The Bat-Raptor

The Bat-Raptor

DC Multiverse - McFarlane Toys

The most exciting thing about McFarlane taking on DC Comics, is his promise to deliver scale vehicles.  The inclusion of the Bat-Raptor was most welcome here in his first wave of figures.  It may be a funky choice as far as aesthetics go, but it doesn't break the bank for the consumer or merchandiser.  It looks great, even if it is bare-bones and should fit my 6-inch figures just fine.

Like Hellbat armor Batman, this vehicle is mostly black, but varies in application from flat to shiny.  This adds a little more visual variety and helps some of its lines and curves stand out.  There is also some very nice silver weathering where appropriate.

The engine/thruster area also features some silver weathering with a touch of dirty gold.  The same goes for the underside.

The interior has a lot of nice sculpted details in the seat and console area.  As this was made for slightly larger figures, you should have no trouble fitting Mattel figures in the seat, cape and all.

Big, heavy, rubber tires for the win!  One of the biggest complaints about toys of this size is that most have hollow plastic wheels.  This is definitely a rarity and adds more realism to the overall look as well as weight to the vehicle.

The Raptor isn't as long but just a hair wider than Mattel's Batman Missions Batmobile...which may replace it as my default Bat-transport for the foreseeable future.  The real test was fitting it into the garage area of the Batman V Superman Batcave playset.  Like a glove!

It may not have any action features (save for the extending front wheel), sound effects, or lights, but for $30 this is a solid first outing for McFarlane.  I really hope these sell well so we get more gadgets.  My Batcave is in desperate need of water transportation, Todd!

The Strange Lives of Batman

The Strange Lives of Batman

DC Multiverse - Mattel

SDCC exclusive set

Another San Diego Comic-Con exclusive?!  Ugh!  Oh well...I've said before that I'm alright with character variants being offered up as exclusives, but not character exclusives.  Then Batman comes along and makes me a damn hypocrite.  I can't pass up Silver Age shenanigans, even if it's paying for what is essentially the same Batman figure four times over!

Four Batmen in one helluva box!  Another box "keeper" here...making me more of a hypocrite, dammit.  But it looks just like one of those bonkers, 80-Page Giant covers!  (I'm not just being a hipster here...I have 80-Page Giant # 1, 15, 16.)  It's got a semi-translucent, plastic slipcover that comes off to reveal the figures in comic panel recreations:  Negative Batman, Zebra Batman, Rainbo Batman, and a standard Batman with multiple accessories.

They all look great.  This Silver Age Bats is slimmer, but more articulated than Mattel's previous effort.  The paint on mine are clean for the most part.  The only complaint I have here is that the capes on Zebra and Rainbow are a flimsy, almost paper thin plastic.  Negative Batman is actually translucent in spots, which is a nice demonstration of the gimmick.






  

The accessories included are alternate heads and face plates to recreate even more crazy Batman variants from gimmicks past:  Alien Batman, Rip Van Batman, and Robot Batman!  The mouth area of all the Batmen can be removed to plug in the beard and robo-chin.  And the heads pop on and off with ease for the Alien look and...saving the best for last...a standard Bruce Wayne head!

So long, Ben Affleck noggin, comic Bruce is finally here.  I think it looks fine on the suited WWE body I have been using for his daytime attire.  If only there were a matching, unmasked Dick Grayson head as well.

I won't detail the background on these oddball looks, but I will provide links for those scratching their heads "why?"  To further answer "why" I needed these...well...I have a Batcave and a problem.  Of course I need Batman variants to stand around as alternate suits or trophies of his past!  It's a no-brainer!

Zebra Batman

Negative Batman

Rainbow Batman

I, of course, did not go to SDCC to get these.  Mattel had a ridiculous online preorder for pickup at the show only.  And then they "sold out" at the show.  If you believe that, Gleek.  I paid about $40 over the asking price in Ebay blood money/shipping.  I gritted my teeth in doing so, but I don't regret it now.  Seeing all the Bat-suits on display in my cave was worth it.

Anyway, enjoy a look at said cave.  It's made up of Mattel's massive BvS playset (the one good thing that came of that movie), various figures (from Mattel's Batman 2003 line, DC Superheroes, DC Universe Classics, DC Multiverse), multiple accessories (batarangs, Batmobiles, Batcycles, Batjets, 1966 Batcomputer), and some custom additions (smaller Batcave section from a kiddie line, Jurassic World massive T-Rex, printed giant penny, Joker Card, blueprints, posters).

Flying Fox

The Flying Fox

Mobile Command Center

Justice League Vehicle/Playset - Mattel

 

Zack Snyder's take on the DC Universe may suck, but at least Batman is scoring some new, wonderful toys out of the deal.  The Flying Fox Mobile Command Center is part vehicle, part playset and, like last year's awesome Batcave playset,  is a Wal-Mart Exclusive.  At $70, it may be a bit pricey for some, but accessories like this are few and far between for the 6-inch line... well worth it in my opinion.  It has some great play features and it's freaking huge!  The only gripes I have is that it was built for the slightly smaller Justice League basics figures, so cramming a Multiverse or DC Universe Classics figure in the cockpit is frustrating.  Also, as cool as some of the features are, I do wish it had some sort of compatibility with the Batmobile.  Trailers and other toys lead us to believe that this acts as a dropship for the Batmobile...oh well.  It's still a great addition to the Batcave arsenal!