June 18, 2005 – When the fifth Batman movie, "Batman Begins," opens nationwide Wednesday, Batman -- the franchise -- will again begin seeing a jump in memorabilia sales; especially people buying die-cast Batmobile models.

According to USA Today, the Batman comic-book film franchise has generated more than $1.2 billion in worldwide ticket sales.

Then, as the Joker once said, the Dark Knight has marvelous toys.

This year, Bill Stoller, of the Chicago-based Stoller and Bard Communications, said Corgi USA Batman Collectible Die-Cast Editions created 12 all-new Batman vehicles ranging from the crime-fighting car seen in the early 1930s DC comic books to the ultra-modern vehicles in current films.

Stoller said the company has 20 different Batmoblie replicas. The cars are 1:43-1:24 in scale and offer everything from detailed interior, opening doors, to a trunk laboratory for the Caped Crusader to fight crime in Gotham City .

The cars are available online and at department stores. They retail from $9.99-$24.99.

"The Batmoblie has a high cool factor," said Stoller, adding Corgi has made collectible die-cast models and collectibles since 1956. "The Batmoblie combines our love of automobiles with technology and gadgetry.

"There is an absolute market of these cars; especially when a new movie come out and when there's a new car model, we see sales spike. Children play with them. Fathers, mothers and grandparents play with and collect them. The true collector not only wants what they see in the movie but the ones they see in the comic books."

And there is money in collecting Batmobiles, Stoller said. Recently, on ebay, a vintage Corgi Batmobile -- 1:43 scale -- was being offered for $450 and there were several bidders.

"People are buying and selling left and right. There is big market for it," Stoller said.

Noel Bays, store manager of the Park Avenue West Hobby Force, carries plastic Batmobiles. He added the market for not only Batman collectibles, but any superhero collectibles is a "yes or no niche market in Mansfield.

"It's a small market of customers in our area, but we try to have a little of everything," said Bays. "Not only is Batman out this summer, but you have the 'Fantastic Four,' 'Herbie the Love Bug,' and 'Dukes of Hazzard' movies. You have people who will say, 'I got to get one of those (items from a movie).' But I would have to say it is a specific market in Mansfield ."

The market, however, isn't just for Batman-related items, Stoller said.

Corgi also produces collectibles for Batman's sidekick, Robin the Boy Wonder, as well as several of Batman's arch nemeses.

"There is the rarely-seen 2000 Robin Redbird Car because why should Batman have all the cool cars?" asked Stoller, who said the company is considering marketing a Batgirl vehicle next year.

"We also have the Robin Cycle and Batman's Bat-Submersible so Batman can fight crime underwater; now there's nowhere left for villains to hide.

"Batman's villains' cars also had style. We have the 1950s Two-Face Two-Tone Car with a half-and-half textured engine and Catwoman's 1960s Catillac. This rare vehicle is one of the coolest the DC Comics artists ever dreamt up."

In addition to reading comic books, Stoller, 45, has been a Batman fan since seeing the campy 1960s TV show.

He said he is like others who want to keep childhood memories of the Dark Knight on their mantels and pass them along to future Batman fans.

"People have been reading 'Batman' from generation to generation," Stoller said. "The best part of Batman and another icon, James Bond, is they have so many cool gadgets to help them fight crime. The nice thing about these die-cast replicas is you can pass them and the memories on from generation to generation as a collectible toy. They can stay in the family forever."

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Consumers looking for more memorabilia

Bill Stoller of Corgi USA Batman said as Batmania takes over America with the release of Batman Begins, fans will be looking for more than the Batman logo in the night sky.

He said the company has produced six decades of Batmobiles, as seen in the pages of DC Comics in realistic die-casts replicas.

"The Batmobile's changed a great deal since the bright red roadster Batman used to tool around Gotham City back in the 1930's," he said. "And these replicas show this iconic vehicle in every step of it's remarkable evolution."

Here's Stoller's views of the Batmobile over the years:

The 1940's Batmobile was compact and snarling, with a shark-like fin and a battering ram in front.

The 1950's model was one of the coolest Batmobiles of all time. When Batman hopped into this Batmobile he had a secret in the backseat: A full laboratory!

In the 60's, the Batmobile sported two dramatic fins, and featured pop-up surveillance equipment that emerged from the front hood.

The 1970's-era version was one of the sleekest and most intimidating Batmobiles ever. This hot little number combined the styling of some of the top import coupes of the day.

In the 21st Century, the Batmobile has become an ultra-modern, high-tech marvel, capable of covering any terrain to track down the bad guys.

Corgi's Batman Collectible Die-Cast Editions presents all vehicles - each loaded with moving parts and detailed features - and a host of other Bat- vehicles, including The 1960s Catwoman Catillac, The 1950s Two-Face Two-Tone Car, The 2000 Bat-Submersible, and The Robin Cycle.

Furthermore, as Batman Begins opens, movie merchandise will fly into retail outlets, said Alissa Pinck, assistant vice president of the New York-based public relations firm G.S. Schwartz & Co. Inc.

"Sure consumers can get action figures, but that is so 20th century," she said. "Instead, those in the know will be buying electronic games from Techno Source, a leader in the category."

The company, Pinck said, produces $4 keychains and $8 LCD-based handheld games featuring "Fast Pursuit" the only low-cost multi-screen electronic game in the market.

Pinck said the game retails for $12.99 and features an all-new multi-screen technology (seen in Nintendo Dual-Screen System) allowing players to view a map on the screen while driving the Batmobile through the streets of Gotham City on the other.

Eric Levin, executive-vice president of Techno Source, said the success of Batman toys and memorabilia can be attributed to how the movie studio producing Batman Begins has continued to keep the Caped Crusader in the audience's eye.

"We were very impressed with the way Warner Brothers approached this new generation of Batman. They did very powerful consumer studies to evolve the character and story lines. They introduced a new animated series and a new movie in close succession to provide real momentum for the brand," Levin said. "They did a great job delivering a more sophisticated and relevant Batman that would really be attractive to today's kids.

"Finally, they showed real understanding of consumer goods by packaging the animated series, the movie, and the comic property into one license allowing their license partners to make a total commitment to the brand."

To purchase items or to find a local retailer visit www.Corgi-USA.com.

If you go:

Tickets for Batman Begins are on sale online at fandago.com, movietickets.com and cinemark.com

Locally, the movie will be shown at Cinemark Theatres, 2355 Walker Lake Rd. The first showing will be at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday and will continue thoughout the day until 10:30 p.m.

Tickets for the first show are $4. Until 6 p.m. , Sunday-Saturday, tickets are $5. After 6 p.m. , Sunday-Thursday, tickets are $6.75 and after 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, tickets are $7.

For additonal information, call (419) 589-3200.