Review - Batman ‘Brave & the Bold’ Skiff Ripper Black Manta & Cyclone Spinner Red Tornado

Article originally published 04/09/2009 at geekinthecity.com

Photo gallery available HERE

Through my years as a toy collector, I have amassed enough action figures and vehicles to conquer a small nation… as long as it is guarded by tiny plastic men. I collect toys partially because I appreciate the precision work that goes into their construction. Artists, sculptors, painters - they all lend their skills to the creation of a good action figure. Of course, I also enjoy the nostalgia that comes with gazing upon a shelf loaded with brand new Stormtroopers. Action figures, in all of their various forms, have become a lifetime hobby that offers up more than just a geeky reminder of my various pop culture influences. They also provide a simple (call it juvenile if you like) form of escapism. There’s nothing like tearing open the package of a brand new Green Lantern figure or G.I. Joe vehicle to relieve one of their daily tedium. And when these figures have been set free from their plastic prison? Well, that’s when the epic battles truly begin.

After all, these are toys dammit… they are meant to be played with!

In the spirit of playable action figures, Mattel (who’s collector-goodwill seemingly knows no bounds these days) has launched a line of toys based on their successful Batman: Brave & the Bold animated series. The show, which is currently enjoying an extended run on Cartoon Network, features Batman teamed up with a new superhero (and tackling a new villain) each episode. These stylized figures and vehicles have become the perfect gateway product, allowing younger fans their first crack at pitting the Dark Knight against DC Universe villains both infamous and obscure. In this review, I’ll unleash one of each with “Cyclone Spinner” Red Tornado and “Skiff Ripper” Black Manta.

Packaging:
Mattel’s clear goal with the packaging of this kid-friendly line is to have it stand apart from the rest of the action figure isle. You certainly won’t be confusing these figures with the sterile decor of Hasbro’s Clone Wars line. The card and blister sport vibrant colors, matching the overall theme of the cartoon. These are cartoon figures and the packaging exemplifies this. Each package includes the character’s name, a small image of their animated counterpart and a badass image of the Dark Knight himself. The back of the blister card shows other figures and vehicles in the series. Not much else here… so lets rip these suckers open!

Sculpt & Likeness:
Both Red Tornado and Black Manta stand around 5″ tall, allowing plenty of detail that might otherwise be missing in a smaller scale. They both feature a more blocky stylized look than what is shown in the cartoon. However, this isn’t much of a detraction as these figures are downright fun. Red Tornado’s shoulder armor, cloth cape and chiseled arms/legs give the figure the perfect “superhero” feel. Black Manta is the more detailed of the two, with the rivets and straps of his diving suit lending to a more dynamic looking figure. Manta and Tornado both came with surprisingly clean paint apps, especially considering they’re targeted for the mass-market rather than the discerning collector. This is especially significant on Black Manta, whose yellow eyes and red tubing could have easily skipped past Q.C. with little notice of smudging or discoloration. Kudos to Mattel for taking the production time to ensure that while these figures are certainly kid-centric, they will hold up to the more critical eye of us older Bat-fans.

The one (and likely only) point of contention that I’ll make with this line is the inclusion of hexagonal sockets on the sides and back of each figure. These are an advertised feature of the line and allows the “Snap & Switch” of multiple accessories or weapons. A neat concept, but I think that adding what amounts to seven large holes to each figure does little more than to just make it look bizarre… and not in a good way. I can understand the need to include a socket in the back (for weapon storage) or perhaps even one on each forearm, but seven seems a bit extreme.

Articulation:
Again, you have to take a step back from these figures and understand that they are not targeted for the adult collector… especially not one who might be used to the super-articulated” feature of the Marvel Legends or DC Universe Classics lines. Instead, Red Tornado and Black Manta have limited movement, but it seems to work fine within the confines of their smaller size. Both include neck, shoulder, elbow, waist and thigh joints, bringing their points of articulation to eight per figure. Manta’s head, while articulated, is slightly hindered by the tubes connecting it to his backpack. These tubes are made from what appears to be soft PVC and are very flexible, so you won’t have to fret about any unexpected breaks. A notable absence from both figures is a knee joint, which seems like an odd omission considering the articulated elbows. No matter, as I had no trouble getting Manta and Tornado in a few nifty superhero/villain poses. All that is required is a little imagination.

Accessories:
Both figures include a single “Snap & Switch” accessory/weapon. The “Skiff Ripper” Black Manta comes with a painful looking device with which he presumably uses to rip skiffs. Regardless, it is much cooler than Red Tornado’s captain’s wheel/spinning top/mechanical windstorm… whatever it is. The items can be grasped fairly easily by each figure, thanks to the flexibility of the plastic used for their hands. Both items have an attached hex peg, which allows them to connect to any one of the (unnecessary) seven sockets on each figure. Presumably, one could purchase seven toys from the line and connect the weapons to a single figure, creating an uber-accessories but ultimately functionless hero or villain.

Overall Impression:
My issues with the “Snap & Switch” feature aside, I’m a fan of this series. I’ve been able to find most of the figures in the current waves (which also includes Batman, Blue Beetle and Aquaman) in stores at around the $8.00 mark. Considering that you will pay a similar cost for purchasing the latest 3 3/4″ Clonetrooper, I’d staunchly recommend going with these larger, more playable figures. Mattel has also included vehicles in the Brave & the Bold line and will be adding more heroes and villains in later waves. Look for B’wana Beast, Despero, Gentlemen Ghost and the Joker to get the stylized B&B treatment later this year. For now, pick up Black Manta and Red Tornado (and Batman, of course!), sit down with a bowl of cereal and watch a couple episodes of the show on Cartoon Network. I dare ya to resist the urge to start a few epic battles of your own!