Carrie Kelley in DC's New 52 Continuity!

SPOILERS on recent Batman comics events below, so read with caution...

'The Dark Knight Returns' Carrie Kelley will be making her DC 'in continuity' debut next week, April 10th, with the release of Batman and Red Robin #10.

Hot off the heels of the death of Damian Wayne, DC is set to introduce Frank Miller's spunky female future Robin Carrie Kelley to the DC proper. How she'll interact with the bat family and whether or not she'll actually take up the mantle of the bird for real or not waits to be seen, but I'm damn sure grabbing this issue (already called my LCS to hold one for me!) because who doesn't love Carrie Kelley Robin?

Will Kelley be around a while, or is this a 'one-shot' sales gimmick? According to writer Peter Tomasi:

“What you’ll find out once you crack the book, is that she’s not exactly the ‘new Robin,’ but I don’t want to spoil the story and her introduction into Bruce Wayne/Batman’s life,”

“In regards to how long she’ll be around, let’s just say that it’s a helluva lot longer than ‘one issue.’ I’ve got plans for Carrie that play well into the future.” 

From The Mary Sue via The New York Post.

Batgirl

In addition to Bane, Poison Ivy and Batgirl's Ice-Strike Cycle, one more 'not nearly as bad as the movie' action figure from the debacle Batman and Robin that I added to my collection recently is this basic Batgirl.

Once again the toy isn't too bad at all. In fact, this is a pretty nice Batgirl action figure all things considered.

Batgirl here looks almost nothing like her movie counterpart. Namely...no nipples. Or was it only the men in Schumacher's opus that got nipples? I can't recall...or choose not to.

But seriously, the real difference is that this Batgirl has a proper cowl, not a domino mask like Alicia Silverstone sported in the film.

I do have to admit that I'd love to have a movie accurate Batgirl figure, but this one is far more preferred for it's closer-to-the-comics styling.

She even fits atop her Ice Strike Cycle!

Oddly, the standard Batgirl is taller than the one that came with the bike. But I suppose one could just imagine these were two different Batgirls, like Cassie and Steph.

Batgirl came with some terrible accessories which I won't even go into as they were nothing more than a waste of plastic. But for a fun and nice looking Batgirl action figure (of which there just aren't enough of) this one fits the bill pretty nicely, and can still be found for cheaper than the cost of a new action figure.

Poisunday Ivy :: Uma

'Batman and Robin' was an abomination.

However it does mark the only time a live-action Poison Ivy has appeared on the silver screen, or even the television screen for that matter.

With the release of The Dark Knight Rises this summer even Bane will have more live action appearances than the alluring Miss Isley! Who would have ever thought that would happen?!?!

 

Uma Thurman is an attractive lady and a fine actress, yet 'Batman and Robin' made her look more like a plant themed drag queen than an alluring super villain.

I wonder what his/her drag queen name would be.

Tessa d'Salad, maybe?

I think Uma had about seventeen different costumes throughout the movie. I'm not going to watch it again to find out.

The eyebrow-leaves are just unnecessary, if they wanted her to be incognito they could have at least gone all out and gave her a domino mask or something.

This costume is okay, if the cape were gone and the hair a more natural shade of red.

Oh hai Bane.

What the hell is up with that hair?

Again, this would have been a fine look for the entire movie; but then the toy companies wouldn't have been able to release all those variant action figures of Poison Ivy in all her movie costumes. Wait, they didn't do that anyways.

Oh well, here's to Uma Thurman, I'm sure she was paid well for her role.

Get on your bad motor-scooter and ride!

In my previous 'Batman and Robin' Poison Ivy post I mentioned the pursuit of a 'Batman and Robin' Batgirl action figure that led me to a cheap eBay lot I couldn't resist.

As mentioned, the lot did include the Batgirl I was after, as well as a few figures I wasn't after or even aware of, all for cheaper than most sellers were asking for Batgirl alone!

I will cover the sought after Batgirl in a later post; Today's post covers one of the figures (and vehicles) I didn't even know existed!

Batgirl and her Batcycle!

Or more accurately, and in keeping with the frozen theme of the movie that inspired it: her 'Ice-Strike Cycle' with 'snow assault mode and razor wheel launcher.' Groovy!

Remember when toys had awesome hand-rendered illustrations on the packaging? Those were good times.

This Batcycle is actually pretty cool. I've seen far worse, and if it were black it would be perfect. It's pretty accurate to what I recall Batgirl riding in the movie (and no, I am not going to review the movie to be sure.) It even has 'studs' molded on the tires for ice-gripping traction!

The batwings fold up and down which is pretty cool too, and the front wheel had a disc launching attachment that can be removed. What's nice about the launcher is that when it is attached it doesn't distract or take away from the bike's overall design.

Surprisingly, Batgirl is a decent figure too. I'd prefer darker colors of course, but at least she isn't sporting neon colors, right?

