Friday, July 26, 2024
News: McFarlane Toys unveils Forever Batmobile at San Diego Comic Con
News: Akiva Goldsman is trying to get the Schumacher Cut released
Thursday, July 18, 2024
Batman Forever + Batman & Robin merchandise for sale!
No, I haven't lost my mind and decided to sell my collection. Don't worry. It's going nowhere.
I have though been in touch with a fellow Batman collector called Laurent.
He is very active on Instagram and is selling a TON of Batman merchandise - from the movies, cartoons, comics.
Most interesting to readers of this blog, he has a big collection of Batman Forever and Batman & Robin merchandise.
Here are a couple of photos below show some of what he has available. Some really rare pieces. He also has a lot of carded figures too. Check his Instagram page out here - give him and follow and maybe strike up a deal.
Sunday, July 7, 2024
Batman Forever Merchandise Review - Robin figure from Hot Toys
So I know this is a little late. I was really on the fence about picking up the Hot Toys Batman Forever figures. I'm a huge fan of vintage figures but don't tend to buy too many "new" figures. The price point of them is really high (around £175) and for a long time I felt like there was no way I could afford either of them.
Recently I got a job upgrade and the price lowered slightly on eBay so I decided to bite the bullet and get one. I'm glad I did because these are really special figures. The finish on them is spectacular as is the attention to detail. As I say in the video, this is the closest you'll get to having a tiny Chris O'Donnell in your hands.
As some have pointed out, it's not perfect. The shade of red they chose doesn't seem to match the on-screen costume (it was admittedly difficult to figure out exactly what it should be given in the film it is usually lit with strong coloured lighting).
But on the whole it is great. The other issue is the possibility. The promo shots of this have the figure in all the cool poses from the film but the reality is that the suit really bends in awkward ways when you move the arm or legs out of their default positions. It doesn't both me much as I rarely pose figure but might be a consideration for others.
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Batman Forever Merchandise Review: Tide Racer Robin figure from Kenner
Well, this is it! The final Kenner figure I needed to get.
Tide Racer Robin is a Target Exclusive figure and a repaint of Hydro Claw Robin. If you liked that figure, you might like this variant.
Don't worry my reviews will continue. I've looked ahead and won't be going anywhere for the foreseeable future. Still lots of vintage merchandise to review as well as new stuff like Hot Toys and McFarlane.
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
News: Beast Kingdom is making new Batman Forever and Batman & Robin figures
Beast Kingdom has previewed these 8 inch (I think) figures at the Licensing Expo 2024.
They seem to be doing the same thing as McFarlane and making a whole range of Batman movie figures from Michael Keaton to Robert Pattinson and everything in between.
Most interesting are some new figures of Val Kilmer's Batman, George Clooney's Batman and a Jim Carrey Riddler figure.
I've got to say I love the look of the Riddler (maybe even more than the forthcoming McFarlane figure). The cloth jacket and bowler hat look ace.
I'm less keen on the Clooney and Kilmer figures though. I don't know, something feels a bit off about them. Their heads seem quite far off their bodies.
Thursday, May 30, 2024
News: McFarlane reveals close up look at Batman Forever figures in poster
McFarlane Toys have released this cool poster showing off the new Batman Forever wave of figures in more details.
Obviously it's based on the classic John Alvin poster which is really neat. I will say doing this makes it stick out even more that they didn't do a Chase Meridian figure. I've had a think about why they chose not to do her. I wonder if it's possibly because - unlike all the actors in the Batman & Robin line - Nicole didn't have a figure back in 1995 so has no pre-existing contract to base a figure off her character? Another reason is maybe that they didn't think people would be interested in the character.- Robin looks really close to the one from the Batman & Robin line (except obviously for the mask). I liked that sculpt on that figure so I'm happy to see it return. The colour of Robin's suit is quite a bright red and doesn't really have the metallic look the movie suit had. Still it looks great. Interestingly the collar looks to be plastic but the cape looks to be a yellow fabric on the inside.
- The Riddler looks not bad. I don't love the face sculpt but it is recognisably Jim Carrey. The teeth seem really big but maybe it will grow on me. I feel the ab crunch is going to look a bit weird on this figure because there's no details on the costume to hide it.
