Total Justice (Kenner) 1996 – 1997

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Kenner did an amazing job with their Super Powers Collection line from 1984 to 1986, but lost the DC Comics toy license to Toy Biz afterwards. When it was available once again, Kenner swooped back into the picture, thus their Total Justice line was launched in 1996. Kenner used the Justice League roster dressed in “Fractal Tech Gear”.  The Total Justice line was a bit odd, but had stellar sculpts with great detail of some of DC Comics more popular characters. A big downside to this line was the actual Fractal Gear, which was kind of bulky and took away from those great detailed figures. DC did publish a comic book series to tie-in with the toy line, but was short lived. The Total Justice lasted three waves, which included 14 standard figures, 3 exclusives and, strangely enough, no accessories at all. Many regard the line as the “Batman Total Justice” series, due to the Batman logo next to the Total Justice logo at the top of each card, but it’s actually a Justice League series, especially with the lack of Batman villains. 

For more information about Kenner’s DC Comics Total Justice line, see bottom of page for a complete summary.

Total Justice: Series One (1996): Basic Assortment

For the debut of their Total Justice line, Kenner released six new figures in 1996, which included Aquaman, Batman, Darkseid, Flash, Green Lantern and Robin. This series was among the last DC Comics action figures released under the Kenner banner, as they had been previously acquired by Hasbro.

Aquaman

Market Value:
Carded $10 – $17
Loose $4 – $7

Aquaman
Accessories: Blasting Hydro Spear, Launcher, Removable Armor Piece
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Aquaman is “The King of the Seven Seas!” and Arthur Curry’s alter ego, but this version of Aquaman is not even close to the old Super Friends version. He comes decked out in his new Total Justice look, complete with a beard, long hair, a hook on his left hand and shirtless. The standard issue of Aquaman also has a black shoulder armor pad, but a variant comes with a gold colored armor pad. Aquaman also includes his Blasting Hydro Spear Launcher and additional removable armor piece.

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Batman

Market Value:
Carded $20 – $30
Loose $7 – $11

Batman
Accessories: Flight Armor, Helmet, Glider Cape
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: With Batman riding high after several movies during the 90’s and some very successful toy lines, it’s only natural to include the Dark Knight in this toy line. However, this Batman is one of my least favorite of the line, mostly due to the excessive armor and lack of a super cool Batman cape. Instead, he has “Glider Wings” that somehow help him fly. Batman also comes with his Fractal Tech Armor, complete with helmet.

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Darkseid

Market Value:
Carded $10 – $17
Loose $5 – $8

Darkseid
Accessories: Omega Effect Capture Claw
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Darkseid rules the planet of Apokolips with an iron fist. He craves total intergalactic domination and has his sights set on Earth! Darkseid comes with his Omega Effect Capture Claw, which opens and closes by using the button on his right arm. This is a really great sculpt of Darkseid and another example of Kenner crushing it with Total Justice.

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Flash (The)

Market Value:
Carded $17 – $25
Loose $7 – $11

Flash (The)
Accessories: Velocity Power Suit, Stabilizers
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: The Flash is known as “The Scarlet Speedster” and alter-ego of Wally West during this timeframe. The Flash comes with a complete set of armor called a Velocity Power Suit, along with a set of Stabilizers. This figure is a fantastic sculpt, and it’s a shame that Kenner covers it up with the Fractal Tech Gear suit. Kenner also released a Reverse-Flash (Professor Zoom) figure as an exclusive through ToyFare magazine.

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Green Lantern

Market Value:
Carded $17 – $25
Loose $7 – $11

Green Lantern
Accessories: Ring Energy Disk Launcher, Removable Armor
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: This Green Lantern is Kyle Raynor and not Hal Jordan, as is the story line of the Total Justice comic series. Raynor was pretty much THE Green Lantern during the 1990’s, so this made sense. He is a member of the mighty Green Lantern Corp, as well as the Justice League. He comes decked out in his classic costume and colors. Green Lantern comes with removable armor and his Ring Energy Disk Launcher, which fires a disc by pressing a button.

