Mattel DC Classic Movieverse 4" line shown at NYCC!

[DiFabio]

That pic of him in front of the computer console got me thinking, what does he look like sitting in there or standing inside the armory vault of the Kenner cave? Does he look like a little kid in there or is the scale alright?

I just realized that it has the articulated knees which means it would be the first '89 Batman figure (besides the toy biz one), to be able to sit in the chair correctly instead of having it's legs stick straight out. Now I'm really intrigued.

 

[sallah]

That pic of him in front of the computer console got me thinking, what does he look like sitting in there or standing inside the armory vault of the Kenner cave? Does he look like a little kid in there or is the scale alright?

I just realized that it has the articulated knees which means it would be the first '89 Batman figure (besides the toy biz one), to be able to sit in the chair correctly instead of having it's legs stick straight out. Now I'm really intrigued.

If the chair was just a smidge lower, it would look fantastic... But his feet don't quite hit the ground as-is. Not a big deal turned around facing the screens, but not great when facing you.

If I get a chance, I will shoot a few pics of him in the seat and by the armory tonight. I also need to grab the Toy Biz version and see how he fits with it...

Sallah

 

[DiFabio]

I bet it fits in great with the Toy Biz playset.

And your comments about a 6", 7" scale Batman. Surely there's no denying a desire to have a detailed Keaton Batman in that scale, right? I mean, that's the last format '89 Batman needs to have a figure in every scale. We have the 1/4 Neca, 1/6 Hot Toys, 5" Kenner and now 3 3/4". 6"/7" is the last game in town really. That's why I was sort of disappointed when Mattel jumped over to this scale and abandoned the "Movie Masters"/MOTU/Black Series/DCUC/Marvel Legends format in favor of these. That "adult collector" blurb on these cards is a joke.

Imagine a great, detailed Keaton Batman in that scale with the appropriate weapons. Imagine if NECA went and scaled down their 1/4 figure, to 7" like they did with their Robocops, Endos, Beetlejuice etc. Or maybe even DC Collectibles (after these animated lines).

 

[sallah]

I bet it fits in great with the Toy Biz playset.

And your comments about a 6", 7" scale Batman. Surely there's no denying a desire to have a detailed Keaton Batman in that scale, right? I mean, that's the last format '89 Batman needs to have a figure in every scale. We have the 1/4 Neca, 1/6 Hot Toys, 5" Kenner and now 3 3/4". 6"/7" is the last game in town really. That's why I was sort of disappointed when Mattel jumped over to this scale and abandoned the "Movie Masters"/MOTU/Black Series/DCUC/Marvel Legends format in favor of these. That "adult collector" blurb on these cards is a joke.

Imagine a great, detailed Keaton Batman in that scale with the appropriate weapons. Imagine if NECA went and scaled down their 1/4 figure, to 7" like they did with their Robocops, Endos, Beetlejuice etc. Or maybe even DC Collectibles (after these animated lines).

Oh don't get me wrong- I'd still love a 6"/7' version, especially if NECA did it...

My point was more that folks are dogging this one simply because they can't display it with their 6" figures. That, to me, doesn't make sense. It isn't like we have a Nicholson Joker or Pfeiffer Catwoman in 6" scale already and they now can't display their 4" Keaton Batman with them. Burton's Batman universe is its own thing, so folks being so upset that they can't be displayed next to their Bale figures or their DC Universe Classics just has me scratching my head. It isn't like their is only one scale in the world and all unrelated toys should be able to be displayed together. Sure, these can't be displayed with DCUC... but neither can the smaller G.I.Joe & Star Wars figures, or Marvel Universe (all of which these Multiverse figures can be displayed with).

I will take Keaton Batman stuff in ANY scale, so I am not upset about them choosing 4" this time. I don't display them with anything else, so that isn't a factor for me, plus they have the added bonus of fitting in with those Kenner playsets & vehicles. And there is the price of course. Since I have to buy 4 (2 for me, 1 for each kid), $10 a pop hurts a lot less than $20-$25.

But I'd still buy a 6" version in a hot minute!

Sallah

 

[DiFabio]

I'm glad they boosted up the height on this figure too. This figure makes the Wave 1 Arkham Batman look ridiculous. I love the fact that it's the same scale as the GI Joe 25th figures (my favorite 3 3/4 figures).

 

[sallah]

I'm glad they boosted up the height on this figure too. This figure makes the Wave 1 Arkham Batman look ridiculous. I love the fact that it's the same scale as the GI Joe 25th figures (my favorite 3 3/4 figures).

No doubt... Keaton got a few of those Arkham figures from the first wave for his birthday (which is where I got that figure for the comparison pics). The quality on those had me REALLY worried about this movie wave. Seeing them side-by-side, you can't even tell they are from the same line or company!

Sallah

 

[superdoug]

Well I for one was super excited when they first posted news about the figures but now the excitment has kind of left the building. I would love to see NECA shrink theirs down to 7". Kind of the opposite of what they did with Dutch.

 

[karamazov80]

But I think we sometimes let it get in the way of being able to enjoy some of these things for what they are- Like we did when we were kids.

Sallah

I was spoiled as a kid, because I was into toys with great detail and quality control like GI Joe, Super Powers, and Secret Wars. That's why I'll never be satisfied with the crap Mattel tries to pawn off on us today

 

[sallah]

I was spoiled as a kid, because I was into toys with great detail and quality control like GI Joe, Super Powers, and Secret Wars. That's why I'll never be satisfied with the crap Mattel tries to pawn off on us today

I grew up with the same stuff. And I agree the quality control was seemingly way better then. But to be fair, toys as a whole weren't quite as intricate as they are these days. Most figures (outside of G.I. Joe) featured 5 points of articulation. Switching out a left arm for a right was probably a lot harder to do since it was all one piece and was quite obvious to a factory worker. For stuff today, one single arm can have 4-6 parts alone, with some looking pretty identical once they are apart from the rest of the sculpt.

