Saturday, July 23, 2011

T is also for The Dark Knight Returns action figures

continued from an earlier post...

IGN Comics ranked "The Dark Knight Returns" #2 on a list of the 25 greatest Batman graphic novels, second only to "Batman: Year One", another Frank Miller work on the character. In 2005, Time chose the collected four-issues as one of the 10 best English language, graphic novels ever written. In April 2010, Nicolas Layton from Comics Bulletin ranked "The Dark Knight Returns" 2nd in their Tuesday Top Ten feature's Top 10 Overrated Comic Books, just behind "Watchmen". [ source: wiki ]


A series of action figures based on The Dark Knight Returns were released by DC Direct in 2004. Featuring Batman, Robin, Superman, and The Joker, each has a sidewalk display base that connects to the others to form a street corner with lamp post and glow-in-the-dark lamp.



These are the Batman and Robin action figures by DC Direct, released in 2004. Having collected the original 1986 released "The Dark Knight Returns" four-issue comic series, the 1989 released hard-cover leather bound "The Complete Frank Miller Batman",  "The Dark Knight Returns" 10th Anniversary Edition and commemorative limited edition statue (see earlier post), I was still eager for more haha (can you tell how crazy I was about this particular rendition of Batman?). I had to get this pair as well so here they are. Wasn't keen on Superman or the Joker at all though.


Big Bulky massive old Bruce Batman stands alongside young agile female Robin, a distinct contrast in size and style of approach: one bulldozes his way and gets his point across crudely whilst the other takes the stealth approach, equipped with a slingshot




Here's a close-up of the DC Direct "Dark Knight Returns" Batman. The Batsuit's colors are darker and the utility belt uses pouches instead of capsules or cylinders; the belt's color was changed from the original yellow to a very pale light brown. The BAT chest emblem is changed into a complete "bat" that goes across his entire chest with no yellow ellipse.



Carrie Kelley becomes the new Robin in "Dark Knight Returns" when she saves Batman's life. She was the first full-time female Robin in the history of the Batman franchise. She spent her lunch money on a Robin outfit, set out to attack petty con-men and to find Batman in the hope of becoming his partner. Kelley used a slingshot and firecrackers as weapons. She also wore green-tinted sunglasses.


Close-up of the DC Direct "Dark Knight Returns" Carrie Kelley Robin figure


3 comments:

John Sholtz said...

This is a really nice Batman collectible. I actually thought this had just come out. Didn't realize it was released 7 years ago.

Anonymous said...

I just picked up 3 of these last weekend. While they are really good representations of the book designs.. they aren't the best toys in the world. Serious lack of posing and articulation. Batman has a hard time standing on his own.

I think the Joker and the Superman look the best, but try to get them for less than 10.

Also, were these outside? Looks like you've got pollen all over them.

Anonymous said...

I only have Supes and Joker. Got them about 10 CAD on eBay. I saw Robin at my local action figures store for 15$... I'm still looking for Batman... He's hard to find it seems. :(