Since the introduction of superhero comics, comic books have garnered more audience and readers. The various superhero characters also became household names while others adopted them into video games and movies. Batman is one of the most famous comic book characters ever published. He is also one of the oldest comic book characters since his debut in Detective Comics in May 1939. He got his self-titled debut comic in the following year. Ever since then, Batman has been one of the most important characters in the DC Universe.
A young Bruce Wayne watched his father and mother murdered on the street of Gotham. This tragedy meant that his trusted butler, Alfred Pennyworth, raised him. Young Bruce swore to avenge his parent’s death by spending his life fighting against crime in his city. And so, he did, going through rigorous physical training and mastering over one hundred and twenty martial arts. He rose to become the best hand-to-hand fighter in the DC Universe. Bruce Wayne mastered physical combats. Then, with the help of sophisticated weaponry, he became The Batman. A superhero with no superhuman ability. All he had was just his strong will to see justice served and hunger to stop all criminals.
Batman’s influence has seen him associate with a lot of friends and fight a lot of foes. Making him the perfect protagonist for toy companies to exploit.
Presenting: the ten best toys based on Batman.
10. DC Direct’s Batman – Arkham City: Dr. Hugo Strange (2013)
Doctor or Professor Strange is one of the earliest villains Batman had to fight. He started as an intelligent criminal mastermind who created a thick fog to cover his gangs’ robbery. Doctor Strange moved on to creating mindless monsters to either serve as distractions while his gang steals or to help him fight Batman. He was famous for being the first villain to uncover the identity of Batman, but he could not tell anyone until he started doubting the validity of the information himself.
DC Direct produced this Doctor Strange replica, coupled with a syringe and a surgeon scalpel in 2013.
9. Mattel’s Batman – Extreme Power: Batgirl (2006)
Batgirl is a female superhero crime-fighter who fights alongside Batman, Robin, and the other Bat-family. Several fictional female characters have donned the Batgirl costume, but the most famous wearer was Barbara Gordon. Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Commissioner Gordon, was intrigued by the good Batman does for the community. She later joined him as Batgirl but was retired from the superhero costume when the Joker famously paralyzed her in “the killing joke.” The costume was also worn by the huntress, Cassandra Cain, and Spoiler before Barbara recovered to assume the post again.
In 2006, Mattel produced Batgirl to especially target female Batman fans across the world.
8. DC Direct’s Batman Incorporated: Damian as Robin (2012)
Damian Wayne is a genetically engineered son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, Ra’s al Ghul’s daughter. He grew in an artificial womb. Although he had no previous knowledge of the child’s existence, when Talia left the boy with him, she charged Batman with the task of raising his son. Before Batman took him in, the league of assassins had indoctrinated Damian and trained him to kill. After his father taught him to disregard his lessons and stop killing, Damian became the 5th Robin and a fan favorite.
DC Direct produced this figurine in 2012. His fighting stick comes included with the toy.
7. DC Collectibles’ Batman – The Animated Series: Riddler (2015)
Edward Nigma, a villain who prides himself as the most intelligent person in the room, is one of Batman’s many foes. The Riddler often uses riddles as an excuse for his crime. He asks a riddle and usually kills his victims for giving the wrong answer. Riddler sometimes leaves riddles as clues to Batman and the police teasing them about a crime he is going to commit.
The Riddler was famous for his green and purple attire. DC Collectibles hit a home run in 2015 when they produced a series of Riddler toys with interchangeable hands and his famous question mark cane.
6. DC Collectibles’ Batman – Arkham Origins: Deathstroke (2014)
Slade Wilson is an American soldier who fought for his country in multiple wars. After joining the Army at an early age, he mastered all the multiple fighting skills that the army taught him. The Army enrolled him for an experiment that enhanced his ability to have more control of his brain. This process enhanced him with super intelligence, superhuman strength, reflexes, and stamina. Deathstroke crossed paths with Batman and the Bat-family a lot since he became an assassin for hire.
