Thursday, March 27, 2025

Action Figure Review: Batman (Batman 1989) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 



   If you haven't been paying attention lately, Mattel has won back the rights to the DC license beginning in the second half of 2026, leaving things up in the air for McFarlane Toys and Spinmasters. Personally I'm not optimistic about Mattel's upcoming DC product as I like McFarlane's DC Multiverse toyline and how it blends well with most of DC Direct and DC Collectibles' releases from the past. I still have favorites from Mattel's years with the line but I don't find that most of their figures have held up all that well. Their last few years with the line were pretty rough, too. I'm optimistic, though, that since DC/ Warner Bros. still has the DC Direct brand, that McFarlane could still continue to release a more limited range of product through there. Things like Page Punchers and the figures with the digital counterparts. Maybe even online exclusive types of things. That being said, it makes the news of McFarlane losing the main DC license when we get excellent figures released like the Michael Keaton version of Batman from Tim Burton's 1989 film take on the Caped Crusader. Back in 2023 McFarlane Toys did release two takes on Keaton as Batman from The Flash as well as a 1989 Batman and Batmobile 2-pack and a Keaton Bats with the 6-figure Batman: Ultimate Movie Collection. I skipped those two larger sets, though, holding out for a single release, and I'm glad that I did. This is an excellent figure with plenty of gadgets to really make for lots of fun display options. Ready to check out this very classic Batman? Then join me after the break...






The Facts:

Height: 7 1/8ths inches

Articulation: Hinged toes, double swivel hinged ankles, double hinged knees, swivel/hinge hips, balljointed waist, balljointed mid torso, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ ballsockets, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, double swivel/ hinge wrists, and a ball jointed head.
 
Accessories: 7 Swappable hands, batarang, grappling gun, 2 shuriken/ ninja wheels, 2 cape rods, Batmboile remote, collector card, and display stand.
 
Non-Scalper Price: $23 dollars






The Positives:

* First off, yes, my camera and lighting setup really didn't do this figure many favors. The figure is almost all black with a bright yellow emblem on the chest and while it looks good in hand, I had a tough time getting great photos of it. The suit does look awesome, though; muscle looking armor for the chest, sleek and simple surfaces most everywhere else, and an eye-catching gold belt. My understanding is that this figure is mostly the same as the previous 1989 releases except for the material of the cape, but I haven't seen either of those figures in person. This is a really impressive looking version of the 1989 Batman suit and captures the feel of the character nicely. 









* The portrait is way better than the Keaton Batman from The Flash and is probably one of the better (maybe even best) live action portraits that McFarlane has done. The shape of the face, the size of the ears on the cowl, and the eyes are definitely Keaton's incarnation of the character. 










* None of my shots do the chest logo any justice, but it looks excellent in person. Personally, I really like how the bat-logo and the base of the cowl are a separate piece sat over the armored torso. That's the way it is in the film and seeing it on the figure really looks nice and feels quite authentic. 









* One of the things I always remember about so many of Mattel's Batman figures (and some DC Direct ones, too) was that the spikes on the forearms often came bent. McFarlane uses a much sturdier plastic on theirs (sometimes they're downright sharp), so they're almost always perfect. 







* Rather than a fabric cape, this version of Batman has a cape made from a material that feels more like the material of a windbreaker or a raincoat. It doesn't have wires in it for posing but there are two slits which allow you to place some support rods in it (they look like tonfas) so Batman can hold up the edges of the cape like giant wings. It's a really cool effect that should please fans of the vintage Kenner Shadow Wing Batman.






* The articulation is great, which is pretty much what you'd expect from a DC Multiverse figure. The articulation at the knees and elbows doesn't always look the best but it's all solid and durable with plentiful joints, and a pretty good range of motion. This guy is really just fun to mess around with, either putting him in dramatic poses or finding different ways to use all of his gear. NECA released a 1989 Batman figure at one point as an exclusive of sorts but this guy is much better articulated.








* Check out the boots with the custom Nikes peeking out from underneath. Ready to stomp crime and protect Batman's shins!










* Seven swappable hands are included to allow Bruce to interact with all of his wonderful toys. There's a right hand with a really tight grip, a right hand with a larger grip for the grappling gun, a open left hand, two angled standard grips, and a pair of fists. Everything swaps easily, so you have a lot of options and can swap away with ease.






* Sure, prior to the 1989 film Batman used a batrope tied around a batarang, grappling hooks, and one time a pistol that launched a suction cup with a rope, but the grappling gun? This was a new, unique gadget for the film which absolutely became a staple of the character. The grappling gun was a nifty modular device and McFarlane has done a nice job with it. Sometime their accessories are a bit weak but this is quite excellent.



