The Batman Mr. Freeze :: Coolsville, Daddy-O

Inspired by Colin's recent The Batman acquisitions over at the Super-Duper Toy Box, I recently dug out one of the finest of the series from my own collection, Mr. Freeze.

Yup, I had never opened my Mr. Freeze until today! You could say he was in cold storage. Hahahahaha!

Sadly when I did open him, his freezing action sword (basically just a tube full of freezing goo that holds the cold) is now nothing more than a tube of sticky goo that does nothing. Oh well. A cute gimmick for the kiddies but I can live without it.

Here's the cardback, showing off the awesome Bat-Bot that you couldn't even get in the US (to my knowledge.) I hate it when the toy companies do that. It's enough to make me (ice) scream. Hahahahaha!

I really love this Freeze character design. I like how in the cartoon his body is skinny and frail but the containment suit gives him his girth. That is sort of represented on the figure with the clear upper arms, although since there is no skinny arm inside them a little bit of the effect is lost in translation. That's my only gripe, and not nearly enough to cause me a winter of discontent. Hahahahahaa!

I especially love how Freeze's 'helmet' is ice that has 'grown' out of the suit and encompassed his head. A very clever and fun design element!

There was a variant for this figure with 'features,' while this common figure had a featureless face (more in tune with the toon.) I had both at one time, but sold off the variant due to my preference for the more cartoon accurate version and I don't regret it at all. The other version just left me cold. Hahahaha!

And here are a few of Mr. Freeze's 'The Batman' compatriots who wanted in on the fun. Firefly, Clayface and The Ventriloquist with Scarface. I think the only other 'The Batman' villain I own is Joker, but you'll just have to wait to see him some other day.

That's right, you just need to chill!

Hahahahahahahhahhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!

Feel the Heat :: Firefly from The Dark Knight action figure collection

Here's another figure I received last Christmas: Firefly!



This Firefly figure is a brand new release and part of Mattel's Dark Knight movie line.




Although he didn't actually appear in the movie, I love the "inspired by" take on this guy and hope they do more "realistic" villains in the toyline. Part of the recent Bat-movie success is that they take a more real-world view on the characters, so it stands to reason that more realistic bat-universe figures like this one would be successful with fans and kids.

Also, it means less Bat-variants, and we've all had enough of those.

Really.



Of course Firefly comes with a rocket pack, so he can, umm, fly. Actually the full designation of this figure is "Rocket Pack Firefly." Kind of like when you put on pants, you're called "Pants McGee," because otherwise people would miss the obvious.

The wings pop out a small bit with a push of a button...

...pop...

...and a little lever produces an equally little plastic "flame" from the turbine.

Yawn.

The figure does have a great design and some fun details. The helmet/mask are really cool, and he also has some sort of unknown apparatus attached to each boot. I assume these are for fire-making and other assorted villainy.

I like his color scheme too, which is more in keeping with the Firefly I know from The Batman the Animated Series and eighties/nineties comic appearances, and not anything like his recent appearance on The Batman cartoon or his first comic book appearance in the fifties...

...although that would make a fun figure, wouldn't it?

The only downside to the figure is that he is sorely missing a blow torch. I mean, he's FIREFLY for chrissakes! At least give him two sticks to rub together! Sheesh!


Here he is after borrowing Azrael's fire-missile launcher.

FWOOOOOSH!

Thank goodness I have plenty of toy firetrucks nearby!

Firefly, Won't You Shine Your Light...

I had always hoped for a Firefly figure from Batman: The Animated Series. His design was cool and sleek, while being mostly utilitarian. Basically a fire-suit, a helmet, and wings to catch the updrafts.

Oh yeah, he also had flamethrowers.

Well my dream never came to pass. But surprisingly, a later incarnation of Firefly did appear in plastic a couple years ago.

The Batman was a decent cartoon. But like Michael Jordan's younger brother Dave or Babe Ruth's cousin Leroy, it really doesn't matter how good it was, as it followed on the heels of the legendary Batman: The Animated Series. The Batman could have been Shakespeare in tights (wait...Shakespeare was Shakespeare in tights.) Anyways, it didn't matter, because it had such a large shadow to crawl out of.

At least it stood on it's own in the way of character design. Not as good or iconic of a design/look as Batman TAS but, well, okay, I'll stop comparing apples to plums here.

What The Batman did give us was a Firefly action figure (whew...took me long enough to get there, didn't it!)


Not a bad take on the character, although the black and yellow make him look more like a wasp or something.


One really cool feature the toy designers gave him was a removable helmet. His backpack is also removable, which is kind of cool too. You could imagine Batman ripping it all off in flight and then leaving the baddy dangling from a light pole for the GCPD. Hours of fun.


The backpack also has a lever at the top. Much like a Bic, you flick it and it shoots a couple sparks into the enclosed area at the base. That's kind of cool too, and reminds me of a couple toys I had as a kid that shot sparks. That was always a fun feature.

So until Mattel releases a Batman TAS Firefly, or maybe a DCUC Firefly, this guy will have to hold the slot in the rouges gallery.

He'll do.