Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Batbot by Mattel

continued from previous post...

Bane easily takes down Batman in their first encounter (Season 1, Episode II "Traction") in "The Batman" animated series, seriously injuring him. Batman finally manages to beat Bane by using his exoskeleton-like "Batbot". The Batbot is controlled by Bruce Wayne while sitting inside its cockpit. It is shown to possess superhuman strength to match that of Bane, along with enhanced levels of agility and endurance. It has two turbo retro-thrusters for flight on its back as well.


The two turbo retro-thrusters for flight on the Batbot's back

It also conceals a canon for added firepower

It's a shoulder mounted canon, much like the one used by the alien predators

Canon armed and ready to fire



The Bat symbol is not on the chest of the Batbot but on the shoulders instead


The Batbot also has a robot hand that can be launched, very similar to the Japanese anime giant robots like Mazinger Z, Great Mazinger, Grendizer etc.


Armed with the Batbot, Bane's going down!!


Batman without his armored Batbot. This concept of a pilot in the cockpit of a exoskeleton-like robot has been recreated many times over, most recently seen in the James Cameron film "Avatar (2009)" as the AMP (Amplified Mobility Platform) Suit. Interestingly, James Cameron also showcased a similar exoskeleton in his 1986 film "Aliens" with Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) manning the Power Loader (pictures of the exceptional Hot Toys 1:6 scale Power Loader HERE)

Even aliens i.e. extraterrestrial creatures (prawns) have a mechanized battle suit as seen in "District 9", a 2009 science fiction thriller film directed by Neill Blomkamp, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson.

Many variations of exoskeletons can be found in science fiction and gaming. It was first popularized in Robert A Heinlein's 1959 novel "Starship Troopers" as powered armor used by the Mobile Infantry. There were also the Landmates in "Appleseed", the four volume science fiction manga authored by Masamune Shirow which was made into two feature films, "Appleseed (2004)" and "Appleseed: Ex Machina (2007)". Hot Toys 1:6 versions of Deunan and Briareos HERE

Other Mattel "The Batman" action figures:
The Batman by Mattel, Mattel Bruce Wayne to Batman transformation, Mattel The Joker, Man-Bat, Batman & Man-Bat face-off, Bane, Bane vs Batman, Mr Freeze and Anti-Freeze Batman

4 comments:

  1. thanks saruman but i much prefer your Avatar AMP suit ;p

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  2. Man. I've been looking for one since forever. Can anyone help me track one down?

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  3. I usually try e-bay. Check out this other exclusive Batbot I saw on e-bay - http://cgi.ebay.com/Batman-4-Pack-w-Exclusive-Batbot-/330559136646?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf6dc2386

    It's one I never saw before today.

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