I may have mentioned before, when it comes to vehicles, I have a fairly simple checklist: check if 6-inch scale. If yes, empty wallet, grab the box, and run before someone changes their mind and un-makes it.
If there is one area that constantly mystifies me as being underrepresented in this already meager category, it has to be Batmobiles. Seriously, what the hell? It’s been over a decade since we started the 6-inch figure-era, and until the last couple years, there’s been a single entry. But, hey, it was cool for the time, and then we got Mattel’s 1966 Burris Batmobile, and that was cool too.
And then this guy showed up, and we threw the other ones away.
Based very faithfully on the original “lead sled” of the Animated Series, DC Collectibles has delivered, without a doubt, the best Batmobile we’ve ever seen. Already a winner in terms of its design, taking inspiration from the Burton movie Batmobile, this beast does generally lend itself to toys — just never this intensively.
Coming in one big damn box, probably the biggest BBTS has ever sent me, the Batmobile is packed inside very securely and tightly. Under the simple but efficient packaging, there is a plastic insert and some poly-bagging to keep this thing from getting dinged.
Out of the box, you just need to flip her over, open up the panel, and add 3 AA batteries. Then switch to “ON,” and you’re good to go.
Damn near 2 feet long and just under a pound, the Batmobile is solid but appropriate in terms of size. The features are equally straightforward and sensible: the batteries power the amber headlights, tail-lights, afterburner, and the displays inside the cockpit. The canopy slides smoothly down a slot on the hood, and the rubber tires have a little bit of turn to them in the front. There are also two seat belts that click into place, and since they’re made of elastic, they work pretty good. I’ll be honest, though, it’s a pain to click them over the figures, so I’m not using them much.
Now, I actually don’t have a DCC Animated figure currently. My first series Batman finally gave up the ghost with those ankles, and I decided to wait it out for the better quality to replace it. So, to demonstrate how well it accommodates figures, I’ll use some other 6-inch-ish Batmen.
This Mezco One:12 Batman is actually a little taller with the custom head, but, hey, it’s the Animated Batmobile, so I had to do something a little different. While obviously the vehicle is designed for the Animated figures and their rubber capes, the cloth ones work a lot better, as far as fitting goes. Mezco Batman just needs to be a little slouched and a little bent at the knees to fit properly.
The NECA 1989 Keaton Batman also fits fairly well, though his lower articulation does mean you have to squish his ears.
The same is true of the new hotness, the 1966 West Batman. It’s a bit tighter than Keaton and, again, articulation is a factor, but if you really wanted to, it could work. As a side note, if there are some of you who are wanting to use these bigger guys, I think a little modification to the kickplate (cutting it out) could probably do it — I may get around to that when I work up the nerve.
Now, I, eh, actually don’t have a DCUC Batman anymore either. Heh. But I do have this here custom that is still pretty on-point for DCUC scale. He also has a cloth cape, naturally. In fact, it’s from the old Toys R Us exclusive figure — and while it doesn’t lay as nice as the Mezco or NECA ones, it does fit, and I’d imagine any DCUC Batman with a less than rigid plastic cape would work.
So, to keep this simple and first-look fast, this is a must-own. Not even just for Animated fans, for anybody with a remotely 6-inch-ish Batman in their collection. As I said, open wallet, grab box, and run!
