WesternOutlaw Posted July 9, 2006 Have any of you Batman fans heard what's next for the Batman theme. While I'm patiently awaiting Arkham Asylum, I can't help but wonder what's next in the line? More vehicles, perhaps? Or maybe we'll see some Gotham buildings similar to the Spiderman theme. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deinonychus Posted July 9, 2006 Have any of you Batman fans heard what's next for the Batman theme. While I'm patiently awaiting Arkham Asylum, I can't help but wonder what's next in the line? More vehicles, perhaps? Or maybe we'll see some Gotham buildings similar to the Spiderman theme. I'm hoping for more vehicles. It's easy to do stuff like a Bat-Sub or a Bat-copter...or even something completley weird like a Bat-Mech! Also, Batman's history of vehicles has been so wide and varied I'd love to see new and different versions of the Batmoblie, Plane, Boat, etc. LEGO is really only limited here by how many of any type of vehicle they want to do. Bad-guy vehicles could work more as well...Mr. Freeze is screaming for a Cryo-Tank of some sort. And as long as they keep producing Minifigs of different characters I'm in. I hope they don't go heavily into play-scenes, but I have a feeling it'll head that way eventually. Either way my wallet is ready Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
john cleese Posted July 9, 2006 they havent made penguins rubber duck vessel or that train with the huge wheels he puts the kidnapped kids in. They havent made mr. freezes ice tank or whatever even though TLG claims in the titles of one of their sets that He and penguin invaded the batcave, even though penguin died before mr.Freeze was even part of the plot and it was actually the riddler and two face who broke into the batcave. I suspect however that TLG is too cheap to make the riddler minifig, maybe because of his hat, which they would have to make a new piece for. Anyway I personally hope that the bat man line is a bust and also that every other license theme is ended so we can get new original themes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kahgarak Posted July 9, 2006 Bat-Mech! _______________ I would LOVE a Bat Mech!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraPrime Posted July 9, 2006 they havent made penguins rubber duck vessel or that train with the huge wheels he puts the kidnapped kids in. They havent made mr. freezes ice tank or whatever even though TLG claims in the titles of one of their sets that He and penguin invaded the batcave, even though penguin died before mr.Freeze was even part of the plot and it was actually the riddler and two face who broke into the batcave. I suspect however that TLG is too cheap to make the riddler minifig, maybe because of his hat, which they would have to make a new piece for. Anyway I personally hope that the bat man line is a bust and also that every other license theme is ended so we can get new original themes. You are quoting the 80s-90s movie plot, which this collection isn't limited to. There's more to Batman than those films... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snefroe Posted July 9, 2006 i'm hoping absolutely nothing. hope they dump the licence asap... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xwingyoda Posted July 9, 2006 i'm hoping absolutely nothing. hope they dump the licence asap... Keep dreaming !! And even if they did they would take another licence because they mean big bucks !! So cry all you want, I'm ready for wave 2 and 3 :-D :-P Bat *yoda* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steff Posted July 9, 2006 me too, i am waiting for a lot new Batman stuff, like gotham buildings, new minifigs, bruce waynes house, but more buildings are important we need more then a hospital, airport, police and fire.. more normal builduings or a museum, where joker steals the diamonds... i am also still waiting for superman lego and a kent farm ;) or a city zoo ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oo7 Posted July 9, 2006 i am also still waiting for superman lego and a kent farm ;) or a city zoo ;) Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't think this is going to happen. Batman is a good line for LEGO because there are lots of gagets and vehicles LEGO can make sets out of but Superman has super powers unlike Batman so he doesn't need technology, thus kind of boring to playwith, just one minifig to fight evil. Furthermore, there couldn't be many sets that were recognizably Superman sets that LEGO could make. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hobbes Posted July 9, 2006 i'm hoping absolutely nothing. hope they dump the licence asap... I don't see anything more to be released, either... