#31: Hot Wheels - The Dark Knight Batmobile (228/250)

I'm glad Mattel likes to re-issue Batmobiles because I never got a regular version of the Tumbler. I have the Dark Knight Rises version with desert camo, but that's way less cool looking than black. When they re-issue vehicles, they tend to slightly alter coloring, presumably to differentiate releases. So this version has red rings on the wheels, as well as red tinted windows. That's obviously not true to screen, but I can live with that kind of difference.

#83: Batman Hot Wheels - The Bat (227/250)

I never found a Bat when the Dark Knight Rises came out, but looks like Hot Wheels has re-released it, as I found one recently. It's a nice reminder of what a truly weird design this is. Like the Hot Wheels Enterprise, this is one vehicle that would benefit from a stand. Ah well, it was only a buck, so it's hard to complain.

#28: Hot Wheels - Tanknator (HW Daredevils 155/200)

I've been keeping an eye out for the Minecraft mining cart in the Hot Wheels section lately, when I noticed the Tanknator. What caught my eye is that the picture on the card shows a person riding in the tank, and the tank itself has the little handholds that lead me to believe that it's LEGO minifigure compatible. Unfortunately, the space in the turret is just a little too narrow for a LEGO minifigure's legs to fit. But they can hang off the sides with the handholds. Other than that disappointment, it's a pretty cool looking tank.

#2: Back To The Future Hot Wheels - Time Machine Hover Mode

Remember a couple months ago, when it was the day that Marty McFly arrived from the past? Back to the Future mania was at its highest point in years, and a lot of companies were cashing in. Mattel was no exception, and they released a new version of Doc Brown's DeLorean, this time with the wheels in hover mode. Unfortunately I was never able to find one in a store, but luckily James was able to. This is my favorite version of the DeLorean, so I'm glad I was able to get one. Although the wheels are folded down, there are smaller and functional wheels on the bottom of the car, so it can still roll along a flat surface.

#85: Super Mario Hot Wheels - Cool-One (224/250 HW Screen Time 4/5)

I don't know why this exists. But it does. Normally when Hot Wheels cars are based on licensed properties, they are either completely new cars that resemble characters or they are regular cars with some sort of image printed onto the paintjob. They usually run a few dollars each. The licensed vehicles that make it into regularly priced assortments are usually just reproductions. So this is kind of an odd duck. It's a Super Mario licensed vehicle, but it's completely new, and it's in the standard assortment so it's only a buck. The Cool One is some sort of souped up hot rod van with a Mario inspired color scheme, "Super Mario" on the side, and an M logo on the front. I really only got this because of its ridiculousness.

#50: Batman v Superman Hot Wheels - Batmobile (230/250)

I was surprised recently to find the Batman V Superman version of the Batmobile on the pegs, since the movie won't be released for a while. So I guess that makes this the first piece of merchandise for the movie that is available at retail. The cardback says it's "new! for 2016," but they're out on the streets already. This offers one of the better looks at the new design for the Batmobile, and it looks pretty cool. It's definitely sleeker than the Tumbler, making it look more like a traditional Batmobile. Its body is all matte black, aside from a small marking on the top that looks like it's meant to be some sort of hatch.

#31: Hot Wheels - Batman Arkham Knight Batmobile (HW City 61/250)

Hey, did you know there's a new video game coming out in the Batman Arkham series? Although it's the fourth game in the series, for the first time you'll be able to drive the Batmobile. I didn't even know that Hot Wheels was making it until I saw that Eric had found one. I've been keeping an eye out ever since, and saw at least two in the store on the day when I found it. Mattel already made the earlier Batmobile from Arkham Asylum, but the Arkham Knight version is a different beast altogether. This one is more of a tank, a la Dark Knight Returns. It's not really the most bat-like of Batmobile designs, but that can be attributed to the game designers.

#29: Hot Wheels - The Jetsons Capsule Car

Mattel originally released the Jetsons car a couple years ago, but I never saw one. They do seem to be pretty good about re-releasing hard to find Hot Wheels cars, and I happened to see one at the grocery store recently, long after I had given up on finding one. This is a pretty decent adaptation of the cartoon design to a wheeled toy. The wheels in this case are clear plastic, and the two propulsion tail things are sculpted into the underside of the car. It could perhaps be more rounded on the bottom, but that probably wouldn't be feasible with the wheels in place.

