When Mafex announced the Batman and Bane figures from Knightfall last year, I almost lost my mind. I've wanted a GOOD, comic accurate Bane figure for a long time. Seeing the promotional images for these figures was amazing. When both figures went up for pre-order, I immediately jumped on them. Not long ago, McFarlane toys announced a Batman/Bane two pack, which is now showing up in reviews. My order of that set should be arriving sometime next week and I'm looking forward to posting pictures of both the Mafex versions and McFarlane versions together.
Born on the island of Santa Prisca, sentenced to prison in Pena Duro for his father's crimes, Bane remains one of Batman's most fearsome and cunning foes ever. Already legendary in the prison for surviving for years in solitary confinement, Bane's reputation soared with the other inmates when he received experimental injections of the Venom super steroid and underwent surgeries intended to transform him into a super-powered soldier. Bane realized his opportunity to escape lay right in front of him and willed his vital signs to slow so much that he appeared to be dead. However, after being thrown to the sharks, he returned from "death," not only freeing his fellow inmates, now his henchmen, Bird, Trogg, and Zombie from prison but also throwing the despicable warden to his demise into the frigid, shark-infested waters. Bane and his three-man squad made their way to Gotham City. But what was it about this place that drew Bane? He knew that to control the city, he must defeat the bat-monster that tormented his dreams. Bane realized that Gotham's Dark Knight was all that stood between himself and ultimate power. He set about studying the Batman, learning his motives, gauging his skills, testing his intellect. During this time, Batman was suffering from a mental crisis. He was fatigued, feeling he'd lost his edge and none of his usual meditation techniques or actual medical science could help him. To further drive Batman to the outer edges of his limits and endurance, Bane contrived to destroy the maximum-security wing at Arkham Asylum, freeing Batman's deadliest villains. In spite of his maladies, Batman, sometimes working with Robin, but mostly alone, successfully recaptured an incredible number of the escapees. While attending a charity event, attempting to still fill his responsibilities as Bruce Wayne, Batman and a number of wealthy Gothamites are captured by Poison Ivy. Bane, surveilling the event, hoping to spot Batman realizes that he's staring at his enemy as he deduces that Batman is really Bruce Wayne. Armed with this new knowledge, Bane escalates his timetable against the Caped Crusader. Batman captures Poison Ivy and after managing to save Gotham's Mayor from the clutches of the Joker and Scarecrow finds himself running the gauntlet of Bane's men. He faces the strongman, Trogg, first and narrowly manages to win the fight. Overcoming Zombie next and finally Bird, Batman wearily makes his way to the safety of home. Alone in the Batcave, Bruce wonders where Alfred is and slowly makes his way upstairs to the manor, only to find his faithful butler lying unconscious on the floor. He hears a voice behind him and turns to find Bane there waiting.
Even thirty years later, this remains one of my favorite Batman adventures. The story is still powerful and ushered in several new fixtures to the Batman universe. So, with that... let's discuss the Medicom Mafex #216 Bane Action Figure!
Accessories: 8/10
The Mafex #216 Bane comes with a comprehensive set of accessories that add a lot of versatility and playability. The two mask sculpts offer different expressions, allowing for dynamic displays. The six pairs of hands (fists, flat, relaxed, grasping, open/action, and index finger pointing) cater to various action poses and scenarios. The inclusion of the usual Mafex display stand ensures that this larger-than-usual figure can be securely posed in a variety of stances. While the accessories are fantastic, a few additional items like weapons or extra costume parts would have pushed this score to a perfect 10.
Appearance: 9.5/10
The appearance of this Bane figure is nothing short of spectacular. Medicom has outdone themselves with the paint applications and shading tones on his skin, giving Bane a lifelike and imposing presence. The muscle definition is highlighted with subtle shading, making the figure look incredibly realistic. The attention to detail on his mask and outfit is equally impressive, capturing the essence of Bane's menacing look from the comics. Every aspect, from the texture of his costume to the veins on his arms, has been carefully crafted to provide an authentic and visually stunning figure. Really, the only major issues, which I've heard in other reviews, is that his head is a bit too large and out of scale to the body and that the shoulder design, unless posed properly can come off looking very gappy and awkward. Fortunately, unlike other reviews I've seen, I was very lucky to receive a figure without any paint issues on the mask. I've seen others with some paint smudging and slop, so I'm grateful to not have that to deal with.
Articulation: 9/10
Despite its larger size, the articulation on the Mafex #216 Bane is top-notch. The figure boasts a wide range of motion in the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, torso, hips, knees, and ankles, allowing for a plethora of dynamic poses. The joints are well-engineered, providing a good balance between sturdiness and flexibility. The only minor drawback is that some poses might be slightly limited due to the bulkiness of the figure, and the venom tube on his arm but this is a small trade-off for the overall articulation quality. As we break down the articulation, the head will look upward reasonably well, but can look down exceptionally nicely. Due to the venom tubes on the back of his mask, the head will turn side to side, but not 360. The shoulders can raise to above a T pose and the right arm alone can fully rotate the 360... again because of the venom tube running down his arm. The butterfly joints move outward, but there really isn't much forward/backward range, which disappoints. The bicep swivels work without any issues, the elbows bend in very deeply and the wrists all hinge and pivot without problem. The torso is on a ball peg, which allows for greater range of crunching, back bend, and side to side tilt, along with the ability to twist at both the mid torso point and the waist. The legs feature Mafex signature drop down thighs but even without fully engaging them, Bane can hit a full split. There is a mild, hidden thigh swivel on the ball socket at the hip. The knees are terrific and will actually bend in deeper than expected. His ankles are solid and offer hinging and limited pivot. However, they do rotate, which was a nice surprise. The toe articulation on mine is sturdy, which will help when posing.
Affordability: 8/10
Priced equivalent to other Mafex releases despite being significantly larger, this Bane figure offers good value for money. Given the level of detail, quality of materials, and the comprehensive accessory set, the price is justified. However, for collectors on a budget, the higher price point compared to standard-sized figures might be a consideration. Still, for what you get, it's a worthy investment. Amazingly, given that this figure is larger in scale than the typical Mafex offerings, I expected it to be a lot more. However, it was only $10 more than the Knight Crusader Batman. You can order one from BBTS for $119.99.
Overall, the Medicom Mafex #216 Bane Action Figure is a masterpiece, combining exceptional sculpting, detailed paint applications, and versatile accessories. With only minor limitations in articulation due to its size, this figure is a must-have for any serious collector. Its impressive presence and high-quality build make it stand out in any display. Medicom has truly delivered a fantastic figure that does justice to the iconic character of Bane. With that in mind, Bane easily earns:
9 out of 10 ToyBoxes
Medicom's Mafex #216 Bane Action Figure is an outstanding addition to any collection. With its impressive scale, meticulous paint applications, and diverse accessory options, this figure exemplifies what premium action figures should be. Thank you for stopping by today. Until next time... GEEK OUT!!!
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