batman vs. Spiderman

[karl1]

Why are the Batman series minifigs so much more expensive then the even older Spiderman stuff?

[Oky]

Batman is more popular, and TLC didn't produce enough sets to meet the demand back in the day. Simple as that.

[Artifex]

Batman is more popular, and TLC didn't produce enough sets to meet the demand back in the day. Simple as that.

Batman is more popular than Spider-Man? o.O

[Oky]

Yup. The box office numbers and bricklink prices speak for themselves.

[def]

It's a strange question, like, why is gold more expensive than silver...

I suppose Batman is more popular, but my understanding of the two toy lines is that Batman got a lot more respect from TLG. The Spider-Man sets seem to all be movie based, but the Batman sets hit a lot of different incarnations of Batman, importantly, a lot of comic versions and characters. The Batman sets seem to have been a whole lot better well made.

A quick scan of Brickset, and all the Spider-man sets seem pretty weak.

[homoludens]

Another factor may be the video game based on the Lego Batman sets. I'm sure that this also helped fuel the demand for the Batman sets and minifigs.

Cheers

Frank

[drdavewatford]

It's a good question, though - eBay prices for the Batman sets are astonishingly high. The Catwoman Pursuit set (7779) from 2006 had an RRP of £7.99 when it was at retail, but now regularly fetches £70-£80 on eBay, even in a non-MISB state ! I can't think of too many other recent retail sets which have exploded in value to that extent.

I've always assumed that compared with other themes, Lego didn't make many of the Batman sets, and/or they weren't widely available and were only sold for a short time, but I'd like to know whether this is actually true or not.

Dr. D.

[melike75]

Yup. The box office numbers and bricklink prices speak for themselves.

erm..no.

I think both characters are equally as popular. They're probaby the 2most recognised superheroes in theworld..

box office numbers dont really help your case as much as you think they would..(spidy 3-336m vs batman begins 205m for ex) but anyway, enough of that

Id say its down to numbers made and yeah,the lego batman game certainly wouldnt have hurt.

Plus the batman lego seems much cooler than the 'based on the movies 'spidey lego

[blhc11]

erm..no.

I think both characters are equally as popular. They're probaby the 2most recognised superheroes in theworld..

box office numbers dont really help your case as much as you think they would..(spidy 3-336m vs batman begins 205m for ex) but anyway, enough of that

Id say its down to numbers made and yeah,the lego batman game certainly wouldnt have hurt.

Plus the batman lego seems much cooler than the 'based on the movies 'spidey lego

Mainly because the sets have more playability due to the fact that there are several sets that you can merge to make a "big fight" like the bawing and batcopter, the batmobile and bat-tank, so on, plus I always thought that sets with veichles were desired the most when compared to sets of locations and batman only had 2 of the later and alot of the first, if it can be used for more than one thing then everybody will want it, and the batman location sets, not only were very famous locations, but could be used for various play times.

Whilst that wasn't the case with the spider-man sets like the docks and the bank from sm2 which, because of being unknown locations, could be used once or twice for a heist and a fight like in the movie but nothing else.

That's the problem with some movie based sets, but while spidey had this lack of alternative "play stories", that wasn't what happened with some sets from other movie based themes, like the race for the ark set from indiana jones, it was my first indy set, and the cool thing about it is that you can use it for various races, chases and so on, and don't get me started on Star Wars, and the thing that they have in common isn't that they are both lucasfilms, but that they are movie-based sets because there were no developments to the stories other than some books and tv series, and kids are unaware of the first, being this unawareness responsable for some of the sets being bought, because they are all of the same thing, yet that thing isn't already written(from what they know) so they can invent there stories and develop their imagination and creativity by building other things based on thoose sets(being the creativity and imagination the main thing TLG wants to transmit and teach children to develop trough playing with their sets).

