Review – Legends of the Dark Knight: Dark Knight Detective

Now this is how you give Batman a cape that will be forever remembered! This 1998 Kenner Legends of the Dark Knight series (Amazon.com search*) action figure’s primary feature is clearly that giant, elaborate cape. And the cape is so very, very massive that it comes packed in pieces and you have to assemble it once Batman is removed from his packaging. Now that’s a lot of cape.

I Told You This Would Be Mine!

I last mentioned this sculpt back in June — see “Ten Awesome Kenner Batman Action Figures of the Nineties” — but the big difference is that at the time I was specifically referring to the blue and gray version of the action figure. I blame the DC Comics Action Figure Archive* for me even thinking of this toy, and once I knew there was a variant I just had to grab them both. How could I resist multiples of a Batman with a cape this insane?

Cape Parts

Below is a shot of the Dark Knight Detective action figure as it comes out of the package, before assembly. The tips of the cape are shown loose, laying at Batman’s feet, and snapping the two parts on is quick and painless. There’s a bit of an ugly seam in the cape where the parts attach, but it’s barely noticeable once everything is pressed firmly together. And if my choice comes down to Kenner having gone with this approach or a smaller cape then I’ll say Kenner made the right choice.

A Ridiculous Cape!

Roughly seven-inches at its widest point and over ten-inches tall, Batman’s cape is amazingly and gloriously ridiculous. It’s as if Kelley Jones was consulted in the design stages of the toy and the Kenner designers did everything they could to translates Jones’ Batman to action figure form.

Six-Inches Tall

The Dark Knight Detective* action figure stands roughly six-inches tall to the top of the head — taller if you count the ears — and while the basic figure alone is a decent enough sculpt it is really that cape that makes the toy dominate the shelf. The cape also impacts the figure’s balance, but I’ve found that the tail of the cape almost acts as a support so as long as the center of gravity is shifted back slightly the toy stands without difficulty.

Five Points of Articulation

It is with this series (and the previous Legends of Batman line) where the Kenner basic five points — swivels at the neck, shoulders, and hips — starts to cause problems. Inspired by the McFarlane action figures of the era, the Dark Knight Detective* action figure is sculpted more for collectors than kids because the figure’s balance depends on a specific pose to really work. Thinking about it, I can see that I need to revise my thoughts on articulation and playability to include a specification that the pose needs to be neutral to really make a limited number of joints work for play.

Fun Sculpt!

When I saw the gray and blue version of this mold in the DC Comics Action Figure Archive* it was the cape (more than anything else about the toy) that caught my eye. But I cannot deny that the Kelley Jones influences of the cape and figure itself make me quite happy with the look of the figure. Lean, muscular, powerful, and looking like the perfect basic Batman toy I suspect that this is the one Legends of the Dark Knight action figure — either in this black form or the blue and gray version — that almost every collector of Batman toys would love in their display. It’s Batman at his purest and his most nineties style.

Closing Thoughts

I must admit that both the Kenner Legends of the Dark Knight and Legends of Batman lines (Amazon.com search*) are really capturing my attention and excitement at the moment so it is some of that joy that’s affecting my opinions. Even so, when it comes to this Dark Knight Detective* action figure I truly believe that all Batman fans simply must love the look of the toy.

The cape is what makes this really stand out and draw the eye, but even with the cape striped away the sculpt beneath is strong enough — and simply Batman without any bells, whistles, or insane accessories — that it strengthens the overall look. Fantastic work from the Kenner of the nineties and I can say that I must share the blue and gray version of the toy with you very soon.