To say that comic book superheroes were enjoying a renaissance would be somewhat of an understatement.
Hollywood is currently bursting at the seams with new releases based on superheroes from Marvel, DC and elsewhere. Warner Bros. – owners of the rights to many of DC’s best-known characters – currently has 11 comic-themed films in the works. That’s not to mention TV spin-offs, clothing and video games, but now there’s some merchandise that’s a little more distinguished – pens.
Italian pen maker Montegrappa introduced a new range of eight writing instruments that are inspired by both the heroes and villains from DC Comics. Despite the dark turn of DC-based movies, the 103-year-old firm has taken inspiration for the more light-hearted era of comic books (roughly 1956 to 1970). Prices range up to US $475, depending on the type of nib.
The Man of Steel is represented in red-and-blue, with the iconic ‘S’ shield logo on the top of the cap, and the pocket clip showing him in flight
Batman
The caped crusader pen, of course, is all in black, with the Bat-symbol on the cap’s top, and a pocket clip with a full-height figure
Wonder Woman
The red-and-blue pen features all-American white stars, the winged ‘W’ logo on the cap and a full-height image on the pocket clip
Green Lantern
This emerald-green pen is accented with black fittings, his logo on the cap and an action pose on the pocket clip
Joker
For the villains, each has his or her special features represented as well, with full height figures engraved on the pocket clips: for The Joker, the combination of purple cap and green barrel convey his lurid attire, with his grinning face adorning the cap
Catwoman
Penguin
Another clear choice for a black pen: with the very pinstripes that adorn his trousers, the villain is posed on the clip with umbrella held aloft, and the umbrella logo gracing the cap’s top.
Riddler
The all-green pen boasts a question mark on the cap’s top and the same inquisitive punctuation all over the barrel and cap