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Robin

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $5 – $8

Robin
Accessories: Spinning Razor Disc, Battle Staff, Removable Armor
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Robin, the Boy Wonder, is the alter ego of not Dick Grayson, but Tim Drake during this timeframe. Drake was the third person to don the Robin costume, and a trusted crimefighting partner of Batman. Robin comes with a set of removable armor, along with a Battle Staff and Spinning Razor Disc. Once again, this is another great sculpt by Kenner and it’s a shame the armor covers it up.

Total Justice: Series Two (1996): Basic Assortment

Kenner released four more figures for the second wave of their Total Justice line in 1996. Included in the wave were another villain in Despero, another Batman figure, another great Hawkman and finally, Superman. A pretty well-rounded wave really, aside from some more wonky Tech Gear.

Despero

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $5 – $8

Despero
Accessories: Blaster Rifle, Sword
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Despero is another villain introduced with this line, who was actually once an ally of the Justice League. Despero is definitely all in on the bad guy train now. He comes with a large blaster rifle and sword, which both can be stored on the figure. Despero also has a Galactic Body Blow Attack which is activated by pulling back on his right arm and releasing.

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Fractal Armor Batman

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $5 – $8

Fractal Armor Batman
Accessories: Cape, Optical Shoulder Cannon System
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Kenner gives us a second Batman figure with this Fractal Gear version. Batman is wearing the most advanced crime fighting suit yet, which he wants to test on the battlefield. Batman comes with an Optical Shoulder Cannon System, which launches projectiles by pressing a button. One down side to Fractal Gear Batman is that his armor is molded onto his body, so it’s not removable.

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Hawkman

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $5 – $8

Hawkman
Accessories: Massive Grip Talons, Wings x 2, Removable Armor
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Hawkman comes with an all new look and a fantastic design. Like others before, he looks amazing without the armor. DC was trying something different with Hawkman at the time, by merging different versions of him into one definitive version. This was a popular character for a while, but short lived. Hawkman comes with Massive Grip Talons, two wings that can move and removable armor.

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Superman

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $5 – $8

Superman
Accessories: Kryptonite Ray Emitter, Removable Armor w/ Movable Panels
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: This version of Superman captures the Man of Steel’s new look, to include a mullet hair style. Like most action figure versions of Superman, he comes with a Kryptonite accessory, and this time it’s the Kryptonite Ray Emitter. He also comes with removable armor w/ movable panels. Although most figures in this line come with their Fractal accessories, this version of Superman just looks ridiculous!

Total Justice: Series Three (1996): Basic Assortment

Kenner released four more new characters for the third and final wave of the DC Total Justice line in 1997. Included in the wave were Black Lightning, Green Arrow, Huntress and Parallax. While they look great, kids really had no idea who they were and even Green Arrow was modeled from an updated version.

Black Lightning

Market Value:
Carded $10 – $17
Loose $4 – $7

Black Lightning
Accessories: Electrobolt Strike Cannon w/ Projectile, Removable Armor
Years Released: 1997
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Jefferson Pierce is an ordinary teacher until he becomes Black Lightning! This does seems a bit of an odd choice for this line, but the likeness really captures the costume details and likeness. Black Lightning comes with an Electrobolt Strike Cannon w/ Projectile, along with removable armor.

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Green Arrow

Market Value:
Carded $10 – $17
Loose $4 – $7

Green Arrow
Accessories: Multi-Action Mega Longbow, Arrows, Launcher, Goggles
Years Released: 1997
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Like other characters in the Total Justice line, Green Arrow is a new iteration of the classic hero. Connor Hawke is the son of the original Green Arrow, Oliver Queen, who had previously perished in battle. Arrow comes with a Multi-Action Mega Longbow, Arrows, Launcher, and Goggles.

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Huntress (The)

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $5 – $8

Huntress (The)
Accessories: Barbed Arrow Crossbow w/ Projectile, Removable Cape & Armor
Years Released: 1997
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: The Huntress (AKA Helena Bertinelli) turned away from crime when she witnessed her entire family wiped out by a rival mob. She now uses her talents fighting against the criminals of Gotham. Huntress comes with her Barbed Arrow Crossbow with Projectile, along with her removable Fractal Armor and cape. Another great sculpt hidden by accessory armor.