The main problem with spider-man movie based license was that there couldn't be much expansion that could be made into sets because it was movie based, and since the movies were far from the hole expansion of the story, even the biggest young fans of spider-man couldn't play with the sets like they wanted because they were missing characters and multi-function sets, and that's mainly a problem with licenses of movies that are based on pre-written stories but are a story of their own, plus the spider-man story line is huge, if lego had made a comic based license(like with batman) they could have developed several more villains and that would increase playability, and even so spider-man doesn't have veichles(except for the spider-buggy) and only a couple of key locations, so unless you wanted to play with your lego following a story exactly like the movie, in which case you could play with the sets, that doesn't inspire creativity nor imagination, and since thoose are the two things lego is all about, a lego movie-based Spider-Man license was a recepy for disaster, and that's also why I think no sets were made for the 3rd film, since they already knew that the sets wouldn't sell and they wouldn't be aproved by parents as a toy that children can play with and be entertained for long term, and if it's a thing you're gonna play with once and then trow in the trash then I think it's better not to waste money to only play with it that one time, the only proper spidey set(IMO) is probably the "spider-man's first chase" set, because at least you can play with it has another story than the one in the movie and it has alternative builds, I believe.

If the Spider-man sets were comic based(which I think was already impossible due to "crappa-blocks") then they would be bought, that not being true made the line worthless.

Also note that I think it was because of this that Lego decided to make a comic-based Batman theme, and eve smarter of their part was that they made it with a release of a batman movie, and even though it had no relation with the sets, it set the hype that made children and grown-ups want to buy the sets, because not only is there a huge batman fan base but the kids had gotten original(sorta) designs for veichles they already knew or thought would make sense to exist, so they watched the movie(and liked it) and then bought the sets that only shared a name with the movie and continued the movie's story or made a new one, due to there being only two locations that happened to be key locations as well('cause everybody wants a batcave, and if the good guys have a plae to prepare for missions they also need a place to finish them cougharkhamcough, maybe some banks and such would have been nice, but lego mainly wanted to make something that kids want and that inspires them to build and play.

Thus the Batman sets are more desired than the Spider-man ones and, as a consequence, more expensive

Cheers.

By- a guy who though up a buttload of reasons why he was right, while he was writting and already had decided he was right, and managed to repeat them over and over without making it noticeable and make it very long so it would make him sound even more right... I should be a lawyer, I like to argue with people, when they are good they can make a nice amount of money and I can convince people that I'm right... then again I'd have to learn stuff...

[Batbrick]

Well there's no way anyone's gonna beat blhc11's post, so I'll just say that I'm really glad I got all the sets. It's quite unfortunate that the prices even for the figs are ridiculously expensive, but I've just chalked it up to the diversity of the sets over Spiderman's, coupled with not being tied to the films, the addition of a game and not having produced as much sets.

They still have the license though don't they?

Batbrick Away!

[karl1]

Well, regardless of the reasons I'm still sol because my 5 year old son and I just got into Lego a few months ago and there is no way I'm paying the prices people on the secondary market are asking regardless of how much we like Batman. I just wish we were into Lego while they were on the shelves so I could ne opening the batgirl set for 10 dollars instead of complaining about the 70 dollar bricklink price

[The Green Brick Giant]

The Batman sets were insanely hard to find, I'm not sure why LEGO made so few.

However I didn't buy a single Spiderman set that was 75% off. That's how I got all my Spiderman sets.

Batman is so much better than Spiderman. Batman is the only super hero who doesn't have magical power, he's awesome.

[karl1]

That's interesting, I didn't know they were hard to find when new

[blhc11]

Well there's no way anyone's gonna beat blhc11's post, so I'll just say that I'm really glad I got all the sets. It's quite unfortunate that the prices even for the figs are ridiculously expensive, but I've just chalked it up to the diversity of the sets over Spiderman's, coupled with not being tied to the films, the addition of a game and not having produced as much sets.

They still have the license though don't they?

Batbrick Away!

