Collectible Batman Action Figures

Few fictional characters have melted as much plastic as Batman. Before the Dark Knight, as he’s also known, was molded into a poseable action figure, even before Adam West made the Caped Crusader famous in the definitively campy TV series from the 1960s, Batman was a comic-book superhero, whose mission was to protect the good citizens of Gotham City from all manner of bad guys and gals.

The first appearance of The Bat-Man, as he was then called, occurred in issue #27 of “Detective Comics,” which was published in May of 1939. Bob Kane did the art and Bill Finger wrote the story. In that introductory tale, readers met Bat-Man and Commissioner Gordon, and learned the hero’s secret identity—the man behind the mask was none other than millionaire Bruce Wayne.

Batman got his own comic in 1940, lent a gloved-hand to troops during World War II, and even teamed up with Superman in the 1950s. But his biggest transformation occurred in 1966, when the short-lived but highly influential television version of Batman debuted...

Soon there were Batman lunch boxes, trading cards, posters, model cars of the Batmobile, and, of course, action figures. While the ones produced by Marx predate the TV show, Ideal capitalized on the show’s popularity by creating Batman and Robin costumes for its Captain Action figures.

In the early 1970s, Mego licensed the likenesses of Batman, Robin, Catwoman, and The Joker, among others, from DC Comics as a part of numerous product lines, from World’s Greatest Super Heroes (1972-1982) to Bend ’n Flex Super Heroes (1974-1975). Mego’s Comic Action Heroes line ran from 1975 to 1978. These smaller figures were rebranded in 1979 as Pocket Super Heroes.

Mego also offered larger, 12-inch Batmans and Robins in 1978, some of which had magnetic bodies for “fly away action.” The company also created diecast figures for collectors (i.e., adults) and squat, elastic versions of Batman for kids. But its biggest Batman was the Super Softies version in 1974—this cuddly cloth doll was made in 18- and 22-inch versions, the latter of which talked.

Since the 1940s, Batman has appeared on the silver screen, most memorably, perhaps, in 1966, when Adam West’s Batman, based on his TV character, socked and powed such adversaries as Burgess Meredith’s Penguin and Frank Gorshin’s Riddler. But the character’s Tim Burton incarnation in 1989, with Michael Keaton in the starring role and Jack Nicholson as the scene-stealing Joker, is considered a more potent, modern-day take on the comic-book character’s morally ambiguous roots.

More importantly for action-figure fans, the films spawned a veritable industry devoted to Batman toys. Toy Biz offered the first sets of Batman action figures, whose release was timed with the film’s. The figures all came with the same Batrope and Bat-a-rang, but because Toy Biz hired three different manufacturers to mold the figures, three slightly different versions were the result. Today, collectors look for Batman figures from that first 1989 release with either a painted face, a square jaw, or a round jaw.

Naturally an animated TV series followed the film, which just as naturally spawned an entirely new series of action figures, noteworthy for their Gothic, almost Art Deco packaging. Kenner made the toys as part of the Dark Knight Collection from 1992 until 2000, when the figures were given the Hasbro brand. There was the Combat Belt Batman, the Turbojet Batman, and even a figure for Bruce Wayne, whose facial features closely resembled Keaton’s. Villains included Scarecrow, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and a maniacal clown called Harley Quinn.

In 1992, Kenner also produced action figures for “Batman Returns,” which kept the Burton-Keaton team together but added Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman and Danny DeVito as the Penguin. The cat-suited Catwoman action figure is fairly true to Pfeiffer’s physique, but the Penguin toy looks nothing like DeVito because it was made from inventory that had been created for a figure in Kenner’s Super Powers toy series.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell

BatMan Night Light  - Toysby e-cache
in Toys
The Alps Batmobile - Toysby HarleyTime13
in Toys
"Marx" Batmobile - Toysby HarleyTime13
in Toys
See all Batman posts

Interviews & Articles

Attack of the Vintage Toy Robots! Justin Pinchot on Japan’s Coolest Postwar Export

Everyone is always looking for the next big thing. In the 1960s, it was going into space. In the '40s and '50s, the frontier was t… [more]

Fightin’ Femmes: Unmasking Female Superheroes with Author Mike Madrid

When I was growing up in the ’60s and ’70s, reading comics wasn't as popular as it had been in the ’40s or ’50s. But my older sist… [more]

Harvey Pekar: The Splendor of Ordinary Life

Harvey Pekar carried himself with a slouch. He had a disheveled comb-over and dark, haunted eyes. A file clerk at the Veterans Adm… [more]

When Superheroes Took Over Comic Books

I’ve been interested in comic books since I was very young. My two older brothers had Spider-Man and Fantastic Four comic books. I… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Cover Browser

Cover Browser

Philipp Lenssen's incredible archive of over 94,000 comic book covers - Wow! Wham! Yikes! Browse by title from the … [read review or visit site]

Museum of Childhood

Museum of Childhood

Embrace your inner child on this website from the Victoria and Albert Museum, filled with high-quality images and i… [read review or visit site]

Doug Gilford’s Mad Cover Site

Doug Gilford’s Mad Cover Site

Doug Gilford's great Mad Magazine reference site features cover scans and reference information on every issue of t… [read review or visit site]

TheComicBooks.com

TheComicBooks.com

Jamie Coville's in-progress ode to the history of 20th century comic books. Start with his Newsstand Period Part 1 … [read review or visit site]

