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Showing posts with label Batman the Animated Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Batman the Animated Series. Show all posts
RIP Kevin Conroy
The Adventures of Batman and Robin (Kenner)
The Adventures of Batman and Robin is technically a continuation of the Batman the Animated Series line, both in cartoons and action figures. Due to Robin being more prominent in the series, the series title was changed from Batman the Animated Series to The Adventures of Batman and Robin. The series, which encompassed the second season, ran for twenty episodes. In total, the series saw eighty-five episodes which ran from 1992 to 1995.
When the show switched names, so did the action figure line. While Kenner had found a strong foothold in the toy isle with Batman figures, fan praise of the series was dropping rapidly by this point. The major flaw of the series was that too much focus of it was on repainted Batman figures with new accessories. In fact, finding a traditionally dressed Batman figure in these days was next to impossible.
Only eight basic figures were produced. Three of which were Batman variations.
The Joker, Ra's' Al Ghul, Harley Quinn, Bane
The most highly sought after item in the series is the impressive Rogues Gallery Box Settings. This set included eight different villains, all boxed in a jail sell type box.
The set included Catwoman, Man-Bat, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, The Joker, Clayface, and The Phantasm.
A Target exclusive vehicle was released for the series, and was the only one to accompany the basic figure assortment. It included an exclusive Batman figure inside.
The Crime Squad subseries was also incorporated into The Adventures of Batman and Robin line. It contained five basic figures that were all Batman variations.
Super Sonic Batman, Ski Blast Batman
Two deluxe figures were also produced, and again were nothing beyond Batman variations.
Duo Force was the second sub series for the line, and unlike the prior mentioned Crime Squad line included other figures than just Batman. Though there were still three different variations of him, including two variations of Robin. Batgirl was a nice addition to this line, as are the two villains, Mr. Freeze and The Riddler.
Some collectors consider the Vector Wing Batman to be a deluxe figure, though there are no markings on the package that would lead one to this conclusion.
Wind Blitz Batgirl, Mr. Freeze, The Riddler, Vector Wing Batman
Batman figures have come and gone since the dawn of time, and will probably continue to do so long after the majority of us are gone. Though each line starts out strong, they seem to all suffer the same fate - too many repainted Batman figures.
While we're not going to, and would never say that this makes for a bad series, because we do believe there are some out there who do enjoy it, we personally find it hard to have any interest in a toy line that we feel milks its fans for every penny they're worth. We also feel that Batman series are notorious for doing this.
Join us next time for our look at Wetworks!
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Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (Kenner)
In the prime of Batman the Animated Series two things happened. The first was that an animated film was produced for the big screen. The second was that a small toys based on said film were produced.
The film, which opened on Christmas Day in 1993 delves deeper into the established animated series world bringing along with it a more in depth look at Batman's origin, Bruce Wayne's love life, and a future villain of the caped crusader. The story revolves around a new mysterious figure, The Phantasm who has arrived in Gotham and is seeking out targeted criminals to eliminate them. As the story unfolds, so to does the mystery, and eventual revealing of the identity behind the Mask of the Phantasm.
The animation is superb, the story exciting, and the voice acting, coupled with the sound effects and soundtrack, on par with any major motion picture. To say this movie is a must see is an understatement.
Technically a sub-series of the Animated Series line, the Mask of the Phantasm toy line did little to excite fans. With all the characters introduced in the film at their disposal, it is uncertain why Kenner decided to focus instead on yet another line of toys that was essentially nothing more than repainted Batman figures.
The only two "gems" to come from the series were the Joker and Phantasm figures, which at the time quickly skyrocketed in price on the secondary market. These prices have since subsided considerably, and in most cases you can get them for cheaper than their original retail price.
While it didn't see the success on the secondary market as the prior two mentioned figures, Retro Batman was also quiet popular among collectors who were eager to get a "regular looking" Batman figure, which was scarcely available during this time period due to the oversaturation of the market with repaints of the character.
There were no vehicles, playsets, or accessories produced for the line.
As we mentioned above, it is a shame that Kenner never capitalized on this particular series of toys as it could have. There were so many characters in the film that would have translated into the figure line - main characters such as Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, and Detective Bullock. None of these three main characters ever saw a figure in the animated series line. Then there were the second stream characters such as Arthur Reeves, Salvatore Valestra, Chuckie Sol, Buzz Bronski and more who could have been incorporated easily into the line.
There is nothing sadder to toy collectors than when they see a line that had all the potential in the world fizzle out due to poor marketing and support from the developers. What a missed opportunity for Kenner and Batman fans.
Join us next time when we take a look at Guitar Hero!
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Batman the Animated Series (Kenner)
The bat insignia is one of the most recognizable symbols on the face of the Earth. No mater what country you're from, show a poster with only the Batman insignia, and right away people know what they're looking at.
Since 1939, Batman has been protecting Gotham city from the crime and scum that look to destroy it. From comic books, to movies and television, there's a format for every fan to enjoy.
It seemed like a perfect fit when Batman the Animated Series aired on Fox Television in 1992. The series was an instant smash, so much so that it was eventually put into syndication on prime time television, airing right before The Simpsons. Though by the time this happened, the show was dubbed The Adventures of Batman and Robin.
With the overwhelming popularity and draw to the young and old, it was only natural that a toy line would spawn. For this, the well known Kenner toys were brought in to begin production on what would be a very short lived series.
Ask any collector of Batman toys and they will all have the same major gripe. Too many repaints. Sure the series started out strong, and for the first two series managed to stay relatively far away from repackaged, repainted figures. But, by the third series, the staple of rehashed figures hit, and only managed to hit harder with each sequential series. This would lead to collectors shying away from the series big time.
Back in the day, the villains were the most popular items to come out of the series. Collectors were buying and selling like mad on the secondary market causing some figure to fetch as much as $150.00 a piece. Though, these days those prices have dropped considerably to a more reasonable $10 - $20 per specific figure.
The Deluxe figures were all repainted, re-accessorized Batman figures. This in turn led to more gripe about the series.
A two pack of repainted/reaccessorized Batman and Robin figures were also released.
The one and only mail-away offer was for (yet again) another Batman repaint with different accessories.
Several vehicles were produced for the series, some of which were seen in the show, but the majority of which were not.
Despite not being in the show, the vehicles were some pretty impressive scuplts, and had a lot of interactivity with the figures.
The only playset for the series was the Batcave Command Center. At a $100.00 price tag, they didn't necessarily fly off the shelves when first released.
Today, on the secondary market, the playset doesn't go for much more than the original retail price. While the occasional can sell for close to or slightly over $200.00, the majority sell for around $125.00.
Before switching from The Animated Series to The Adventures of Batman and Robin, a sub-series of toys, Crime Squad, was produced. It was nothing more than repainted and re-accessorized Batman figures.
Even one of the two vehicles produced for the series was a repaint. The Triple Attack Jet was the only unique item to come from the sub-series.
In its prime (before all the repaints), the series was considered to be a major hit. However, these days, with all the various Batman toy lines overflowing in the toy isle, not to mention the vast amount of repaints, it appears that most collectors have forgotten this series completely. It's sad in a way considering how popular the TV show was. So much so that it even spawned a couple full length feature films, one of which was released in theaters on Christmas day.
But, such is the life of those little plastic joys known as toys. Hot today, on the curb in the trash can tomorrow.
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