Only a few things to say, starting with..."YEAAAAAAH dun dun tuuuun, tadatadam, dun dun dun dun tadan"

Second- Yes I do believe they still have the license, I wish I had also gotten all of the sets, but I only have: dismanteled for a MOC-I-zation: batwing, batmobile and complete: robin's scuba, tumbler and batcycle.

[blueandwhite]

The Batman licence had a number of things going for it that the Spiderman (movie) licence lacked; notably a diversity of figures and vehicles making it far more appealing for me at the very least. I'm fairly certain I'm not alone in this. The other issue of course is that many of the villians were available in only one set making them hard to acquire. Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Two Face and Killer Croc were only available in a single set making them relatively hard to get. Compare that to the Spiderman licence where every set gave you Spiderman, Doc Ock or The Gobblin (movie style).

Moreover, MOCing for Batman is more appealing with the rich assortment of vehicles and locations associated with the franchise. Spiderman's locations are simply not as unique, and for a licence that is largely character driven there is a noticeable lack of characters. Essentially you only have Spiderman, Doc Ock, the Gobblin, and MJ. I certainly see why a figure like Catwoman or Harley Quinn carry a higher BL prices than Doc Ock or the Gobblin. Batman was a licence that was cut too short. Another year would have been nice.

[blhc11]

The Batman licence had a number of things going for it that the Spiderman (movie) licence lacked; notably a diversity of figures and vehicles making it far more appealing for me at the very least. I'm fairly certain I'm not alone in this. The other issue of course is that many of the villians were available in only one set making them hard to acquire. Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Two Face and Killer Croc were only available in a single set making them relatively hard to get. Compare that to the Spiderman licence where every set gave you Spiderman, Doc Ock or The Gobblin (movie style).

Moreover, MOCing for Batman is more appealing with the rich assortment of vehicles and locations associated with the franchise. Spiderman's locations are simply not as unique, and for a licence that is largely character driven there is a noticeable lack of characters. Essentially you only have Spiderman, Doc Ock, the Gobblin, and MJ. I certainly see why a figure like Catwoman or Harley Quinn carry a higher BL prices than Doc Ock or the Gobblin. Batman was a licence that was cut too short. Another year would have been nice.

...That's a "re-fancy-fication" of what I said... but I agree, batman should have a re-launch, still I think they were starting to lack ideas, at first(before the pictures appeared) I thought that the bat-buggy was going o bea new car, maybe more compact like the first "The Batman" batmobile, then the pictures appeared and I just thought:"...Oh... well that's... is "crap-tastic" a word? 'cause if it is, then we need to get a better one to describe this." it was a good small set to acquire characters, but a small set that instaead of two veichles was like a room, maybe that would have sold better, if Lego couldn't get more ideas that were worth the license, then why wreck it and make us angry for not having stopped it when they reached it's end.

Now that they have ideas, they might consider re-launching it, but if so, the prices on bricklink will go even higher.

Cheers.

By- the man who would be clown... if makeup was cheaper and there was a good green hair dye instead of that "crap-tacular" stuff that they sell at party stores or during halloween...

Batman is the only super hero who doesn't have magical power, he's awesome.

CoughGreenArrowCoughNightwingistechnicalynotpartofBats'teamCoughIamjustsayingafewoftheonesthatdon'thavepowersfromDCbeingtheresomefromMarvelaswellCough

Sorry, it's really chily over here, I think I got a cyber cough... DAMN YOU GLOBAL WARMING(it affects extreme tempertures being the high or low brainiac...)!!!!!!

Cheers.

By- the guy who just thought you a lesson in research and common knoledge in the areas of the broad nerdiness acknoledgements... while coughing... MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FoofleFlyBoy]

I think that the Batman line needs to be reintroduced like the Harry Potter ones. I only have one Batman set (Robin's scuba jet:attack of the penguin) which I got off ebay last year. Does anybody even know if they were released in the uk (where I live) outside of lego stores?

