Matchbox Sky Busters Batman v Superman Batwing (with special guest star The Bat)

With the 'gotta know it now' attitude of the internet, and all the world's toy knowledge contained therein at my fingertips, few toy releases sneak up on me anymore these days. So imagine my shock to discover the Matchbox Sky Busters Batman v Superman Batwing the other day just chillaxing on the pegs at Toys R Us.

The Sky Busters line are larger than your standard Matchbox/Hotwheels vehicle. Scale is of course all over the place as the vehicles are generally the same size regardless of vehicle type (a 747 is about the same size as a Cessna) but if you were to set this Batwing next to the Hotwheels version of the Batman v Superman Batmobile, you're probably in a pretty close ballpark for matching scale of the two vehicles.

Not only did I have no idea this thing existed or was set for release, but I didn't learn about it before actually seeing it in the wild, which is a refreshing change of pace as it means I did not spend any sleepless nights praying to the toy Gods that I'd find it on my next toy hunt. Nor did I have to put out the TAPB (Toy All Points Bulletin) to my fellow toy collectors to be on the lookout for me!

Not a bad looking Batwing, it looks like an actual bat as it hangs from a cave ceiling.

The Batwing is only die-cast on the top of the fuselage. The rest is plastic. It feels lighter than I expected it to be, but it still makes for a sturdy feeling toy vehicle. I think Toys R Us is charging $3.99 (or was it $4.99?) for these things, which is a fair price given the scale. The Batwing has landing gear which is permanently extended but the wheels do roll.

The Batman v Superman Batwing is undeniably recognizable as a Bat-vehicle and a fun addition to any collection or for any fan of The Batman, regardless of their thoughts on the movie itself.

The last time I was caught so unawares by Matchbox was when they released The Bat from The Dark Knight Rises. So I couldn't resist busting out The Bat for this photo shoot.

The Bat was and is an ugly thing that looks nothing like any proper Bat-vehicle, but I suppose it's become an icon in it's own right at this point.

As dumb as it looks, I am glad I found The Bat on the pegs back when it was released and am especially glad that the Matchbox Sky Busters line has actually continued with the Bat theme. Would it be too bold of me to hope for an '89 Batwing, or perhaps a Batman Animated Batwing in the Sky Busters line-up sometime in the future?

Imaginext Doomsday is Here!

Fisher-Price has done it again! They've released another set inspired by current superhero trends that skew a bit too old for the pre-school action figure line, without directly referencing or paying tribute to said source material. Genius!

Similar to the inclusion of an Arkham Asylum Batmobile in Imaginext form, Fisher-Price just added Doomsday (and a battle damaged Superman) to their ranks, influenced by the final battle scene in Batman v Superman, but not a direct reference to the epic moment in a film kids shouldn't see (and some would argue no one should see!).

Fortunately Imaginext's Doomsday is far more comic-book influenced than the film's version. I absolutely love how much of his containment suit is still present. I can't imagine it's even remotely likely, but I wish a masked Doomsday variant would be released in the future!

Toys-R-Us had an online sale over Labor Day, with free shipping on all orders. I was able to get Doomsday and Superman for $11.99 and free shipping! Having not seen him in person at any retail establishment, I couldn't pass on the deal, especially since he's $17.99 (at least) full price. If you can find him!

The set is more like a figure/vehicle set, with Doomsday designed with an action feature dial on his back. An Imaginext figure placed in the footpad on his back can make Doomsday's arms flail when the footpad is rotated. The package shows Lex Luthor in the 'driver's seat' but kids and adults far too old to be playing with pre-school toys can also place Superman there for laser vision lobotomizing good times!

Doomsday even comes with a twisted girder accessory for Kryptonian clobbering fun!

Doomsday's head sculpt is pretty great, and very accurate to his original comic book appearance.

