Wave 2 was almost non-existent at Retail while Wave 1 was restocked and is now peg warmers. Then we hear that 999F is un-cancelled and back on for June, but no word on 999G. So what about collectors who wanted those case assortments to get the chase/variant figures?
Wave 3 is still being said to be out in July so maybe there is still hope after all, but how does the problems with Wave 2 affect Wave 3?
In the past 5 years you would think Mattel would know what to do by now. In 2003 they released the first 3 waves of comic style figures to great success and flooded stores to the point that they (Mattel) shipped the last 3 waves overseas. From 2005 to 2007 Mattel stumbled through 8 waves of DC SuperHeroes series of figures, but almost killed the line with back to back to back Superman themed waves. Not to mention that all three of those Superman waves were competing with other Superman figures from your Superman Returns series of figures. Now in 2008, Mattel looks to be on the verge of killing DC Universe figures after only two, maybe three waves of figures. I hope they can get this sorted out, but history tends to repeat itself.
The Dark Knight
Then there is word of problems with production of The Dark Knight Movie Masters figures, which explains the minimal amount of product that is hitting the stores.
These are some of the best Batman figures ever produced and unless you got to a store when they put out product you are limited to the secondary market to get any of them. Mattel needs to consider the affect of eBay and ship enough product to make it less attractive for the eBay scalpers to buy up all the hard to find figures just to make money for themselves.
1:50 Scale Hot Wheels Batmobiles
My first gripe is why 1:50 and not 1:43 scale? I would have liked to display these with my 1:43 Corgi Batmobiles, but they are just a bit off size wise. Mattel did a digital scan of the original Number 1 Batmobile and produced a great 1:18 scale and 1:64 scale (SDCC version) of the most iconic Batmobile ever, you would expect they could make a perfect model in any size. So what went wrong with the 1:50 version?
The 1:50 1966 TV Batmobile has two major issues with it. The “Antlers” should stand straight up, not curve outward and the “Rocket Tubes” should be a bit larger in diameter as well as longer and pointed rearward at an angle not smaller and straight up.
The Animated 1:50 TV Series Batmobile looks to be either too short or too wide. The proportions of length vs. width are noticeably off compared to every other version of that particular Batmobile. I think it needed to be a little bit longer myself.
The 1:50 1966 TV Series Batcycle and the Comic Book Batmobile look awesome, so you can get some things perfect.
1:50 Scale Hot Wheels Batmobiles Wish List
I know Mattel will not comment on future product, but here is what I’d like to see in this series.
1966 TV Batboat (have heard this will be produced)
1966 TV Batcopter
1966 TV Batgirl Cycle (have heard this will be produced as an Con Exclusive)
1966 Penguin Submarine (from Batman The Movie)
Batman The Animated Series Batboat
Batman The Animated Series Batplane
Batman The New Adventures Batmobile
1989 Batman/Batman Returns Batmobile (have heard this will be produced)
1989 Batman Batplane
Batman Returns Batmissle
Batman Returns Batskiboat
Batman Forever Batmobile
Batman Forever Batboat
Batman Forever Batplane
Batman and Robin Batmobile
Batman and Robin Redbird Cycle
The Batman Batmobile Original Version 1
The Batman Batmobile New Version 2 (Season 4)
Sweet letter! You know, Mattel will never comment here, although ToyGuru is a member.
I feel the same way about all this, mostly. I think they rushed the DCU line the first few waves so thats why it's like it is. While I want the figures as much as the next guy, I also want to see the line succeed, and of course that won't happen until.. AND I HATE SAYING THIS.. Wal-Mart starts carrying the line.. which they are starting around August.
Now what about the Peg Warmers at the rest of the stores? Honestly, I think alot of collectors are buying a full case off internet stores. Thats what I did for Waves 1 and 2, and, if things work out right, I'll do it that for the other waves.. cept the Wal-Mart wave, which I've been told I can order a case from the toy manager.
Regardless, if the line wasn't selling good, Wal-Mart would not want it.
I also agree with everything about the Dark Knight figures.
As for the 1:50th. I can only think that the reason they made it that way. Competition. What if Mattel wants to make a Jokermobile? Well, Corgi did.. but Mattels is bigger, so now I gotta get it..
That is the only reason I can see..
Good job Flabat!! I'l try to get ToyGuru on here to reply!
I really would like to hear back from Mattel, but IF they read this and IF they take note, then I’ll be happy.
Mattel just seems to be all over the map on Batman and they don’t seem to make any sense.
Almost all of the Batman Begins stuff they are reusing has little to no change to it. Fear Shot Scarecrow, Bruce To Ninja BATMAN, Knight Cycle and Transforming Gotham City for example. Then there is the medium sized Tyco R/C Batmobile. On the surface it appears to be the same as the Batman Begins version, but underneath the jumping action has been removed. What, why? That was the coolest feature and as we see in the The Dark Knight trailers it is still used. Also hard to figure out is why Tyco R/C released two same sized Batmobiles, one Radio controlled and the other Infrared controlled. Why two when one or the other would be fine?
Then there is the Scale Issue. In 2003 when Mattel took over the license, the Comic Style figures, Animated Style figures and The Batman (2004) figures were all one scale within the series of figures. Granted it would have been cool to have them all the same scale, but at least they all fit the same within their respective series. Then somewhere along the line around 2005 or 2006 The Batman series started getting different scales. Some were 5 ½, some 7” and some or 8” or 9”. Then there were vehicles like the Bat-Tank, Dual Force Fighter and Blitz Copter that had much smaller 3” scale figures molded into them.
Batman Begins was mostly 5 ½” scale with a couple figures like the Batman Begins Total Control and Action Cape BATMAN being larger. So far The Dark Knight figures come in four scales, 4”, 5 ½”, 7” and 12” with Action Cape BATMAN and Ultra Batman being just a bit larger. So why do we need three primary scales for The Dark Knight figures?
Well the 5 ½” figures fit in with most of the other figures in other series like Batman Begins. The 7” figures fit into the DC Universe size figures while the smaller 4” figures should fit in with the upcoming DC Infinite Heroes line of figures. It’s bad enough that DC Direct has always had scale issues with its figures, we really do not need Mattel to have scale issues too. Pick a scale you like and stick with it, period.
FlaBat wrote:
Mattel did a digital scan of the original Number 1 Batmobile and produced a great 1:18 scale and 1:64 scale (SDCC version) of the most iconic Batmobile ever, you would expect they could make a perfect model in any size.
I'd like to expand on this part: Mattel, you've now hit 1/18, 1/64, and 1/50 with your Batmobiles. Your 1/24 Mach 5 from the Speed Racer line is hands-down one of the greatest diecasts I've seen in quite a while...please continue the idea and give us a solid 1/24 Batmobile as well.
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