DC Comics hero Batman is an authentic cultural icon, and has appeared in everything from radio to television and film, and inevitably, extensive merchandising such as action figures. The Gotham city crime buster and his sidekick Robin were brought to wide international notice through the camp 1960s TV series and spin-off movie starring Adam West in the title role, although Frank Miller’s mini-series comic book Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Tim Burton’s 1989 film (with Michael Keaton donning the cape and cowl) helped to remind the public of Batman’s darker roots. With numerous big screen Batman movies since that time, including the late Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as The Joker opposite Christian Bale’s Batman in Christopher Nolan’s 2008 The Dark Knight, Batman’s grip on our collective imagination seems as firm as ever! 2022 saw yet another reiteration in the critically acclaimed and epic The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves and starring Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader.
In 1972, The Mego Corporation released their own line of DC Comics 8″ action figures called The World’s Greatest Super Heroes! featuring Batman, Robin, Catwoman, and The Joker.