[blhc11]

I think that the Batman line needs to be reintroduced like the Harry Potter ones. I only have one Batman set (Robin's scuba jet:attack of the penguin) which I got off ebay last year. Does anybody even know if they were released in the uk (where I live) outside of lego stores?

I believe they were never released in the UK(the 2007 sets were also USA exclusives...) and in my country there weren't many importers of the 1st wave and the only wave that was largely available was the 3rd and last one(from which the robin's scuba jet set is).

As for the reintroduction, you aren't the only one, everyone was revealed to be sad for the departure of the sets, especialy with it happening right after the release of the videogame, a re-introduction is what everyone wants and, since I believ Lego still owns the rights to it, possibly will happen, if we keep asking and showing our enthusiasm for the theme even 2 years after it's disappearence of the stores.

Cheers.

By- a man who considers the possibility of a football hiting someone in the eye quite funny but, at the same time, semi-impossible and not that great of a part of the long list of pranks that help evolve the world of physical humor...

[The Penguin]

As for the reintroduction, you aren't the only one, everyone was revealed to be sad for the departure of the sets, especialy with it happening right after the release of the videogame, a re-introduction is what everyone wants and, since I believ Lego still owns the rights to it, possibly will happen, if we keep asking and showing our enthusiasm for the theme even 2 years after it's disappearence of the stores.

Indeed.

I just don't believe that TLC pays no attention to the fact that lego Batman is still so popular! That would really be wise for them to re-release the sets in 2012, when the third nolan film is due, or even earlier in 2011 (however, I doubt that!) by the release of Arkham Asylum 2. )

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

[blhc11]

Indeed.

I just don't believe that TLC pays no attention to the fact that lego Batman is still so popular! That would really be wise for them to re-release the sets in 2012, when the third nolan film is due, or even earlier in 2011 (however, I doubt that!) by the release of Arkham Asylum 2. )

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

I have doubts about the 2011 release, being that the game isn't advised forthe younger audience, however, the 2012 release alongside Nolan's film is more probable(look back at 2006...) but it's not a reason to get your hopes up since the lego batman theme was never directly conected with the movies, except for the Tumbler set.

None the less Lego is sure to revive the theme pretty soon, so don't worry... be happy(teehee).

Cheers.

By- The only person who buys playstation magazines without having a PS3... there is a PS2 and a PS1 in my house but none of thoose are mine... I only own a Wii... at least I have the Lego Batman videogame to keep me entertained in the Summer... because I have no social life... thus my life is a joke... BUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...HA...

[karl1]

If Lego brought back Batman would they make all new figures or put some of the old ones back out?

[blhc11]

If Lego brought back Batman would they make all new figures or put some of the old ones back out?

I'd think they'd use the old ones' design, it's cheaper than going to the design team to make completely new designs for the same thing, plus the sets wouldn't fit with the old ones nor with the game(I STILL want my "tropical" Joker from the killing joke), they only do it with Star Wars because they receive a butt-load o' money frm that license.

Cheers.

By- The man who invented Family guy's Stewie's homosexuality, just to anoy Brian.

[Batman1]

I think that the Batman line needs to be reintroduced like the Harry Potter ones. I only have one Batman set (Robin's scuba jet:attack of the penguin) which I got off ebay last year. Does anybody even know if they were released in the uk (where I live) outside of lego stores?

Just to let you know all of the batman sets were released in the UK, but now like the rest of the world are only available online, at hugely inflated prices :(

I agree with all the comments above, and lego should really re-release the Lego Batman line as it was extremely popular. I think they may need to re-think how they approach the line, as they can create o many different vehicles from comics and television that even if a child does not recognise it, they would still buy it. Once again, locations are extremely important in the batman universe, and although research proves sets sell better when containing a vehicle, I think Batman would be a good opportunity to include buildings or locations. I also think they need to exploit a greater range of villains, as we only got the big ones, but there are so many that they could release. Even if they didn't, they could have exploited the villains they did release differently in each set, for example, the joker in the tumbler set could have been wearing an ice cream uniform and a funny ice cream hat (which would fit with the van he was ridding in. Just small things like that would improve the line so much and I really think Lego could take advantage of the great number of possibilities that the line presents. One example of this are the great number of Batman Moc's and Mod's on many fan sights, which show possibilities of what Lego could do.

