DC Comics Presents: Batman Adventures #1

Picked up this 100-page Spectacular of DC Comics Presents: Batman Adventures #1 last Wednesday at my local comic shop! This is a really collection of reprints from Batman Adventures #2 and 27, Batman: Gotham Adventures #2 and 4, and short from Adventures In the DC Universe #3, but fun nonetheless! Head over to my post at Batman: The Animated Toys Blog to read more about it, and get a peek at the forthcoming action figures inside the DC Collectible's Summer Fall Portfolio 2014-15, styled after the classic Bruce Timm animated TV show! 

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Batman 75th Anniversary Goodies!

Picked up my FREE Special Edition Batman: Detective Comics #27 this Wednesday, in celebration of 75 years of the Dark Knight Detective! Even the bags us comic book shoppers goods were put into at the local comic shop were special, featuring the same art as the Special Edition cover on one side, and "75 Years of Batman" on the other. The Special Edition has mostly reprinted material, some of which I read in various Batman titles this past winter, and reprint of Bob Kane's original tale. What can I say though, it was free...

I also picked up a free DC Collectibles Summer/Fall 2014-15 Portfolio, featuring some action figures I have on preorder, and a lot of exciting Batman action figures coming to retail soon. But the real treat was a Batman mask given out today, one of four available, the one I got fashioned after Frank Miller's seminal Dark Knight Returns- fitting as this read was pivotal in my lifelong love of comics and Batman.

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Imaginext Ninja 2-pack

I most often go for the DC Imaginext characters, but have ventured further into Fisher Price's blind bag series figures that weren't comics related and loved them too! This ninja 2-pack was on sale at Target a few weeks ago, and having passed on them once, I couldn't for a second time. The set is loaded with great accessories, and the red outfits reminded me of The Hand ninja clan that caused Daredevil and Wolverine so much trouble over the years...

Included with these ninjas are a pair of sai, a ninjato sword, a bow and arrow, a pole axe, and a sort of chain whip that may be a nod to the kusari-gama. Armed to the teeth! Twin slots are molded onto the backs of their torso overlays to carry these weapons, which securely hold them in place...

I love the sculpt on the ninja's overlays, and the fierce expressions on their tiny faces! They have the typical Imaginext articulation: wrist and neck swivels, hinge-swivel shoulders, and U-hinged legs...

Their torso overlay/hood can be removed to maximize their articulation...

Now it's time to play! Who better to pit these deadly assassins against than the Imaginext Batman I picked up this spring...!

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Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day from the Super-DuperToyBox, here in the heart of America! I loved this cover page on a recent copy of the Comic Shop News 2014 Summer Preview- the artist wasn't credited, but it looks a lot like the classically trained illustrative style of Alex Ross to my eyes. A masterpiece! I'm enjoying a busy summer working on my new Super Fun Hot Wheels Blog- roll by and join in the fun!

INCOMING: Boy Wonder's Super Fun Hot Wheels Blog!

INCOMING: Boy Wonder's Super Fun Hot Wheels Blog!

After collecting several dozen of the world's most famous diecast cars, I've decided to dedicate an entirely new satellite blog to my newest collecting fascination- race on over and join in on the fun!

DC Imaginext Batman, Scarecrow & Poison Ivy

I have a hard time passing up any DC Imaginext characters- Fisher-Price tickled my fancy back in April with Brainiac, Martian Manhunter and Plastic Man so much that not long ago I hunted down some of their blind bag series figures that weren't even DC related... and loved them too! 

Scarecrow and Poison Ivy are the real items of interest in this post, being totally new characters from Fisher-Price, who delivered on design and sculpt on these two. Neither are a particular favorite from Batman's gallery of rogues, but Fisher-Price's unique take on these two DC villains is plainly admirable... 

Scarecrow's tattered outfit has so much detail, including holes in his patchwork cape, and ribbons of tattered pants running down the legs. Fisher-Price thoughtfully included a scythe the figure can hold with both hands. And there's more paint apps here than a lot of recent 6" Mattel figures, some of the patches in his chest subtly toned in green and purple-red, and dark washes over the entirety of the figure to pronounce all the great detail. Really nice! While Scarecrow may not be at the top of my villain favorites, he is a perfect nemesis for the Dark Knight, both using fear as a weapon against their adversaries and one another.

