Hot Wheels 5-Pack | Justice League

07.20.2018 – These days when a film or animation is released chances are a plethora or merchandise gets produced. Most of them are based from what appears in the films, animation, or videogames. Sometimes this merchandise tends to overdo it in putting a product going beyond the original concept. Hot Wheels is known for its weird and odd concepts, but also produce some of the interesting ones based from its source material. The recent Justice League movie produced vehicles that Batman uses to combat the Parademons led by Steppenwolf in the 2017 film and this five-pack bends that concept.

The Justice League film may have mixed reactions from critics but the action figures and toys were a hot sell. But not all of them seemed to be adapted well in other forms of merchandise like diecast collectible cars as you all know the only legit in the pack is the Justice League Batmobile that is slightly modified from its very first appearance in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Hot Wheels produced this 5-pack in honor of the 2017 film at the same time a companion to the Batmobile that was released as a single card. Since its release that Batmobile has been popular among collectors and the only other alternative in acquiring the same casting is getting the 5-pack that was produced for 2018.





Boxed Full of Justice Cars

Like all Hot Wheels 5-pack they are packaged in a window-type box where you can see all five cars layered on top of each other in a long box form. For the 2018 release Hot Wheels had slight changes to the traditional blue colors with an art design in them and it is uniformed to the other 5-packs.

This is not the first time Hot Wheels produced a 5-pack based on the DC Comics property as Batman being a popular character with an array of Batmobiles has previously had a 5-pack entirely based on his signature vehicle from 2017 that takes variations from movies, videogames, and comicbooks.

But this is the first time Batman shares a 5-pack set with his Justice League teammates, which ties up to the film even though four of those cars are not actually seen in the film or even used by the four other characters that appeared in it. Breaking down each design may not have significance to the the film itself, but it gives you an idea how Hot Wheels and DC Comics put together representation for each character.













Justice League Batmobile

The first version appeared in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice with a slight difference. This one is a retool of that casting, which is based on the events that transpired to that film with an upgraded massive rail gun on the passenger side as the rest is the same car from BvS.

There’s one thing that’s different from the single card and this one from the 5-pack is the set of wheels used. It’s noticeable immediately if you look closely, but most collectors won’t even bother to check or if you don‘t notice the single card you won’t even bother to look at this one in the 5-pack.

It still retains the original colors from the single card release, but this is just straight black as the latter is in flat black. If you’re into variations to collect all versions of the Batmobile this one is exclusive only this set that is uncommon to find on retail.









Synkro | The Flash

This car did not appear in the film although it has “The Flash” livery on both sides and it appears to be a familiar car if you happen to come across this casting on its previous release. You’ll be surprise that this car first debut on Hot Wheels AcceleRacers animated series in 2005 driven by the character named Nolo Pasaro (and formerly by Tone Pasaro). It was destroyed when Nolo's brother, Tone crashed. After it was rebuilt, it was dismantled by a Sweeper and RD-02 in the Metro Realm.

The backstory of this car is not even related to Barry Allen as this was included in the 5-pack for this set as the most recent incarnation of the car taking the “The Flash” aesthetics and a new color to match the speedsters costume. This was also produced as a diecast collectible for Happy Meal during the height of that series’ popularity.









Sir Omnious | Cyborg

It would be a surprise that this casting was used for “Cyborg” as the original Hot Wheels design and aesthetics does have relatable appearance for the hero who was exposed from the Motherbox in the film. Just like the Synkro this was not seen in the film nor have any relation to “Cyborg.”

But to keep up with the Justice League 5-pack theme this casting was chosen by Hot Wheels design and marketing to be part of this set at the same time to match with the concept of the Justice League Batmobile and Synkro. This is not the first time Hot Wheels used Sir Omnious as this debuted back in 2004.









Ryura LX | Wonder Woman

Just like the previous two cars after the Justice League Batmobile this one was used to represent Wonder Woman. The livery features her logo and distinct signature as well as the color. Again, Hot Wheels uses pre-existing casting to match with the 5-pack theme and they’ve chosen this 2014 car as Wonder Woman’s wheels.

The description on the back of its debut release back in 2014 introduced as an original design by Hot Wheels, which is a full-size luxury sedan with super power. Designed for style and performance, this high-end speeder features a 6-liter V-12 for mega horsepower, plus the latest automotive technology.

It matches Wonder Woman’s personality despite that this car has no connection to the character. In Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Wonder Woman did drive a different car, but how she carries herself aligns with the Ryura LX’s personality.









Bully Goat | Superman

This one is also an original Hot Wheels design not based on a real life car, but based on the description of this car when it first debut in 2005 says that it is the designer's take on a futuristic Pontiac GTO, hence the name "Goat" in the name (GTO's are commonly referred to a Goats).

Superman doesn’t need to drive a car and it could have been Aquaman instead, but the Justice League is led by a trinity that includes Batman and Wonder Woman for the reason Clark Kent gets a stylish muscle car even though there’s no connection to the character or even made an appearance in the film.

It is the most used casting for a licenced property as this was released in 2018 at the same time it was also released as Luke Sky Walker’s car in a different color, which is unexpected. But to complete the 5-pack Justice League set Hot Wheels decided to use this casting since it defines Superman’s aesthetics for being muscular.





League of Wheels

If you collect thematic cars using licenced aesthetics of popular characters based from DC Comics or the live action films there’s no doubt you’d want this in your collection. Because you don’t see any diecast brand using a licenced car for DC characters unlike Hot Wheels which have a lot of fictional cars to choose from.

There are other good choices but the way this set is marketed you won’t even bother what car they have chosen to sport the livery of the characters with the exception of the Batmobile, since Batman relies on technology in taking down the criminals of Gotham City. But for the other characters they don’t need cars to go fight crime with the exception of Wonder Woman having the Invisible Jet.

Though that’s another story to tell since this set is about the Justice League in a 5-pack car theme this was an appropriate set to represent the characters even if they didn’t include Aquaman to complete all six members of the league.

Overall the Justice League 5-pack is a mix set of cars that has its own story prior to be being used for the theme with the exception of the Batmobile, which is the one most collectors would get from the set.

Of course, Hot Wheels won’t break that unless you had the opportunity to get the single card. But for the kids who have seen the film this is the set most parents would get for them, which is something to introduce them intro the world of Justice League.

“Justice League” 5-pack is part of the 2018 Hot Wheels series sub-line manufactured by Mattel, which was acquired at Target in Westfield Marion, South Australia. This set was uncommon and also released in the Philippines and some parts of Souteast Asia.

Hot Wheels is distributed and sold in Australia by Mattel Pty., LTD. based in Richmond, Victoria.