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Hot Wheels SDCC Disney, Star Trek Exclusives Review

By Brian Thomer

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At this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego, Mattel produced a number of exclusives for their Hot Wheels brand. They featured Marvel’s Daredevil, Pixar’s Cars, Star Wars, and Star Trek.

Mattel is providing fans one last chance to grab their Hot Wheels brand exclusives from SDCC 2016. The After-Party sale on Matty Collector on August 15th will feature great collectibles from various Disney properties, as well as commemorating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek.

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The most impressive of the bunch is the Hot Wheels Star Wars Carships set. Inspired by the Death Star trench scene from Star Wars: A New Hope, this set features classic Star Wars space ships re-designed as fully functional Hot Wheels cars. Set to a backdrop of a Death Star trench, including a light-up blaster turret, are three rows of clear plastic Hot Wheels tracks. In the front, is Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Carship pursued by Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter Carship flanked by two TIE Fighter Carships.

The Carships themselves are fun re-designs of the classic Star Wars vehicles, but where this piece really takes off is the light-up display. With the press of a button, the lights and sounds go off to mimic the classic pursuit from the original Star Wars movie.

The X-Wing flies down into the trench amidst turret fire and then is followed by Vader and company. After dodging the ships’ fire, lights under the two TIE Fighters flash to demonstrate they have been taken out. As a finale, a light flashes under the X-Wing to indicate the firing of the proton torpedoes and a quick succession of lights and sounds from the turret and TIE Fighters mark the destruction of the Death Star.

While the track and Carships are removable from the platform to be played with on their own, the gun turret is not. The re-creation of the Death Star’s destruction makes this a creative and fun display piece for any fan of the classic Star Wars film.

Another exclusive with a creative display feature is the Marvel Daredevil vs. Punisher die-cast cars set. Two Hot Wheels cars, designed after two of New York City’s best known vigilantes, are housed in a clear acrylic display case. A gray plastic NYC skyline serves as the backdrop.

The display case sits atop an old Hell’s Kitchen apartment building, made of sturdy cardboard. A few of the windows are “open” and, when one looks inside, one can see images of Daredevil and Punisher doing battle for control of the neighborhood. The artwork for the building and the interior scenes are done by acclaimed Daredevil artist Alex Maleev.

There is a button on the display case that activates lights underneath, illuminating the open windows below and spotlighting the fight scenes. With each press of the button, the lights go off in a different sequence. There is a solid and flashing white light, solid and flashing red light, and alternating flashing white and red lights. While it is nice to have options, it is a shame that there is no way to set a default setting, so one can get his or her preferred setting with each press of the button.

The Hot Wheels cars themselves have unique designs reflective of Daredevil and The Punisher, respectively. The body of the Daredevil car is all crimson, as well as crimson-tinted windows. Naturally, it also has horns atop it and Daredevil’s “DD” emblem on the hood.

The Punisher design is particularly exceptional. His skull emblem makes up the majority of the top of the car’s body. The car is a single-seater, aptly reflecting Frank Castle’s loner status. Both cars feature Real Riders wheels, even though they are not removable from the display case.

Hot Wheels, also, commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek with a tribute to a classic behind-the-scenes photo. After the launch of the original Star Trek series, Leonard Nimoy rewarded himself with a 1964 Buick Riviera. Nimoy then famously posed for a photo with his new ride, in full Mr. Spock costume, on the studio’s back lot.

Hot Wheels re-creates the photo as a 3D diorama with a Hot Wheels die-cast version of the Riviera with Real Riders wheels. A small Nimoy figurine rests on the car’s hood with the photo’s background printed on a sturdy card to serve as the back drop.

The car and figurine are separately attached to a plastic base. A removable clear acrylic display cover locks into the base to protect the diorama.

The Hot Wheels Star Trek Buick Riviera Vehicle diorama makes a fine milestone piece. Its compact size makes it suitable for display on a shelf, mantle, desk, or even on one’s entertainment center.

Finally, from Hot Wheels, is a Disney Pixar Cars Precision Series Die-Cast Dirt Track Fabulous Hudson Hornet Vehicle. Another display piece, this is a 1:55 scale replica of Doc Hudson in his prime as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet.

The ’50s model car comes with a hinged hood to reveal its detailed engine below. The car itself is affixed to a checkered floor with Hudson’s three Piston Cup Championship trophies on display as the back drop. The car and trophies are significantly detailed.

The flooring itself is attached to a two-piece hinged box that opens up to form a base for the diorama. The car can be protected by the elements by folding the halves of the box back up. The magnetic seal lets one leave it closed with confidence.

That wraps it up for the Hot Wheels exclusives from this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego. For one’s last chance at these limited and exclusive items, check out the After-Party sale on Matty Collector on August 15th at 9:00 a.m. for the items’ limited remaining quantities.

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