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steff Posted July 9, 2006 Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't think this is going to happen. Batman is a good line for LEGO because there are lots of gagets and vehicles LEGO can make sets out of but Superman has super powers unlike Batman so he doesn't need technology, thus kind of boring to playwith, just one minifig to fight evil. Furthermore, there couldn't be many sets that were recognizably Superman sets that LEGO could make. thanks for the wise words :-D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snefroe Posted July 9, 2006 i'm hoping absolutely nothing. hope they dump the licence asap... Keep dreaming !! And even if they did they would take another licence because they mean big bucks !! So cry all you want, I'm ready for wave 2 and 3 :-D :-P Bat *yoda* besides, it seems to me they're only selling 2 sets here: catwoman and the batmobile. some may have another third as well, but the theme is not particularly dominating the shelves here Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WesternOutlaw Posted July 9, 2006 Snefroe: I'm a bit surprised about your comments. Are you against all licenses or just Bat Man. I think it's a good theme and very different which adds interest. Yoda, Steff: I agree with both of you. I think it is a good theme, and I think additional sets will be produced. They seem to be very popular among both children and AFOL. That's good business for Lego. Maybe we'll see some new villains like the Riddler, which would be a nice one, others, and their vehicles and hideouts. I think the future of the theme looks promising. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oo7 Posted July 9, 2006 Maybe we'll see some new villains like the Riddler, which would be a nice one The Riddler is in the Arkham Asylum set that is currently on US S@H. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WesternOutlaw Posted July 9, 2006 You're correct 007, excuse my oversight. I haven't received the Asylum yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snefroe Posted July 9, 2006 Snefroe: I'm a bit surprised about your comments. Are you against all licenses or just Bat Man. I think it's a good theme and very different which adds interest. both, really Spiderman, Sponge, HP, sw, Studio, BM, Avatar,... how many unforgettable, absolute classic, sets of these licenses have we seen over the years? Something that compares to 6080 castle, the city metroliner, the galaxy explorer, the big pirate ships? Something that stands out in the next 25 years? Something that's more then just very popular because the model it represents is popular? What's actually the added value of these themes? How many mocs of these themes do you see on BS? Sets are supposed to inspire, they're supposed to stimulate creativity. How many Spiderman mocs have you seen? how many extra fans did these themes bring in the last couple of years? Even sw hasn't produced what they all thought it would year after year. remember 2003? "Star wars is a huge disappointment", that's what they said. They even kicked out the guy who was responsable for bringing in the sw license! Why do you think they're constantly rebuilding the already produced designs? People automatically seem to assume that licenses bring in loads of money, an unquestionable success! BUT: why shouldn't they be able to produce the same quality of sets on their own, without having to beg for a license? It was city that put them back on the map last year! it was the large crane that got all the awards! It was the fire truck that was soooo immensilly popular. Then came vikings! Another non-licensed theme that sold very well, followed by exo force... I also don't think it's a good idea to depend too much on licenses. they bring in several new fans, at best, but most of them will just disappear when the license's gone. they are waaay too specialised. all you got now are highly specialised minifigs you can't use for anything else, and many parts as well... honestly, these sets are more directed to the bm fan or the Spiderman freak then to the general lego fan who just wants to build town mocs,... what is a train fan to do with batmobiles, Spiderman labs,...? That's also my main point of criticism to bm sets: they aren't compatible with cities in general. Take for instance catwoman's motor. A purple coloured motor! Nice for bm theme, but have you ever seen a purple coloured motorcycle? these sets have become display sets. sets you play with for a while in only one specific configuration, then you put it on your display shelf and that's it. Then you wait for the next license... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hobbes Posted July 9, 2006 what is a train fan to do with batmobiles, Spiderman labs,...? I have to agree with you again. I'll most likely get me a UCS Batmobile when I'm in the States for christmas. It looks nice and I don't mind another shelf model (I just bought two new shelfs after all). But that'll be about it for Batman for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WesternOutlaw Posted July 9, 2006 You bring up some very good points, and I can't say that I disagree with all of them. I've been collecting Lego since the late 1970s, and completely understand your point of view. I also wish that Lego would return to the classic sets including Castle, Pirates, WW (although not so classic), and more City and Trains. I purchased a few of the Spiderman sets not because I liked Spiderman at all (I was never a fan of SM, comics, movies, etc.), but because of a city bridge, a doc, and some new vehicles. The same goes for Harry Potter (I liked the castles, hut, train, and graveyard). But at the same time, a good detailed set is a good set regardless of theme (classic or license). I think the Batman sets are pretty good. I love the Batmobile, the villains, and some of the other vehicles, which do offer playability (esp. for the person who's a comic book or