In 2014, DC Collectibles produced the Deathstroke toy, armed with a gun, a sword, and a fighting stick.
5. DC Direct’s Arkham Asylum: Action Figure Box Set (2011)
The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane is a madhouse. Originally, Arkham was meant to house only genuinely mentally ill individuals. However, Arkham Asylum became a place for most of Batman’s adversaries.
Very weak security and some weird deaths define the legacy of the asylum. It houses some of the V.I.P villains in the DC Universe like Joker, Killer Croc, Penguin, Clayface, Hugo Strange, Poison Ivy, Riddler, Scarecrow, Two-Face, and a lot of others. The Arkham Asylum not only housed the criminally insane, but it also imprisoned individuals that require special conditions to live.
In 2011, DC Direct gave us a box set of characters like Joker (who adorned his asylum uniform), Killer Croc, and Penguin, who had lived in the Arkham Asylum with Batman as their jailer.
4. DC Collectibles’ Batman – The Animated Series; Batmobile (Deluxe Edition) (2016)
The Batmobile is the official high-tech, high-speed, high-quality car of Batman. It is an armored vehicle that is equipped with military-grade weapons, obtained through Wayne Tech. The Batmobile could be self-driven or remote-controlled by Batman and performs brilliantly in a high chase.
Of all the Batmobile replicas produced by different toy companies, the DC Collectibles’ can be the coolest with its 24 inches long all-black colored headlights, independently moving wheels, and remote-controlled Batmobile produced in 2016. When DC Collectibles released this model, fans worldwide happily scooped it up, and it is still the fan’s favorite Batmobile to date.
3. DC Direct’s Batman – Hush: Nightwing (2004)
Just like Bruce Wayne, Richard “Dick” Grayson has a kid who also saw his parent’s brutal murder. Knowing what that feels like, Bruce Wayne adopted Dick Grayson as his son. It did not take long before Bruce Wayne decided to train Dick Grayson, and he appointed Grayson as Batman’s crime-fighting partner and sidekick. Thus, Dick Grayson was the first Robin.
They fought crime together side by side. And on a couple of occasions, Grayson has even worn the Batman costume. Grayson grew to become an independent superhero. So, he retired his Robin and became the Night Wing. He was also the leader of the Teen Titans.
DC Direct produced this Night Wing figurine in 2004.
2. DC Direct’s Batman the Dark Knight Returns Joker (2004)
Joker may be as popular as Batman. His obsession with the masked vigilante gives him some sort of purpose or life goal. It is this insatiable obsession that makes him Batman’s ultimate villain. The Joker has caused Batman a lot of pain, both physically and emotionally. He killed the second Robin, Jason Todd, and paralyzed Barbara Gordon just to hurt Batman.
Joker has no superhuman abilities. He lost his sanity on the day he lost his wife and unborn child to a domestic accident. That very day, he became disfigured by chemical waste. From that day, Joker has had a notion that everyone can lose their sanity if faced with a very bad day. The Joker was obsessed with crimes as much as he was obsessed with dueling with the Batman.
The DC Direct version of Joker produced in 2004 must be the most elegant Joker replica ever made. He wears a white suit and carries a pistol.
1. DC Collectibles’ Batman – Arkham Knight: Batman (2015)
Batman is an excellent detective, a master martial artist, a vengeful hero, and a role model to a lot of superheroes behind him. Batman is a pivotal character in the DC Universe, having an influence on a lot of DC Comic series. From losing his parent at the tender age of 8, he began his crime-fighting career early. He stood up for a lot of people and made a lot of enemies in the process. Batman became the epitome of upstanding, integrity, and justice. Although he sometimes can be violent with his crime-fighting, Batman has a sacred vow not to kill another human.
The Batman is rich in enough action characters, both villainous and superhero in kind. Making Batman-related comics the most replicated DC superhero in the DC Universe. DC Comics itself has an affiliate company that deals with the production, marketing, and distribution of its action figurines all over the world, which does not by any means discourage other companies from making their DC Comics-inspired replicas or toy.
About the author
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!