10 years ago, BATMAN Knight Force Ninja figures were among the last Batman figures produced by Kenner. BATMAN Knight Force Ninjas as the name implies were Ninja themed Batman action figures. It was one of the few series of action figures with actual action features.
Most of the figures were Batman, although two slightly different Robin figures and three villains, Tornado Blade Riddler, Tailwhip Killer Croc and The Joker as a fighting figure were part of the line up.
The series consisted of 12 figures, 2 Karate Fighters fighting figures and the Knight Star Batmobile. At 6 ½” they were slightly larger and a bit bulkier than the other Batman figures on the pegs at the time. They all featured 6 to 12 points of articulation with an action feature of some kind. Chopping arms, kicking legs, spinning fists and a whipping tail on a very cool Killer Croc. They all came with an assortment of Ninja inspired weapons and other accessories including breakaway targets to practice hitting or kicking.
Karate Fighters BATMAN vs. The Joker consisted of two figures on fighting stands. A knob at the back would make the figures spin and throw punches and kicks. Hitting the button of the opponent’s chest popped the figure off the stand. A slide on the handle was used to keep score.
Hasbro took over the line at the end of 1998 and produced the last four figures, including the even larger 7” Multi-Blast BATMAN. Multi-Blast BATMAN featured three push buttons on his back that activated a leg and both arms. It had a finger ring to hold the figure by and you could use your thumb to push the buttons. Hasbro reused the Legends Of Batman Batmobile, in lime green no less to create the Knight Star Batmobile, the only vehicle produced for this series. Most of the Knight Force Ninjas figures would not fit in this Batmobile because it was scaled for the leaner Legends Of Batman figures, but Karate Chop BATMAN will fit in it.
Unlike almost all other series of Batman figure, BATMAN Knight Force Ninjas only reused one figure, Side Strike Robin produced by Kenner became Hasbro’s Hyper Crush Robin with a new head.
BATMAN Knight Force Ninjas was a short-lived series of figures. While not the best Batman figures ever produced they certainly held a lot of play value for the kids
RE: BATMAN Knight Force Ninjas: Retrospective -
Posted on 09-06-2008 02:23
Posts: 1631 Location: Rockville, IA Joined: 24.06.05
Nice tribute, FlaBat. It's hard to believe these are a decade old; I remember looking at them in Target when I was in junior high. Most of the figures were too bulky and colorful for my 12-year old taste and they were definitely intended as hulking, unadulterated action toys. Azrael and Killer Croc were easily the highlights; although, I did consider picking up Hyper Crush Robin and a few others. For me, the big colorful armor was just too intense on most of them, and I think they were at least $7 rather than $6.
I don't know whether or not you remember, FlaBat, but the KS Batmobile was also released with a World of Batman figure packed in the box as a Wal Mart exclusive. I remember they had some sort of midnight Christmas sale so my mom picked one up. I know of at least two figures that were included with it, so they may've been packaged at random. Kind of a strange product, having these two outlandish repaints together, and the figures (Kenner's Keaton scale) were too small for it. My lemon-lime Batmobile is now sitting in pieces (I'm hoping to customize and repaint it eventually).
RE: BATMAN Knight Force Ninjas: Retrospective -
Posted on 09-06-2008 16:35
I picked up the Azrael and the Croc figures. They weren't bad, just a little too kiddie to fit in with the rest of my collection. The larger scale was bad for me at the time too. Now, though, Azrael fits in great with my 6" stuff.
RE: BATMAN Knight Force Ninjas: Retrospective -
Posted on 09-06-2008 18:57
These figures were what first sparked my interest in collecting. Life was a bit crazy at the time (preparing for a wedding, finishing college, etc.), so I never actually got any from this line, but they were the first non-Transformer action figures that really interested me, and led into what my collection has become today.
Caleson wrote:
I don't know whether or not you remember, FlaBat, but the KS Batmobile was also released with a World of Batman figure packed in the box as a Wal Mart exclusive. I remember they had some sort of midnight Christmas sale so my mom picked one up. I know of at least two figures that were included with it, so they may've been packaged at random. Kind of a strange product, having these two outlandish repaints together, and the figures (Kenner's Keaton scale) were too small for it. My lemon-lime Batmobile is now sitting in pieces (I'm hoping to customize and repaint it eventually).
I did not know about the World Of Batman use for the Batmobile. I knew that there was a Wal-Mart exclusive with a figure, but I thought it was in the KFN line. I got mine without one.
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