Gotham Season 2 Premieres Tonight :: Gotham SDCC Exclusive Minimates

Gotham Season 2 premieres tonight! Season 1 had some great moments and a few missteps, but I am hopeful Season 2 will be a bit more cohesive and continue with the more entertaining aspects of baby Batman and 'tween James Gordon. Okay, so they aren't quite THAT young, but you get the idea.

I didn't make it to San Diego Comic Con this year, but my in-laws live in San Diego, and my Mother-in-law likes to run out to Barnes & Noble during the convention, because B&N always sells some SDCC exclusives like Funko POPs and Minimates and she usually grabs fun stuff for the grandkids.

She must have somehow heard that I like Batman, because she picked up this set of Detective Gordon and Bruce Wayne Minimates for me! Well, my wife claims she picked them up for her, but they are in my house so whatever.

Young Bruce Wayne comes with a 'I'm sad my parents are dead' head and a 'Goddammit my parents are dead!' head. I admit that it is kinda morbid to have a 'my parents just died' Bruce Wayne figure, but he is completely unique in my collection (the only other Bruces I have are of the 'Bruce to Batman' variety) so I'm pretty happy to have him.

As for James Gordon, this would be my second, the other being the TNBA Commissioner Gordon. But my first DETECTIVE Gordon!

I'm not sure what makes this set an exclusive - if it's the whole shebang, the accessories, the 'Goddammit my parents are DEAD!' face or just the SDCC sticker. But I'm glad to have it, as Gotham is towards the top of my 'must-see TV' list. And besides, any Batman toy, even if it's pre-Batman, is alright by me!

We built this Batmobile on Rock and Roll

A few weeks back my brother from another mother Charles aka Chunky B of Eclectorama fame sent me an awesome package full of toys, just out of the kindness of his Texas sized heart. I certainly owe CB a huge public "Thank you!" (and more) and I will eventually cover all the keen toys he sent me here on Toyriffic.

First up is this groovy C3 Construction Mini-Batmobile.

Cue announcer: "When last we left our intrepid duo, they had been encased in plastic by the troublesome Toyman!"

Anyways, I just got around to releasing our heroes, as well as the pieces of their Batmobile, which I quickly reconstituted.

Before Lego had the Batman license a few small and large Batman (and Superman) themed building sets were released in 2004 with figures and playsets/vehicles that were made up of Lego compatible blocks and components.

This mini Batmobile even has a rotating flame coming out the rear of the jet turbine. Neat!

Of course the stars of the sets were the figures themselves. Not sure if the building block playsets were phased out due to lack of consumer interest or because Lego lawyers got on the case, but Minimate figures are still going strong with licenses covering everyone from DC to Marvel to Ghostbusters to Battlestar Galactica to almost everyone in-between!

In addition to Batman (with expandable cape,) this set included a Tim Drake Robin, complete with his bo staff.

Also included is a Batarang for Batman. "Be careful out there, chum!"

Of course the figures fit nicely into the cockpit, but only one at a time (it is the MINI Batmobile after all!)

Last but not least, the set includes a suction cup with a piece of string connected to it for high flyin' adventure!

Thanks again CB! I owe you big time!!!