Toy Review: Mattel - Classic TV Series Batman, Riddler, and Penguin Action Figures

Bam! Mattel's first wave of Classic Batman TV series action figures

I am not sure what started my love of the Caped Crusader. I am in a constant debate with myself of whether the Classic Batman TV series or Mego's World's Greatest Super Heroes Batman was the cause, but either way I love all that is Batman and at long last I have more toys to add to that love.

Finally, after 47 since its first episode aired on January 1, 1966 there or toys based on a TV series that is as popular as it was when it began airing all those years ago.

Figures Toy Co Announces the Release of WGSH Action Figures Series 2

Series 2 includes Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Penguin, and Catwoman

There's been nothing but great news in the toy world this week as Figures Toy Company announces the next release in their Batman Retro Action Figures, which are exact replicas of Mego's old World's Greatest Super Heroes line.

Mattel Reveals Batman TV Series Toys at Toy Fair 2013

 

As you may know I love Batman, but I especially love the Batman TV series. I grew watching the series that starred Adam West and Burt Ward as the Dynamic Duo and it was quite possibly the very reason I become such a Bat-Fan.

Vintage Penguin Action Figure by Mego 1974-1982

The Penguin, that pompous waddling master of fowl play, the criminal maestro of a thousand ubiquitous umbrellas and a pretty cool action figure.

Batman's Arch Enemy, Penguin

Like Mego's Joker action figure, Penguin was a popular selling character for Mego. He sold from is introduction in the Super-Foes line until the demise of The World's Greatest Super Heroes line in 1982, when Mego folded. Not only was the Penguin a popular seller like the Joker, his design and appearances in Batman toy commercials were just about equal. He often shared the spotlight with the Clown Prince of Crime in joint capers in the commercials.

The Penguin's head sculpt is similar to Mr. Mxyzptlk in the fact that their hats were molded to their heads. Later released figures in the line like Green Arrow or Speedy had removable hats. The rest of the head was complete with beak nose, monocle and evil smirk. Mego also utilized their fat torso design for both Penguin and Mr. Mxyzptlk.

Like other villains in the line, this figure has a screen printed outfit. The Penguin's is a tuxedo with bow tie, big black buttons, orange cummerbund, pin-stripped purple pants and white spats and matches the characters comic book look at the time. Like the Joker, he has a removable tailed jacket and shoes.

Penguin was sold in window boxes and on blister cards. The comic illustration is a recognizable depiction of the character from the 70's and the original drawing has him holding an umbrella, which Mego did not include, as was their usual practice not include to accessories. Expect for the before mentioned Green Arrow. How do not give the Penguin an umbrella? Sounds like fowl play to me.

Check out the Mego Riddler that was part of this series too.

Bugs Bunny Meets the Superheroes

The Gals over at Girls Gone Geek posted this poster for the live action Bugs Bunny Meets the Super-heroes and I was immediately transported back to 1978. I remember my dad taking me to see this and it actually was shown at my high school auditorium. Eight years before I went to school there.

I don't remember much about what Bugs and his Looney Toon pals did. Other than them running around frantic when Batman and Robin were fighting with The Joker, Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman. Wonder Woman was in it too, but I don't remember much of how she was involved. I do remember Chief O'Hara saying the Bat-signal didn't work or the bat-phone was down and had all the kids start yelling for Batman and Robin in hopes that they would hear. The Dynamic Duo did in fact hear us and came running down the center aisle.

I did take home a coloring book based on the show, but that was the only souvenir I received. There was a cool Batman mask available like the one Batman wore in the play, but unfortunately, I didn't get it.

That was an especially cool week for me as I also met Adam West and Burt Ward at an auto show that week. Those were some good times. For a look at a pic of the heroes on stage go HERE.

