Hotwheels Boom Car :: 2017 New Release

I spotted this 2017 new release Hotwheels Cannon Car, aptly named the 'Boom Car', at Target the other day and couldn't walk away from it. I have a Duplo Clown and Circus Cannon that I simply adore, and while this Hotwheel would have been a great car to have on it's own, it was actually designed to hold (and even fire) a LEGO minifigure!

As you can see, the front is open to hold a minifig, and the explosive plunger serves as a handle for the minfigures.

The red, white and blue color scheme is not only patriotic, but also perfectly matches the New 52 Harley Quinn LEGO minifigure!

The back of the cannon is also open, with the idea that you flick the minifigure with your finger to send them flying! It does work, although try as I might I was unable to get a decent photograph of the action. You'll just have to take my word for it, and if you find the car, invest the dollar to do it yourself!

The Boom Car pairs great with this version of Harley, and will be displayed with her for the indefinite future! I hope Hotwheels releases multiple color variations so I can load up more of my Harley and Joker minifigs and take on Gotham City with a Boom Car Army.

Hotwheels has released a few of their cars with minifigs in mind, but the Boom Car is the first with an 'action feature' in mind. After shooting these pictures, I remembered the LEGO Stuntman that came out a few years ago and realized he'd also pair great with this car. Various clowns and other minfigs will also go great with this one. If you're a fan of Hotwheels and LEGO minifigs, I can't think of a single reason you shouldn't own this car.

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!

Hot Wheels Back to the Future DeLoreon 2015 Hover Conversion

It's 2015, and while you still can't get a flying car in real life, you CAN get a Hot Wheels version of the Back to the Future Delorean time machine with hover conversion!

What a spectacular Hot Wheel! Every kid I knew when I was a wee lad (even before Back to the Future hit movie screens) pretended at least one of their Hot Wheels or Matchbox cars could fly (usually whichever one had opening doors). So any kid would love this one even if they haven't seen the movie and don't realize it is also a time machine. Although I don't know how easy it will be for kids to find or get their hands on since old dorks like me are probably not letting it sit on shelves for long. Hopefully Mattel saturates the market with this DeLorean soon, but so far it seems to be pretty elusive.

The DeLorean has four tiny wheels underneath that still allow it to roll around, and the hover wheels aren't movable in any capacity.

The original Hot Wheels Back to the Future DeLorean is the first film version. Other than the wheels, the primary difference is that the hover conversion has the Mr. Fusion in back.

Here's hoping for more BTTF DeLorean time machine versions from Hot Wheels in the...wait for it...future! In the least we need one with white-walls and electrical components strapped to the hood like in BTTF part 3.

2015 Hot Wheels Brave and the Bold Variants

Hot(wheels) on the heels of my last Hot Wheels Batmobile post, and almost as if Mattel got wind of my distaste for the Brave and the Bold Batmobile's ugly rims and blue scallops, Hot Wheels has released a new variant with black paint, red scallops and MUCH better looking wheels/rims!

Hot Wheels releases running variants often, so I don't think either is more rare than the other. But usually the first variation is harder to find because they stop shipping it when they start with the new variation. So if you prefer the uglier version, you better get to the eye doctor, and after that get to searchin' the Hot Wheels aisles!

The cars are both labeled the same: 2015 HW City 63/250, but as you can see the card art reflects the car color/trim/rims. I cropped the pic, but you can also see that the 'Hot Wheels Showdown Game' graphic is different up there in the left corner. So MOC collectors have some variations to keep their eyes out for too. Personally I'm just glad to have each version of this Brave and the Bold Batmobile, as it is one of my favorite Batmobiles of all time. And it looks far better in red and black than in the blues!

Ugh these rims! Even Jason Todd wouldn't touch those monstrosities!

Ahhh, that's more like it!

Hot Wheels Batmobiles

I used to be much more into Hot Wheels than I am today. I try to keep that corner of my collection under control these days and greatly limit my purchases, but for around a dollar I can't pass up a Hot Wheel Batmobile that I don't already own.

I can still remember when Hot Wheels first released the '89 Batmobile way back in 2004. I was very into Hot Wheels at that time, and Batmobile merchandise was pretty much sparse to non-existent. So finding a new toy Batmobile - for around a dollar - made me a bit crazy and I vowed to buy every one I saw at retail until I owned one hundred of them.

I've moved about six or seven times since then, and my Hot Wheels and Batmobiles collection remains boxed up to this day, so I honestly cannot tell you if I ever reached that goal. (Although I don't think I ever passed one up at retail, so I nailed that part of my personal goal.) But I can comfortably say that I came close, and with all the variations on that standard black '89 Batmobile made to date, I'd not be surprised if I surpassed it by a comfortable margin.

This '89 Batmobile in chrome with yellow trim is a 2015 release on shelves now. It is part of the HW City sub-theme and is numbered 62/250. I generally don't like Batmobiles that aren't black or blue, but this car does look hot in this muted chrome livery.

This black with red trim '89 Batmobile is also a 2015 HW City sub-theme number 62/250 and on shelves now. I may have one of these already that Jon from Robot Monster Space Superhero sent to me a few months back. But when it comes to one dollar Hot Wheels Batmobiles it is better to err on the side of 'I NEED it' when I see it. The red trim works as something Batman might have actually added to the Batmobile, and the red windshield looks nice and menacing.

