Mr Elliott Danker, 34, once queued up to four hours just to get his hands on a Batman statue.
Says the radio presenter on ONE FM 91.3's #1 Breakfast Show: "It was at the Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention in 2011 and I wanted to get a limited-edition statue that cost $299."
He says: "I started queuing at 6am, even though they started selling the statue only at 10am.
"Still, it was a close call. There were only 500 statues, and my queue number was 400-plus."
Danker has spent more than $12,000 on Batman-related merchandise, including 11 figurines and statues of the caped crusader and other Gotham City characters such as the Joker and Catwoman; four miniature "Batmobiles" - each costing $350 to $850; five movie posters; three T-shirts; 10 sets of hardcover comic-book sets; nine DVDs of the movies and TV series; an Xbox video game; and a mug.
Danker's figurines and statues are kept in three display cabinets in his studio apartment in Tanjong Katong, where the bachelor lives alone.
Excessive? Not in the slightest, he says.
"To me, Batman figurines are like art. Each expresses a side of Batman, and it feels great waking up and being reminded of my favourite comic book character. If you ask me, it's impossible to have too much Batman stuff."
The Dark Knight first made an impression on Danker in 1989, when he watched a Batman movie starring Michael Keaton with his late grand- father, Mr Raymond Danker, who was also a comic book fan.
Says Danker: "My grandfather talked about Batman's gadgets, his abilities and how cool he was. His interest rubbed off on me."
In 2008, the radio DJ started collecting Batman merchandise, buying figurines from toy shops such as Movie Replicas at Plaza Singapura and the Action City outlet in 313@Somerset, and also on eBay.
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Events to look out for
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SIMPLY TOYS COMIC FAIR
Where: Raffles City, Level 3 atrium When: Until April 3, 10am to 10pm
Fans can check out merchandise by Funko Toys and InkInk Products, featuring characters from the DC Justice League, as well as other licensed character products.
There is also an exhibition, organised by Simply Toys, where fans can take pictures with statues of their favourite superheroes. Fans who spend $50 at the fair and are dressed in superhero T-shirts or costumes will receive a keychain worth $9.90.
LIFE-SIZED STATUES OF ARMOURED BATMAN, SUPERMAN AND WONDER WOMAN
Where: Bugis+, Level 2 When: Until April 3, 11am to 9pm
Fans may snap selfies with statues of Superman, Wonder Woman and an armoured Batman, against the settings of Gotham City and Metropolis.
BATMOBILE REPLICA
Where: Westgate, Level 1 courtyard When: Until April 7, 10am to 10pm
Pose for pictures with a life-sized replica of the Batmobile featured in the new movie. Take your time - as Batman's sidekick Robin once said, "No policeman's going to give the Batmobile a ticket."
Shoppers who spend a minimum of $60 at Westgate will receive an instant print of themselves with the replica.
"While on air between songs, I sometimes look at the eBay website," he admits. "The items get snapped up very quickly and I don't want to miss out."
His most precious Batman item is a miniature model of a Batmobile, which he bought online for $800 in 2012. Based on the vehicle from the 1989 movie, the limited-edition 91cm-long vehicle weighs more than 20kg and caught his eye when a prototype was unveiled in 2012. Once it was available for pre-order, he bought it immediately.
Actor Christian Bale gets his vote as the best on-screen Batman to date.
Says Danker, who has watched Dawn Of Justice, where Ben Affleck is the latest actor to play the superhero: "I loved how Christian Bale portrayed the character of Bruce Wayne well instead of only focusing on his hero persona. It's about the man behind the man.
"Ben Affleck's Batman was refreshing - so bulked up and a lot more violent - but I still prefer Christian Bale."
