Mountain Batman & Ace by Imaginext

Back in 2014 Imaginext released one of their most ridiculous Batman variants to date. Batman on a mountainboard. He reminds me of the lugeing Batman from the finale episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. All he needs is a shark to jump.

'Mountain Batman' is packaged with the only Ace the Bathound yet released by Imaginext, and although it's a pretty 'off-model' Ace, it's Ace, so I wanted the set for Ace but didn't really want a skateboarding Batman. Therefore when I saw the set at retail one time, I passed. I regretted it, and never saw the set again until just last week, at which time I not only rejoiced at having an Imaginext Ace, but also though to myself 'what the hell was I thinking not wanting a skateboarding Batman?!?!?!'

Ace looks to be based off the grey Great Dane that was Ace in the Batman Beyond cartoon. I prefer a German Shepherd Ace but whatyagonnado? Sadly he doesn't stand on a flat surface with that paw up in the air like he just doesn't care. But he does have a cape, which is more than most Imaginext Robins can say!

"Tell me. Do you spelunk? You will."

This Mountain Batman is pretty ridiculous until you realize it could well be an armored Batman ala The Dark knight Returns/Batman v Superman, and then it becomes a pretty boss Batman indeed.

The Bat-Board is pretty righteous, and I only regret that Batman can't turn his head to see which way he's rolling. There are pegs so his feet stay securely planted which is a nice touch and in keeping with Imaginext's feet-activated doohickeys. He also comes with a pick-axe because he's spelunking.

This set has been pretty hard to find for Imaginext fans. As I said before, I only ever saw him one single time back in 2014. But perhaps me finding him last week at Wal-Mart bodes well and is proof he has been re-released. Good luck, because no one should be without a skateboarding Batman!

Bathound v Superdog: Dawn of Buttsniff

"Tell me. Do you have fleas? You will."

Who will win?

Ace the Bathound from Krypto the Superdog Animated and Fisher-Price

Constant Reader John aka Jboy asked on yesterday's post "Have they made a official Ace figure? I have seen Krypto but I don't remember seeing one of the Bathound."

The answer, John, is 'Yes!' There was one packaged with a Batman Beyond action figure, but that was the Ace of Batman Beyond continuity. There was also one packaged with a Golden Age Batgirl and Batwoman made by DC Direct. Then there was this one from the Krypto the Superdog cartoon. In fact, I believe there were a few versions of Ace the Bathound made back in 2006 for the Krypto the Superdog cartoon. The only one I picked up was this one, which also came with an 'Ace Racer' skate-type vehicle and Bud and Lou, Harley Quinn's Hyenas.

Unfortunately my Bud and Lou have been lost to time as I let my kids play with them back in the day. But I still have Ace and his Ace Racer!

This was the only toy I picked up from the short lived Krypto the Superdog cartoon, but looking back, I wish I had grabbed them all. Or at least a Krypto! But if I recall correctly, the series had lots of cumbersome action features, and this specific set was just the figures, clean and simple. Which is how I like my action figures.

Playmobil Ace the Bat-Hound

Months ago I picked up a bunch of Playmobil stuff from a garage sale, and included in the mix was a Playmobil German Shepherd. Of course I immediately made plans to make him into Ace the Bathound, but it took me a while to get around to it.

Ace first appeared in Batman #92 (June 1955). Unlike later iterations, Ace did not originally have a cape - he only wore a cowl and a collar with a batsymbol dog tag.

I painted the cowl on him with some automobile touch-up paint. I did the same thing with my LEGO Ace the Bathound.

Playmobil Ace the Bathound makes the perfect companion to my Playmobil unmasked Batman!

My intern felt Ace needed a friend, so she made me take this picture with his Bulldog buddy. Fighting crime, one bite to the buttocks at a time!

LEGO Ace the Bat Hound

A departure from my usual basic kit-bash LEGO customs, I actually added paint to this one in order to customize a standard LEGO minifigure dog into the Caped Canine himself - Ace the Bat Hound!

I used some black auto touch-up paint to create Ace's cowl, because it's what I had lying around. It's pretty sturdy, I think I put this little guy together over two years ago and it's held up all this time.