#109: Hot Wheels Peanuts - Snoopy (HW City 59/250)

I've been looking for the Snoopy Hot Wheels car for a while, and on my last trip to Target there was one right on the front of one of the pegs. I don't know how long it had been hanging on the peg there, but I'm glad I got there before someone else. I wanted to get this one because it's Snoopy, and because it's fairly ridiculous. Snoopy's sitting on top of his doghouse, looking like he's in one of his World War I flying ace fantasy sequences, but his doghouse is absurdly transformed into a hot rod, with the engine sticking out of the dog house's entrance. Snoopy's hard to find, but definitely a worthwhile addition to a collection. There's nothing else quite like it.

#106: Hot Wheels James Bond 007 Goldfinger - Aston Martin 1963 DB5 (HW Workshop 200/250)

I'm usually down for Hot Wheels cars when they are based on vehicles from pop culture sources. I have recently seen the car based on the Lotus from the Roger Moore era "For Your Eyes Only," but the Aston Martin from "Goldfinger" was a must buy. "Goldfinger" is perhaps the best Bond movie starring Sean Connery, and the Aston Martin is the coolest car Bond has ever driven. Unfortunately, this is the first instance I've ever run into of a QC issue with a Hot Wheels car. The right front wheel is bent on the axle, so it won't rotate and sticks out at an angle. It's not like this was an easy to find car, so exchanging it isn't a likely option. I'll just have to live without being able to roll it around. Other than that, it's very nice looking, with a silvery metallic finish.

#58: Hot Wheels - Let's Go (HW Race 165/250)

It seems that the Fig Rig was a success by whatever measures that Mattel uses, because it has a spiritual sequel in the Let's Go. LE(t's) GO. I see what you did there, Mattel. So this is another Hot Wheels car meant to be compatible with LEGO sized minifigures. This time around, it's a go kart, with a seat for the minifigure. There are a couple spots on the engine that can be grabbed by minifigure hands, and an exhaust port on the side has a socket that a stud will fit into. The top also has a stud, and the bottom of the car has three sockets that studs can fit into. Unfortunately, the seating isn't the best, as the studs don't fit firmly into the leg sockets. They might as well not even be there. It's also to get the minifigure to hold the "steering wheel" with both hands. Still, it's a pretty neat idea overall, being more in scale to a minifigure than the Fig Rig was. I'm curious to see what future releases will be made with LEGO compatibility.

#54: Hot Wheels - Fig Rig (HW Race 143/250)

Last year, Mattel released a Hot Wheels car that is compatible with LEGO pieces, specifically the minifigures. It hasn't been hard to find, but I never got around to buying one until recently. Apparently it was a successful enough concept that there is a second LEGO compatible car that has just been released. When I first set out to look for the second version, I found the third release of the original and bought it. The Fig Rig is actually quite cool. There are several spots where figures or LEGO pieces can attach. The hood and the inside of the bed both have dual pegs that are perfect for feet. Along the roof and the rear of the truck are rails where minifigure hands can hold on. There is even a single plug along the bottom of the car that a stud can plug into. I'm not sure what inspired this cross-brand compatibility, but it's a fun idea. Obviously this isn't an officially licensed thing, so without internet word of mouth I wouldn't even know about it.

#33: The Dark Knight Trilogy Hot Wheels - Tumbler (Camouflage version) (HW City 63/250)

When I found The Homer, I also found this new version of the Tumbler in camo deco. I still don't have a standard Tumbler, so I figured I would pick this up. This is the camo version from The Dark Knight Rises, that Bane used for his forces. For the most part, it replicates the Tumbler's unique shape well. But that front end looks terrible. I guess for whatever reason, they couldn't get the front tires to be mounted the way they are supposed to. Maybe it was a cost issue. Also, there should be four rear tires. Maybe they'll re-release the standard Tumbler later on.

#32: The Simpsons Hot Wheels - The Homer (HW City 89/250)

I don't know why Mattel is suddenly releasing a Hot Wheels version of The Homer, which is based on a really old episode of The Simpsons, but they did. I haven't watched the show in years, but this is too good to pass up. I'm continuing my streak of finding otherwise hard to find Hot Wheels cars at the grocery store, which is where I found this. It's not 100% on model (there should be some green on the domes), but for this price I'm not complaining too much. Word on the street is that the Simpsons LEGO minifigures are hitting stores too, so I'll be on the look out for those, which will be a nice compliment for The Homer.

