Brought to you by Mattel, this article will teach you about the Batman action figure. The figure will be reviewed from a historical, cultural, and personal perspective. Along the way, you’ll learn about the evolution of the superhero movie genre and the Batman character itself. Interested in comic books, action figures, or superheroes? Keep reading.
The Historical Perspective
The Batman action figure is as old as the character himself. The caped crusader’s first appearance in print was in the pages of DC Comics’ Detective Comics in May 1939. In September of that year, his identity and crimefighting methods were packaged in an eight-page story titled “The Batman: The Man Who Cried Wolf.” The legend was officially born: Robert Pattinson played a key role in making Batman one of the most popular characters of all time.
The Cultural Perspective
In the same way that comic books and pulp magazines are considered to be modern-day classics, the Batman character and his adventures have always been a favorite topic of cultural studies scholars. For example, in 2003 a group of cultural studies researchers at the University of Washington conducted an oral history interview with Detective Comics’ artist Bud Chill. During the course of this lengthy interview, Bud Chill discussed how he approached creating Batman’s look and how he feels about the character and his legacy.
The Personal Perspective
As a lifelong Batman fan, I feel particularly vested in the character’s legacy. The Batman action figure, in particular, has been a long time coming. It was first confirmed in 2012 that the figure would be released in 2018. Since then, a number of high profile celebrities have been revealed as the suspects for the famous “batman” mustache. But fear not, fellow fans, the figure will be here soon enough. In the meantime, let’s take a quick look back at the characters and the movies that made him famous.
The Characters
Batman is, at heart, a character whose sole purpose is to fight crime. This is most strongly represented in the character’s costume. The dark knight is traditionally dressed in a dark coat, black pants, and a cowl. Sometimes he wears a white shirt with a black bat symbol on it. For as long as anyone can remember, Batman’s symbol has been a representation of his fight against the criminal underworld and their cohorts. The character is often considered to be America’s greatest detective. In the movies, he’s often worked with butlers, bodyguards, and cops. These are all members of the public that he’s sworn to protect and to serve.
The Films
Batman first appeared in the big-budgeted superhero film noir The Dark Knight. And what a film it is! It remains one of the most iconic entries in the series. It introduced the world to a darker, more realistic interpretation of Batman. The Dark Knight was a seminal work that helped to expand the genre and redefine what a superhero movie could be. Despite its critical and commercial success, The Dark Knight was not the first movie to feature Batman. The character was first featured in Detective Comics in 1939. Since then, he’s been featured in more than 70 films and television shows.
The Legacy
Today, the Batman character remains one of the most recognizable and popular superheroes of all time. His influence can be seen in pop culture today. From the Joker in The Dark Knight to Joker in The Joker, the Batman films retain their popularity as evidenced by critical acclaim and huge box office returns. With any luck, fans will continue to enjoy more Batman films in the future.
The evolution of the superhero movie genre is a subject that’s fascinated me for years. With each new generation, the movies become grittier, more realistic, and more focused on character development. This is most clearly seen in the Dark Knight trilogy. While the first film was filled with special effects and bright colors, its successors are more reflective of the dark and dreary worlds of Gotham City.
What do you think? Is the Batman action figure worth waiting for? Let us know in the comments below!