Doomsday is a basic action figure, and his action feature unfortunately makes his arm poseability limited (read: non-existent).  His arms only flail with the turning of the disk, and can't be held in any up and down position EDIT: actually they can be clicked up into more dynamic poses, I just hadn't realized it at first! His wrists do rotate, as does his neck and his legs rotate into a sitting position. Visually, the red footpad disk does little to detract from the beauty of the figure, especially if you place a figure in the footpad for display. He's also surprisingly large. He dwarfs even larger figures like Solomon Grundy and Clayface.

I'm surprised at how impressive the Superman variant that comes with the set is. I didn't get the set for another Superman, and would have gladly bought Doomsday sans Superman, but I'm really happy with this Supes. He may be my favorite Imaginext Superman yet! The angry heat-vision visage is just great, and the torn costume paint app shows this Superman means business! This is now my go-to Imaginext Superman!

I highly recommend this set if you're a fan of the characters. I'm trying to keep my Imaginext collecting more Batman skewed, but I suppose I can forgive this set since it's relevant to the most recent Batman movie, even if it's not even remotely Batman related. I'll have to do an Imaginext Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman vs. Doomsday photoshoot someday!

BootLEGO Batman v Superman Aquaman

I'm pretty sure you can't get an official LEGO Momoaquaman minifigure (yet), but thanks to the magic of the great big 'F-U' China gives to American copyright laws, you can get a BootLEGO Momoaquaman!

The Batman v Superman version of Aquaman sure has some luxurious locks, and while they don't have the blonde streaks/tips that Aquaman sports in the movie, his arms do sport those sweet Polynesian tattoos!

Momoaquaman is one of the higher-end BootLEGOs. He's pretty high quality - just a smidge south of LEGO quality.

If you're an Aquaman fan and have like .87 cents to spare, you ought to track him down on eBay today!

Bathound v Superdog: Dawn of Buttsniff

"Tell me. Do you have fleas? You will."

Who will win?

Batman v Superman Knightmare Batman LEGO Custom Minifigure

Regardless of your feelings towards the Batman v Superman movie, I doubt anyone will argue that the nightmare/premonition sequence Desert Storm Batman has become an instant icon, and will be with us for decades to come in toys, Halloween costumes, cosplay etc etc.

So naturally I had to make a minifigure of him using LEGO and BootLEGO parts!

Honestly, making a Knightmare Batman wouldn't have even crossed my mind had I not recently gotten a BootLEGO Gambit. And I didn't even set out to own a BootLEGO Gambit; he came in a lot with a New52 Teen Titans Red Robin AND he came with an extra overcoat piece. After seeing Batman v Superman it dawned (of Justice) on me to use that overcoat piece on a modern LEGO Batman minifigure. Along with brown arms, tan legs, and a pair of goggles perched precariously on his cowl, I now have a Knightmare Batman minifigure!

I saw Batman v Superman and here's what I think...

I will start with spoiler free statements, and warn you when the spoiler stuff begins, so don't worry, you will be warned before I potentially ruin the movie for you.

I caught an advanced screening of Batman v Superman on Monday night in IMAX. The movie was made for IMAX, with massive massiveness to the massive, amped up to around 11. I'm not a fan of this type of thing (or 3-D movies either for that matter) and generally prefer my movies on the normal sized screen (or TV) with a little thing called plot thrown in. Had I not gotten a free ticket I wouldn't have seen Batman v Superman in IMAX at all, but it was a thrill seeing and hearing and feeling the full IMAX experience during the (multiple) big action sequences. So if that's your thing, have at it.

I've grown too old to be angered by media of any kind if it's designed to entertain. It either entertains me or it doesn't. I don't get my panties in a bunch if something isn't my cup of tea. I also like to view the plethora (and there is a plethora nowadays, we are blessed and let us not forget that) of comicbook/superhero media as a multiverse; there's a different universe every direction you look. Batman v Superman isn't happening in my preferred 'universe,' but it's an entertaining movie if viewed in it's corner of the multiverse.

