Another Killer on the Loose! DCUC Killer Moth :: Countdown to Halloween 2014 :: It's Haloween Eve!

Another Killer from the DC Comics universe: Killer Moth!

Say what you will about Mattel and their handling of the DC Universe Classics toyline (at this point it's all been said), but one thing is for sure; they gave us some really unexpected characters in toy form, including this fashion-senseless Bat-villain from the Silver Age of colorblind evil.

Killer Moth is a pretty hapless doofus. I suppose his name is 'Killer' for the same reason a big guy is named 'Tiny'. Either that, or for what his outfit does to our eyes.

Killer Moth came with a 'cocoon gun' which isn't in proximity to my photography studio, so you will just have to take my word for it.

Happy Halloween eve! If you haven't figured out your costume yet, perhaps you can take a cue from Killer Moth here and just slap a bunch of mis-matched clothing items onto your person and call yourself a super-villain.

It works in Gotham City.

Like a Killer Moth to the flame

Another toy purchased from Brian at Cool and Collected is this Killer Moth, or Charaxes, from The Batman animated series toyline.

When this toy was originally released I wanted nothing to do with it. I saw it in stores several times and waved my hand and raised my nose at such a, excuse the term, 'monstrosity.'

I was not a fan of the comic book storyline wherein Drury Walker aka Killer Moth traded in his striped stockings and his soul to be transformed into the mutant moth Charaxes. So why would I want a toy that represented exactly that?

But over the years I have softened a bit. It also helps that Brian gave me a smoking deal on all the toys I bought off him, so what's one moth in the box?

And you know what, now that I have this mutant mothball in my posession I actually kind of like him.

The toy's design is straight out of the toon, and he even has a nifty feature wherein you fill him with water (his torso is a soft rubber) and he can squirt water out his...mouth. Like...real...moths? Whatever, it's fun for kids I suppose.

He also comes permanently attached to his base. For one thing, it assures he's stable, so that's kind of cool. For another, it helps with display and assures even this far after his initial release and second hand acquisition status, his base is still around. Good thinking, toy designers!

This guy is ridiculous but I am glad to finally add him to my 'The Batman' villains roster.

Some other 'The Batman' figures in my collection include:
Firefly
Scarface and the Ventriloquist
Mr. Freeze

The Mothmobile Prophecies

I've written a few times about the Corgi Batmobile series of the mid 2000s. One of the most exceptional components of the series was the inclusion of comic accurate villain mobiles. One of the final villain mobile releases was also probably the most obscure and difficult to obtain...

The menacing Mothmobile!

The Mothmobile, driven by the not so threatening Killer Moth, is unique in that it is a three wheeled vehicle, with only one wheel at the rear.

All the Corgi releases had an "action feature" of some sort and the Mothmobile is no different: If you push down on the front end, the wings pop out.

The really amazing thing about this series is that they spared no expense. Often toy companies make lower level characters out of existing parts and kind of cobble together an extra, but not true with Corgi. The wheels are even unique all the way down to their Mothcaps. (I wonder how history would have been different had Jason Todd tried to steal those. Get on it, Grant Morrison!)

You can see why it's a three-wheeler, as the rear end tapers to a point.

Even gaudy Killer Moth is well represented piloting his kooky ride!

Mattel is now producing a series of Batmobiles in about the same 1:43 scale. They're nice, but they pale, PALE I say, in comparison to this line of Corgi vehicles in quality, value, playability, creativity...I could go on. Instead I will just go stare at my Batmobile shelf and smile.