The PopCult Toybox

Fifty years ago last Monday, the Batman TV show debuted on American television, heralding a superhero craze that foreshadowed today’s epic billion-dollar movie franchises and TV programs. To commemorate this Pop Cultue milestone, LEGO announced that they will be releasing a deluxe set based on the classic 1966 TV show.

Billed as a Batcave set, this massive, 2,500-plus piece set actually comes with the bricks necessary to build the Batcave, part of Wayne Manor, the Batcopter, Batcycle and the iconic George Barris Batmobile (the original and only first official Batmobile–accept no cheesy substitutes), plus nine figures and tons of cool features.

This massive set will retail for $269.99 in the US, and will probably fly off the shelves. It’s due out March 1, with LEGO club members having a chance to pre-order it.

Let’s go to the press release:

Set 76052
Batman™ Classic TV Series – Batcave    

Drive the villains out from Batman’s Batcave!

Help Batman and Robin drive the villainous intruders from the Batcave, featuring a Bat Lab with Batcomputer, plus the Batmobile with stud shooters, Batcopter with flick missiles and the Batcycle.

This special model, based on the classic 1960s TV show, also has a Wayne Manor section with an exterior wall to climb on and Bruce Wayne’s study featuring the iconic Batphone and a false bookcase that slides open to reveal the secret entrance to the Batcave. Before spiraling down the Batpoles into the Batcave, change identity from Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson into Batman and Robin (separate minifigures included).

   • Includes 9 minifigures: Batman, Robin, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Alfred Pennyworth, The Joker, Catwoman, The Riddler and The Penguin.

    • This LEGO model of the Batcave as seen in the classic 1960s TV series features 2 Batpoles for Batman and Robin to slide down, a selection of Bat-gadgets, helipad, plus a Batmobile and Batcopter.

    • The Wayne Manor section of the model features Bruce Wayne’s study with the iconic Batphone, a hinged Shakespeare bust with secret button underneath, sliding false bookcase to access the Batpoles, and assorted elements including decorated wallpaper bricks, wall lamps, framed portraits, a framed fish and trophies. It also includes an exterior wall for climbing, with an opening roof for easy access to the Batpoles and an aerial element.

   • The Batcave incorporates a hi-tech, 2-floor Bat Lab with Batcomputer element and a variety of detachable accessory elements, including a lie detector machine, table, chest of drawers, Bat-gadgets and test tubes with translucent elements. Also includes the iconic Batcave entrance for the Batmobile and a helipad for the Batcopter.

    • The Batmobile features a dual cockpit with iconic Batphone, 2 stud shooters, an opening trunk, dual exhaust and sign stickers.

    • The Batcopter has an opening cockpit for a minifigure, bat-inspired wings with 2 flick missiles, spinning rotors and a spinning propeller. A villain minifigure can grab onto the back of the Batcopter for more aerial battle action.

  • The Batcycle features a driver’s seat for Batman, translucent headlight element and a sidecar for Robin.

    • Also includes a cat.

    • Weapons include The Joker’s TNT, Catwoman’s whip, The Riddler’s TNT and The Penguin’s umbrella.

    • Accessory elements include Batman’s 3 Batarangs, rope, grappling hook and handcuffs.

    • Includes separate minifigures for Batman and Robin’s alter-egos, so enter the secret doorway as Bruce and Dick, and slide down the Batpoles as LEGO DC Super Heroes!

• Batcave measures over 18” (46cm) high, 22” (56cm) wide and 7” (20cm) deep.

    • Batmobile measures over 2” (6cm) high, 8” (21cm) long and 2” (7cm) wide.

    • Batcopter measures over 2” (7cm) high, 8” (22cm) long and 7” (19cm) wide.

    • Batcycle measures over 1” (4cm) high, 3” (8cm) long and 1” (4cm) wide.

As you can see, it’s an impressive set, and will make many older collectors seriously consider dropping the high-ticket price just to relive a cool part of their childhoods.

We’ll leave you with a video made by LEGO’s design team, who sound a lot like Arnold Schwarzeneggar, who played Mr. Freeze in a movie that was way dumber than the TV ever thought about being. …