Adam West Discusses the Arch Villains on the Batman TV Series

I came across this cool interview with Adam West on Emmy TV Legends. In this excerpt Adam discusses his experiences with the villains of the Batman TV series and the actors who played them. He talks about the Penguin (Burgess Meredith), Joker (Cesar Romero), Riddler (Frank Gorshin), King Tut (Victor Bouno), and Mr. Freeze (George Sanders, Otto Preminger, and Eli Wallach) and others . Man I guess Otto Preminger had quite an ego.



For more Batman videos check us out.

The Superheroine Monologues

I just came across this cool looking play called 'The Superheroine Monologues' and wish I could have checked it out. Looks like it was in Boston last year in April and September.

It features all your favorite super heroines in their costumed deliciousness. It even featured Batman villains the Penguin, the Joker, and the Riddler as well as, Superman's arch enemy Lex Luthor.

The play tells the stories of Batgirl, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Dark Phoenix, Catwoman, Lois Lane, and Storm.












This looks like it was a lot of fun and pretty funny. Hope it comes out on DVD or I get chance to see it if it goes into production again. Check out their site at TheSuperheroineMonologues.com.

For more Super Heroine videos check us out.

Mego Alter Ego Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson Action Figures

Who are Batman and Robin behind those masks of theirs? Why millionaire Bruce Wayne and his youthful ward Dick Grayson of course. In 1974 Mego revealed just that with their action figure versions of their alter ego's.

In 1974 Montgomery Ward sold these secret identities figures exclusively in a two pack set and for Christmas that year I got them as present from my aunt.



I remember them being the coolest thing since I had never seen them before. I
remember getting a Penguin figure too. My cousin received a Penguin as well, but no Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson. I was the lucky one and he was so jealous.




Sadly my outfits for these two were thrown away one day when my dad went on a clearing my "junk" spree. That day landed a lot of treasure buried in the Las Vegas desert.

The only thing that survived were their heads, which the Dick Grayson head was used to create my Removable Mask Robin. The Bruce Wayne head remains body less.


My current alter ego figures are not the aforementioned figures I received for Christmas. The Dick Grayson action figure was picked up on Ebay a few years ago, while the Bruce Wayne is a complete repro version from Dr. Mego.

These cool custom boxes were thrown in with part of my Ebay deal for the Dick Grayson.



People have been known to pimp out their wives, mortgage their homes, and sell their first born for these rarest of all Mego figures. Although, my Dick Grayson is original I am just as satisfied to have a repro Bruce Wayne. Just looking at them sends me back to my childhood.

For more Batman toy collectibles check us out.

Batman is Really Barack Obama?

We had posted some other political humor previously with the Bush administration guest starring as villains on the Batman TV series. I was looking through some photos and came across this picture of Obama as Batman, Joe Biden as Robin, John McCain as the Penguin, and Sarah Palin as the Catwoman...Meow.



For more Batman humor check us out.

Awesome Mego World's Greatest Super Heroes Display

Take a look at these great blister carded Worlds Greatest Super Heroes. What a collection!


For more toy collectibles check us out.

Mego Comic Action Heroes Batmobile Commercial

Here's a Mego commercial from 1976 of the Batman related Comic Action Heroes Batmobile set. I had this set when I was a kid. I thought it was cool, but my activator never really worked. The spring was so stiff you could never get to stay locked down so you could pull the plunger and cause it to blow up the bridge. It only worked a couple of times for me so the fun didn't last long. I think my dad threw away the set (among tons of other collectibles). Wish I still had today. Need to try and pick one up off a eBay one day. The commercial says Robin is sold separately, but mine came with not only Batman, but Robin, The Joker, and The Penguin.

Cool Custom Mego Style Batman Villians

I am always amazed at the creativity of Mego collectors. Especially, when creating custom figures of unproduced characters. It would have been cool if Mego had done a Batman collection based on the TV series from the 60's.

Here we can see custom Mego style characters based on the Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman from the Batman movie from the 60's with a very good likeness of the actors that played them. It would great if these were mass produced. Check out the video.

What do you think about customizing figures? Good idea or stick to the figures actually produced?