Brian Truitt

USA TODAY

For this year's San Diego Comic-Con, Hot Wheels has the coolest Star Wars ride this side of the Millennium Falcon.

Among the exclusive toys Mattel is offering for fans at this year's pop-culture extravaganza (July 24-27) is a Darth Vader die-cast car, the first team-up for Hot Wheels and the hot sci-fi franchise.

For $40, toy lovers can get the sleek black auto in lights-and-sound lightsaber packaging and the distinctive red associated with the villainous Sith lord from the Star Wars movies.

Comic-Con attendees also can snag two other Hot Wheels cars: The Homer ($30), a mini replica of the green futuristic vehicle that Homer Simpson invented for the "average" American on The Simpsons, and James Bond's silver Aston Martin DB5 ($20), the iconic car Sean Connery drove in 1964's Goldfinger.

Among the other exclusive collectibles Mattel will have at its booth on the floor of the San Diego Convention Center:

Masters of the Universe Classics Hordak ($30). Mattel's released other versions of the cartoon bad guy, but this one sports the blue skin and interchangeable cannon arms from Filmation's She-Ra, Princess of Power show from the 1980s. The action figure comes with Hordak's signature magic staff and his sidekick Imp.

Masters of the Universe Goat Man ($27). An employee of Beast Man, the horned character with the spiffy hammer is plucked from the vintage Golden Books and given the action-figure treatment to put next to He-Man and the rest of your collection.

Turbo Charged Max Steel ($20). Fans of the Max Steel cartoon and its teenage hero can grab a new action figure based on the main character, transformed into Turbo mode to fend off Makino's invasion and wielding his trademark biomechanical sword Steel.

DC New Way to Play Cyborg ($25). Cyborg's going to be in the new Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice movie, so get in on the ground floor with the superhero. Dig customization with your toys? Comic-Con Cyborg comes with three cannons, a blade, a wing pack and two interchangeable heads.

Arkham Knight Batmobile ($85). Gamers have to wait till next year to play Batman: Arkham Knight, but this year they can buy the Dark Knight's sweet new vehicle, a cross between tank and hot rod with sounds and spinning wheels. It comes with a Batman figure, too, so he can look that much snazzier on your desk.

DCU Classics Doomsday ($35). Doomsday gave Superman the whupping of his life back in the 1990s, and the supervillain receives a 9-inch-tall collectible action figure in the DC Universe Classics line. Doomsday is looking cool in his containment suit, plus he comes in a window box that's an homage to his first appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel No. 18.

DC Classic TV Series Batman Utility Belt ($125). Admit it: You've watched old Adam West Batman episodes from the 1960s and wished you had that neato utility belt. Well. Mattel's hooking folks up with a replica Bat-belt in bright yellow with four opening pouches, four tubes and a 12-inch plastic Batarang that folds up and slides into the belt. Holy storage, Caped Crusader!

Cars Neon Racers Gift Pack ($50). Pixar nerds can revisit the international flair of Cars 2 with a Tokyo-flavored racing set featuring a die-cast Lightning McQueen and Shu Todoroki with neon decoration and customized lighting.

Monster High Manny Taur and Iris Clops ($40). Mattel's not forgetting the contingent of young girls. From its popular horror-themed Monster High franchise, Comic-Con-goers can get a set of the teenage bull-boy Manny plus the very hip — and one-eyed — Iris.

Ever After High Cerise Wolf ($30). Launched last summer, Ever After High was Mattel's take on fantasy and fairy tales with its dolls, and Cerise Hood, the daughter of Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, makes her debut in San Diego next month embracing her dad's beastly nature.