The PopCult Toybox

Just a brief update edition of The PopCult Toybox this week, folks.

Batgirl

First up, in a statment released to the 1966 Batman Message Board, Yvonne Craig, who played Batgirl, announced that she has finally signed a deal for her likeness to be used in Batman merchandise:

“Hey Bat Fans!

To all of you who’ve been asking: I’m pleased to announce that I’ve just signed a licensing agreement with Warner Brothers so expect to see Batgirl toys etc. on the market in the very near future. I look forward to seeing what they make.

Best Bat Wishes!
Yvonne”

This probably mean that reports of the early demise of Mattel’s Batman ’66 line after the release of six individual figures (plus a two-figure-set and The Batmobile) may be incorrect. It wouldn’t take much effort for them to assemble another wave of figures that would include Ms. Craig as Batgirl, especially when you consider that they didn’t release Robin as an individual figure. The source of the report of the Mattel Batman ’66 line ending is pretty shaky, so I’d say it’s a safe bet that Batgirl is on her way.

At the very least, this opens the doors for Figures Toy Company, Hot Toys and Captain Action to produce their own version of the TV incarnation of Batgirl.

Captain Action at NYCC

Speaking of the good Captain, Captain Action Enterprises has two treats for attendees of the New York Comic Con, coming up in the middle of October. First they’ll have a chance to buy an exclusive Dr. Evil package, that includes Captain Action’s nemesis in a box that shows all the bad guys that he will be able to change into, including three uniform sets that haven’t been released yet: Marvel’s The Red Skull and DC’s The Joker and Brainiac.

The folks at Captain Action Central are also producing an old-school coloring book that will include a few pages of drawings you can color, plus plenty of blank pages that you can have artists at the convention sketch in.

Both items are available to non-attendees, in very limited quantities. Visit the Captain Action website and sign up for their mailing list for details.  CA uniforms for Iron Man and Wolverine should hit hobby shops before the convention too.

Hot Wheels in the News

General Motors has a hit on its hands with its 2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS Hot Wheels Edition, and the press is raving about it. No word on if anyone is developing a giant refrigerator for you to get it stuck under.

Also, since Hot Wheels introduced the concept of “wall track,” some people have taken it too far.

Barbie in the News

Elle Magazine has an interview with the new New Hervé Léger Barbie. She comes across as more intelligent than many of the models they interview.

“The best accessory is confidence. Whatever you are wearing: stand tall, walk proud, and hold your head high. That’s a look you will always pull off beautifully.”

Also, Associated Press is pushing a story about how Barbie is being “threatened” by Monster High Dolls. The story is illustrated with a photo of Bratz Dolls. In case you weren’t paying attention five years ago, Mattel, Barbie’s manufacturer, filed a huge lawsuit against MGA, the maker of Bratz, who very nearly dethroned Barbie as the top fashion doll. After an initial ruling against them, Bratz dolls were forced from the shelves.

Eventually Mattel lost their lawsuit and had to pay millions in legal fees, but they succeeded in stopping the momentum of the Bratz line, and in the three years that Bratz was absent, Mattel was able to build Monster High into a powerhouse that filled the void. Bratz has never recovered, and Mattel now owns the top two fashion dolls on the market.

Not much of a “threat” when you think about it.

Lastly

This is a thing…