The Batman

Hot off its success with its Batman The Animated Series, Warner Bros. Animation decided to take a new approach to The Dark Knight.

The Batman series saw a younger Bruce Wayne, a lot more high-tech gadgets and all of Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery was radically changed in appearance and sometimes they origins were changed or tweaked than in Batman The Animated Series.

Mattel Toys had the toy license to DC Comics and that included The Batman toy line.  Recently McFarlane Toys secured the DC Comics toy rights.

I’ve selected three of Mattel’s The Batman figures from its EXP (Extreme Power) series: the Crazy Cut-Up The Joker, Clayface and the Knight Strike Batman.

All three figures come in wraparound bubble packs mounted on a single thick paper stock hanger embellished by The Batman logo and an image of the animated Batman figure.

The bubbles have the EXP type in separate extruded part of the bubble packs.

Inside the figures are cradled in separate form-fitting clear plastic cocoons that hold the figures snuggly in place.  Additional plastic strips secure the figures, where necessary. 

On the back of the each bubble pack is a sequence of three small color photos demonstrating the action of each individual figure.  There is also a small photo gallery of all the figures in the EXP series.

The Crazy Cut-Up Joker figure looks a bit different than a traditional Joker figure.

The body of the figure is stooped over, features full articulation in its limps, torso and head and its hands are sculpted to hold the purple rod with the pink, yellow, red and green spinning six-prong cutting tool.

The Joker’s face is an over-exaggerated depiction of his features with large clusters of green hair, a death mask white skin tone, large red eyes, a leering red-lipped mouth, oversize yellow teeth and a sharp chin.

The Joker comes dressed in a black, purple and green straitjacket with black trousers and purple finger gloves.  The figure stands barefooted.

The shape shifting Clayface figure is all-gray with articulated arms, legs and head.  The figure looks almost molten as its clay surface loosely hangs on its frame in a vaguely humanoid shape.

It’s large open maw and bright green eyes give the figure a horrifying look.

It’s right flexible arm, when pulled back, flings forward when let loose.

Of all the EXP figures Clayface mostly resembles its original look.

The Knight Strike Batman figure is dressed in Batman’s classic black and gray uniform with a yellow utility belt with pouches and a yellow spotlight bat symbol.

The figure is fully posable and articulated and comes with a bat grappler and swing line activated by the enclosed Power Key. 

Sculpt and paint applications are spot-on on all the figures.  Articulation points are tight and move easily while the overlaps have no flashing and the paint is crisp with no slop over edges.

All three figures are perfect matches for their animated namesakes. Additional figures and vehicles are also available.