Caran D'Ache's comic book capers
Comic books and the related paraphernalia left the realm of pocket-money purchases for pre-teens some decades ago. Baby boomers are now rife with disposable income, and some of us haven’t forgotten what absorbed our pocket money in the era before computer gaming. With both cinemas and cable networks reveling in the success of superhero franchises, the merchandising has leapt from Lego to luxury. To feed the hungry collector, Switzerland’s premier pen manufacturer, Caran d’Ache, has created two series of writing instruments to accompany the release of this season’s DC Comics blockbuster.
Out this month is the dream on-screen collaboration of a cluster of said heroes, in the long-anticipated Justice League. This brings together Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash, in a group effort to battle for ticket sales against the multi-hero rival collectives from Marvel. As Wonder Woman was the surprise hit of the summer, the fanboys and fangirls are expecting nothing less from a half-dozen super-crimefighters.
Wisely, Caran d’Ache has delivered the two families of pens in time for the holiday season. The “A”-list of Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman has been treated to deluxe writing instruments in the Justice League Trinity range, while the less-costly Justice League 888 Infinite series provides affordable pens of all six characters.
Offered as both rollerballs and fountain pens with 18k gold-plated nibs, the Trinity pens will be sold individually or in numbered, limited edition sets of 60 each of rollerballs and fountain pens, containing all three. Whether purchased individually or as the trio, the pens are supplied in finely-crafted boxes.
An all-black, heavily engraved pen for Batman is designed to represent the details of the Batsuit. The finish is translucent satin-black lacquer on the body and cap, with the chevron pattern of his breastplate creating an armoured look. At the ends are smooth lacquer to recall the cut of his boots and gloves, while the pen ring represents his utility belt. The coating is non-corrodible black ceramic.
Less sombre – let’s face it: Batman’s pen can only be sombre – is the writing instrument representing Superman. Its lacquered barrel and cap are coloured blue, with a textured surface to represent the weave of his suit. The gold trim suggests his belt buckle and the background to the “S” logo, while the end of the barrel is coloured a deep red.
Wonder Woman is treated to a much sleeker shape, coloured in dark red and trimmed in rose gold to represent her belt. The surfaces feature the same grooves found on the leather upper section of her outfit, with a band of silver coloured trim to remind us of her gauntlets.
Ideal for stocking fillers for deserving DC Comics fans are the Justice League 888 Infinite pens, the six models paying homage to the entire Justice League sextet. These are based on a standard Caran d’Ache pen with hexagonal, faceted cross-section, each superhero enjoying his or her own colour scheme. A printed image of each hero adorns the pen, with blue for Superman, dark grey for Batman, light burgundy for Wonder Woman, red for The Flash, light grey for Cyborg and green for Aquaman.
All of the Justice League 888 Infinite pens are push-button ballpoints with chromed ends, and, like the Trinity models, are produced entirely in Switzerland, in Caran d’Ache workshops in Geneva. Each uses the exclusive Swissride ink cartridge, also made in-house by Caran d’Ache. Whether it will imbue your penmanship with super powers remains to be seen.