Monopoly: Batman Edition is a striking themed variant dedicated to the universe of the Dark Knight, with a dark and cinematic graphic design paying tribute to DC Comics mythology. Released in 2005 as a Collector's Edition, this piece replaces the classic board with the most iconic locations and characters of Gotham City.
Packaging format: Standard rectangular box with Collector's Edition design.
Distribution: This edition was published under the official license of DC Comics, with development handled by USAopoly (co-branded with Parker Brothers).
Condition: Sealed.
Peculiarity of this edition: An absolute graphic redesign paying direct tribute to the classic artwork of DC comic panels. The entire board, its spaces, and components have been fully mimicked to match the gothic atmosphere and the most iconic heroes and villains of the Gotham setting.
Tokens: Includes 6 high-quality pewter commemorative figures: Batman, the Bat-Signal, Catwoman, the Batmobile, Robin, and the Joker's set of teeth.
Dice: Custom dice in matte black with yellow dots, Gotham-style.
Properties: The streets are transformed into the villains' hideouts, swapping the classic brown for purple in the starting spaces (Crime Alley and Mr. Zsasz's Tattoo Parlor) and crowning the board with The Batcave as the most expensive property ($400). The banknotes feature a unique design and character for each denomination.
Buildings: To maintain coherence with the urban setting and the game's gothic atmosphere, the classic traditional houses and hotels are replaced by Lofts and Skyscrapers, in solid black.
Stations: The four train lines disappear, giving way to the Dark Knight's tactical transport fleet, made up of his four main vehicles: Batmobile, Batcycle, Batboat, and Batplane.
Service Companies: The traditional utilities are adapted by introducing Gotham's Gotham Light electric grid and the Gotham Sewer system. Additionally, the luxury tax is transformed into a fine issued by the city's Police Department (G.C.P.D. Ticket Issued).
Game Cards: The Chance and Community Chest cards are completely transformed into Gotham News Stand cards and Two-Face Coin Toss cards.
As this edition is preserved in its native state, Factory Sealed (sealed from the factory) under its original cellophane, archival and/or private images are used to show the interior.
Board. Archival material obtained from Ebay.
Comic-style design whose official authorship is not specified in the game's credits. However, external analysis strongly points to the unmistakable style of legendary illustrator Jim Lee (from the Batman: Hush saga), based on key anatomical traits: the hero's hyper-textured musculature, the short-eared cowl, and a rigid, zigzag-structured cape depicted in panel form.
Archival material obtained from worthpoint
Carousel showing the banknote details. Original photographs by Nicolas Guay from the BoardGameGeek website.
Tokens, dice, Lofts and Skyscrapers. Archival material obtained from Ebay
Property set, detail and manual cover. Archival material obtained from Ebay.