**WILL THE BAT MAKE YOUR WALLET FAT???**
An Analysis of LEGO Batman Sets as Investments
Batman: "If my calculations are correct…"
Robin: "They usually are…"
*---Dialog from the 1960s Batman TV show *
Superheroes come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Of the hundreds of Superheroes created through the years for comic books, television and major motion pictures, three characters stand head and shoulders above the rest...Superman, Spiderman and Batman. One can argue ad nauseum about who is the strongest, or the smartest, or more popular, or simply put...the best. But in the LEGO Universe, there is no question...the Caped Crusader kicks ABS plastic butt. The Dark Knight has shown up in LEGO sets starting in 2006, beginning with the Batman theme and more recently (2012-present), in the DC Comics Superheroes subtheme. All told, there have been approximately thirty Batman-related LEGO sets released to date with more to come with the release of the new movie, BATMAN v SUPERMAN: Dawn of Justice, releasing early in 2016. Many of the original Batman-themed LEGO sets have exhibited impressive growth on the LEGO secondary markets. Let's take a quick glance at some of the super standouts of the Batman based sets:
***Still available at retail.
After a quick analysis of the above chart, Burt Ward's Robin would probably exclaim…"HOLY LUCRATIVE LEGO," or some derivative thereof. Numbers don't lie as they say, and the growth of the original Batman-themed sets has been tremendous. As a matter of fact, some of these smaller Batman sets are some of the best appreciating LEGO sets of all time. Many LEGO collectors and investors shy away from smaller sets as collectibles in favor of the larger exclusive LEGO sets; such as Ultimate Collector Series STAR WARS sets or the Creator Advanced Models or Modulars. These small to mid-sized Batman sets give people a great example of the potential of moderately priced sets, giving LEGO fans on a budget the opportunity to have an appreciating asset for as little as $9.99 (US). But as we all know, it's not that easy. Picking the right LEGO sets, regardless of the buy-in cost, is harder than you think. Who would have thought these Batman sets would have exploded like they have? A few perceptive people, I would imagine. If these sets were available today, thousands of LEGO collectors would be stockpiling these Batman sets, like they are with the current versions, but six or seven years ago, LEGO investing was in its infancy. That is probably the main reason these sets have probably done so well...they are rare in MISB form and have not been stockpiled by collectors...along with the fact they are cool and are Batman related.
This leads us to the current crop of Batman-related LEGO sets such as the 6860 The Batcave, the 10937 Batman: Arkham Asylum Breakout and the 76023 The Tumbler. Well, for starters, these sets have been and will continue to be highly accumulated. There are no more surprises with Superhero LEGO sets, especially sets that are Batman related . LEGO fans and collectors love them. They love the minifigures and they love Batman's awesome inventory of gadgets, vehicles and subterranean hangouts, which translate very well into LEGO models. I believe that is why Batman LEGO sets are much more popular than Superman or Spiderman LEGO sets...the vehicles and the gadgets. While Superman and Spiderman have special powers, Batman is a regular man with radical toys. I think this is why many fans connect and relate to Batman and prefer his movies, paraphernalia and most of all...LEGO sets. So moving forward, yes...Batman sets have been and will continue to be excellent choices for LEGO investments and collectibles. They have fantastic minifigures, but most of all, they have some of the best vehicles and structures this side of STAR WARS. While the current DC Comics Batman sets might never see the stupendous growth of the earlier versions, I am certain that with time, the vast majority of retired Batman sets will exhibit very strong appreciation. And like Adam West's Batman, my "calculations" are usually correct...
