Well, I have been defeated...

Well, folks, the Bat Off dropped this morning at 8 AM and the clear winner is the mighty Chunky B with his impressive 105 Batman figures to my measly 77 Batman figures.

Congrats, Chunky B!

I just want to say that this was so much fun and I tip my hat to my most worthy opponent, and sincerely want to thank everyone for following our epic challenge and leaving such great comments. I love my fellow toy geeks!

So, now I owe Chunky B an original Batman-themed drawing and a rare 1977 Mego Pocket Heroes Batman.

To see his killer collection, head on over to Eclectorama.

Again, well played, Chunky B!

And just for giggles, I thought I'd show my third Bat-shelf, which includes several other Bat-collectibles like PEZ dispensers, various Batmobiles, a 1966 trading card and the like. Enjoy...

(click to view full size)

Well, I better get to work on Chunky B's drawing and then I'm heading out to the store to get some more Batman figures, because clearly my collection could use a boost. ;)

The Bat Off is HERE!

Well, the big event is finally here! This is my official entry in the mighty "Bat Off" against my toy-blogging comrade, Chunky B from Eclectorama!

As many of you may already know, me and the B decided to go head to head in an all out, no holds barred, challenge to see who has the most Batman figures.

The rules were as follows:

1) They had to be 3 dimensional, head to toe representations of Batman (eg. no busts, candy filled heads, PEZ dispensers, etc.)

2) No doubles, but paint variations, and mass-produced bootlegs were allowed.

3) The must be loose. Nothing in the package. (Which actually forced me to open a couple.)

4) We will both post pics of our collections, with all figures clearly numbered, at exactly 8 AM PST.

5) Whoever has the most Batman figures that qualify, wins!

And that's pretty much it. The loser of the challenge will have to fork over one of their very own Batman figures to the winner and a special Batman-themed drawing by the loser declaring the other the ultimate Batman collector! I am putting up a 1977 Mego Pocket Heroes Batman against Chunky B's Campbell's Soup Mail-Away Batman.

So... without further ado... my Batman figure collection stands at a mighty...

77

And here they are! (click images to view full sized)

Boo-YA! Beat that, Chunky B! I got 77 of those pointy eared crime fighters!

Does Chunky B have what it takes to stand up to my massive collection? Let's head on over to Eclectorama and see!

And for those of you who may be curious, here is a list of all of the Batmans (Batmen?) you see above. Some are a mystery to me, so I've tried my best to name them all.

1. First Appearance (Came with a cool book)
2. Mystery Hasbro Batman
3. Mexican bootleg
4. Mattel Retro Action
5. Mego Batman
6. Applause Batman Returns
7. Red Son Batman (aka "Sexy Hat Batman")
8. Dark Knight Returns
9. I forget this one. Got it in a comic shop.
10. Blue & black Batman Begins 
11. The Batman
12. Mattel Super Friends all-black Batman
13. Mexican bootleg (I got this from a street vendor in Ixtapa, Mexico)
14. Thrillkiller Batman
15. Chinese bootleg
16. 1989 Batman
17. 1964 parachute Batman
18. Justice Lord Batman
19. McDonald's Brave & Bold Batman
20. Blue & gray Batman Returns
21. Removable costume Bruce Wayne/Batman (from Batman Returns)
22. Infinate Heroes Batman (blue & gray)
23. Super Powers Batman
24. Infinite Heroes (black & gray)
25. '70s Batman PVC
26. Infinite Heroes Public Enemies Batman
27. Fuji Film exclusive Batman
28. Brave & Bold little guy. Whatever they're called.
29. Minimates Batman
30. Lego Batman
31. Trio Batman
32. Bootleg pencil topper (found in Chicago)
33. Dark Knight PVC
34. Batman & Robin cereal premium
35. Ertl die-cast Batman
36. Snack premium from Argntina (Thanks Tomas!)
37. JLA Subway Kid's Meal Batman
38. Funko plush Batman
39. New Frontier Batman
40. I forget which one this is. Scuba diving Batman?
41. Poo Batman (from the Batman/Clayface 2 Pack)
42. DCUC all-black Batman
43. DCUC blue & gray Batman
44. Some DC Direct Bats
45. I forget this one. 
46. This one too.
47. Some other DC Direct Bats.
48. DCUC Public Enemies Batman
49. DCUC black & gray Batman
50. Batman Animated silver & black Bats
51. Mego bendy Batman
52. Batman Animated ripped costume Bats
53. Dark Knight movie Batman
54. '70s parachute Batman
55. All-red Batman (Animated Series, I think?)
56. Batman Begins movie Bats
57. Brave & Bold Bats
58. The Batman in bumble bee armor or whatever
59. Bootleg Argentina Batman (again, thanks Tomas!)
60. Another mystery Batman
61. Imaginext blue & gray Bats
62. Mego Pocket Heroes (bent knees) Batman
63. Mego Pocket Heroes (straight legs) Batman
64. Public Enemies DVD Exclusive
65. McDonald's Animated Series Batman
66. Hanging Zipline Batman (some fast food premium, but I forget which one)
67. Fisher Price Batman
68. Another hanging Batman (I think he may have been connected to something at one time)
69. Microman Bats
70. Imaginext black & gray Batman
71. McDonald's Lego Batman
72. Late '80s Batman PVC
73. Batman Heroclix
74. Ertl Batman Returns die-cast
75. Imaginext Bat-cycle Batman
76. Blammoid Batman
77. Mego Die-cast Batman

