McFarlane Toys doing Batman 66 figures?

[BATWINGED HORNET]

IMHO, this is a sloppy representation of an iconic design. Excusable on a 6 inch action figure but almost laughably clumsy looking at 1:1 scale. This looks like it was created from memory rather than utilizing the thousands of photo references and all 120 episodes being available on Blu Ray for the last ten years.

Agreed. There's far too many photo references for a Batman cowl to be this off. But, its McFarlane Toys, so...

[AndyFish]

The Cowl is easily the worst produced item on ALL the lines-- not just McFarlane-- the FTC Painted on Cowl Batman was one of the weakest figures in the line. The Funko Batman figure's cowl (and Batman's whole head) was too round and way off. Even the Hot Toys figure-- which should have been PERFECT-- looks like they used the wet cowl from the submarine scene in the movie-- and his skin tone is way too dark.

As I've written above-- I see this as an art piece, I have two Chuck Cowls which are spot on perfect (although I had him make one more to what works in my head-- with purple fabric and thicker WHITE eye and nose markings! Sacrilidge to the purests among us but it works for me), the Mattel Cowl is laughably off the mark but I really love it for all it's off charm. The Ogawa Studios Rubber Cowl from Japan might be the best mass produced take on the cowl ever-- but it lacks the neck piece and simply goes under the chin.

I'm not sure what's so hard about getting the cowl right-- but then again I am all for artistic expression (like Mattel-- and this one). I don't think it's sloppy at all-- do I wonder why someone didn't look at some reference photos? Absolutely-- but it's still better than the Gilla Cowl.

As to why WB let this go through-- they aren't like us-- they live in the world where BATMAN was a fun show from thier childhood but they aren't obsessive about details, that's now how licensing works. I spent years fighting with UNiversal Studios Marketing who would insist on a green sport jacket for Frankenstein's Monster.

So it's not always easy-- but I'm glad there is still stuff coming out. Other than the Batmobile I would never buy a playset or a different vehicle but for those of you excited for those I raise my glass and say good for you! I'm happy for your happiness!

[rsaffle]

I see everyone's points and love the discussions on this site. I think ALL of the toys based on Batman 66 have their strong and bad points. Even the Hot Toys is not Chuck Williams perfect. Most of us enjoy them all for what they are. I agree that the main problem is when sellers make comments about 1:1 accuracy or stuff like Prior to production, Paragon's staff spent months studying the history of the original props to ensure that the replica you have before you becomes a cherished part of your personal collection. We all can easily spot the differences.

I do not know why it's so hard to be more accurate, but if they did all look the same, we wouldn't want them. We are lucky to have new stuff being made almost 60 years after the show and for the real collectors, we are even more lucky to have Chuck and Lynne giving us the best and most accurate merchandise you can buy.

I probably will pass on the new helmet because of my lack of space mostly, but if I ever see one in the wild my Batman love may change my mind. I bought the McFarlane small cowl knowing it could have been much nicer but it's still cheap and cool enough to make me smile.

Batman 66 merchandise rocks and talking about them here is so fun. Keep them both coming please!

[Lou Szabo]

Well put Randy!

[AndyFish]

I agree 100% with Randy!

[Chuck Williams]

Well said Randy!

What seems off the mark one day, may charm you the next with it's simplicity and where your head is at in the moment.
I want plenty of 66 stuff out there to keep the license alive.
Given the opportunity I would have expanded the line just to document the various paint jobs on them!

I hear you Andy! Trends in licensing can get in the way of what we know to be accurate. I still hate industry color trend reports!!!

When I oversaw sculpture in Disney Licensing back in the day, we had the responsibility to get the stuff on model even if it was simply to play with proportions on a super simplified piece to better represent the character.
But back then, there were a lot more staff in the studio art departments than what they have now.

I am fond of the vintage cowl and wished this was a product that represented it or the spirit of it better than what was done.
A lost opportunity in my opinion, but it is what it is.

[BATWINGED HORNET]

I agree that the main problem is when sellers make comments about 1:1 accuracy or stuff like Prior to production, Paragon's staff spent months studying the history of the original props to ensure that the replica you have before you becomes a cherished part of your personal collection. We all can easily spot the differences.

That's the problem; unlike toys of a certain scale never known for accuracy to real people and costumes (e.g., most '66 Batman action figures under the 1/6 scale), over the decades, most companies, whether it was Sideshow, Factory Entertainment, The Wand Company, etc., all pitched their TV/movie merchandise as being 100% screen accurate, although some flaws could be detected here and there. That said, on sight, most of their work was clearly meticulously researched which carried over into the actual props, a dedication to quality fans appreciate to no end.

This is not the 1950s - 70s, where screen-based merchandise was dodgy at best, usually a representation of the source in name only; in 2024, one would expect a replica of the '66 Batman cowl to be as close to perfect as the surviving original examples, and McFarlane Toys completely missed the boat on that one.

I do not know why it's so hard to be more accurate, but if they did all look the same, we wouldn't want them.

Really? Personally, I expect mass manufactured 1:1 scale props and costume pieces to look the same, since they're supposed to be the same, repeatedly used items in the universe of the source. Would anyone buying Wand Star Trek Tricorder accept the viewscreen being accurate in some examples, but flat and square like a 1980s Sony Watchman screen in others? I seriously doubt that, which is way I understand the complaints about this Batman cowl. If McFarlane was producing a random, knock-off "caped crusader" cowl not based on the 1966 version, perhaps the critical observations would not have taken this direction, but it is based on the '66 cowl, so I'd expect the kind of reactions seen in this thread.

[SprangFan]

So...an unwearable, plastic approximation of an empty cowl like Adam West might have worn if Adam West had actually worn something that looked like that. And for a mere hundred bucks? Awesome.

It's cool that there seems to be literally be something for everyone in the '66 Batman realm these days, but honestly it's even cooler that not everything is a threat to my wallet. I'm safe here.

[BiffPow]

like Adam West might have worn if Adam West had actually worn something that looked like that.

That made me think of a recent Craigslist ad I saw for a vehicle in which the seller declared (non-satirically):
“Ran good when it ran.”

[Barnabas Collins]

Wave 12 rumors. This doesn't excite me at all (if true). These are rumors until announced by McFarlane. Info from toysnewsi and brodepot (image for reference, only).

McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIENDS – BATMAN
McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIENDS – SINESTRO
McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIEND – GREEN LANTERN
McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIENDS – LEX LUTHOR
McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIENDS – RIDDLER

Barnabas Collins

[BiffPow]

[AndyFish]

Excites me a great deal! I'll have extra money in my pocket because none of this interests me either!

[BiffPow]

Excites me a great deal! I'll have extra money in my pocket because none of this interests me either!

[BATWINGED HORNET]

Wave 12 rumors. This doesn't excite me at all (if true). These are rumors until announced by McFarlane. Info from toysnewsi and brodepot (image for reference, only).

McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIENDS – BATMAN
McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIENDS – SINESTRO
McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIEND – GREEN LANTERN
McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIENDS – LEX LUTHOR
McFarlane DC RETRO 6IN WV12 – SUPER FRIENDS – RIDDLER

Barnabas Collins

The Super Friends...hard pass.

[TysonL]

Arrived today.