McFarlane 1989 Batmobile

 McFarlane 1989 Batmobile

The Flash - DC Multiverse

Did anyone ever think it was possible to want a toy from a movie so bad, but they didn't really care about the movie itself?   Well, technically, it's from a different (and we're 100% positive "better") movie.  Nostalgia and a beautiful design from a bygone era in Hollywood is all this needed to be a success.  It may be part of the last gasp from the abhorrent DC Snyderverse, but its hard not to get a lil excited about the return of Michael Keaton and our Batman!

Getting the bad outta the way first, it's too shiny.  A finger print magnet.  Im not sure it it's mega reflective in the new movie or if this was the wrong call on the plastic.  Also, the canopy is a weird shade of gray.

But that's nothing a lil tape and spray paint can't fix!   It was good enough for the $60 price tag before, but with a little Krylon Matte Black you get perfection.  Okay, so the canopy is a bit off in shape and it's a one seater, but good enough for me.  Im not about to go hacking it apart.  Two seats?  What imaginary scale figure line are folks hoping for?  There's not going to be a Vicki Vale figure in the cards.

"Security? Who let Vicki Vale into the Batcave? I'm sitting there working; I turn around, there she is. "Oh hi, Vick - come on in."

The new McFarlane Batman figure fits with a fit of fidgeting to get the ears in.  The Neca Batman has room to spare.

Speaking of, the new batsuit looks pretty good in this scale.  I can definitely see the Keaton likeness in the sculpt, but might need a better paint job to really hit it home.

This car sold out by the afternoon on the morning it was released across every retailer imaginable.  Im sure there will be a rerelease for those that missed it, or even a proper 89 deco version.  I wasn't taking any chances.  This may be my favorite movie car of all time, edging out the Ecto-1 and Delorean Time Machine.  I buy just about every version and scale I see.  But you already knew that:

So join in and party like it's 1989!  Or at least throw some shade at Hasbro and their $300 version of Ghost Rider no one wanted.  Food for thought for the next Ghostbusters movie, ya jerks.

Oh, look, Hasblow...a decently-scaled Batwing for $40 from Spin Master!

https://terribletoyman.blogspot.com/2017/08/1989-batmobile.html

https://terribletoyman.blogspot.com/2017/06/thread-organizer-aka-inexpensive-toy.html

https://terribletoyman.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-mad-hatter-and-89-batmobile.html

1989 Batarang and Grappling Gun

1989 Batarang and Grappling Gun

full-scale, 3D printed props

Thanks to 3D printing, Etsy is now as dangerous to me and my wallet as Ebay!  Simply search for a random movie or pop culture item in their search bar, and you can bet there will be at least a dozen or more items that have been brought to life for those of us who are less than skilled prop and costume builders.  I stumbled on these 1989 Bat-props while searching for 3D printed Ghostbusters prop parts.  The Machine knows what I like!

They've still got that 3D printed texture to them that a light sanding or paint coat might help with, but from a distance of two feet or more, they look pretty darn neat.







The gun comes in two pieces that can be assembled and disassembled easily.  The piton requires some assembly with its barbs and could use some glue for permanency.  I was surprised by the folding metal hinge for the handle...great detail, sturdy, and works great.  It could benefit from some paint and weathering but, all in all, not bad for $30.

The batarang is equally as sturdy for a homespun prop.  Lightweight, but not fragile.  They had a more expensive, folding option, but I'm happy with this static $20 model.  I will at least need to add silver paint to the bottom tips of the wing for screen accuracy.

So, if you love Batman 1989 like I do, and want some decent props that wont break the bank, I recommend these.  Though don't stick around Etsy for too long...one thing quickly spirals to the next:  "OOO a noisy cricket from MIB!  And an arm mounted proton pack!"  $$$

The Joker 1989

The Joker 1989

custom figure

Where does he get those wonderful toys?  Sometimes you have to cobble them together yourself.  Jack Nicholson's likeness rights must be as over the top as his performance, because only the uber-expensive doll company, Hot Toys, has been able to shell out for him.  Of course I had to buy that one!  As a kid, the closest we got was Sky Escape and Knock-out Joker...a very, very loose likeness, if any.  And the Toy Biz Joker?  A nice comic interpretation, but he's no Jack either.  Back to the Hot Toys doll...it's taken a decade or so after it's release, but someone online has finally managed to scale down the excellent head sculpt in the six and seven-inch scales! 

It took some work:  a dremel tool (to fit the head on a peg), some paint (many, many layers of model master acrylic purple), and a couple steady hands (my wife detailed the eyes and lips.)   It also required a suitable body.  Now, I've seen other customizers going all over the map here (Heath Ledger bases, various suit bodies and accessories) but I felt most of the work was already done with Mattel's 1966 Caesar Romero Joker figure (still cheap and readily available on Ebay).  The costume is similar enough and I feel it had a better Jack build to it than the other options.

Even though the pointing and closed fist hands on the Romero would work, I wanted my Jack to be able to hold some accessories.  I took some hands from a Batman Missions Joker figure, as they were already purple and had separated trigger fingers.  Now Jack is ready to do some poppin' and a shoppin'!

I'm by no means a skilled customizer.  Painting the face was a huge undertaking for me.  (I gave it a light blue wash to help some of the lines show better.)  Could it all be better?  Sure, but I am happy with the results.   I encourage all fans of Batman 89 who couldn't bite the bullet on the Hot Toys doll to jump in and give this a shot.  A dream of mine 30 years ago is now a reality.  He looks great with the NECA Michael Keaton Batman and Mattel Danny DeVito Penguin.  And with a Michael Gough Alfred on the way, its time to track down a Star Wars Black Series Lando Calrissian...

The awesome background artwork is part of the cover to Mondo's re-release of the Danny Elfman score...also highly recommended!