And that's all of them! Whew!

Reminder! The "Bat Off" is Tomorrow!

Just in case you all forgot, or didn't watch my video blog (shame on you), I just wanted to give everyone a quick reminder that the "Bat Off" between myself and the mighty Chunky B from Eclectorama goes down at 8 AM PST!

Swing by here in the morning and see my official post, counting up all of my Batman figures. Then head on over to Eclectorama and see if Chunky B has got what it takes to beat my Bat-collection!

And for the record, here's just a sneak peak of but a few of my Batman figures, including the actual 1977 Mego Pocket Heroes Batman that Chunky B could win. (Which he won't.)

See you tomorrow! Chunky B is GOING DOWN!

CARZ! - Mork & Mindy's Jeep!

Nanoo nanoo! When I first saw Mork show up on an episode of Happy Days, I thought "That dude needs his own show!" and as if the TV gods were listening intently to some 7 year-old in Blissfield Michigan, they went, "Okay." And one of my favorite sitcoms of the late '70s/early '80s was born.

I watched this show religiously until they "jumped the shark" and had Jonathan Winters for a baby. And, admittedly, Mindy's Jeep isn't the most exciting vehicle in TV history, but It was memorable to me all the same.

(Click image to view Orson sized.)

CARZ! - 5th Element Taxi!

I love the movie The 5th Element.  It's easily one of the best performances from Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman and Chris Tucker in their entire careers. Sadly, it often gets the usual "just a sci-fi movie" brush off. But every time I see it I dig it a little more. I sort of wish this movie came out in the '80s when I was a kid, because it deserves the same epic status as Tron and Blade Runner.

Plus, flying taxis kick ass.

(Click image to view Mr. Zorg sized.)

Random Toy Pic #1

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to kick off the new blog's first random toy pic post with a shot of my small, yet creepily satisfying collection of little ghosts. oooOOOOooooOOoooOOOooOoooOOoooooo!

(Click the pic to view full size.)

CARZ! - Arthur Weasley's Ford Anglia!

I love the Harry Potter books. I freely and openly admit it. I've read them all twice. The movies are pretty awesome, too. That having been said, I just had to add Mr. Weasley's contraband magical Ford Anglia to the series.

This was the car that Ron & Harry used to fly to Hogwarts in Chamber of Secrets. Fun fact; the original car used in the filming of the movie was stolen in 2005. Probably by a bunch of little Slytherin punks.

(Click image to view Hagrid sized.)

CARZ! - The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile!

It wasn't driven by a super hero. It didn't have its own TV show. Nor did it have any other special gimmicks like human intelligence, time travel capabilities or simply being good at jumping over police cars. It was just a big vehicle... shaped like a hot dog. God... bless... America.

(Click image to view giant wiener sized.)

CARZ! - The Griswald's Family Truckster!

I'm not sure if I can fully express my love for this movie. I can quote this movie like a fat guy with a dragon on his shirt can quote Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Here's a fun fact: this is not a real car and only 5 of them were made for the movie, and according to legend, one of the cars used in filming is missing! Somewhere, some old lady is driving this car to the grocery store.