When the Brave and the Bold Batmobile was first released in 2010 I also went a little overboard. I didn't aim at owning a hundred of them, but I probably have about ten if not more. The Brave and the Bold is one of my favorite representations of Batman, and the Batmobile design is definitely one of my top ten favorite Batmobiles of all time. This is a 2015 HW City sub-theme release numbered 63/250 and is the first variant of the 2010 cartoon accurate version made (other than cardback and probably wheel variants if any.)

And while the purist in me thinks it looks ridiculous with the eighties-ish blue scallop trim and ugly rims the car itself is incredibly sexy and again - just a dollar - so I bought it. Plus, as is not always the case, this Hot Wheels version is proportionally correct to the cartoon version while most other toy versions of this Batmobile made were not. I think Eaglemoss makes a 1:24 version that's screen accurate, but that's about it. So I love it!

All these Hot Wheels Batmobiles are on store shelves now, so go out there and hope I didn't hit the store before you. Because when it comes to Batmobiles - I'll buy that for a dollar!!!

Arkham Knight Batmobile :: Hot Wheels New for 2015

I don't follow Hot Wheels as closely as I used to, so I was surprised to learn of the recent release of the Arkham Knight Batmobile, and even more surprised to find it not long after hearing of it's existence!

Due to the delay of the game's release, we're seeing a lot of Arkham Knight relevant merchandise like action figures and this car months before the video game has even been played by fans.

There's really no 'jazz' to this vehicle, it's just another Bat-Tank. But it's a Batmobile, and it will be the first playable Batmobile in the Arkham video game series, so it should be pretty awesome. If I played with my Hot Wheels I know this one would be fun too. It isn't pretty, but it gets the job done.

The Arkham Knight Batmobile is part of the New for 2015 HW City series and is numbered 61/250.

2014 San Diego Comic Con :: Toys!

We don't call this blog 'Toyriffic' because we're into high-dollar sneakers, people!

Around here we love TOYS! And San Diego Comic Con was chock full of reveals and displays and toys toys toys!

Ironically, I came away from the con having only purchased one single O.M.F.G. minifigure for myself. No toys this trip, I focused my own limited purchases on comic books and art. Crazy, I know!

But enough about that - let's look at some toys, shall we?

Mattel had the Yvonne Craig 1966 Batman TV Series Batgirl on display, and in true Mattel fashion it will apparently be available in a 3-pack which includes figures you already own (Batman and the Joker if I recall correctly.) Seriously Mattel? Seriously? To get the most sought after character in all the 66 television show series I have to spend fifty bucks and get figures that Amazon couldn't get rid of at five dollars each just last fall? Sigh. You can tell it's Mattel!

The Yvonne Craig Batgirl action figure looks great though.

A huge display of Batman Automobilia Batmobiles. I love them all!

The Batman Unlimited display. Man-Bat looks awesome (expect him to be available in a twenty pack that includes neon Batman because MATTEL!)

Also Batman with a shark. If not for the '66 tv show that would be the most ridiculous thing ever. 

More Batman Unlimited action figures. Now with transforming vehicles!

DC Multiverse Arkham Knight Harley Quinn action figure. I need this. I do not need to buy a fifty-pack, so HOPEFULLY Mattel releases this as a single figure. I won't hold my breath.

More DC Multiverse action figures. All Arkham video game designs.

Giant Mecha-Batman at the Funko booth!

Fully functional Darth Vader-mobile by Hot Wheels.

Almost life sized '66 Batcycle made entirely out of LEGO bricks. It even had the side-car!

Full sized LEGO Shredder.

Full sized LEGO Spider-Man on a LEGO wall/window.

LEGO!

These things came out of left field and were a complete surprise. Mezco is making 1/12 scale (appx 6") Dark Knight Returns Batman action figures with interchangeable hands/heads etc and cloth costumes. They look GORGEOUS!

I don't know what the price-point on these will be but I need at least one of them!

Beautiful!

I don't remember who makes this MASSIVE Batmobile, maybe Sideshow or Hot Toys? Anyways, it was HUGE and did all the things the Batmobile did in the first two movies.

A shitload of Stormtroopers.

Mattel, never one to let a poor online shopping experience stop them, will soon be selling these oversized He-Man action figures. I think it was a couple feet tall, and there was also a Skeletor on display.

Toynami will soon release an updated version of the classic Shogun Warriors Godzilla! This is exciting, but probably also too expensive for my tastes.

Other modern Shogun Warriors were also on display at the Toynami booth.

Well, that's it for the toys I was able to get good photos of. Barely a fraction of all that was there on display at SDCC, but these are the things that really caught my attention.

'The Homer' by Hot Wheels - 'The Car Built For Homer'

I finally tracked down one of the most anticipated Hot Wheels of all time: The Homer!

New for 2014, The Homer represents the vehicle Homer Simpson designed for his half-brother's Powell Motors. The Homer is car 89/250 in the HW CITY line-up for 2014.

The Homer was not only expensive (booking out at a whopping $82,000), but obviously gawd-awful, and it bankrupted Powell Motors.

Although, as a parent, you do have to admire the kid-pod in the back. I want one of those!

Okay Hot Wheels, you have raised the bar. I never would have expected in a million years that you would have made The Homer. But now that you have, I demand a Family Truckster and a Last of the Interceptors!