* Oddly enough, Batman also comes with two shuriken or "ninja wheels" which give him an additional throwing weapon. These were designed for the film and appeared in an early draft for the movie, but they're only visible in a vault in promotional material and such. Why'd McFarlane include them? I don't know. Maybe because the Hot Toys release did? They're cool, though, and definitely a unique extra.  





* The smallest accessory is the little remote for the Batmobile. It's what Batmobile uses to call the Batmobile to him when rescuing Vicki Vale (he speaks "Stop" into it to get it to stop, as well, so it's voice activated, too). 






* As usual, you get a collectible card.  This one shows off Batman gliding down from a rooftop to intimidate some criminals at the beginning of the film. 

* I'm always glad that McFarlane still includes a stand with each of their releases these days. It's just a simple disc stand with the DC logo on it but it works well and keeps the figure standing upright in most poses.

* McFarlane nearly always gives Batman a batarang and we definitely get one here.

The Negatives:

* Oddly enough, this doesn't look like the Batman 1989 batarang. The 1989 batarang is really specific looking and this just doesn't look like it. Why include super accurate stuff like the Ninja Wheels (which didn't even really make it into the film) but deliver an inaccurate batarang?





* I love how the cape flares out but it's a bit annoying that the stitching for the pouches that hold the cape's rods are visible from the exterior. It just looks off and seems like not as much thought was put into how to accomplish the extended cape wings without making the cape look odd when it's just draped normally. 


   This is an excellent Batman figure from the 1989 film. I do wish the cape was designed a bit differently, but the ability to have Bruce extend the cape edges like wings is a really impressive feature. There's also a nice complement of accessories here. The inaccurate batarang is a bit odd, but it's still a nice looking accessory and I really love the grappling gun. I think a lot of folks were hoping for a Build-a-Figure series like we had for other films but I definitely think Jack Nicholson likeness rights will hold that up. Hopefully we'll get a Batman Returns set, though. This is really an Epic figure and you're getting a lot of bang for your buck here.



I've reviewed so many figures of Bruce Wayne as Batman (or other heroes wearing the mantle of the Bat) that I've compiled them all in The Dark Knight Gallery. 

For more DC Multiverse reviews check out the following:
Harley Quinn (The Suicide Squad)
Hugo Strange (Batman: Transference)














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13 comments:

  1. GIJigsawMarch 27, 2025 at 4:45 PM

    I need this. Last movie I watched before entering the Army.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17April 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM

      Try GameStop. I've seen him there on more than one occasion.

      Delete
  2. 555March 29, 2025 at 11:52 AM

    Has a Robin Williams variant of the Joker ever been made? The great man was in talks for the part before Nicholson got it and as 'elseworld' casting goes it's one that I'd love to see done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17April 6, 2025 at 8:25 PM

      No, that's not something anyone has ever done. As far as I'm aware, there's never been a figure of any Robin Williams live action character made.

      I still think the man would have been incredible as a menacing version of the Riddler in the Nolan series.

      Delete
    2. CarniviusApril 8, 2025 at 1:40 AM

      I used to have a 1979 figure of Mork. :P
      And I think there were a few toys for Hook. But yeah I don't recall any high quality action figure with Robin's likeness on it. :O

      Delete
    3. 555April 8, 2025 at 4:23 AM

      Oh man that takes me back, I got the (surprisingly tall) Mork figure and his egg ship, as well as a biro-stained Maximilian figure from one of the old flea market stalls on Petticoat Lane in the early 80s. One extreme to another there

      Delete
    4. Barbecue17April 23, 2025 at 8:43 PM

      I was absolutely wrong, then. I forgot about Mork figures (before my time) and the Hook figures, which definitely made up most of Christmas 1991 for me. They sure didn't look like Robin Williams, but they were kind of fun. I really liked the green outfitted Peter Pan with the sword from the fencing Peter Pan. And the tri-claw Hook? That thing was awesome. Also, the Lost Boys dagger from the armor set was legit solid and could really do some damage in a neighborhood scuffle.

      Delete
  3. wolfley14March 29, 2025 at 2:22 PM

    Fun and very informative!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Super-Duper ToyBoxApril 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM

    This guy is in my loot pile on Nerdzoic- even with the janky cape, he'll fill that '89 Spot in my collection well enough for the price. Looking forward to it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17April 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM

      He's definitely a really impressive figure, especially at the price point. The cape isn't terrible, especially if you're posing him with the edges up. It's just not a great garden variety batcape for this Batman.

      Delete
  5. CarniviusApril 8, 2025 at 1:41 AM

    Friend of mine got this one and swapped out the weird rods and cape with a wired cape that does the same thing without the rods.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17April 23, 2025 at 8:43 PM

      That would definitely have been preferable, I think.

      Delete

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