Another fun fact: the incetuous french-kissing cousin is that blonde whats-her-face on 30 Rock!

(Click image to view Randy Quaid sized.)

CARZ! - The Munster Koach!

This one was on the list and I was planning on getting around to it before Halloween, but my big brother, Joel, requested it next, so this one goes out to the dude who introduced me to the Munsters when I was just a little feller! Thanks, bro!

 

(Click the image to view Fred Gwynne sized.)

CARZ! - Frankenstein's Car from Death Race 2000!

Okay, this one took me more than 10 minutes. About 15 actually, due to all the little details. Regardless, I couldn't let this series go on much longer without drawing Frankenstein's gnarly ride from Death Race 2000. Mind you, I'm talking about the original Death Race 2000, which was made in the '70s and severely misjudged what the year 2000 was going to be like, not the remake that was made in 2008 and was just called Deathrace. Why the hell didn't they make one in 2000? And now, they're apparently making a Deathrace 2. Hollywood is full of dumbasses.

(Click image to view David Carradine sized.)

CARZ! - Bandit's 1978 Trans Am!

In honor of the movie that taught me the term "tick turd" and for my homie Marty, who is, himself, quite the tick turd, I give you my 10 minute rendition of one sweet ass 1978 Trans Am as seen in Smokey & the Bandit.

(Click Image to view Jackie Gleason sized.)

CARZ! - The TAPS Van!

Damn, things are slow at work today. So I cranked this baby out in a matter of minutes.

Since it's Halloween and I'm a huge fan of the Syfy network show, Ghost Hunters, I had to bust out a quick version of the sleek, minimalist vans in which they lug around their spirit detecting equipment. I know that this vehicle is not as flashy or well-known as many of the vehicles I've done, but it's an important one to me.

This one goes out to Grant, Jason, Steve, Tango, Kris, Amy, Brit, Joe, and the rest of the Ghost Hunters gang!

(Click to see Eastern State Penitentiary sized.)

CARZ! - The Mach 5!

The Speed Racer cartoon sucked. The Speed Racer movie sucked. The Mach 5 did NOT suck. Somewhere in there, hides the meaning of life.

(Click image to view Chim Chim sized.)

CARZ! - The Deathmobile!

Animal House was one of those movies that I loved as a kid, but didn't really get most of it. All I knew was that JohnBelushi did a zit impression and that the car at the end that drove through an entire parade was one of the baddest cars to ever drive through an entire parade.


Incidentally, later in life, one of those students would grow up to be Mozart. So don't underestimate rowdy college kids.

(Click image to view Bluto sized.)

CARZ! - Megaforce!

In the 80s, we shot first and asked questions later! Guns! Missiles! Bombs! HELL YEAH!

For those of you who remember Megaforce, you'll understand the odd mix of joy and shame I felt while drawing this vehicle. The sad thing? I did it mostly from memory. God help me.

(Click image to view Barry Bostwick sized.)

CARZ! - The Back to the Future Delorean!

You all knew this one was coming, didn't you? It's only one of the most bad ass movie cars in the history of cinema. Part stainless steel sports car, part mutha effin time machine! I love every single minute of every single Back to the Future movie and often imagined what it would be like to have a car that could take you backwards and forwards through time. The first thing I do? Go back to the late 80s and invest in Microsoft. Second thing I'd do? Go back to the late 70s and have sex with Lynda Carter. Just sayin'.

(Click the image to view Biff sized.)

CARZ! - Luke's Landspeeder!

This one is for Aaron G., a dude who is far more qualified than myself to be drawing sci-fi vehicles. Knocked this puppy out in 7 minutes!

I'm sure I don't have to go into how much I love Star Wars and what special place in my heart this particular vehicle inhabits, right? I mean, it's Luke's Landspeeder. It was the baddest personal hover vehicle in the galaxy until we saw the Speeder Bikes on Endor. You could pull into Mos Eisley on this sweet ride and get all kinds of hot alien chick action. Unless you were a twerp like Luke. That fruitcake kissed his sister!

(Click to view Jabba sized.)

CARZ! - Garth's Pacer!