- Two-Face is - for me - the weakest of the bunch. Don't get me wrong, the detail is great but I'm just not getting Tommy Lee Jones. The head seems quite chunky. Maybe it's one of those things where if you see it from the side or at an angle it'll look better. I can't quite tell from the way the pictures are blended but it looks like he'll have a coin in his hand.
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Batman Forever Merchandise Review - Mystery Grab Bag episode 3
Here's another episode of assorted Batman Forever products and trinkets for you to enjoy.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
News: McFarlane announces a Batman Forever line
Well I think we were all hoping this would be coming sooner or later.
Finally last weekend - at Wondercon - Todd McFarlane announced that a Batman Forever 7 inch action figure line is on the way!
See the picture below.
(Although it says Summer 2025 but apparently this is incorrect and they'll be out this year).
Some interesting things to note:-
Unfortunately we're only getting a reissue of the Sonar Suit that came out last year in the Ultimate Batman set. There's no Panther suit. However the rumour is that an exclusive Panther suit may come later (possibly with a 7 inch scale Batmobile!).
Although I can't see from the photo. I imagine the difference will be that the Batman figure will come with a molded plastic cape.
Two-Face, Riddler and Robin are the other three figures to collect. I think we all expected that given that the Batman & Robin line also had 4 figures. It's a shame the line isn't bigger - a Sugar, Spice and/or Chase figure would have been cool.
The big surprise is the choice for Build-a-Figure. It's the Nightmare Bat that Bruce keeps dreaming about in the film. This is a cool choice as it is only briefly seen in the film (poor Rick Baker who designed it).
It's most famous for the deleted scene where Bruce spreads his arms out and stands face to face with it (which was put in the trailer).
Again, I can't tell from the photo but I hope you can move the Bat's head to recreate that scene.
I'm sort of hoping this helps a tiny bit in getting the Schumacher Cut finally released. Who knows? Every little bit helps.
Lastly, I'd recommend watching this video of Todd talking at Wondercon (skip to 15 minutes in to go to the Batman Forever reveal).
He mentions two things of interest - 1) the Batman & Robin line had a "really big response at the toy fair last year and at retail" 2) he specifically notes that there "a group of you that are trying to collect the Batman movie characters" and he's "trying to deliver on that".
It feels nice to hear Todd say that. I (and I think everyone else that reads this blog or watches my YouTube channel) feel seen.
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Batman Forever Merchandise Review - Batmobile phone by Micro Games of America
I love the design of the Forever Batmobile but I'll be honest I've got so many toys and models I don't need any more.
At least that's what I thought until I saw this Batmobile telephone on eBay. I've seen versions of the 1989 Batmobile as a phone but not the Forever one.
As shown in the video the phone lights up when you call it. Sadly it doesn't play any cool ringtones.
Sunday, February 18, 2024
Batman Forever Merchandise Review - Riddler and Two Face figures from Kenner
Given that Riddler and Two Face are partners in crime in Batman Forever, it makes sense that Kenner made a double pack of figures.
These are basically just repaints of existing figures. The Riddler has a new head sculpt but other than that they aren't any different.
Two Face comes with a gold gun accessory that annoyingly my one is missing. It's based on the gun he uses to blow up the gas line and bury Batman in the subway.
These are definitely good value and perfect if you just want the most movie accurate versions of the two villains.
Monday, January 22, 2024
Batman Forever Merchandise Review - Solar Shield Batman figure from Kenner
If there's one thing everyone remembers about Batman, it's that he needs the sun for power.
Wait, no that's the other guy.
Oh well, as was often the case with 90s Kenner figures they went with an absolutely bonkers concept because:-
1) it sounded cool and
2) made for a great figure.
This is Solar Shield Batman, one of the wave 2 figures. It come with some enormous wings and a crossbow (?) for his hand.
The material on the cape is particularly neat. They could have gone with just black but the metallic blue really makes it stand out.
It took me a long while to track this one down. Glad I have it because there's nothing quite like it. Get one if you can.