I'm sure somebody here remembers the old ad for the Batman movie figures produced by Toy Biz. As a kid, I noticed right away that the ad featured a repainted Super Powers Batman figure. Of course, we got a whole new sculpt when the figure was released, but I always wondered, was it really legal for TB to showcase a Kenner figure in their ad? Yeah, I know TB was awarded the Batman license and everything, but it still seemed sketchy at the time. Did the molds from Kenner automatically become the property of TB?

Anybody know what I'm talking about?

Hmmmmmmm........I do remember the Official Batman Movie Magazine with a picture of Batman from the waist up.....Didn't know it was a SP figure but it DID look different the actual figure TB released............

Yeah, that's the one!!! The ad from the Topps Official magazine! I guess I could be wrong, but I always assumed it was a re-painted SP Bats. Maybe Jason will chime in with the answer.....

Chiming in:

The Batman figures were badly sculpted crap. The first TB DC Superheroes figures were molded off Super Pwoers figures, making them less defined.

http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/archives/sp/dchero.html

Kenner also once used a SP Wonder Woman to stand in for BTAS Ivy. And I think last year Jazwares used some Jakk's wrestlers for Street Fighter customs during toyfair.

I guess you can use customized figures as prototype samples...

Yes, that is true. Toyfair mockups of Ivy and Croc, circa 1993.

Has it really been 12 years?!? Man...

I totally remember that ad from '89, and I remember thinking it was cool they were using the SP Batman (I was like 13, ok?). I remember being so excited for those figures, and when I finally got one...ugh.

Ah, thanks Jason!!!

I never knew it was SP.....But I was dissapointed back then (I was 11) cuz the Topps mag pic looked better than the actual product.......