The helmet/cowl is pretty keen with that mean looking visor.

And her cloth cape flows nicely over her rear...I mean the rear of the motorcycle.

The figure is sculpted to sit well on the bike and grip the handlebars at the same time, without being bowlegged when standing off the bike. That's good toy design.

While certainly not the best Batgirl action figure around this one did surprise me, turning out to be a pretty fun little toy and a cool addition to Bubba's batcave.

'Eat your heart out, George Clooney!'

Finally, here's a look at the back of the packaging. I'm really glad to have rediscovered some of these toys lately.

While the movie was an atrocity and totally turned me off from seeking any of these out when it was released, thanks to Bane I have a new found appreciation for the toys after all these years. And since no one else cared about the movie either, with a little patience they can be found for pretty cheap!

That said, I am pretty sure I have all the figures I want from this series now, thanks to this awesome eBay win! Stay tuned to Toyriffic for the Batgirl that had me seeking it all out to begin with to find out if she was worth it!

Hollywood and Vine

When I picked up the Batman and Robin Bane action figure a few months back, I started looking a little more closely at other figures from that godawful movie. Fortunately some of the figures little reflected their film counterparts, and are actually pretty nice comic/realistic looks at some of the bat characters. They are also in my prefered scale and not being an articulationazi, they are more in tune with my current action figure preferences.

I have wanted Batgirl for a while, so when I spotted her in a lot on eBay for super cheap I jumped on it. I'll get to her later, but today let's look at another figure I received in the lot: Poison Ivy!

'Jungle Venom Poison Ivy' to be exact.

A nice figure, Ivy is modeled somewhat on Uma Thurman, but her costume design is far from the movie...

...and her hair-do is more comic accurate than Uma's atrocious beehives and such.

The costume...err...body paint...err...whatever...is pretty simple, but there are a few vines and leaves sculpted throughout the arms and legs..

Ivy comes with a couple cool accessories too. Surprising, as most accessories, especially for movie themed toys, are usually pretty lame. AND she can actually hold them!

She has a poison-gun that really squirts water...keen!

And these cool 'grasping vines' that attach to her wrist like they are shooting out spider-man style!

'Thwip thwip...I mean...stop Batman, or I'll release my pretties!'

I am BANE!!!!

"What villain did you say is going to be in my next move? Bane? BANE?! HAHA! No way! That juice-headed lummox from the Batdebacle known as Schumacher's List (of Crappy Things No One Likes Except Schumacher, Like Men's Nipples)...I mean 'Batman & Robin?' That Bane? I'm surprised he was able to take the time out from his busy GNC commercial work to get to the casting call, let alone...huh? What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"...he's behind me, isn't he?"

Batman's opinion notwithstanding, I have liked the character of Bane from the very start, when first introduced with little fanfare and even less foreshadowing of things to come in the one-shot 'Vengeance of Bane.'

Which is why I hated his appearance in Batman and Robin. Which in turn is why I never before noticed this pretty cool, comic accurate Bane action figure, which was released in 1997 as part of the Batman and Robin movie action figure toyline.

I picked this Bane up from eBay for $3 plus shipping. He was mint on card, but I tore him open right away. He's in the 5" scale, but also works as a larger guy against the 4" movie Batman (shown in the first picture, talking smack about Bane.)

I also figure he'll look great with the upcoming Young Justice action figures if 1) I end up getting any and 2) they don't make a Bane for that toyline. He did appear in one episode of the cartoon so I imagine it's possible, but who knows.

And finally, since it's extremely unlikely that I will build the Collect and Connect Bane from the most recent DC Universe Classics release because 1) Mattel and 2) see #1, this guy will have to serve as my Bane fix for a while. At least until The Dark Knight Rises Bane action figure comes out! Can I get a 'Hell yes!'?

The fact that they went with a comicbook Bane for this toyline is interesting, considering how different the movie version of Bane ended up looking. Actually, none of the toys released for this movie look much like their movie counterparts. Not sure how/why that happened, since the movie was clearly aimed at slower-than-average first graders, which would have made movie accurate toys a sure thing. No, sorry, that's who wrote and directed the movie. Who knows who the audience was intended to be!

Looking back, the fact that these toys look little to nothing like the movie makes at least a few of these worth a second glance. Plus they are all pretty cheap and easy to come by. Unlike most DC comic themed toys on 'shelves' now.

Even Bane's accessories are not too terribly lame, all things considered. I mean at least they aren't neon pink! They are brutal 'metallic' bladed weapons, which are always fun for kids of all ages.

Bane of course also comes with his venom delivery tube which easily plugs into the back of his head and clips to his wrist for muscle growing rage inducing genital shrinking and home run record setting steroid fun!

Bane is a simpler action figure from a simpler time. Which means he has five points of articulation. It also means Bane's ankles wont buckle, his knees aren't warped and his hands don't snap off when hit by a mild summer breeze. Ahh the good old days.