great, with nary a mistake. The work on the eyes, mask and lips is excellent, and the large expanse of black is consistent and clean. There's not a ton of color here, but what there is, is well done and top quality.

Quality - ***1/2
I'm very impressed by the overall quality of the materials, and how the statue itself connects to the base. There are two brass, square pegs connecting the feet to the base, and these are very sturdy and quite long. She's not going to fall off the base easily, unless you forget and turn her upside down.

The statue itself is also very sturdy, due in part to the style and in part to the materials. You won't feel like it's going to fall apart in your hands, or that you could snap her off at the ankles if you just hold her wrong.

Value - **1/2
This isn't a cheap statue by any standard. At an SRP of $150, that's a lot of scratch. Get it? Scratch? Cat? I kill me sometimes. I'm getting a bit spoiled by the Marvel Collectors Club statues, but I also am the first to admit that the overall quality - especially in the paint ops - are higher with this series. Still, with a run of 5000, you should do some searching around to try to find these for $100 or so tops.

Overall - ***
This is a slightly qualified overall score - you have to be a fan of the character. If Black Cat doesn't do much for you, it's not very likely that you'll find yourself driven to spend $150 on a statue. But if you are a big fan, or you're looking to have a nice set of, uh, statues around the house, than she's a great place to start. The quality of the sculpture is great, and while the face is a little generic, J Lo would kill for this body. So would P Diddy and Ben Affleck. The only negative here is the price tag, but since all Black Cat fans are fantastically wealthy, that shouldn't be an issue. They are all fantastically wealthy, right?

Where to Buy -
Comic shops should be getting these in any day, so hit your local shop and ask them if they've ordered! On-line options include:

- Alter Ego Comics doesn't have her listed yet, but I'm betting they'll be carrying her.

- Entertainment Earth has the statue for $150.