super hero fan). There's a lot of them out there. I'm looking forward to the Arkham Asylum not because it has a Riddler, but because it's the first time Lego has given us an Asylum. It's unique just like the HP Graveyard. This is what I like. In regard to awards, Lego Batman and other licenses will probably never win a toy award because the toy awards are based on generic themes. Playmobil is another company with "generic" themes. These are timeless themes and I enjoy many of them. I don't think it's licenses that's destroying creativity with Lego at all, it's the limited and specialized pieces used to build the sets. These don't offer alternative building. I recently tried building a MOC with the KK Gargoyle Bridge (posted) It's very difficult. I'd rather buy a generic castle tub with lots of standard bricks in the same colors and a few figs. This would be much more fun and offer endless building. This I think, is the real issue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deinonychus Posted July 9, 2006 In regard to awards, Lego Batman and other licenses will probably never win a toy award because the toy awards are based on generic themes. Actually, LEGO Star Wars sets won a Toy of the Year Award from the Toy Industry Association this year... http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/le...ws20060213.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
captaintau Posted July 9, 2006 I agree with much of what Sne said. Although a childhood LEGO fan, I only got back into it because of SW. I'm also getting into SW Transformers (also a childhood TF fan!) Yes, an X-Wing does look incongruous parked in your city car park. Unless you're building an Area 51 set! Not buying City, I can't say with any certainty, but I would imagine that Batman is probably way out of scale with other city sets. OK, so SW and themes like it have given us new pieces to integrate into our MOCs or for LEGO to employ to the best of their genius and imagination. But what use is a Jabba piece (for example)? This all said, I love my two Batman sets and look forward to getting more. And I hope the licence continues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkness Falls Posted July 9, 2006 Hmmmmm... I think a Bat-Mech would be the ugliest day for Batman Lego yet... I just think that more Villian Minifigs is the way to go. Batman's Rogue Gallery is colorful and cool... they could do a great job with them. I'm just waiting for a Man-Bat! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oo7 Posted July 9, 2006 Guys, keep in mind that alot of the licenced sets are aimed at 7 through 10 year old kids, they don't care about the details like "x-wings and spiderman labs can't go in a real city" or "This Catwoman motocyle is a un-realistic color" they just take look at it, breifly studing it's attractive looks, and say "AWESOME!". These sets aren't supposed to make us fully happy, were not little kids, you people are taking this way to seriously. Oh, and I'm waiting for a Man-Bat too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snefroe Posted July 9, 2006 Guys, keep in mind that alot of the licenced sets are aimed at 7 through 10 year old kids, they don't care about the details like "x-wings and spiderman labs can't go in a real city" or "This Catwoman motocyle is a un-realistic color" they just take look at it, breifly studing it's attractive looks, and say "AWESOME!". These sets aren't supposed to make us fully happy, were not little kids, you people are taking this way to seriously.Oh, and I'm waiting for a Man-Bat too. no not really, we're just looking at it from our perspective. that was the question at hand, I believe... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WesternOutlaw Posted July 10, 2006 you people are taking this way to seriously. You're probably right 007, but the one thing that Snefroe and I would probably agree on is that we do take our Lego seriously. We are getting off topic though, and the question was, "What's the future of the Batman theme"? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Athos Posted July 10, 2006 I kind of agree with everyone here. I think the licensed sets have been, for the most part, pretty unremarkable and forgetable... at least in set design. Doc Ock's hideout and a few Star Wars sets as an exception. I do like the Batman line, primarily for the minifigures and their accessories... Gotta love Two-face and the tommy guns :-D That being said, I think this should probably be the end of the line. There aren't really any new villans (at least to the average Batman fan) to make and I probably wouldn't buy any sets with the same figures... unless it was a really good set or on a really steep discount. I imagine this will be a one year series. It seems, especially with Arkham, that Lego went out of their way to do all of the villans and not leave anything for another year. I'd be somewhat interested in a Superman line, though maybe of only 2 or 3 sets, much like the first spiderman release. One cheap with Superman, one with Lois and Perry, and one with Lex. But as people have said, the sets might be hard to pull off. Finally, I'm very less inclined to buy any licensed products anymore, due to the fleshtones... since they don't really with the vast majority of my collection. :-| Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
