66 Batman BootLEGO Minifigs

Since the 66 Batman Batcave LEGO set is priced way out of my range (and I wouldn't know where to display the thing if I did buy and build it) I did the next best thing and bought a set of eight 66 Batman bootLEGO minifigs off eBay for about a buck each!

As great as the character selection is with this set (it lacks a Riddler, but otherwise has all the minifigs from LEGO set 76052) the quality of these bootLEGOs is relatively low. Not low enough to pass on them for around a buck each, but not the best quality bootLEGOs out there by any means. There's lots of plastic 'flashing' and many paint apps don't line up. A couple of the figures' feet' barely lock into the base (or other LEGO pieces) and there's been some plastic stress marks show up on pieces that fit tightly together. Also, as happens with many bootLEGOs, once I had Batman's cowl in place it's pretty permanent. So he does have two expressions, but it's going to be a task getting the cowl off to turn his head around. That's ok, as I picked the expression I liked best first. I've learned what to expect with bootLEGOs!

Robin has two expressions too, and fortunately his hair pops off easy enough to spin his head around. Unfortunately...

...the paint apps are not too clean and it looks like he may be missing a tooth or something.

'The umm, ahem, blue phone, sirs.'

Alfred is a welcome addition tot he set, the first minifig Alfred I've ever owned, LEGO, bootLEGO or otherwise.

Alfred also has two expressions and, inexplicably, a translucent blue phone. But who cares, he's awesome!

Adam West's Bruce Wayne. Keen!

Brucie also has an alternate expression.

Burt Ward's Dick Grayson.

And alternate expression.

Catwoman. She looks more like Lee Meriwether to me, but who can say.

Catwoman's alternate head is a masked face! 

Cesar Romero's Joker!

With mustache and yellow teeth!

This Joker's alt expression is classic Romero! I love it!

Burgess Merideth as Penguin! Penguin only has one expression, but he comes with a bootLEGO umbrella so I guess that makes up for his lack of a cigarette holder in his mouth.

The best part of having Bruce and Dick minifigs is being able to make maskless Batman...

...and maskless Robin minifigs!

Even Alfred got in on the fun...

Umm...err...ahem...nevermind, nothing to see here. Goodbye.

BootLEGO Egghead Minifigure *Drops Mic*

Seriously. All the BootLEGO manufacturers can pack their bags and go home. Because

Someone

Made

An

Egghead

Bootleg

LEGO

Minifigure.

I'm not even kidding. I wish I were, because I do not think I am capable of wrapping my head around the fact that I live in a world wherein a Vincent Price Batman '66 TV Show Egghead minifigure exists.

I

Can't

Even.

'What an un-egg-spected surprise!'

I of course got this guy off eBay, from China. For dirt cheap with free shipping.

Did I mention EGGHEAD?!?!?!

I just, I don't...I mean I can't even...I...I...I...

If I could unscramble my brains long enough to form a cohesive thought, I might even point out the sunny-side (up) of this minifigure for people who don't care about Egghead (aka heathens), which is this: YOU CAN ADD A HAIR PIECE AND YOU WILL HAVE A VINCENT PRICE MINIFIGURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111!!!!!!!!!!!ZOMG!!!

This is literally just a bald Vincent Price minifigure and that is ALMOST as awesome as it being an Egghead minifigure and all is well in the world because this exists.

Holy Constructive Play, Batman! LEGO Unveils Batman Classic TV Series Batcave Set!

To honor the anniversary of Batman's television debut (50 years ago today!) LEGO just announced the Batman Classic TV Series Batcave set #76052 - and WOW what a whopper it is!

Due to be released in March 2016, this set includes NINE classic Batman TV series minifigures, three classic vehicles (including the fan-demanded Barris Batmobile FINALLY) and...well...a price tag of around $270.00. Sigh, looks like it's a couple hundred and sixty dollars out of my price range. Perhaps I should go get me a Powerball ticket after all.

If it's any consolation, I'm sure the bootLEGOers will be releasing all these minifigures for pennies on the dollar. But what I really want is that Batmobile! So while I look up ways to earn a little extra cash before March (anyone looking for an...ahem...escort?) let's drool all over these wonderful toys , shall we?

Fans have wanted an Adam West Batman LEGO minifigure for years, and here it is! A thing of beauty all the way down to those (Bat)man boobs!

And speaking of man boo...I mean Adam West...

Adam West Bruce Wayne is also part of the set!

Riddle me this: What are Bruce and Dick without Alfred, other than a couple completely heterosexual men hanging around in the basement wearing tights?

Answer: Without Alfred they are a couple completely heterosexual men hanging around in the basement wearing tights WITHOUT ANYONE TO MAKE THEM THEIR LUNCH, that's what!

Ahh, and here she is, the most gorgeous vehicle to ever grace asphalt. The LEGO 1966 Barris Batmobile. I want it. I want it BAAAD!

Stately Wayne Manor etc etc.

And the whole LEGO Batcave shebang laid out across my living room floor (I wish!) As I mentioned earlier, you get THREE Batvehicles: The Batcopter, Batmobile and Batcycle! I also love all those cool Batcomputer components. I wonder if they will all be neatly labeled as Batman is wont to do.

