Kenner: Batman Dark Knight Collection Revisited

 

I had mentioned (and shown) some custom work that had been inspired by the Kenner Dark Knight Collection a couple weeks ago.  I think we could do with a few more.

So a random selection of parts, a good base body, and the best Micheal Keaton head sculpt to date can get you a long way when it comes to reliving some of that glorious early ’90s time-of-plenty. Interestingly enough, some of the reasons the original line worked so well was, well, a good standard base body, a good Keaton likeness, and the imagination to add on some crazy random parts.

 

The image that you see on the header (and above, to save scrolling) has always been some of my favorite card art ever to grace a Batman figure.  Granted, this is the Batman Returns card, but the “quick-change” Bruce Wayne figure originated in the Dark Knight Collection line.  It was just so damn fun they released him twice.  But more than just being a great vintage card for a great figure, this particular image sums up so succinctly what made this line so fun, and a good portion of what makes Batman such a great character in general — here’s a guy, obviously a strong one, but still just a guy, who senses the game is on and gears up to go meet the challenge.  And if you ignore the toyetic-ness, or the nostalgia, or even the shameless cashing-in that this line was, there’s the essence- each figure is Batman tooling up to go handle his business, no matter how ridiculous or unusual that business may be.

Starting off on a more conventional foot (and boot), Lestat cranked out this more standard Bat-variant in the standard all-black suit. There were, in fact, several straight-up black batsuits across the Dark Knight and Batman Returns lines, contrary to appearances.

If memory serves, they were Shadow Wing (above), Crime Attack, and Thunderwhip, and I think at least two of those were re-released in the Returns line.  Hell, even the Bruce Wayne figure would qualify, really. Shadow Wing and Thunderwhip both are a little unique among the figures, as they both incorporate an action feature into the figure itself — most of the figures, and nearly all of the Batmen, had the action built into the accessory.  Lestat solved that problem by just using the right damn body with the right damn articulation from the get-go. Although he might not be able to emulate Thunderwhip’s broken wrist-flailing action, that’s probably for the best.

For his second figure, Lestat went a little more into the armory and turned out this Predator Armor variant.  It should probably go without saying that, no, sadly there wasn’t a Predator-based armor in any of the Kenner Batman lines, but I should also remind you that Kenner did produce a Predator line in the early-to-mid ’90s. And some of Batman’s gear did find it’s way into that line, albeit with some retooling and sculpting.

Under the armor-plating, he worked in a more direct homage to the classic Iron Winch Batman, which was, for many years, the most comic-looking non-animated Batman we would get.

Lastly, I couldn’t resist doing another version.

He doesn’t really have an analog in the original lines, so let’s call him Crowd Shield Batman, since “riot gear” has gained some nasty connotations.

Although the base blue suit did make some appearances — I think Knight Glider was one — I decided to go more practical, mostly because I’m pissed I didn’t put some Predator armor on him first.  Something that the benefit of hindsight has given us in customizing, and also something that Mattel did at least consider during their turn, was the idea that Batman’s “extra” gear could and should be removable.  When the Four Horsemen started their Batman line in 2003, it was in many ways an homage to the Kenner figures as well.  I remember reading an interview and seeing some designs at the time that showcased how their original vision for the figures was to have all of the accessories and armor be optional.  This was even on the “Scuba” Batman figure, as he was originally designed with removable flippers.  Bummer. But as an idea, this still strikes me as the only true “sin” of making silly Batman variants — because who’s to say what color somebody’s favorite default should be? And for whatever faults they may have been guilty of, here and elsewhere, a lot of Kenner’s Batman gear was designed to work with any and all of their figures.

Before we leave the Dark Knight Collection, though, I had to share this with you — I came across this on RedBubble while I was working on this article. This is an available print design from artist JadBean. Suffice to say, I’m going to need to own it, because it’s awesome. I may not be Bruce Wayne, hence not badass enough to wear a sweatshirt inspired by my alter-ego under my Batsuit, but I can definitely put this bad boy on and pretend, for a little while.  Like we did back in the day.

 

Links!

Check out Lestat’s and my Galleries on the Fwoosh Forums, where you can find more pics and recipes.

Also, if you haven’t already, make sure to visit James (Sallah’s) wonderful Batman site www.1989Batman.com, or just visit it again anyway.

And lastly, if you gotta own that shirt, let me save you a little time.

(I’m gonna get it in a hoodie! Woop!)