This isn't to say that they shouldn't have tighter QC... I am just saying it has probably gotten a lot harder to catch this as toys become more and more intricate with added points of articulation and pieces.

Either way... I don't remember letting things like a figure not looking 100% identical to its screen counterpart keeping me from enjoying it as a toy. Jetfire looked basically nothing like Skyfire, T-Bob was far from the T-Bob in the M.A.S.K. cartoon, and Man-At-Arms didn't even have a mustache. Didn't matter. I still loved the heck out of them because they were fun toys. Just like the Toy Biz Batman wasn't perfect, nor was my beloved Kenner DKC version. It wasn't until I became an adult that I started caring way more about accuracy over whether or not the toy was fun. Hot Toys and Sideshow stuff? Great accuracy... but not really toys you can fly around the room, drop from the top of the Firehouse playset, or take with you for bath time.

That is the mindset I am in with this new Multiverse Keaton Batman. Sure, it isn't the most accurate thing ever... but I really shouldn't expect it to be. This probably has a lot to do with the fact that I have kids and playing with toys is still a constant in my home.... But I am trying to get my mindset away from complete accuracy and put myself back into their shoes, where the fun is more important than if his ears are too big. I need to recognize that this is a $10 mass market toy, not a $250 high-end collectible.

Of course, I wish Mattel wouldn't have made the blunder of putting all that "Adult Collector, Highly-detailed" stuff on the package.

Sallah

 

[kl241]

Time to go find a kenner batmobile...

 

[DiFabio]

Even as a kid I thought figures like the Secret Wars (Mattel) and Toy Biz movie Batman were chintzy crap. They always felt and looked cheap, even in the late 80s/early 90s. To their credit, I think Toy Biz as a company got better later in their career (Marvel Legends, Lord of the Rings), but even then they had their ups and downs.

Kenner and Hasbro were always my favorites personally. Not only did you get a solid figure/vehicle/playset, it was pretty detailed as well. With Mattel, I don't know. I've always associated cheapness with them for as long as I can remember. I remember dreading the early 2000s when they got the DC/Batman license. They have the occasional toy that wows me, but those are few and far between. Then again, I was never into MOTU as a kid or an adult, so who knows. From what I've seen from board to board, their figures (then and now), have been positively received. That is in house though without licensing fees so maybe that's why the quality shines through.

 

[BazookaJoe]

Even as a kid I thought figures like the Secret Wars (Mattel) and Toy Biz movie Batman were chintzy crap. They always felt and looked cheap, even in the late 80s/early 90s. To their credit, I think Toy Biz as a company got better later in their career (Marvel Legends, Lord of the Rings), but even then they had their ups and downs.

Kenner and Hasbro were always my favorites personally. Not only did you get a solid figure/vehicle/playset, it was pretty detailed as well. With Mattel, I don't know. I've always associated cheapness with them for as long as I can remember. I remember dreading the early 2000s when they got the DC/Batman license. They have the occasional toy that wows me, but those are few and far between. Then again, I was never into MOTU as a kid or an adult, so who knows. From what I've seen from board to board, their figures (then and now), have been positively received. That is in house though without licensing fees so maybe that's why the quality shines through.

I think you sum up Mattel pretty well. They always have moments of greatness but are usually more than happy to settle for mediocrity. I struggle to think of a toy line they've had where they've strived to advance or be innovative and their constant retail failures over the last few years are testament to that. They chase the money which is fine, they're a business but what I can't stand is when they saddle the blame on the people who refuse to buy the half assed crap they put out.

On the plus side the keaton actually looks better than I'd hoped and for nostalgia sake I'd probably buy him. Alas, I'd be looking at $20+ to buy him over here and no amount of burton love can make me pay that

 

[Bustajesse]

It looks like Batman turned out great and is a fun little toy. I will pick up a couple when they get released.

Great review Sallah!

 

[Jay1138]

Found Keaton and Zod at TRU today. But at $14.99 I'll pass at that price. Waiting for a sale.

 

[DiFabio]

I'm pretty sure you can get Toys R Us to price match if their competitors (Target, Walmart, K-Mart) have them at a lower price.


Just be like, "yo, TRU employee, I heard you guys price match. Target and Walmart has these for $9.99, would you honor that price". I don't think they need a printed flyer from a store either, but I guess it could help if you have a smart phone just to show them.

 

[banthafett]

Found a Keaton at TRU, but the card was beat to hell. There were five Zods an old Freeze and the one Keaton. Really not digging the 15 bucks for these.

 

[sallah]

Looks like Penguin is starting to hit... And I gotta say- He is looking pretty good to me. Quite a thrill to FINALLY have a DeVito Penguin figure hitting stores (and not just a Super Powers repaint).



I should have mine next week for review- Direct from Mattel this time! Along with possibly an early look at Catwoman!

Sallah

 

[DiFabio]

Looks like Penguin is starting to hit... And I gotta say- He is looking pretty good to me. Quite a thrill to FINALLY have a DeVito Penguin figure hitting stores (and not just a Super Powers repaint).

I should have mine next week for review- Direct from Mattel this time! Along with possibly an early look at Catwoman!

Sallah

Well, that is clearly the best of the wave, by far. It actually looks like Devito and looks superior to the sample that was shown at Toy Fair.

Headsculpt looks like it could pass off as a 6" detailed sculpt.

 

[The-Dark-Knight]

That's actually pretty decent.

 

[ASTRO13ZOMBIE]

Yeah,he doesn't look nearly as bad as the others.
I'll more than likely pick one up if I can find him in store.