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Figure

Batman

Kenner Super Powers Collection · Series 1 · 1984

Overview

Watch out Joker! With his Power Action Bat Punch, the Caped Crusader will take on all villains. Squeeze his legs and Batman punches out the bad guys. He's 4.6" tall complete with cloth Bat-Cape and movable head, arms, hips and knees. It will be hard for anyone to escape this Batman action figure.

The Caped Crusader representing peak human capability, complete with a fabric cape, a leg-activated Power Action Bat Punch, and his armory of Bat-Vehicles.

Batman quickly emerged as the signature figure of Kenner's inaugural 1984 Super Powers Collection, capturing the Dark Knight in his iconic blue-and-gray costume complete with a removable cloth cape. Based directly on José Luis García-López's celebrated DC Comics artwork, the sculpt remains one of the most faithful comic representations of Batman ever produced during the decade. Activating the Power Action Bat Punch twists Batman's torso while driving his right arm forward in a powerful strike. Released on every major U.S. card back throughout the line—including the highly sought-after 33-back edition—Batman remains the cornerstone of virtually every Super Powers collection.

Batman included one of the most important accessories in the entire Super Powers line: his removable cloth cape. Attached with a molded plastic collar, the cape gave Batman the flowing appearance seen in DC Comics artwork.

A 16-page full-color mini-comic shipped inside the bubble with every carded Series 1 Batman.

Notes

A missing cape is the most common issue with loose Batman figures. Original capes have a distinctive fabric texture and stitching pattern that helps separate them from reproductions.

Loose Batman figures almost never retain the comic. 

Packaged condition matters — a lot of surviving copies show bubble-shaped creasing from decades of packaging pressure.

Power Action Bat Punch

Photo: thetoycollectorsguide.com

Documented Variations

Variations

  • While the card front contains a text offer banner in the lower right corner, the card back lacks any offer information. Instead, promotion details reside inside the mini-comic premium's inside front cover. Proof of purchase submission was not necessary for this promotion's redemption. Instead, the offer required submission of the "application" cut from the mini-comic or a 3" x 5" card containing name, address, and birthday (the same information requested on the "application") and a $3.00 check or money order by June 30, 1985.

    The Fan Club Offer Kit contained: charter membership certificate, color sticker, newsletter, deluxe patch, color photo, and reduced rate DC Comics subscription information. Kenner additionally offered this promotion on 2nd series "Fan Club Offer" card styles, with a date of June 30, 1986.

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  • Kenner Canada released 31 of the 33 carded Super Powers figures in bilingual packaging featuring both English and French text to comply with bilingual packaging laws in the country.

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  • Kenner Canada released 31 of the 33 carded Super Powers figures in bilingual packaging featuring both English and French text to comply with bilingual packaging laws in the country.

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  • Shell gas stations in Canada ran a promotion resulting in the release of eight characters, including Batman, on slim blister cards, without mini-comic, in 1985. Consumers were afforded the opportunity to purchase one of eight specially carded Super Powers action figures with a fill-up of 25 liters (litres) or more for $1.99 (CAN). Eight figures were released on slim cards, including: Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Red Tornado, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm. 

    Overall the 1st series characters tend to show up carded on the collector's market in higher quantities than the 2nd series characters, however assembling a complete set is fairly easy. Larger quantities of the more well known 1st series characters were likely produced, explaining their higher abundance. Collectors have documented finding these slim cards at closeout retail stores like Kay Bee Toys (Playland) and Tuesday Morning. It is widely believed Kenner created this narrow profile to easily fit store checkout lanes, stocking stuffers, or specialized international promotional displays.

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  • While the card front contains a text offer banner in the lower right corner, the card back lacks any offer information. Instead, promotion details reside inside the mini-comic premium's inside front cover. Proof of purchase submission was not necessary for this promotion's redemption. Instead, the offer required submission of the "application" cut from the mini-comic or a 3" x 5" card containing name, address, and birthday (the same information requested on the "application") and a $3.00 check or money order by June 30, 1986.

    The Fan Club Offer Kit contained: charter membership certificate, color sticker, newsletter, deluxe patch, color photo, and reduced rate DC Comics subscription information. Kenner originally offered this promotion on 1st series "Fan Club Offer" card styles, however the promotion was re-issued for the 2nd series figure release. Kenner updated the expiration date located on the card front's banner to read June 30, 1986 as opposed to the original 1st series expiration date of June 30, 1985.

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