#1099 BULLY – BATMAN (ARTICULATED VERSION) (1989)

This small and poorly manufactured figure of the DC character is maybe one of the most intriguing action figures made along with the Tim Burton movie from 1989. The figure is marked on its feet with the text: TM © 1989 DC COMICS INC. But beside this indications, there is no maker sign or name casted in the body. This probably made many people suspect, that it might be a cheap bootleg or a copy of something else, since, if you had the rights to represent the Batman, why hiding your name?

The truth is that this figure was distributed and sold by Bully of Germany, most famous for their plastic or PVC figures of all kinds. This adds a bit of confusion to the topic, since this figure is made of hollow plastic and is articulated in their shoulders. It is also partially flocked and came with a cloth cloak. All these elements are previously unseen in other Bully toys or figures. Note that I said distributed and sold, but not manufactured, because I think these may have been made by another company for Bully. So the mistery continues...

As you can see in the pictures, the figure is well painted and flocked. It comes with a yellow belt (that cannot be removed), a cloak (removable), and the arms are practicable. Although in the picture of the shop display, that I found on the internet, all figures seem to be correctly assembled, my Batman has the chest logo upside-down. I love this detail, and I preffer this figure to another one with the logo correctly oriented. Also some figures seem to have a cord on the head to be hanged from a zip or somewhere else.

I think it is quite rare, I haven't seen many, or, at least, compared with the plastic/PVC Batman (I show it here, but it deserves it's own blog entry). It was part of the merchandising that Bully offered in 1989, as it can be seen in this promotional pages seen on eBay. The figure is shown on the right side, close to the right border.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: BATMAN
• Year: 1989
• Company: Bully (West-Germany)
• Size of the figures: Around 10 cm

#1068 BATMAN (TOY BIZ) - BATMAN vs. BOB THE GOON (1989)

Not many entries dealing with Batman in the more than 1.000 reviews that I made so far. And the most important figures of them all were missing... until today.

These were the very first action figures released after the movie directed by Tim Burton and premiered worldwide in 1989. The movie was a huge success, and there were all kinds of merchandising available: t-shirts, promotions, different types of toys and also action figures.

pic: dcinthe80s.com

The collection started with these golden blisters, but there were not many characters available. Beside Batman and Joker, only Bob the Goon was available. An interesting choice, since the character does not have a leading role in the film. Maybe the toymaker thought that Joker needed some companion, as the rest of the initial released included only vehicles and playsets for the hero. The Batcave, the Batmobile and the Batwing could be purchased separately, but Joker only had his fellow companion Bob.

The figures came with some action feature and articulation in the knees, legs, arms and head, as well as some action accesories. They are not very durable, they often show loose limbs, but if they have not been played, they look great and are a good addition to any collection.

Batman figure has the bat-rope hidden in hi belt, that can be extended to “climb” to a higher surface, as well as a batarang, something that resembles a gun and the black cloak made of cloth. Although today might seem a bit crude, the face sculpt is not bad for 1989.

Bob the Goon feature is a kick with one of his legs, The leg can be loaded and stays in “standing” position until a button in the back is pushed, then the leg moves forward and hits whatever it is on its way. The figure includes a black hut, a gun (very similar to G.I.Joe's Shockwave) and a knive. The same can be said about the head sculpt, wich, by the way, was produced in two variants, in which the hair is different.

The line was, of course, later extended with more vehicles: The Batcycle, the Joker cycle, the Joker Van. Also some more DC figures were made and sold under the brand DC Comics Super Heroes still in 1989. This line included Robin, The Penguin. Mr. Freeze and The Riddle, together with Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Hawkman, Two Face and Lex Luthor. This other collection shared the same blister style but was kind of separated from the Batman collection. Still the three figures from Batman appeared also in the blisterpacks of DC Comics Super Heroes from 1991. Many of these characters resemble very much the Super Powers figures made by Kenner some years earlier. I have several of these figures in my collection, as well as other vehicles.

If you consider the two lines as one or prefer to keep them separated is up to you.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: BATMAN and BOB, THE GOON
• Toy Line: BATMAN
• Year: 1989
• Company: Toy Biz (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figures: 11 cm approx.

#964 ERTL – BATMAN and THE JOKER METALLIC MINI FIGURES (1990)

 

I presented a long time ago an ERTL Batmobile from the original 1989 movie. Recently I got two more figurines of the same series, which, to my surprise, it is quite long. Ertl did not only manfucture these two main characters plus the car, there are also many other figures vehicles, including even characters which do not appear in the first movie, and others in the style of Batman the Animated Series, so I guess the DC comics license was granted for a series of years starting in 1989 to sometime in the mid-90s.

These two were sold together in a blister card with a mini-comic that I do not have, and represent the main characters in the 1989 movie style and outfits.

On the back of the card, we see that Ertl also manufactured other DC characters, such as Superman or Shazam! So I guess there must be an alternative card design for these.

The figures are in excellent shape, they have not been played with, so the paintwork is almost perfect. Like die-cast cars and other toys, they tend to get chips and loose paint, but these are still mint. Note the nose of The Joker... maybe I can restore it soon.

pics: amazon.com y collectors.com

 

The first series from 1990 include:

• Batman –standing (#715) blue and grey suit, pre-movie
• Superman –standing (#716)
• The Penguin (#718)
• Shazam! (#719)
• Batman –Raised Fist (#723) blue and grey suit, pre-movie
• Superman –Raised Fist (#724)
• Robin (#726)
• Green Lantern (#727)
• The Joker (#728)
• Supergirl (#729)

Plus the vehicles:

• Batwing (1:90) (2495EF)
• Batmobile (1:64) (1064FF)
• Joker Van (1:64) (1532F0)
• Batmobile + Joker Van set (2497FF)
• Batmobile (1:43) (2575EF)
• Joker Van (1:48) (2494EF)
• Micro Set (Batwing, Batmobile, Joker Van) (2498FF)
  

pics: theangryspider.com

The second series, from 1992 came together with Batman Returns and include:

• Batman
• Catwoman
• Penguin
• Penguin Commando

And the vehicles:

• Batmobile
• Batmissile
• Batskiboatpics: theangryspider.com
• Penguin’s Duck Vehicle  

 

 pics: bonanza.com

 

And finally, from 1993 the Animated Series series.

• Batman (1)
• Batman (2)
• The Joker
• The Penguin
• Catwoman
• Robin

And the vehicles:

• Batmobile
• Batplane
• Batboat
• Batcycle
• Gotham City Police Helicopter
• Bruce Wayne’s Car

From the pictures they all look great! And the scale is especially appealing to me (the smaller, the better).

FACTS AND FIGURES:

• Names: BATMAN and THE JOKER METALLIC MINIFIGURES
• Toy Line: Batman
• Year: 1990
• Company: Ertl (U.S.A.)
• Size: Around 4 cm