Batman & Robin Merchandise Review - NightSphere vehicle from Kenner

Kenner were some cheap and cheerful toy makers at times. There a lot of examples if you go looking where they repurposed some of their own figures and vehicles. The Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves line was a classic example - using 

For Batman & Robin they repurposed this NightSphere vehicle from the Animated series which on the one hand was great as it's a really unique and fun vehicle incorporating a gyroscope that allows Batman to remain upright no matter what angle you flip him in. 

The downside is that the Animated series has slightly smaller proportioned figures and the exclusive one they packaged for this iteration CANNOT FIT without some extraordinary jamming. Also the exclusive figure is basically just the Heat Scan Batman with some slightly yellower arms and legs. They could have done something a bit more unique if they wanted.

All in all, fun vehicle, useless figure. Just get the Animated version instead.

Batman & Robin Merchandise Review - Batmobile vehicle from Kenner

Finally getting around to reviewing this Batmobile from Kenner. It took me a little while because I purchased it on eBay without checking it was complete (rookie error). For years I was missing the missile on the front and given that's really the only play feature I thought I should wait until I found one.

Fast forward a few years and I now have a complete Batmobile. I wish I could say it was worth the wait but unfortunately this is a pretty disappointing vehicle. 

The car in the movie seems tailormade to make a toy out of but sadly Kenner fumbled the ball. The biggest issue being there's no light up feature - instead we have some very boring stickers. We don't even get a steering wheel! 

My theory is that Kenner put more effort into the Bathammer (which does light up) and chose to save some money on a Batmobile. I guess they figured more kids would be interested in the new vehicle and most might already own one of their old Batmobiles from the previous movies or Animated series.

Batman & Robin Merchandise Review - Jet Blade vehicle from Kenner

While the Batman's Bathammer and Batgirl's Ice Cycle were more or less faithfully translated to toy form by Kenner, Robin's Batskiff (as it's sometimes dubbed) was translated twice and neither are particularly close to the size or shape of the vehicle. 

First we had a small miniaturised red and black version that came with Deluxe Glacier Robin and now we have another larger version that comes with... no figure at all. In fact the box depicts Batman driving it, but clearly this is meant to be the Bat Skiff.

It's a much longer shape than it appeared on screen and the fan is much smaller but it's still a nice design. I wish they had picked a slightly shinier grey than the matt colour they went for.

Sadly, there are no light up features like it had on screen. Clearly all the money was put into making the Bathammer toy light up. It's not a complete loss though, the vehicle has a fun pull-out wings feature and best of all the missile is NOT another push button affair. We have a novel spinning blade wheel that fires out.

I think this feature was taken from an existing projectile feature that had been used a couple of years earlier in a Batman Forever role play toy called the AeroDisc Shooter.

Anyway, if you have the other vehicles, this one is a must. Otherwise what is Robin going to drive.

Batman & Robin Merchandise Review - 5 Diecast Vehicle Set from Kenner

Diecast vehicles are never my favourite things to collect but I had to pick this Batman & Robin set because it was going cheap on eBay.

It contains 4 of the vehicles seen in the film - the Batmobile, Bathammer, Redbird cycle and Mr Freeze's Freezemobile. All at various scales.

Sadly Batgirl's ice cycle doesn't get a look in. Instead we're given an exclusive Mr Freeze's Thugmobile - which I'm fairly certain is a repaint from another line.

Anyway, these are fun but not essential. The accuracy is pretty loose and the paintwork isn't great. But if you want to put in the time with your own painting skills they might be worth it.