Batman v Superman didn't anger me, but I could see a part of me, or perhaps a younger me, being pretty miffed by a lot of it.

There will be a lot of people angered by Batman v Superman. There will be a lot of people confused, there will be a lot of people entertained. There will be a lot of people who will skip it entirely. They are all right. It isn't for everyone. And that's ok, unless the people it is for don't see it enough to raise the bucks for the next one. Maybe that's ok too. Schumacher brought us Nolan, so we owe him that much. Then again, a lot of people hated the Nolan-verse. You can't please everyone.

Batman v Superman is about 2.5 hours long, and feels like at least three movies jammed together. That isn't a complaint, necessarily. For the cost of movies these days, you get a good amount of time spent before the screen for your buck. But it felt forced at times, and that's just not necessary. I'm pretty sure the movie was exactly that, they took their Man of Steel part 2 script, mixed in their Justice League 1 script, and tossed Batman in because Batman has to be in everything, and voila! Batman v Superman!

The movie did not feel accessible to the common viewer, and it was very gloomy. The gloom is ok if that's your goal, because life isn't all wine and roses, but the lack of accessibility is not; especially when you are trying to build a movie universe.

Wonder Woman was incredible, Gal Gadot was incredible, and the Wonder Woman story thread left me wishing the movie would just jump rails and head in her direction and Bats and Supes could f' the right off. I am REALLY looking forward to the Wonder Woman solo flick!

Batman v Superman is big and bombastic and there's little plot and little motivation for any character, but there's lots of punching and smashing. It has some high points that are character perfect and some lows that are just sad. Overall I enjoyed it but I think I am more forgiving than both your hard-core comic fan and your common non-comic moviegoer.

I will say this, as both a Batman fan and a Batman via Frank Miller fan: Batman has been around for what, 77 years now? Frank Miller wrote maybe four Batman stories, two of which are actually good. WE ARE DONE WITH FRANK MILLER! QUOTE SOMEONE ELSE FOR BAT'S SAKE!

Batman v Superman doesn't tread any new ground (except perhaps with Wonder Woman) and doesn't improve on any movie that came before it. I do want and look forward to seeing it again, and perhaps I will be more happy with it after a second (non IMAX) viewing. I enjoyed it and wouldn't recommend you miss it, but if you miss it you aren't missing a life changing experience either.

My recommendation isn't glowing I know, but I did have fun watching the movie and I enjoyed it. Honestly, based on your feelings about Man of Steel and the previews for Batman v Superman, you can trust your instincts on whether you will like this movie or not. Plot was thin, motivation thinner, and EXPLOSIONZZZ!

Lastly, don't sit through the credits. Nothing there at the end, or middle. The movie is over when it ends.

And now...

SPOILERS

SPOILERS

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SPOILERS

SPOILERS

SPOILERS


SPOILERS

SPOILERS

SPOILERS


SPOILERS

SPOILERS

SPOILERS

Ok, you've been warned.

Batman kills. A lot. With guns, and not just in his dream sequence (which is forgivable.) And even a killing Batman is forgivable (Keaton did it) to an extent, but when you extend the logic of a Batman that is killing at Punisher levels you think to yourself 'why doesn't Bruce Wayne just spend his money on napalm and frag the whole damn block in one Batwing sweep instead of jumping in, sneaking around, punching the badguys first and THEN killing them when that doesn't work?!?!' It's a dumb approach. If Batman kills, have him just bomb the shit out of everybody and go home. Having him punch a bunch of guys then kill one later because it's convenient at that moment is just stupid. Or: why doesn't he just shoot Joker? He shoots nameless thugs, why not Joker?!?! The logic is dumb. Do it or don't it. But don't 'do it and/or don't it as the scene requires'. Dumb. (and no, Joker does not appear in Batman v Superman.)

Superman...oh man I feel bad for Superman fans. Everything wrong with Man of Steel was multiplied by twenty and Superman was treated by less than dirt in this movie. It's sad, and had me, a dyed in the wool Batman fan, wanting to slap Batman and slap some sense into Superman while I was at it.

