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Almost 90 years since his debut, Batman remains one of the most iconic comic book superheroes of all time. That means collectors of Batman related items are willing to pay a hefty amount to secure obscure and forgotten rarities. One such item is a 1966 playset that looks like a cheap and flimsy yard sale bargain but would cost you $25,000 if you are willing to pay the asking price on eBay right now.
This is the Official Batman and Justice League of America playset, a hollow purple plastic mountain that is flanked by a handful of oddly luminous blobs that vaguely resemble several classic DC villains and comes with accessories so of their era that many of them need the box art to explain them. In short, it is something that no child of today would even look at, but for young Batman fans of the 1960s, it was the hub of many imagined superhero adventures. Over the years, the Ideal-produced set has become one of the biggest DC collectibles of its decade, and is a strong contender alongside the Official Batman Utility Belt to have ultimate holy grail status. The question is, can this cheap looking piece really worth $25K?
The Batman and Justice League of America Playset Proves Looks Can Be Deceptive in Collector’s Circles
The playset really is one that stands out as a time capsule of 1960s toy making. Inside the window box sits the “Sanctuary,” a purple mountain hideout with opening doors, periscope and weather-vane key, alongside a free-wheeling Bat Car, a Bat Plane with launcher, a console Batcomputer, a robot, and a reflector ray weapon. Probably the defining feature are the hand-painted miniature figures of Batman, Robin, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Flash, who can face off against Joker, Mouse Man, The Key, Kaltor, Brainstorm and Thunderbolt, all of which are made from single-color plastic with no moving parts.
Without the DC Comics brand appeal, all of this looks like the kind of thing you would begrudge paying $5 for at a flea market, but the set was released when Adam West turned the Caped Crusader into a TV phenomenon. This set was the only way children of the 60s could get the entire Justice League in their hands.
So why would anyone pay five figures for it today? Like many high-priced collectible items, the answer comes from the fact that the set was sold through Sears as an exclusive for a very short time, and a relatively low number were produced. Given the flimsy plastic that much of the playset is made from, finding a complete and undamaged set is extremely rare. According to Heritage Auctions, only three complete sets have passed through their books in the last two decades, and right there is the reason why this crude plastic monstrosity is worth a Joker’s heist to collectors.
Despite this, whether the set currently up for sale will attract a buyer is questionable. Complete sets have previously sold for just under $15,000 at auction, and you can piece together much of the set from other eBay auctions with individual items going for around $1,000 each. In the end, though, collectibles are only worth what someone is willing to pay to add it to their collection, and this set could find its way to a new owner yet.
What is the most obscure DC item in your collection? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the Forum!
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