REVIEW: Mattel Batman ’66 Catwoman Barbie

[JeffSaylor]

Barbie Plays the Villainous Vixen...

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Catwoman, who was first introduced in the 1940s, has always been one of the most popular characters in the Batman rogues gallery. A reoccurring villain in the 1960s Batman series, several different actresses played Catwoman. But the most popular one was the first, Julie Newmar.

Mattel has made several dolls over the years depicting Catwoman in her many forms as part of the Barbie line, along with several other characters in the DC Universe, but they are now tackling the 1966 Batman series for the first time with dolls of Julie Newmar as Catwoman and Adam West as Batman as part of the Barbie Pink Label brand. The Catwoman doll has been able for several weeks at various online and brick-and-mortar retailers, but was available for sale first at San Diego Comic-Con this year.

She is packaged in a full window box with a background depicting Batman and Robin scaling a building and the Bat Signal in the distance. The color scheme is vibrant and pops with shades of purple, orange and black. The back of the box features similar imagery with a short bio on the show and character. Inside you will find a display stand and certificate of authenticity. The doll is attached with various plastic bindings that can be removed quite easily and still allow you to put her back in the box. However, she is attached through the head by small tags that must to be cut.

The doll itself has a standard Barbie body with articulation on the neck, arms, and legs and rooted hair. The costume is fairly accurate to the show and consists of a 1-piece “cat” suit, gloves, shoes and a removable belt. Her necklace is a separate piece, but is sewn into her costume. Her mask and cat ears are also sewn into her hair, so while you can move her mask up onto her head, it is not removable. While Julie Newmar inspires the doll’s likeness, I don’t really see her there. The doll looks more like the original 1959 Barbie with a Catwoman costume on, then the actress herself.

Batman fans are sure to love this unique collectible, which I’m sure is going to be the first in a long line of new Catwoman collectible based on the 1966 Batman series.

Review & Photos Michael Klein

Review Sample Courtesy of Mattel

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