Welcome to another Dan's ToyBox Review. As toy companies continue to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Knightfall storyline, collectors are treated to a fantastic selection of figures. We've already looked at the Mafex Bane and Knight Crusader Batman, now it's time to check out McFarlane Toys offering in the lineup.
From Wayne Manor, into the depths of the Batcave, the battle raged on. This fight was unlike any the Dark Knight had encountered before. Physically and mentally worn down, Batman squared off against the monstrous Bane. Already at the end of his rope, the Caped Crusader gave his best, but this time, it wasn't enough. Fueled by the super steroid, Venom, Bane's power and ferocity were too much for Batman to overcome. The battle ended with a resounding "KRAKT" echoing through the cave, as Bane broke Batman's back over his knee, dropping the hero like a ragdoll to the cavern floor.
I've been anticipating this set since it was announced, and I have mixed feelings about the pack. There is a lot of good, but some of the bad is very frustrating. Let's get after it, shall we and discuss the McFarlane Toys Batman Knightfall: Bane and Batman two-pack.
Accessories: 7/10
The set comes with a limited number of accessories, but they do help enhance the enjoyment of the figures. Bane comes with a pair of open/grasping hands and a pair of fists. Batman comes with a pair of fists, a pair of items holding hands, a pair of open/grasping hands and a batarang. The background scene in the package is removable, giving us a batcave diorama/backdrop. Both figures come with the black figure stand discs and there is a trading card with the Batman #497 cover image. I really can't think of anything else Bane would need, except perhaps a finger pointing hand for pressing the Venom activation button. Batman's accessories work for the character and the batarang is actually pretty cool, though I may paint mine either black or a darker blue.
Appearance: 8/10
Both figures excel in their paint applications and overall sculpt. Batman's battle damage paint scheme is particularly impressive, with meticulous attention to detail that captures the gritty feel of the Knightfall storyline. The scuffs, scratches, and torn suit elements are well-executed, giving him a weathered and worn look. While I understand that additional sculpting might have increased cost, the effect for his torn and damaged costume would have been enhanced even more than just the paint applications alone. While, personally, I like the cel shading and shadows around his eyes, the fact that it is so limited, while the rest of the mask is such a bright blue, kind of detracts from the desired effect. There is cel shading throughout the gray portion of his costume and on his utility belt. I think the mask, boots, gloves, and trunks would have all benefitted from being shaded. Batman is equipped with a wired cape, which, despite its stiffness, allows for some dynamic posing. I was a bit surprised at the material used for the cape as it feels fairly inflexible. Perhaps running a couple more wires down the spines of the cape would have helped but for as nice as the cape looks, it could have been executed much better, I think. Bane features a striking blue cel shading that stands out and gives him a unique visual appeal. However, the design choice for Bane’s torso is odd, making it appear as though he lacks a lower back portion, which detracts from the overall aesthetic. Admittedly, when standing, facing you, the lower back is not noticeable, and you really have to hold it to notice, but it's still an odd design choice. The hair on his shoulders and deltoids just doesn't do it for me... it looks to have been drawn on with a thin point sharpie and is just... messy. Aside from that, I do like the rest of the look. The sculpting is absolutely on point, from the veins and musculature, down to his belt and the laces on his boots, Bane has the kind of sculpted detail that was missing from Batman's torn and damaged costume. I realized that this Bane shares the same body mold we've seen on earlier versions but is much more comic accurate. I can easily say that the effort is there on both of these and just a bit more would have pushed them higher.
Articulation: 7/10 The articulation on both figures is decent but has some limitations. Batman's wired cape is a great addition for posing, but the material is relatively inflexible, making it challenging to achieve more dynamic or flowing poses. The articulation points themselves are standard for McFarlane figures, with good range in the arms, legs, and torso. His head can look up a small amount and down just a bit better and has easy side to side rotation. The shoulder joints are on butterflies and are very loose on my figure. They will maintain pose, but if I bump the figure, they'll move. He can raise to a high T pose and rotate both arms 360 degrees. The bicep swivels work fine and the elbows have solid range of motion. The wrists feature McFarlane's signature pivot/hinge design and give all of the hands great movement. The upper torso joint works well, but could have a bit more flexibility. I will say that McFarlane's torso designs have improved quite well over the years. The lower waist joint allows for swivel, which is good and does help increase the range of crunch and back bend... crucial for specific poses with this figure. I was also pleased to see that the sculpt on the upper abdomen continues under the ab cut, so when you tilt Batman backward, the illusion of musculature is maintained. The legs can hit very wide splits and will kick forward reasonably high, although the diaper does limit them somewhat. The thigh pivot is hidden in the hip joint and is minimal at best. The knees will bend in very deeply and the ankles also have the signature McFarlane design, with excellent range of motion. Batman does have toe articulation, which is fairly sturdy, but I would still use a flight stand to help with poses, requiring the toe articulation to be used. Bane, on the other hand, suffers more significantly due to his torso design. The lack of a proper lower back portion removes the option for two torso joints, meaning that crunch, swivel, and tilt is limited to the waist alone. His head motion is very limited, not only due to the venom tubes, but the necessary design of the figure. The side-to-side turn is limited by the tube while the up/down look is minimized by the head and neck design. The shoulders will raise to a decent T pose and can rotate 360 degrees. There is no bicep swivel, and the elbow bend is limited to almost 90 degrees. There is a swivel at the elbow and though it works well, just looks odd. The wrists all hinge and swivel easily, regardless of which hands are plugged in. As I've already discussed the torso, I'll move on down to the legs. Bane can hit a FULL split which really is incredible, given the bulky design of the figure. His legs can kick forward to just beyond 90 degrees, thanks to the soft diaper. The knees are tight, but can bend very well, allowing the heel of his foot to reach his back. The ankles have incredibly nice range, and the toe articulation is very firm, which holds poses well.
Affordability: 6/10 Given the level of detail and the inclusion of two figures, the price point is reasonable but could be better. The lack of accessories for Bane and the issues with his torso design make it feel like the value isn't quite there. For collectors looking for high-quality sculpts and paint applications, this two-pack delivers, but for those who prioritize articulation and playability, it may fall short. I scored mine on Amazon for the retail price of $69.99 and they are still available.
Overall, the McFarlane Knightfall Batman and Bane two-pack offers impressive sculpting and paint work, particularly with Batman's battle damage and Bane's cel shading. However, the limitations in articulation, especially with Bane's torso design, and the inflexible material of Batman's cape, slightly diminish its overall appeal. While it’s a solid addition for collectors, particularly fans of the Knightfall storyline, there are some areas that could have been improved to enhance its value and playability, thus earning:
7 out of 10 ToyBoxes
This is a fun set and does look great on the display shelf. While I have my share of concerns with it, for fans of the Knightfall story, this remains a reasonably priced alternative to some of the other offerings out there. I will admit that I prefer the Mafex versions but am happy nonetheless to have this set. Thanks as always! Until next time... GEEK OUT!!!
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