Thirty Years Ago, Comics had undergone a Dark and Gritty Rebirth. Inspired in part by stories such as Frank Miller’s ‘The Dark Knight Returns’, and Alan Moore’s ‘Watchmen’ in the mid 80’s, super hero comics went from bright and fun and dark and gritty, almost overnight. It was on the crest of this wave that design cues were drawn, and Tim Burton’s BATMAN was born. Up until now, most people who didn’t read comics only remembered Batman in the form of Adam West’s performances in the late 1960’s. Bright, colourful and camp. In the eyes of the movie going public, Burton’s film changed the public perception of the Dark Knight, from one of Camp Crusader to a Dark and Brooding Knight, taking on the crime and corruption of Gotham.
As the series started in 1989 progressed, we moved from the muted hues of Batman, and Batman Returns to the neon inspired Batman Forever, and Batman and Robin. While Batman remained Dark and Gritty, the villains around him became more extreme, and more ridiculous in their realisation. Uma Thurman and Arnold Schwarzenegger sounded great on paper in the mid 90’s. Their realisation was somewhat less so. And then we returned to the dark with Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. And while there is much to be negative about in Batman vs SuperMan: Dawn of Justice, aspects of Batman’s character here can also be seen to drawn on the legacy of Millers work , nearly 30 years later.
But before this age of the Dark and Gritty time, an entire generation had grown up, believing that a Batmobile could only look like a customised 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car.
But this all changed in 1989, when Tim Burton’s film came to the screen. This Batmobile was dark, vicious and looked like a cross between a WW2 fighter jet, and a land shark. All coloured in Black. No very, very dark Grey.
And finally, we see a version of this Batmobile released in LEGO form.
Its over 2 feet long, comes with over 3300 pieces and weighs over 3kgs. The plate, giving details of the car’s statistics harks back to the details included in Ultimate Collector Series Sets.
One of the challenges posed by this particular Batmobile is the number of curves present in the shape of this sleek body, and it would appear that this shape is fairly well replicated in Black Bat Brick form.
But it’s not all about the car. The set also come with three min figures: Batman, the Joker and Vicki Vale.
The Batman figure comes with a moulded plastic cape, for the first time. Integrated with the cowl, this cape helps to bring the menacing look that LEGO Batman has never quite been able to capture.
The Joker features a new head print, as well as the brightly coloured suit that seems to have become his signature look.
Vicki Vale makes her first appearance in minifigure form, and her camera seems to involve a little more construction that we typically see.
Read on for the press releases…
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Tim Burton’s iconic Batman movie with the incredible 1989 Batmobile™ launching on Black Friday. The Batmobile comes packed full of authentic features from the classic 1989 movie.
The 1989 Batmobile is built from over 3,300 pieces, measuring over 60cm long and sits on a rotating display plate. The sleek design makes this set a highly rewarding build that is perfect for displaying at home. This LEGO set includes three new-for-2019 minifigures: Batman with a new and unique cape, The Joker™, with a new face and torso decoration and Vicki Vale™ featuring a brand new torso and legs.
The 1989 Batmobile comes with a new-for-2019 wraparound windshield element and decorative grappling hooks on both sides of the vehicle. Place the Batman minifigure into the car by opening the slide-open cockpit before turning the car’s turbine exhaust to make the two machine guns hidden under the hood pop up. The Batmobile comes with detailed Bat emblems on the wheel trim and a set of specially designed tyres for the front wheels.
The 1989 Batmobile is launching as part of LEGO Black Friday event and those who purchase the set between 29th November and 5th December will receive an exclusive mini replica of the original model as a free gift available in limited quantities.
The 1989 Batmobile comes with a rotating display stand, with an attached information plate detailing the cars statistics for easy viewing and a brick built minifigure display stand for the three minifigures.
The 1989 Batmobile™ measures over 4” (12cm) high, 23” (60cm) long and 8” (22cm) wide and comes with over 3kg of LEGO bricks.
76139 1989 Batmobile™
Ages 16+. 3,306 pieces
US $249.99 – CA $299.99 – DE €249.99 – UK £219.99 – FR €249.99 – DK 1899DKK
*Euro pricing varies by country. Please visit shop.LEGO.com for regional pricing.