Also, and again SPOILERS...

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Superman dies. I remember the Death of Superman comics in the nineties, and you do too I am sure. But what the hell are the average viewers going to do with that? I am tired of superhero movies jamming 1990s, years-long storylines into minutes worth of movie. It didn't work in The Dark Knight Rises, it won't work in Civil War, and it (Doomsday/Death of Superman) didn't work in Batman v Superman. Stop it. Write your own story for once!

Also, the whole Justice League set-up fell flat once Superman died. I kept waiting for Flash to appear and say 'the timeline is screwed, let's go back to pre-Supes/Zod and fix it all so everyone isn't written into a crappy and inescapable corner of the multiverse!' but it never happened.

Did I mention movies don't piss me off anymore?

Perhaps I am being too critical. Like I said, Wonder Woman was phenomenal, there were moments that were incredible (some of which I am not sure standard audiences will 'get') and it was cool to see Batman and Superman together (even f they were never really 'together'). A good movie but not a great movie. I hope the wrest the reigns away from Snyder and steer the franchise back to center, but if they don't here's hoping they get better directors and writers for the solo flicks.

Go see it or don't. Trust your gut. And don't get pissed about it. If this isn't your Supes or Bats, go read a comic or watch a cartoon that IS your Bats and Supes. Snyder didn't steal your childhood, he just made his own movie because that's his job and he got paid to do it.

Desert Storm Batman :: Batman v Superman Blast Attack Batman Action Figure

The movie isn't out yet, but from the previews I can already say that one of my most favorite scenes in Batman v Superman includes Batman in pants and a trench-coat. Because there's something so 'comic-booky' about Batman throwing on some pants and a trench-coat (and goggles) in order to storm the desert lair of a rogue Superman.

Rumors abound about the scene and it's full meaning in the DC movie hierarchy, but I won't go into that spoilery stuff here. Sufficed to say, I'm looking forward to it!

Anyways, I was surprised to already see this version of Batman (officially dubbed 'Blast Attack Batman') on the toy aisles as part of Mattel's lower priced (around ten bucks) mainstream Batman v Superman line. The movie isn't even out yet and already there have been, by my unscientific count, about ten or eleven figures in this line (including Aquaman and Wonder Woman!)

I am officially dubbing this version of Batman 'Desert Storm Batman' because it sounds far better than Blast Attack Batman. I also predict this will be a popular cosplay because it shouldn't be too tough to pull off (I am already planning my Halloween costume!)

Batman comes with a pair of removable goggles, which can be placed over his eyes or on his forehead like in the preview. I love that Mattel gave us goggles as a separate piece and didn't mold them on the head or glue them down.

Batman also comes with a 'Mega Blaster' which looks like the EMP rifle Christian Bale used in The Dark Knight Rises. 

Two accessories included with a ten dollar figure? Mattel has gone MAAAAD!!!!

Of additional note: only the head on this figure is re-used from previous releases. Every other piece is unique to this figure. The detail on this figure really looks incredible, especially considering this is the 'lower-end' figure. The trench-coat is thick and gives the figure a very heavy, solid feel. And then there's the pants. What can I say about the pants? It's Batman...in pants!

Awesome.

Batman v Superman Battle Armor Batman :: I AM IRON-BATMAN!

Batman v Superman merchandise is hitting retail now. I found the basic assortment of action figures at Target today and picked up the Battle Armor Batman figure!

No matter what comes of the movie itself, this Batman action figure is a pretty faithful representation of Batman in The Dark Knight Returns, when he armors up to battle (distract) Superman. No matter what you think of Batfleck now or after you see the movie, I think fans of TDKR will still be very pleased with the visual aesthetic of this figure and will find it hard to resist.

