A Batman set without Batman? That's Brave. And Bold.
Written: Oct 23 '09
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Pros: Fun sidekick superheroes; colorful toys, great stylized design, durable, safe, and relatively cheap.
Cons: B-Listers; kids might not know who they are...
The Bottom Line: All hail the red, black, and blue.
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| JediKermit's Full Review: Mattel Batman the Brave and the Bold Action League... |
My five year old, seven year old and I love the Cartoon Network series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. It's more campy, more tongue-in-cheek, and more retro than Batman: The Animated Series, and that has a lot of fanboys crying foul--I think it's perfect. Like the comic book The Brave and the Bold, it features Batman teaming up with a different superhero each week, and is a fun way to explore the crazier corners of the DC Universe.
Mattel has started producing toys to go with the series, and although there are larger six inch scale action figures available, we've been collecting the "minis," Batman: The Brave and the Bold Action League. Sold in two-packs, these 2.5" figures are similar to the Hasbro Superhero Squad and Galactic Heroes lines of minifigures. These are a little more stylized, but are a lot of fun. I've also been impressed at the character lineup for the Action League; instead of every set having some variant of Batman, there are a lot more characters in the line. This particular two-pack includes Plastic Man and Blue Beetle.
Plastic Man is a reformed criminal who can not only stretch his body ala Mr. Fantastic, but can actually become other objects. Sure, they're still red and flesh-colored, but whether it's a rubber raft, a hangglider, or a bank safe, he can change his body into almost any shape. He's also a bit of a smart aleck, and it seems like Batman is the only one he respects. This version of Plastic Man is pretty tame, simply a figure with enormous hands. His right hand is coiled into a hammer-shaped fist, and his left is in an enormous "C," ready to take in a bad guy. The rest of the figure is typical, with his red tights, yellow belt, and black sunglasses. Plastic Man is a weird hero, and this figure suits his personality well. Later in the year, there's an additional Plastic Man coming out, this one shaped like a hangglider; that will be a good addition to the collection too.
Blue Beetle is a teenaged hero, and possesses an alien artifact that gives him superpowers. When activated, it covers his body with blue and black robotic armor that can shapeshift. The teenage alter ego, Jaime Reyes, is still learning how to be a hero, and looks up to Batman like an idol. This figure of Blue Beetle has him in fighting mode, and his hands are replaced with big energy cannons. Crouching on one knee, I'm impressed with the level of detail that Mattel worked into this stylized figure. The scarab pattern on his chest, the pincers on his shoulders, but especially the expression and detail on his masked face are all perfect for the character, and Blue Beetle is sure to be a hit with the kids.
Both of these superheroes are B-Listers in DC Comics, but one of the beauties of Batman: The Brave and the Bold is that it's bringing these characters out, dusting them off, and letting them shine. This is a colorful pair of heroes, and at $6.00 make good toys too. Whether you know their life stories or not, they're visually interesting, and durable, fun toys. If you're looking for some allies for a little Batman fan, these will be hard to beat.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 6.49
Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: Kids to Teens
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Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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