The LEGO Batcave entrance. The Batpoles are labeled! I also love the LEGO Shakespeare bust and of course the red Batphone is there too. 'It's for you, sir.'

What a wonderful LEGO Batcopter! As you can see, Robin (and presumably Batman too) has a second expression as well. Groovy!

The Atomic whatchamadoohickey. In LEGO form.

Looks like the Batpoles have a little spinny action. To the Bat-dramamine!

LEGO Burgess Merideth Penguin. WAH WAH WAH! Too bad it isn't kosher these days for him to have his cigarette holder.

LEGO Burt Ward Dick Grayson minifigure and of course...

...a LEGO Burt Ward Robin too! He looks great!

LEGO Cesar Romero Joker (with mustache!) Gorgeous!

LEGO Frank Gorshin Riddler - I hope the other side of his face is unmasked!

And last but not least, LEGO Julie Newmar (or is it Lee Meriwether?) Catwoman!

WHAT?!?! No Batgirl? Or Eartha Kitt Catwoman?!?! Or False Face, or Shame, or Egghead, or King Tut?!?!?!

Well, maybe their absence bodes well for more sets...but I wouldn't hold my breath. Regardless, this LEGO Batman Classic TV Series Batcave is a true thing of beauty and I am going to go sell some blood or something so I can own it.

Q-Pop 66 Batman :: Random Toy Pic

I've seen these cutesy Q-Pop Batman statues at the comic book store, and they're super cute but not something I need to fill my quickly shrinking space with. But when I found this '66 Batman version at the flea market for a dollar (I talked the guy down from his two dollar asking price) well, this thing is heading to work with me on Monday and it's going to grace my desk with all it's cute vengeance seeking glory.

Another Batmobile Kiddie Ride, And This One is For Sale!

My recent post about a '66 Batmobile Kiddie Ride that I spotted in front of a not-so-nearby K-Mart prompted a reader to alert me (and now I'm alerting YOU!) that she has one just like it, and hers is FOR SALE!

Jen has this Batmobile ride-on and is looking to get $850 obo for it before she makes a cross-country move. I wish I had that kind of dough, but I'm no Bruce Wayne!

If you would like to make all your childhood dreams come true for a measly $850 contact Jen at her email jenrem76.jr@gmail.com

BONUS PIC: I returned to the 'scene of the crime' and got a pic of myself in my local version:

Zoom Zoom!

1966 Batmobile Kiddie Ride

I recently spotted this 1966 Batmobile coin operated Kiddie Ride outside a K-Mart in Salinas, California. I am pretty sure this is the same machine I spotted a couple years ago outside a K-Mart in Watsonville California. What is it about K-Marts and these silly coin-op kiddie rides? They seem to go together like, well, K-Mart and aisles that look like they were hit by a tornado. But K-Marts have always had these kiddie rides in front of them for as long as I can remember - ever since I was a wee lad riding on them myself.

Anyways, I don't make it to either K-Mart location very often, but when I saw this Batmobile ride in Watsonville I had hoped I could get my intern over to ride on it. Sadly by the time I got back that way again it was gone.

Now it's in Salinas, and again I did not have my intern with me. I did however have a camera.

I also lucked out, because while I was getting ready to take the pictures a couple with a baby stopped at it and plunked in the fifty cents so junior could take it for a spin. I was nearly as excited as the kid (ok, I was more excited) when I discovered that when the ride kicks in it also plays the Batman TV theme song!

Holy two-bits, Batman!

I want this thing in my living room.

Batman Bendable Figures by NJCroce

This set of '66 Television Batman Bendable Figures came to me this past Christmas. It's the perfect set for me and my intern to play with together - in fact, right after this photo shoot they were all riding around on Dumbo, looking for Dumbo's mom. Sounds like a Grant Morrison story.

All the figures are pretty good representations of the actors they portray, especially considering the fact that they are soft rubber bendies.

The paint applications are basic, but Batman and Robin do have nice cloth capes. These guys feel pretty sturdy for rubber bendies, I think they will withstand a lot of intern-time.

Joker and Penguin have thicker upper legs due to their coattails, so their legs don't have as much bendy motion as the others.

But that doesn't make these guys any less fun. They are what they are, you pretty much know what to expect if you've ever had a bendy figure in your life.

Bendy figures were a part of my youth as much as little green army men and die cast cars and regular action figures. Not sure when they fell out of favor but you don't really see much of them much these days.

So it's fun to see them again, and to see them representing characters (or versions of characters) that represent the timeframe of the bendy renaissance. Well, I can't speak for 1966, but the Batman tv show was certainly a part of 70s and 80s childhoods, at least in reruns.

All of these characters are also sold as singles, in case you aren't in the market for the whole quintet.

And so far this is everyone from the '66 TV show in bendy form. Which is a shame, as I really think they need Batgirl's help! Three villains and two heroes? That's just not fair.

Plus: Batman and Robin are way too chivalrous to punch Catwoman.

I don't know if you can find these guys at basic retail, but I have seen them at local novelty shops. You know, those stores that sell, well, stuff like bendy figures.

'Wah wah wah wah waaaaaah!'