This Battle Armor Batman is from the basic 6" line. There is also a Movie Masters line ala DCUC which includes Battle Armor Batman with more articulation and a grapple-gun BAF piece. Figures in that series run around twenty bucks each. I haven't seen them in person yet, but She's Fantastic has Wonder Woman already!

Target is charging $9.99 for this standard series, which seems fair nowadays. Iron Batfleck isn't very articulated (single hinged elbows, knees, hips, shoulders, wrists and a ball-jointed head) but he does come with an accessory - which would be ridiculous since it's a gun...unless it's a sonic blaster like in The Dark Knight Returns!

Or maybe it's a rocket launcher. Or a marital aid. Time will reveal what it does in the movie, but if you are a fan of TDKR all you need is a little imagination to see it as a sonic blaster. Or you can toss it because Batman doesn't use guns. Whatever floats your boat.

Batman's cape is vinyl - I would have preferred cloth, but the cape does remind me of the original Kenner Darth Vader's vinyl cape, so it wins point in the nostalgia category. Just be careful taking Batman out of his packaging; I cut the plastic away from his cape and freed him without pulling on the cape to avoid damaging it.

There is very little by way of paint on this Batman figure. His armor is all cast in metallic plastic. His eyes, face, and belt are the only parts with any paint. basic, but effective.

This wave also includes a standard Batman, a standard Superman, a kryptonite gloved Batman, and not shown on this cardback the wave also includes a Superman variant (which I don't recall the name of) and a standard Wonder Woman and Aquaman.

Sadly Wonder Woman was not there when I found Batman. Aquaman was there, but I wasn't terribly impressed by him. He didn't look like Momoa at all. But seeing him was still better than seeing another Supes or Bat variant!

Batman is covered in sculpted details. this figure really is a thing of beauty, and his appearance as such in the film a testament to Batman v Superman's comic book faithfulness (visually speaking, at least.)

Batman's boots are even spiked like in the comic book, for Superman-face-stompin' fun!

Battle Armor Batman really is a great looking figure. If you are unsure as to how deep you plan to wade into the Batman v Superman pool, I suggest you start with this basic version. He's simple, relatively inexpensive, and doesn't come with some massive neon-tinged movie-inaccurate accessory.

Might I add that it's kind of amazing that this figure does not include a bat-symbol. I mean sure, the comic version of this costume (as well as the film version) do not include a bat-symbol either, but it's pretty rare for a basic line Batman to not include a bat-symbol, regardless of film-accuracy. Someone in Marketing probably jumped out a window when they decided not to add one.

Hot Wheels Batman v Superman Batmobile

Thanks to Mario from A Year of Toys (which is a complete smokescreen as he has been blogging about toys for far more than a year!) I have my hands on the newest Batmobile - so new the movie it appears in hasn't even hit screens yet - the Batman v Superman Batmobile!

This Batmobile looks like Keaton and Bale's Batmobile got it on and made a baby. I can't say it really does anything for me, like the Arkham Knight Batmobile, but I suppose seeing in action may change my mind.

 Hot Wheels has released this Batmobile 'New for 2016' which means for once I'm ahead of the curve.

There's really not much more I can say about this Batmobile until we see some actual shots of it in the movie. Rumor has it that this Batmobile either converts into or somehow attaches to the Batwing; those odd rear spoiler looking wings imply that may be true. And of course Batman v Superman has to top Bale's Tumbler to Batcycle, and a flying Batmobile would do it.

There's also the 'propulsion-envy' to consider, and a flying Batmobile would be just the thing Batfleck might bust out of the Batcave to confront Superman. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

There is a weird little tampo on the top, like a small hatch or something. The short scene in the trailer would imply this is too small an opening for Batman, so I don't think it's an entry point of any sort. Perhaps it's where the kryptonite launcher pops up from, or maybe it's the connection port for the Batwing, or it's where Bruce pours in the rubber bullets for the gratuitous gattling guns this Batmobile is sure to have in spades.

