Batman TNBA Penguin Action Figure by Mattel

When Mattel took over the Batman license (and by proxy the Batman Animated license) one of the things they did right was releasing this Batman: The New Batman Adventures styled Penguin.

The original Batman Animated Penguin was based on the Danny DeVito Penguin from Tim Burton's Batman Returns, and pretty much no one will argue the merits of that Penguin design. So when Batman TNBA streamlined and classic-ized Penguin for the 'toon, it was a welcome return to the Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot we all knew and loved. When Mattel made an action figure of him it was a surprise and a welcome addition to the Batman Animated action figure ranks.

Penguin came simply with an unopened umbrella. No flashy shooty twirly neon umbrellas for this stylish old bean!

I had originally avoided the first Batman Animated Penguin action figure entirely, opting only to add this guy to my collection when he was released as a single carded figure (he first appeared in a TRU exclusive four pack that I never saw at retail.) But years later I did add the original Penguin to my collection, only because I found him for really cheap still in package. I've left him in package still to this day, but may have to finally bust him out and stand him up against this guy. Nostalgia has me liking the first version more today  than I did when the cartoon first aired, but I still like this Penguin and his classic styling the most.

Rumble Ready Riddler

Man how time flies! I picked up this Batman: The New Batman Adventure Mission Masters Rumble Ready Riddler at a toy show almost four years ago. I can't believe how much my intern has grown since then!

Anyways, I only just opened him up last night after digging him out of a box of random toys that really need to be blogged about.

I had wanted this version of The Riddler since it was released in 1999, but never did find it at retail. So I was ecstatic to find him MOC for only five bucks. FOUR YEARS AGO!

Rumble Ready Riddler comes with a Question Mobile that shoots a Quiz Missile. Yup.

The Quiz Missile works as a pseudo question-mark cane. It isn't quite long enough to serve as a cane, but it looks good in Riddler's hand.

This 'updated' TNBA Riddler design reminds me of A Clockwork Orange. I like the simplicity of the design. And the derby. Or is it a 'vernacular'?

The purple slippers are hilarious. I do greatly appreciate that even though this Riddler is a pretty basic sculpt, his legs were sculpted to give him a slight cotra-posto stance. And unlike JLU figures, he can actually stand on his own even with those itty bitty slippered feet!

"Tally-Ho, Batguv'ner!"

Robins of Toyriffic Past :: Robin Week Concludes

All good things must end, including Robin Week. But if you haven't had enough of that red, green and yellow kid's stuff, check out a sampling of  Toyriffic's past Robin posts!

Batman Returns Tim Drake Robin.


DCUC Robin and DCUC predecessor 6" Batman line Robin.



Toybiz Robin.

The New Batman Adventures Robin.


Redbird by Corgi.

Teen Titans Red X Robins.



DC Infinite Heroes Earth 2 Robin (with DCIH Tim Drake Robin.)

Three cheers for the original kid sideckick!

The New Batman Adventures Battle Damaged Batgirl

Originally part of a Toys R Us exclusive four pack, this TNBA (The New Batman Adventures) Batgirl action figure features 'battle damage' paint applications to re-create her in a post-tussle condition. Missed opportunity: Alfred with sewing kit action figure!

Unfortunately she also has some real world scrapes too! Or a cold sore - who you been kissin, Babsy?

I did not pick this set up when it was at retail. It included a battle damaged Batman, battle damaged Robin, and battle damaged Catwoman - but since I had already picked up the Catwoman and Battle Damaged Batman two pack at the time, I didn't want so many redundancies. So finding her at the flea market for a dollar a couple weekends back was a deal I couldn't pass on, scrapes or no scrapes!

I really like this design of the animated Batgirl - these few figures came out right after Mattel acquired the license. The previous Hasbro versions didn't look as close to her animated counterparts as they could have, and Mattel did a good job with the subtle contra-posto stance in this sculpt. Great figure, (see, I can say nice things about Mattel sometimes!) and while I would prefer her to have a normal 'clean' costume, I'm almost positive that they did not release one at general retail with this sculpt. I recall a silver (?!?!) version in another four pack, and of course this one - a normal costume may have been released with the 'Rise of Sun-Tzu' video game but I'm not positive, and that wouldn't have helped me at the time because I didn't have whatever game system the game was made for then anyways.

Whatever the case may be, I have Batgirl now and that's good news in my book!