If I had another LEGO dog I might try using some model paint, or maybe paint the eyes white, or figure out a cape or something. But this is my only LEGO dog, so there's no room for experimentation. But it's ok, this guy is fine just the way he is.

No one will ever recognize Bruce Wayne's doggie now!

Imaginext Nightwing, Ace the Bat Hound, and other Toy Fair reveals!

Aw yeah! Fisher-Price's Imaginext line continues to hit them out of the park, starting with this upcoming Nightwing and Ace the Bat Hound! FINALLY my Imaginext Krypto will have someone to fight crime with!

An Imaginext Deathstroke (who will probably not be called 'Deathstroke' on the package...remember 'K. Croc'?) is also coming soon!

And speaking of 'K. Croc', it looks like Fisher-Price is putting out a mostly new Imaginext Killer Croc. He looks a lot like the existing Imaginext Killer Croc, but he appears to be wearing some sort of chain/moss/cuff apparatus, which is probably removable. And if you look closer, he also appears to have a steel jaw, like the recent Swamp Raider Killer Croc action figure version. This new version also comes with a jet-ski and a harpoon.

A skateboarding Batman. What, no street-luge?

And finally, this RC Bat-Tank that transforms into a Bat-Bot. Fun!

No word yet on release dates or how these will be sold/packaged/paired up, but I reckon we'll see them all in stores by the end of 2014.

sadly no female DC Imaginext figures revealed, but these things have a way of popping up under the radar, so I won't give up hope of seeing more than just Poison Ivy this year.

All pics via Figures.com

Geek Credentials

Chunky B over at Eclectorama has started a new internet Meme: "Geek Credentials." It sounded like my cup of meme, so here's my contribution to the newest sensation to rock the inter-nation!

Remember the scene in The Dark Knight, where a bunch of Gothamites have dressed up as Batman and have decided to become vigilantes of their own? They just end up getting in the way, or dead, and tend to make matters worse for our hero in blue and grey.

Well let me tell you, you ain't a Bat-Geek unless you have a few guys like that in your collection. The wanna-bes, the fakers, the posers. You know the ones: the "I can't believe it's not Batman" crowd.

Well behold, and BELIEVE!

"...I agree, that Bale kid gave a great reading. But the agency sent over four more at the last minute...let's at least see what they have to offer before calling it a day."


First up we shall examine Adam. This guy is so "not Batman" that the toyline he was produced for, Tech Deck, was actually forced to stop producing him. See ya' later, finger skater.

Next up is Bat-Duck. He was actually released as a McDonald's premium many years back, along with Super-Bugs, Wonder-Pig, and Taz-Flash. Very spiffy figures...but sorry duck, no luck.

The outfits are removable, but the movie is sans nudity, so it won't score you any more points. Next!

Here we have Wile E. Coyote in his Bat-Man's Outfit. Manufactured by Acme.

Flight capabilities? Impressive. But...green?!?! We'll call you when they cast for Hal Jordan. And...sheesh...eat a sandwich will ya? You're nothing but skin and bones!

Finally we have Bartman. From the Secret Identity handbook: Page one. Chapter one. Don't use your real name as a component of your superhero name. Have you ever heard of a hero named Bat Wayne? Peter Spider? Super Kent? Guy Gardner?...

Never mind.

As a Post Script, I give you a couple "I can't believe it's not Batman" characters who actually kind of are. First up is Batzarro from DC Direct:

As drawn by Ed McGuinness in Batman/Superman, this guy is pretty fun. He has real chains hanging from beneath his cape (because they make a lot of noise) No eyes, an inverted Bat as well as an upside down utility belt (with opened pockets, having spilled out their contents long ago.)

I'm so geeky, I even drew him once. How's THAT for Geek Creds?


And lastly but not leastly we have Ace the Bat-Hound. From the recent Krypto the Superdog cartoon and toyline, this guy is the bee's knees. His collar serves as his "utility belt" and his cape flows majestically in the breeze, ready for the call to action from his "partner" Batman!

So there you have it. I'm a geek. (As if there were ever any doubt ;) )

Do you claim to be a geek? Prove it. What're your creds, Fred? Join in the Meme, Joaquin. Create a "Geek Credentials" post of your own, Joan!