'Requisite gull wing doors'? Off the top of my head there has probably been one, maybe two batmobiles in the history of Batmobiles with gull wing doors. I also can't tell by looking at this thing how gull wing doors would work given the lines on the vehicle, but I suppose that's just one more exciting reveal waiting for me when Batman v Superman finally hits theatres March 25th, 2016!

I've got BootLEGO bats in my belfry!

Looking at BootLEGOs on eBay the other day, I stumbled on to a brand new Bat-lot of Batmen with the new style cowl (I had yet to own any LEGO or BootLEGO Batmen with the new cowl style) and not only that, but the set included some great Batman variants. So even though I was as yet unfamiliar with the bootleg company that produces this lot (Duo Le Pin) I figured the pennies-on-the-dollar cost was worth the potential risk, so I ordered them...and man am I glad I did!

First up is Batfleck. I am pretty sure I will end up with an official LEGO set or two for the upcoming Batman v Superman movie, but BootLEGOS are so damn inexpensive and WHO CAN WAIT?!?! Also, thankfully I now know that Duo Le Pin is pretty high quality. These BootLEGOS are even closer to LEGO quality than the Sheng Yuan and Decool I have previous experience with! This set is just incredible. Don't get me wrong, they are still bootlegs and there are a couple flaws (one Batman head had the same no-emotion expression printed twice...ironic for Batman who isn't one to emote...and this Batfleck inexplicably has a scuba mask on the other side of his head) but...damn they are great. And they cost me less than 75 cents each with free shipping from China! And it only took less than a week for them to arrive! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Up next: at first I wasn't sure if this were an 'official' Batman or not, it actually took me a minute to realize that this is the Batman: Arkham Knight Batman! How cool is that?!?!

This Batman even has printing on his arms and the sides of his legs! QUALITY! Another fun detail is that Arkham Batman has a calm expression without stubble while his angry expression has stubble. Like in the game, Batman gets angrier and less fresh as he battles throughout the night!

Next: Batman Begins. Each Batman minifigure comes with a batarang, a base and a bunch of pieces to make some little Batmobile/Batdrone or something. I left those out of the shoot because they are really just filler.

Next: Batman from The Dark Knight (in grey.) Some of the Batman minifigures came with plastic extended wings, and some came with cloth capes. I actually did a little mixing/matching to suit my desires, this one may have come with the cloth cape that I gave to Batfleck. Whatever, the whole point of these buildable minifigures is mixing and matching!

Batman Beyond. HOLY MOLEY! This guy alone is worth the low low price of admission! Other BootLEGOers have made half-assed attempts at Batman Beyond, but this is the first correct and screen accurate one I've ever seen. He came with a red cloth cape (another irony, THIS is one that should have the solid wings...in red) but Batman Beyond does not have a red cape, he has red retractable wings, so I left it off the minifigure.

Batman of Zur En Arrh! This is now the third BootLEGO Batman of Zur En Arrh I own (each from a different BootLEGO company. Wow!) We do indeed live in incredible times. I will have to do a side by side by side shoot of this version of Batman soon.

All these Batmen have back printing too, BTW. MOAR QUALITY!

Green Lantern Batman! Another wonderful and surprising addition. Now that I think about it, this guy had a cloth cape, so I switched it out with Batfleck. He looks better with solid wings (although they would look better still in green. GL Batman also came with flesh colored hands...weird...so I switched them with some spare black hands (BootLEGOS always seem to come with additional hands.)

Last but...well...least...is Space Batman! I think this Batman appeared in the LEGO Batman 3 video game. He has a normal face and a space face but the 'normal' face is weird because it is printed on the white plastic head. No skin tone. He looks more like Batzarro with the other face. So I'm sticking with space face!

Man, what a set! The quality of Duo Le Pin is incredible, even the cloth capes are better than anything I've experienced from BootLEGOS to date (while still falling short of LEGO quality...but not by much.) The unique characters and the use of the new style cowl makes this set a must have for anyone who likes to dip their toes in the BootLEGO pool from time to time.