Build and proudly display a curvaceous LEGO® brick model of the iconic 1989 Batmobile™!
Batman™ fans and anyone who appreciates cool cars will love the LEGO® DC Batman 76139 1989 Batmobile™ model car kit for adults. This beautifully detailed LEGO brick building toy replicates the classic curves of the famous Batmobile car, as seen in the 1989 Batman movie. Measuring over 60cm long and built from 3,306 pieces, the model offers a challenging and rewarding build. Die-hard fans will love authentic features such as the slide-open cockpit with a new-for-November-2019 wraparound windshield element, 2 hidden machine guns with a pop-up function activated by turning the turbine exhaust, and decorative grappling hooks on each side of the vehicle. The Batman toy car comes with a rotating display stand (with an attached information plate with 1989 Batmobile statistics) for ease of viewing from any angle. A must-have for all Batman fans, this super-hero toy construction set also includes 3 new-for-November-2019 minifigures—Batman with a cape that matches his 1989 movie outfit, The Joker™ and Vicki Vale™—plus a brick-built minifigure display stand.
-This super-hero toy includes 3 new-for-November-2019 LEGO® minifigures: Batman™ (new torso decoration), The Joker™ (new face and torso decoration) and Vicki Vale™ (new torso and legs), plus a brick-built minifigure display stand.
-This LEGO® brick version of the 1989 Batmobile™ features a slide-open cockpit with a new-for-November-2019 wraparound windshield element, 2 minifigure seats, a steering wheel, stick shift and dashboard stickers, 2 hidden, non-shooting machine guns under the hood with a pop-up function activated by rotating the turbine exhaust, 2 decorative grappling hooks, wheel trims with the Bat logo and specially designed tires for the front wheels, batwings and other iconic design details.
-This LEGO® set also includes a brick-built rotating display stand for the Batman™ toy car with an attached information plate with 1989 Batmobile™ statistics.
-Weapons include Batman’s Batarang and a gun and The Joker’s gun.
-Accessories include Batman’s new-for-November-2019 cape that matches his 1989 movie outfit and Vicki Vale’s brick-built camera.
-This LEGO® Batman™ model car kit for adults includes over 3,300 pieces and makes a wonderful nostalgic holiday gift or birthday present for any Batman fan.
-1989 Batmobile™ measures over 4” (12cm) high, 23” (60cm) long and 8” (22cm) wide.
This vehicle is certainly in excess of mini figure scale, but it would appear that a smaller version will be available as gift with purchase, over the Black Friday Weekend at the end of November.
I love the look of this Batmobile but, at $AUD399.99, I do wonder if this is a little more that I actually wish to spend on a big collection of black bricks ( although I suspect there will be bricks of so many different colours underneath the Dark and Gritty exterior.)Wwhat do you think? Why don’t you leave your comments below, and until Next Time,
Play Well!
Country Recomended Retail Price (RRP)
Germany 249.99 EUR
Austria 249.99 EUR
Australia 399.99 AUD
Belgium 249.99 EUR
Switzerland 269.0 CHF
China 2099.0 CNY
Czech Republic 6499.0 CZK
Denmark 1899.0 DKK
Estonia 249.99 EUR
Spain 249.99 EUR
Finland 249.95 EUR
France 249.99 EUR
United Kingdom 219.99 GBP
Hong Kong 1999.0 HKD
Croatia 249.99 EUR
Hungary 84990.0 HUF
Ireland 259.99 EUR
Italy 249.99 EUR
Japan 27980.0 JPY
South Korea 319900.0 KRW
Malaysia 1099.9 MYR
The Netherlands 249.99 EUR
Norway 2499.0 NOK
New Zealand 449.99 NZD
Poland 1100.0 PLN
Portugal 249.99 EUR
Romania 1199.99 RON
Russian Fed. 18999.0 RUB
Sweden 2599.0 SEK
Singapore 379.9 SGD
Slovenia 249.99 EUR
Slovakia 249.99 EUR
Turkey 1699.9 TRY
Taiwan 8399.0 TWD
Ukraine 7999.0 UAH
South Africa 4499.99 ZAR
USA 249.99 USD
Brazil 1699.99 BRL
Canada 299.99 CAD
Mexico 5399.0 MXN