Popeye's Thimble Theatre

Popeye's Thimble Theatre

Bruce Shults takes us on a comprehensive Popeye fan tour, from the early comic strips to cartoons and collectible m… [read review or visit site]

Barnacle Press

Barnacle Press

This collection of obscure newspaper comic strips provides scans browsable by title, year and date. Showcases comic… [read review or visit site]



Other Great Reference Sites: Toys

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 97 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Hot Toys 1/6 New Batpod Bat-pod Bat Pod- Batman Dark Knight Rises TdkrLego Batman Mini Figure New York Comic Con 2011 Nycc Exclusive Rare L@@kBane Arkham Asylum , Batman,complete Series 2 , Diamond Shipping Box.Dc Direct Arkham Asylum Series 2 Bane, Armored Batman, Zsasz, Poison Ivy MocSuper Powers - Batman - Kenner 1985 - Original 23 Back - Moc- VintageDc Direct Arkham Asylum Batman Bane Deluxe Figure Series 2 Rare HtfBatman Movie Realization Batman And Batpod By BandaiDc Direct Batman Arkham Asylum City 10 Action Figure Lot Azrael Pengiun Talia ++Dc Direct 2011 Brightest Day Wondercon Exclusive White Lantern Batman And FlashBatman Power Punch Rock-em Sock-em 1992 Kenner Kaybee ExclusiveBatman Kenner Command Center/batcave Mip Rare 1st Version Very Nice Condition!Removable Cowl Batman * 1973 * Mego * 8" Vintage Action Figure * The Dark KnightDc Universe Classics Batman Figure LotDc Universe Classic Owlman Custom Action Figure Batman Infinite Earths Marvel 52Batman The Animated Series & Batman & Robin Movie Lot-The Dark Knight Rises Movie Masters 12 Figure Lot Catwoman Batman Bane JokerCustom Marvel Legends Dc Injustice Green Arrow Batman Universe Classics Jla Lot Of 13 Batman Animated Series Action Figures MocDc Universe Classics Batman Rogues Lot Custom Bane Joker Harley QuinnHot Toys 1989 Batman Dx09 Action Figure - Brand New - No Reserve !!!!Batmobile Of Batman * 8" Scale * 100% All Original Mego * Dark Knight * Nr MintMicroman Superman Comic V And Microman Batman CompleteVintage 1973 Official Batman Sky Diving Parachutist Action Figure (ahi Brand)Dc Direct Batman 13 Inch Deluxe Collector Action FigureBatman The Dark Knight Movie Masters Batpod Vehicle With 6" Batman Action FigureBatman Ideal Figure 4 Inches TallCustom Marvel Legends Dark Knight Returns Batman Universe Classics Jla Dc Direct 1:6 Scale Joker Collector FigureDc Comic Justice League Unlimited Jlu Lot Action Figures Batman Gl Flash CartoonBatman Arkham City The Joker Sickened Variant 2011 Nycc Exclusive 1 Of 4,000Vintage~1970s~1972~1979~dc~comics~batman~wgsh~mego~robin~8"~doll~toy~lot~1~2Batman The Dark Knight With Crime Scene Evidence Action Figures LotBatman Arkham Deluxe Figure Titan JokerVintage Azrak Hamway International Remote Control Batman Batboat Mib Nrfb No ResThe Dark Knight Movie Masters Gotham City Thug Joker Goon Figures All 5 MasksSuper Powers - The Joker - Kenner 1984 - Original 12 Back - Moc- VintageMego Batman's Robin Wgsh 8" 1977 All Original Super Clean Batman Arkham Asylum Play Arts Kai Armored Version No. 3 Action Figure MisbThe Dark Knight Rises Movie MastersBatman Reborn Batman: Jason Todd Series 1Dc Infinite Heroes Custom Justice League Jla Batman Robin Injustice - NightwingBruce Wayne To Batman Dark Knight Rises 2 Figure Set 2012 Sdcc Exclusive LimitedDc & Takara 4 Sets Micro-man Batman: Batgirl, Catwoman, Batman & Flight Gear Dc Direct Superman Batman Public Enemies Action Figures Series: 1- Set Of 5 NibBatman The Animated Series Batplane With Capture Claw 1993 KennerThe Dark Knight Rises Batman Movie Masters Dc Universe Collector Figures (3)Batman: The Brave And The Bold Lot Of 18 Figures Plus Accessories Free Postage1970s 8" Mego Action Figure ~ Batman T2 100% Complete & Original Nice!Batman * Mego Type 2 * 8" * The Dark Knight * Vintage Action Figure *Batman Hush Series Jason Todd Toyfare Exclusive FigureCatwoman Arkham City Play Arts Kai Version No. 2 Action Figure MisbDc Super Powers Figure Lot- Including Joker, Green Arrow, Dr. Fate, And More1970s 8" Mego Action Figure ~ T1 Robin From Batman Complete All Original!Batman Arkham Asylum ZsaszRobin Of Batman * Dark Knight * Clean * Mego 8" Scale & Complete *Batman/two-face Arkham City 2 PackDc Figure Lot Of 10 Superboy Batman Tiger Power Girl Wonder Woman Blue Flash +Batman The Dark Knight Rises Movie Masters Alfred Pennyworth Collector FigurePlay Arts Kai Batman Arkham Asylum Action Figure1984 Afa 85 Nm+ Kenner Super Powers Joker (free Shipping)