One problem as stated above, is that until a movie, such as the next Nolan film, or a successful cartoon series comes around, it does not really give Lego any reason to re-release the line :( I would hope that if they ever did (Please do Lego) that they would revamp the figs and the vehicles as since the line ended there are so many new parts, which would be really interesting to see how they would, for example, create a bat-mobile with the parts that are around now! Hopefully another cartoon series will begin 2011-2012 along with the movie and maybe they would reconsider the line...

Batman1-

[blhc11]

Just to let you know all of the batman sets were released in the UK, but now like the rest of the world are only available online, at hugely inflated prices :(

I agree with all the comments above, and lego should really re-release the Lego Batman line as it was extremely popular. I think they may need to re-think how they approach the line, as they can create o many different vehicles from comics and television that even if a child does not recognise it, they would still buy it. Once again, locations are extremely important in the batman universe, and although research proves sets sell better when containing a vehicle, I think Batman would be a good opportunity to include buildings or locations. I also think they need to exploit a greater range of villains, as we only got the big ones, but there are so many that they could release. Even if they didn't, they could have exploited the villains they did release differently in each set, for example, the joker in the tumbler set could have been wearing an ice cream uniform and a funny ice cream hat (which would fit with the van he was ridding in. Just small things like that would improve the line so much and I really think Lego could take advantage of the great number of possibilities that the line presents. One example of this are the great number of Batman Moc's and Mod's on many fan sights, which show possibilities of what Lego could do.

One problem as stated above, is that until a movie, such as the next Nolan film, or a successful cartoon series comes around, it does not really give Lego any reason to re-release the line :( I would hope that if they ever did (Please do Lego) that they would revamp the figs and the vehicles as since the line ended there are so many new parts, which would be really interesting to see how they would, for example, create a bat-mobile with the parts that are around now! Hopefully another cartoon series will begin 2011-2012 along with the movie and maybe they would reconsider the line...

Batman1-

You took time to read the other posts?

Everyone has already said that at least once, what I suggest is that we move forward into, not discussing why or how, but what we can do to help, and I propose that we make a petition thread, none the less I'm not good with that stuff so I wanted one of the pros to do it if they could find the time.

Cheers.

By- The true "Pagliaccio"... because there are no more muffins...(I don't expect anyone to understand... I might go emo...)

Edited June 24, 2010 by blhc11

[Batman1]

You took time to read the other posts?

Everyone has already said that at least once, what I suggest is that we move forward into, not discussing why or how, but what we can do to help, and I propose that we make a petition thread, none the less I'm not good with that stuff so I wanted one of the pros to do it if they could find the time.

Cheers.

By- The true "Pagliaccio"... because there are no more muffins...(I don't expect anyone to understand... I might go emo...)

Yes I did take time to read the other posts as I didn't want to unnecessarily repeat none important information, however, the reason I repeated what some other members had written was to express the fact that I agree and to add what I think to the discussion. I think it is important for us to understand and discuss why and how, as then we can move forward to helping/persuading the Lego group to re-introduce the line! :)

I think that a petition is a great idea, but I am unsure of how many would sign it, apart from me and you of course (as well as other loyal batman fans). If there were a petition, I agree that someone who has remained consistently passionate about the batman line should put it forward (to list a couple; penguin, bat brick). If they reply, I would like to know how many you think would sign to have the line returned as well as, how many people would we need for the lego group to even consider our request. Perhaps this should be put forward in the ambassador forum, to see what someone form Lego would actually say, and if anything we can do would make a difference?

Batman1-