#13: Hot Wheels - Volkswagen Beetle (HW Workshop 191/250)

I'm still looking for The Homer, but although I haven't found it yet, I did find something unexpected. Herbie, the Love Bug. I have vague memories of watching some of the movies on The Disney Channel as a kid, and I had no idea Hot Wheels was making this. I generally only go for pop culture versions of Hot Wheels toys, so I decided to pick this up. According to the date stamp on the bottom, this mold has been around since 1988, which makes me wonder if Mattel has ever released a yellow Beetle...

#8: Hot Wheels - Bat-Pod (HW City 64/250)

Hot Wheels isn't something I pay very close attention to, but I recently found out that there is a Hot Wheels version of The Homer out there. I've been looking for it without success, but I did find a Bat-Pod, so that was a happy surprise. Since the Bat-Pod is a smaller vehicle, it's on a different scale from the average Hot Wheels car, which means it is a bit larger.

Because of its size, LEGO figures can sort of ride on it, although it's obviously not a perfect fit.

#78: Hot Wheels - Bump Around

Usually I restrict my Hot Wheels purchases to representations of pop culture vehicles, other oddities, or cars I happen to particularly like. The Bump Around definitely falls into the category of oddities. It's a bumper car! With wheels. I'm not sure if it's meant to be a car that looks like a bumper car, or a bumper car that has wheels so that it lives up to the toy line's name. Either way, it's pretty cool. It even includes the pole on the back that touches the ceiling of the ride, helping give the car its power. The packaging identifies Bump Around as part of the HW Racing grouping, and is numbered 145/250.

#73: Star Trek Hot Wheels - U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701

I'm not exactly a big Star Trek fan. I've only seen the two newer movies, plus Wrath of Khan. But the Enterprise is a classic iconic spaceship, so I've been keeping an eye out for the Hot Wheels version of it for a few months. I lucked into it in a display at a grocery store, and snatched it up immediately. I think this is the newer movie version of the ship, and it is sporting some battle damage, in the form of scorch marks painted on various points. I'd have preferred a clean version, but it is what it is. This is also my first instance of a Hot Wheels toy coming out of the package warped. The main dish and body of the Enterprise is metal like normal Hot Wheels toys, but the nacelles and arms they're on are made of plastic. They are a little warped from the packaging, so they aren't completely straight. I think it would have been amusingly ridiculous if the Enterprise had included wheels, but instead there is a small stand for it. The stand is in the shape of what I think is the logo of the Federation, the sort of inverted V shape that is on the communicators.

"Captain, this is most illogical. It needs to be at least three times as big!"

My entire collection of Star Trek toys.

#42: Hot Wheels - Batmobile

Finally! I've been keeping an eye out for the Tim Burton Batman '89 style Batmobile for a while now, and it finally showed up at Target. It was the only one on the pegs, so I'm guessing it's shortpacked. Because Mattel hates you, that's why. There is a recent release called the Ratmobile, which always threw me off when I was looking through the pegs due to its all too similar name. I saw the front end of the Batmobile first and instantly recognized it. The Batmobile is in the Imagination sub-line, which has the green section on the right hand side of the card, and it is numbered 61/250. I've always been a fan of this version of the Batmobile, and I think it still looks cool even today. It's a good addition to my Batmobile collection, and if I can ever find the Bat and the Tumbler, I'll be done until the next cool design gets made.

#40: Hot Wheels - Batcopter

Lately I've been keeping an eye on the Hot Wheels section because I want to get the Tim Burton style Batmobile, as well as the Enterprise. At the grocery store, I noticed a full display of Hot Wheels so I gave it a look through. Instead of finding either of the vehicles I'm looking for, I found this Batcopter. I had no idea it was available, so finding it was a nice surprise. I'm not sure if it's based on any specific media design, or just an original design from Mattel. Actually, with the color scheme of black with bright blue and yellow, it reminds me of Batgirl's original costume more than Batman. The rotor spins, and there are wheels on the bottom, so it can roll across a flat surface. This is in the HW Imagination line, with number 64/250.