Summary
What do Superman,Batman, and Gandalf have in common? Apparently… Beast Kingdom’s booth. Because whynotthrow a brooding wizard, a retro detective, and a disillusioned Kryptonian into the same display case and see what happens?At this year’s SDCC, Beast Kingdom somehow made 1/9 scale—the no-man’s land between action figures and full-blown collectibles - feel like the smartest move in the room.
And the weird part? I love this specific combination! The trio somehow clicks for me—like a cross-medium fever dream curated by someone who actually gets what makes each character tick. Superman brings the gravitas, Batman brings the nostalgia, and Gandalf shows up like he wandered in from another booth and decided to steal the spotlight anyway. Let’s take a look at what they’re offering.
Superman, Gandalf, And Batman Walk Into A Bar
The Superman caught my eye first, probably because Kingdom Come anything tends to. That matte black suit with the red Hope shield isn’t your typical bright blue boy scout look. It’s the weathered, experienced Superman from Alex Ross’s alternate future where heroes have gotten complicated. Beast Kingdom nailed the aesthetic with that bulkier, more grounded physique.
Batman’s going full retro with the grey and blue color scheme. It’s very 1960s comics. Yellow oval bat symbol, scalloped cape, the whole throwback package. It’s refreshing to see someone embrace the lighter Batman instead of endless variations on the grim dark knight. The 22 points of articulation should be enough for classic superhero poses without getting into Hot Toys complexity territory.
But Gandalf’s the real showstopper here. Rooted hair and beard on a figure this size? Now that’s refreshing. Most companies have a no-no policy for real hair because it’s expensive, fragile, and impossible to style consistently across production runs. Beast Kingdom’s apparently confident enough to tackle it, complete with layered fabric robes that include a cloak, over-tunic, and brocade skirt. The accessory count is generous too - Glamdring with scabbard, white staff, pipe, and six different hands.
Let’s Talk Numbers
Superman and Batman are listed as “Limited Edition” without specific numbers, which usually means Beast Kingdom’s testing demand before committing to production quantities.
Gandalf The White, though? Hard cap at 300 pieces worldwide with hand-numbered authentication cards. That’s genuinely scarce. Sixty bucks for Superman or Batman puts them in premium action figure territory. Gandalf at $150 is pushing it, but the rooted hair and 300 pieces only means you’re paying for exclusivity and finesse.
Each figure gets an SDCC-exclusive foil badge on the window box, which is nice for collectors. It’s also the kind of detail that makes these versions distinct from any potential future releases, assuming Beast Kingdom doesn’t retire the sculpts entirely after the convention.
Oh, and before we move on—we also haveThe Penguinincluded in the lineup. Beast Kingdom’s take on Oswald Cobblepot embraces the classic mob-boss aesthetic with a chunky coat sculpt, removable top hat, and a trick umbrella accessory. So if you’re into baddies, the launch has got you covered.
The online preorder window runs July 3rd through 13th on the Beast Kingdom wesbite, with convention sales starting July 24th.
Bottom line: if you’re attending SDCC and collect figures in this scale range, these are worth checking out in person. The price points aren’t crazy, the character selection covers multiple fan bases, and Beast Kingdom’s execution of their Dynamic Action Heroes line has been consistently solid. Just don’t expect any of them to still be available Sunday afternoon.