Poison Ivy rivals here partner in crime with her fantastic deco- a highly detailed sculpt in the boots and bodice, and ivied tattoos down the limbs. Her neatly painted face also has ivy accents beneath her eyes, and contrasting red hair frames her cute little face- she's delightful to behold! Her vine staff is crooked near the top to help her handle with both hands, and topped with a large bud. It's nice to see another female among my Imaginext collection, something I think most all of us can agree we'd like to see more of in the future!

I found this single carded Batman at Big Lots a month or so before finding the Scarecrow/Poison Ivy 2-pack at Target, of interest to me due to his more traditional deco. I have a couple other Imaginext Batman figures, both all-black, but I compulsively picked this one up for five bucks- a comparatively great value considering I got the 2-pack for under eight, though he does have three nice accessories that save the deal. This figure and his accessories were originally packaged as a Target exclusive awhile back, both of which list for an unusually high number on eBay, so I guess he's more desirable that the all-black Bats selling in lots of ten or more from several sellers.

...with my coveted, all-black "1989" Imaginext Batman, which also ended up in my last post on the DC Multiverse "Keaton" Batman...

As I said, Batman's accessories add a lot- armed with two giant batarangs and a grapple hook, things seem more exciting! Likely contrary to some collectors, I love that Fisher-Price cast them in red, I only would have made the grapple clamp onto the figure's arm for a more convincing look, though he grips it well enough...

Now it's time to play...

Robin swoops in on his cycle for the assist...!

My personal Batman gallery of rogues has grown since I picked up Joker, Penguin, and Mr. Freeze back in 2011! Scarecrow and Poison Ivy also join ranks with Catwoman and Croc...

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DC Multiverse '89 Batman

I have fond memories seeing this new DC Multiverse Batman, modeled after actor Michael Keaton's portrayal in the 1989 motion picture Batman. Excitement was in the air outside the small town theatre on opening night, and Bat-mania was in full swing, our childhood hero vindicated on the silver screen in all his dark glory! It was a special time, recognized by action figure makers like NECA and Hot Toys most recently in their 1:4 and 1:6 scale releases, and now Mattel with this 4" DC Multiverse Batman. The variant features an unmasked Keaton, but I only found this cowled version, which suits me fine. I scored mine at Target for under ten bucks, which seems high, though I've seen asking prices well north of that on the internet. This demand further clarifies nostalgia for the film- a VHS copy of which I nearly wore out years after it's release.

I have to admit that Mattel nailed it on this- the sculpt is excellent, even at this scale. Further cementing the illusion is the scalloped cape cut from pleather fabric, emulating the character's thick, leathery cape in the movie. So thick is the pleather sewn over the shoulders in fact, that it can be positioned in a flowing pose behind the figure- just great! He includes a nicely detailed grapple gun that would have been better if made of more rigid plastic- too rubbery. There's not a lot of paint detail, which is mildly sloppy around the otherwise film accurate insignia on the figure's chest. I can't comment on the unmasked variant, but this one really looks like actor Michael Keaton to me from certain angles.

The articulation on this is limited to some degree, but serviceable- no bicep swivels, but swivels above the knees and DCUC styled hinge-swivel hips. The waist has a swivel above the belt, which is fine, but the figure could have been more expressive with a ball joint. That said, Keaton couldn't turn his head in that outfit, and would likely argue that the figure is no less articulated than he was on set.

Multiverse Batman with two other action figures inspired by the all-black '89 redeco of the legendary crime fighter, the 6" DCUC All-Star Batman and 2 1/2" Imaginext Batman...

While we're here together, an obligatory shot with my new Tonka, which complements Batman's wardrobe rather nicely, yes ...  :D

And to finally dispel the myth that Michael Keaton wasn't physically suitable to don the Dark Knight cowl, proof in a battle against Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow...

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