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Parallax

Market Value:
Carded $17 – $25
Loose $7 – $11

Parallax
Accessories: Warp Field Energy Blaster w/ Projectile, Energy Shield, Removable Cape.
Years Released: 1997
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Hal Jordan is best known for being the Green Lantern, but was once known as Parallax in the Total Justice storyline. Hal went a little cuckoo and wiped out the Green Lantern Corps and absorbing all the energy from the main power battery on Oa. Parallax is one of my favorites from this line because of its great detail and fantastic accessories. He comes with a Warp Field Energy Blaster w/ a projectile, Energy Shield and a removable cape.

Total Justice (1996-1997): Mail-Order Exclusives

In addition to the 14 standard figures that Kenner released over three waves, they also released three additional exclusive figures, with two through Mail-Order (Batman & Superman) and one as a Toyfare Magazine exclusive with Reverse Flash.

Total Justice: Series Four (1996-1997): Unproduced Figures

Kenner had plans for a 4th wave of Total Justice action figures in 1997, but never made it to release, mostly due to waning sales and a general lack of interest. This 4th wave was to include Blue Beetle and Dr. Polaris, but those two figures would eventually see the light of day as two-packs in 1999. They were exclusive to the Warner Brothers retail stores, which were popular at the time. Blue Beetle was partnered with The Flash, and Dr. Polaris was paired with Green Lantern.

Total Justice (1996-1997): Accessories

Interestingly enough, Kenner did not release any action figure related accessories at all for their Total Justice toy line.

Total Justice (1996-1997): Vehicles

Kenner did not release any vehicles for their Total Justice line, which is a shame because I have no doubt they would look as great as the figures did.

Kenner did an amazing job with their Super Powers Collection line from 1984 to 1986, but lost the DC Comics toy license to Toy Biz in the late 1980’s. Once Toy Biz’s line came to and end in 1990, Kenner swooped back in and secured those toy rights once again, thus their Total Justice line was launched in 1996. Kenner used the Justice League roster and dressed them in an armor of sorts called “Fractal Tech Gear”.  The Total Justice line was a bit odd, but had stellar sculpts with great detail of some of DC Comics most popular characters. A big downside to this line was the actual Fractal Gear, which was kind of bulky and took away from those great detailed figures. DC did publish a comic book series to tie-in with the toy line, but was short lived. The character selection was a nice mix of the heroes and villains from that series. The Total Justice lasted three waves, which included a total of 14 figures and, strangely enough, no accessories at all. Many regard the line as a type of “Batman & Friends” series, mostly due to the Batman logo next to the Total Justice logo at the top of each card, but it’s actually more of a Justice League series, especially with the lack of Batman villains like many previous lines. The Total Justice line sold fairly well at first, but just could not hold the momentum the following year. 

Kenner had done the DC Comics thing before, with their Super Powers Collection line, so they wanted to do something completely different with Total Justice. Kenner partnered with DC Comics to create a Total Justice comic series, and the toy line was based on the comic. Each character would feature “Fractal Technology or Armor”, and would be unique to each. The premier wave in 1996 featured Aquaman, Batman, Darkseid, Flash, Green Lantern and Robin. Four more figures joined them for the second wave, with Despero, Superman, Hawkman and a second version of Batman with Fractal Armor. The third and final wave in 1997 included Black Lightning, Green Arrow, Huntress and Parallax. There were also three exclusives with Batman and Superman with Hologram Armor through Mail Order, and Reverse Flash through Toyfare Magazine. Interestingly enough, Kenner did not release any accessories or vehicles for the Total Justice line

The packaging for the DC Comics Total Justice figures was not terrible, but just boring with some lazy artwork on the front. Each figure was on a traditional blister card with the bubble actually taking up the lower part of the card. Each figure was on the right side while most of the accessories were on the left. Each character’s name was underneath the left side of the bubble with the unique accessory’s name on the right side. The DC Total Justice logo is centered at the top of the card. Above each bubble and underneath the logo was an illustration of the main hero characters, and all cards were the same regardless of which figure it was. Each card back featured that wave’s figures, along with a small bio of the character and description of their action features. Overall, the Total Justice line had lots of potential, but the concept was just flawed from the start.