Miscellaneous content: Batman Forever Official Magazine front cover textless

Quick post - wasn't sure where else to put this but here's a very cool illustration that was used for the Batman Forever Official Magazine. This is a great illustration. If anyone knows who did this let me know because I'd love to credit them. It looks like it says Julie (c) 95 but I can't track down who that is.

UPDATE: the artist is Julie Bell.

Merchandise Review: The Riddler head playset from Kenner

And now for another one of the three micro playsets they made for Batman Forever - The Riddler head playset that opens up to reveal a miniature Claw Island.

I've got to say I loved these toys as a kid - this and Mighty Max were fantastic. The only trouble was trying to not lose all the pieces. Luckily I managed to pick this up boxed so there was no problem there.

Toys: More Hits More Action catalogue from Kenner

Here's another cool catalogue of Kenner's toy line for Batman Forever featuring some of the Wave 2 line of toys. Reviews of some these will be coming this year.

Cards: Metal Fleer Batman Forever cards 81-85

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to 2020 - the twenty-fifth anniversary of Batman Forever.

What better way to ring in the new year than continue our trawl through Fleer's oddly illustrated "Metal" cards. Some pretty terrible ones here.

I think Strategy is one of the most hilarious ones so far. I love the face Robin is pulling as Batman types on the keyboard (no doubt filling out a complicated online form from the looks of it - we've all been there).

Magazine article: Comics Scene 1995

This week we're looking at Comics Scene - seemingly another spin off from Starlog magazine. Marc Shapiro - who at this point had interviewed just about everyone involved with the film - speaks to Akiva Goldsman about being a co-writer on the film.

Interesting to note that Goldsman is still involved in DC properties and most recently worked as a writer on Titans - the DC Universe TV show adaptation of Teen Titans.

Batman Forever Merchandise Review - DC Multiverse Signature figure by Mattel

Merry Christmas everyone. Here's my review of Mattel's DC Multiverse Signature figure.

Batman Forever Merchandise Review - Diecast vehicles from Kenner

The reviews are back. This time I'm reviewing the diecast vehicles from Kenner.

Batman Forever Merchandise Review - Two Face figure from Kenner

Here's another Kenner review, this time looking at the Two-Face figure. Strangely, for such a colourful villian they only made this figure and a repaint (in a Riddler and Two Face 2 pack). This seems like such a missed opportunity. Surely they should have at least made a circus ringleader version with top hat and giant bomb.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the review. More on the way soon.

Obituary: Actor Rene Auberjonois dies aged 79

Sad to report that Rene Auberjonois, the actor who played the role of Dr Burton in Batman Forever, has died aged 79 after a battle with metastatic lung cancer. He was probably best known for his role as Odo on all seven seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

His role in Batman Forever was a brief cameo at the end accompanying Dr Chase Meridian as she visits Arkham Asylum to see if Edward Nygma still knows Batman's true identity.

Auberjonois also appeared at the beginning of the film when Dr Burton goes to Two Face's cell and discovers he has escaped. This sequence was deleted from the film but is available on the special edition DVD and Blu-ray.

The role was a nod to Tim Burton, director of Batman 1989 and Batman Returns, and as such his hair was styled in Burton's distinctive, manic, whirry look. And Auberjonois adopted a raspy voice that perfectly fits the gothic location.

But of far more importance, Auberjonois also read the audiobook adaptation of Peter David's novelisation of Batman Forever from Time Warner. If you haven’t heard this, please find a link below.

At 3 hours, it is actually longer than the film but has a lot of fun differences. Not least a couple of prologues featuring a teenage Edward Nygma riddling some bullies and Harvey Dent meeting Batman for the first time before becoming disfigured.

Rene Auberjonois' performance was first rate. He particularly excelled at making a much creepier sounding Edward Nygma than Jim Carrey's more live wire performance. Giving us a glimpse at what a more serious version of the film would have felt like (bear in mind this was probably recorded before or as the film was being shot so Auberjonois only had the script and whatever direction he was given to work from).

It takes a great actor to be able to read an audiobook and give distinct and memorable portrayals of all the characters. Batman Forever was even more of a challenge given that each character has a dual personality! As far as I am concerned Rene Auberjonois did a first rate job in his reading.

My thanks go to Rene for such a great performance that has given me so much joy over the years.

Miscellaneous content: Batman Forever stunt shows

The Batman Forever movie inspired several stunt shows in Six Flags theme parks. Here's a couple - one from 1996 and one from 2006 (11 years after the film opened).

Living in the UK I never got to see any of these but through the wonders of youtube it's great to be able to see what they were like.

Six Flags Astroworld Batman Forever water stunt show, circa 1996

Six Flags Elitch Gardens Batman Forever stunt show, circa 2006

Miscellaneous content: Batman Patents

Another random post. Here's the patent for the Forever Batmobile and a few other bits.

External link: Nygmatech Archives

I recently had an email from Daryl at Nygmatech Archives - a Facebook fan page that is also devoted to Batman Forever.

If you're a Facebook person this is well worth your time checking out. There's some very cool rare illustrations and promotional photos that get posted there.

The jewel in the crown though is the 1:1 replica of the Sonar Cowl with light up eyes and Kilmer mouth! There's a step by step photo of the work involved and it looks incredible.

Here's a link to the page:-
https://www.facebook.com/nygmatecharchives/

There's also an instagram page too:-

https://www.instagram.com/nygmatech_archives/

If any other Batman Forever sites want a shout out, please let me know. It would be great to pool our resources where possible.

Cards: Metal Fleer Batman Forever cards 76-80

The Fleer cards return! More wonky drawings of Robin. I have no idea what's going on with the Riddler's hair in "Need a lift?"

Batman Forever Merchandise Review: Style Guide by Warner Brothers

Here's something I've been looking for a long time - the Style Guide that was handed out to companies that wanted to make tie-in products to Batman Forever.

For now, here's the video but I'll look to get the entire folder scanned for archiving purposes and put it in a future post. It's going to take a while as it's over 100 pages long!

In the meantime, here's a sample of the illustration guide for Batman.

Batman Forever Merchandise Review - Ultimate Batman by Kenner

Kenner mostly made 4 inch action figures but they also made this deluxe 12 inch figure. Here's my review.