The Batman The Never Was

[palitoy]

For a brief time, I worked with the man (and the WB licensing person) who threw the toybiz deal together. They were telling me all the majors didn't want the action figure license, so Charan (a Canadian company) grabbed it and Toybiz was formed.

It's a bit mind blowing to think a nobody company out of Montreal had the license to the summer's biggest movie and one of the best selling action figures premises of the 90s but yep!

[Boshek]

As a kid I loved these figures. Getting two more Batman villains made me so happy!

[EmergencyIan]

^ I recall being surpised when I saw the figures on shelves, as well.

- Ian

[cjefferys]

Well, I can see your points. They’re good ones. However, the Kenner figures look better to my eye. I remember seeing the Toy Biz figures when they were in stores. I recall that my thought, at that time, was they looked very much like Super Powers, but cruder in appearance. That’s my take on them.

- Ian

That's my feeling as well, and only reinforced by the later original characters. They're undoubtedy fun and colorful, though. Had I not just spent the '80s collecting Super Powers, I might have been more tolerant.

Agree with both of you. After buying the Super Powers figures, when these guys showed up in stores I just felt that they were inferior, knock-off looking versions of the Kenner ones. At first I was surprised to see that they were actually licensed and not bootlegs.

[Mr.Marion]

Here is the checklist for anyone wondering. Very Batman dominant line, 8 Bat-family members, only 7 For the rest of the DCU.

[PNGwynne]

Next to Mego WGSH, I think Super Powers is the best superhero line ever. Lord knows, the later waves were hard to find.

Regarding Toy Biz heroes, I love that Aquaman came with a seahorse, that they (albeit crudely) did a suited Ruby-Spears Luthor, that Riddler had a tiny sheaf of riddles, and the literalness of Two-Face's action feature. Charming.

[EmergencyIan]

^ I suspect I would have done the same. Then again, by that time, I was only browsing the toy depts just in case there was something mindblowing to be found. (I don’t think there ever was.)

I happen to have a Super Powers Superman, which I’ve had since childhood, standing around in my living room. I picked him up today, and was surprised at how small the Super Powers figures seem, now. When they came out, I recall thinking that they were relatively large since, for years, I had been playing with 3 3/4 inch figures.

- Ian

[PNGwynne]

Well, I can see your points. They’re good ones. However, the Kenner figures look better to my eye. I remember seeing the Toy Biz figures when they were in stores. I recall that my thought, at that time, was they looked very much like Super Powers, but cruder in appearance. That’s my take on them.

- Ian

That's my feeling as well, and only reinforced by the later original characters. They're undoubtedy fun and colorful, though. Had I not just spent the '80s collecting Super Powers, I might have been more tolerant.

[EmergencyIan]

Actually, I think the Toy Biz sculpt is better...I know, blasphemy! But hear me out...the head sculpt is very blocky on the Super Powers. I think the Toy Biz has a slight resemblance to Christopher Reeve. Also, the Toy Biz abs/ribcage are more anatomically accurate, (he has a six pack and not a four pack) and also the cape fits better around his neck and isn't bunched up clear up to his ears like on the Super Powers.

Well, I can see your points. They’re good ones. However, the Kenner figures look better to my eye. I remember seeing the Toy Biz figures when they were in stores. I recall that my thought, at that time, was they looked very much like Super Powers, but cruder in appearance. That’s my take on them.

- Ian

[enyawd72]

^ That’s for sure! I examined the comparison picture and it makes me appreciate the finer details of the Kenner Super Powers that much more.

- Ian

Actually, I think the Toy Biz sculpt is better...I know, blasphemy! But hear me out...the head sculpt is very blocky on the Super Powers. I think the Toy Biz has a slight resemblance to Christopher Reeve. Also, the Toy Biz abs/ribcage are more anatomically accurate, (he has a six pack and not a four pack) and also the cape fits better around his neck and isn't bunched up clear up to his ears like on the Super Powers.

[EmergencyIan]

^ That’s for sure! I examined the comparison picture and it makes me appreciate the finer details of the Kenner Super Powers that much more.

- Ian

[thunderbolt]

the Toybiz sculptors sure were copying the Kenner figures tho.

[PNGwynne]

I see what you mean, it seems the torsos were resculpted to accommodate the different mechanisms. Most are stockier.

I was not a fan of the figures, but I have the Batcave.

[enyawd72]

I thought it was the later figures that were original? The earlier ones had the look of being knocked-off, roughly copied. Riddler appears to be a modified Flash.

No, they were different right from the beginning. Here is a Super Powers (left) next to a Toy Biz. Note the vastly different torso, especially in the abs...less defined legs on the TB version. Even the construction was different. All the TB figures have metal knee joints and screws in their backs that hold the body halves together.

SP TB 1.jpg

[Mr.Marion]

I had the Toy Biz figures when they were new, it would have to be a really good deal to draw me back in. The bootlegs I'm more interested in.
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