Batman's Got A New Hat!

A while back the Figures Toy Company began releasing a series of 8 inch Mego-like Batman figures, based on the 1966 TV series of the same name.

They're generally pretty well-done and quite cool. They even managed to evoke the original Mego packaging!

They've made three waves of figures so far, including Batman and Robin, the Joker, the Riddler, the Penguin, Egghead, Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Shame and the Mad Hatter.

Unfortunately it's beginning to look like the line may be starting to lose steam. Here are the next offerings in the line:

Yep, it's Batman again. With a little table and some limp ropes around him.

And here's Robin, the Boy Wonder, also with a little table and limp ropes. These two figures are from the special "Tied Up" series.

I get that they probably need to include some kind of Batman and Robin figure in each wave to maintain interest in the line, but... they're the exact same figures from Wave 1, with just a piece of string added! 

I would dearly have loved to have been in the board meeting where they decided on this variation.

President: OK folks, we need to include Batman and Robin in our new wave of figures, but we've already done Batman and Robin. What other variations could we include?

(The various executives all look down sheepishly at their legal pads)

Murphy: How about unmasked versions?

President: Interesting, but we've already done Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson in their civilian clothes.

Archer: How about beach versions, from that episode where Batman challenged the Joker to a surfing contest? 

President: Hmm. I like it, but we'd have to manufacture a boatload of tiny swim trunks, and we don't have the budget for that.

Jenkins: How about wrapping them with string? They were always getting tied up on the show. 

(The rest of the room breaks out in derisive laughter, except for the President) 

President: Ropes, eh? Hmmm... I like it! It's bold, it's got spunk, and best of all, it's cheap! We've got a couple miles of string in the warehouse right now! Jenkins, you're a genius!

Possibly the most blatant case of "New Hat" syndrome I've ever seen.