A sphincter says what? When the movie Wayne's World hit theaters, me and my friend Travis went and saw it four times at the same movie theater by the Four Seasons Mall in Greensboro, NC. I have no idea why we went to see it so many times, but there was just something about it that had us rolling. I still quote this movie to this day.

Anyway, in honor of this flick, here's Garth's Pacer (which, for years I thought was a Gremlin, until I looked it up).

(Click image to view Tia Carrere sized.)

CARZ! - 1989 Batmobile!

Well, I did the 1966 version, so I had to do the 1989 version. But I may skip all the others. I don't know. Maybe. We'll see.

(Click to view Vicky Vale size.)

CARZ! - The Mystery Machine!

Zoinks! You all knew I was going to get around to this one pretty soon. There was no way in hell that I was going to let Halloween pass by without doing a quickie 10 minute (actually 15 minutes, the type on the side of the van was tricky) version of the second greatest ghost catching vehicle ever (number one goes to Ecto 1, natch).

As a kid I used to imagine being part of the team, going, "Okay, Shaggy, Scooby, you guys check out the old windmill. Freddie, you and Velma go check the haunted mansions attic. Daphne and I will stay here in the van. Don't come back for at least an hour."

Then the movie came out and I switched my preference to Velma. Mmmm... Linda Cardellini...

(Click image to view Jonathon Winters size.)

CARZ! - The Bluesmobile

From one of my all-time favorite movies comes one of the junkiest cars to ever grace the silver screen. I can't look at this car without hearing the Blues Brothers intro music. Fun fact: The dude with the mustache at the end was famous Muppeteerr and voice of Yoda, Frank Oz! And Jake's gun-toting girlfriend was Princess Leia herself, Carrie Fisher! Who knew The Blues Brothers had so much in common with Star Wars?

(Click image to view John Belushi size.)

CARZ! - Dragula!

Yesterday's Orbitron and the coming of the Halloween season has put me in the perfect mood for knocking out a 10 minute drawing of the famous Munster's Dragula! Many of you may remember this from the incredibly awesome movie "Munsters Go Home!" in which Herman finds himself in a cross country race.

Later, Rob Zombie wrote a song about it, but oddly enough, was shown driving the other Munster's car, "The Munster's Koach" in the video. Dumb ass horror metal guy. (Just kidding Rob! Please don't beat me up!)

(Click to view "Spot" sized.)

CARZ! - Big Daddy Roth's Orbitron!

This is a pretty obscure vehicle, but it was done as a request for my for magical mentor, Bill Pack, who's one dude that seriously knows his UFO-like concept cars from the '60s. In fact, that's what people say about him when they introduce him. "Hi, this is Bill. He knows a lot about UFO-like concept cars from the '60s." It gets him lots of play.

Hope you like it, Bill!

(Click the image to view Rat Fink sized.)

CARZ! - Green Hornet's Black Beauty!

This is the classic Black Beauty that we all know and love, and not the updated, steroid pumped mecha-monstrosity from the upcoming movie. That thing probably transforms in a fucking robot. No, no... this classic car, the sleek chariot of the Green Hornet and Kato, is all about stealth. It's all about prowling. It's all about silently sneaking up on unsuspecting ne'er-do-wells and quietly whisking them away into the night. Which, now that I think about it, has nothing to do with a hornet. Whatever. (Click to view Bruce Lee sized)

CARZ! - Christine!

This one is by request for my cyber-homie, Bubbashelby! I remember totally loving this movie as a kid, the one time that I saw it, but can't really remember any details of the movie. I once associated this vindictive, spiteful, wrathful car with an ex-girlfriend that I barely survived. I would have liked to have set her on fire, too. (Click image to view Stephen King sized)

CARZ! - Herbie the Love Bug!

I actually have very little memory of this movie and never saw the remake despite my desire to ogle the chest area of Miss Lindsey Lohan in her glory days, but you can't do a series of famous TV and movie cars without this little guy. So... here he is. Meep meep! (Click to see 53% larger)

CARZ! - Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino!

BAM! Knocked this baby out in 7 minutes! I never really got into this show when I was a kid and the recenty movie was kind of stupid, but I did have a toy version of this car as a kid and it was second only to my General Lee, which was second only to my Batmobile. So I guess that makes it third, actually. Whatever.