Lego Batman Tumbler - Batmobile - KO

Presenting a LEGO KO version of Batman's Tumbler - Batmobile - from Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy.

At the risk of pissing off a lot of Batfleck lovers, this will always be one of the most iconic Batmobiles ever!

To the uninitiated, Batman's Tumbler was originally built as a bridge-layer for the United States Military. A pair of jet-engine powered Tumblers were supposed to jump chasms and set the anchors for bridgelayers. Unfortunately WayneTech couldn't get the bridgelaying to work, and the Tumbler project was mothballed.

There were four prototypes built. The first Tumbler became the Batmobile which was destroyed by the Joker. The other three were co-opted by Bane in the last film and were destroyed by the Batman flying high in the Bat.

This is the knock-off Lego version of the Tumbler.

This particular KO Lego Batman Tumbler - Batmobile - started appearing after Lego released this really, really sweet - and expensive - movie accurate version of the Tumbler:

We were really hoping that that was this when we first saw it on the black-market shelves of St. Francis Square:

Can't believe we actually forgot to shoot the box before we disposed of it. 

Anyway, we quickly realized that it was waaay smaller and not as detailed. But it was really cool to look at. Apparently this DeCool Super Heroes Tumbler is a knock-off of this particular Lego set: "Batman -  The Tumbler: Joker's Ice Cream Surprise" 

What's to like about the KO Lego Batman Tumbler - Batmobile?

FIRST: THE PRICE!!!! Somebody is selling the LEGO Batman - The Tumbler: Joker's Ice Cream Surprise on Amazon for a whopping US$ 969.99 plus shipping. That's a whopping PhP 43,649.55. We understand that this particular model is already out of production. In fact it doesn't show on the LEGO website.

We paid PhP 600 (US$ 13.33) for this DeCool version, mint-in-box from the Black Market of Cubao. The price range on the local black-market ranges from PhP 600 to PhP 1,000.

To say that we paid a fraction of the cost for this is an understatement.  

SECOND: THE QUALITY! We were initially worried that this would end up as a crumbling creation that we would eventually discard, donate or destroy, but no! The engineering behind the assembly of this KO Lego Batman Tumbler - Batmobile is solid! 

Granted it's not as solid as the engineering behind our beloved Ghost whose core can be thrown at someone and probably kill, but it's sturdy enough that this DeCool Tumbler can be dropped from a foot up to a wooden surface and it will survive and remain in one piece thanks to the very thick rubber front and rear tires. 

Gotta love those thick tractor wheels back there.

Also we have to point out that we did not have that toxic film from cheap plastic on our hands after assembly.

But we wouldn't eat it.

THIRD: The playability. Since it's quite durable, feel free to go relive your Dark Knight fantasies of driving on rooftops. The main hatch opens up and two (Should be six) vanes on the back of the Tumbler can be adjusted. This KO Lego Batman Tumbler - Batmobile comes with two push-pin missiles on each side and an elevating main cannon with a spring loaded - and rather phallic looking - missile at the rear center, that replaces the Tumbler's jet engine.

There's room for two in there.

This KO Lego Batman Tumbler - Batmobile also comes with Batman and the Joker. There was also an extra cape so we gave it to the Joker to give Batman an additional incentive to come after him.

What's NOT to like about the KO Lego Batman Tumbler - Batmobile?

FIRST: NOTHING!!!! For the price we paid for it, why complain? This is a KO version of a very expensive LEGO creation that's no longer in production!

Besides our misgivings are.... cosmetic: The phallic looking missile and the fact that Batman can't sit up in the Tumbler and reach the steering wheel.

It's still the best PhP 600 we've spent on an educational, entertaining and nostalgic toy.