MATTEL OR McFARLANE TV BATMOBILE - WHICH DO YOU PREFER? (Updated)

Copyright DC COMICS

Before I get around to showing some of my Christmas trees and decorations for a few (four, to be precise) interested Crivvies, I thought I'd share a couple of early Christmas treats I bought for myself only recently.  (Well, who else is going to?)  First up is the Mattel Batmobile from a few years ago, followed by the more recent McFarlane Toys version.  I acquired the McFarlane Batman & Robin figures separately, having had the Mattel Batman for a few years now, but I need to track down a Mattel Robin figure.  The one in the photos is by McF - he unceremoniously jettisoned his McFarlane buddy, who understandably is a bit miffed.

The Mattel Batmobile is a thing of beauty (approximately 18 inches long), very well detailed and a pleasure to the eyes, and while the McFarlane version is a bit more basic and around 2-and-a-half inches shorter (size isn't everything, remember), it's not without a certain charm.  At least it has the (unlabelled) 'Emergency Bat-Turn Lever', in contrast to the Mattel car, which hasn't - even though it's labelled on both sides of the 'arch' on which the Bat-Siren sits.  I received a brand-new unopened item (in each case) and I checked pics of several others of the same model on eBay, but none of them had it either, so I'm unsure as to why the makers dispensed with it.

Mattel Batman is just over 6 inches tall, McFarlane Bats is just under (with fewer points of articulation, but not by many) so they both qualify as 6 inchers (oo-er, missus).  I've also got McF's Catwoman, Joker, Riddler, and Batman in boxer shorts (moulded onto his costume), but only Catwoman has been let loose, the others remaining in their bubble-packs.  Given the size of the figures, the cars are huge and extremely impressive, though that applies more to the Mattel one than its rival.  Unfortunately, in the McF car, Batman sits too high in his seat, with his head quite a bit above the windscreen, as did Robin before he abandoned it for the larger model.

So, Crivs, if you wanted a big Batmobile but could only have one of these cars, which one would it be?  (For a better look, click to enlarge, and in the case of the 'vertical' photos, click again for optimum size.)

To give you a clearer sense of size, I've included the 267 Corgi Toys Batmobile alongside the Mattel one in the photo below.  This is the 1:50 scale model with front chain-slasher and rear missiles and flame exhaust, not the much smaller Corgi Juniors or Husky version.

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(Update:) And don't go feeling sorry for McF Bats being on his lonesome since Robin jumped ship.  He soon picked up another 'passenger' in the shape of the delectable Catwoman.  I know which one I'd rather have so who's got the last laugh now, eh?

(Another update:) I've since acquired a Mattel Robin figure and I'll add a photo at the earliest opporchancity.  However, as McF Robin has now rejoined his buddy, poor Catwoman will have to make her own way around from now on.