In BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM we could all pretty much be Batman but all with the same costume. For BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY there has already been an announcement that, in the Special "Limited Collector's Edition" of BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY, it will include a Frank Miller-style "The Dark Knight Returns" Batman skin that will change the appearance of the character to look like the TDKR version.
OK, it's been announced in the UK that if you buy the "Limited Collector's Edition" of BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY from a company called SHOP TO, you can get a free EXCLUSIVE download that will enable you to have a 1970's Inspired Costume Skin ( see the pic up above ). Now, I'm not sure if this will be made available in the USA or if it will even work with American Consoles. But if you're curious & wanna check it out then here's a LINK!
Check out these 2 wonderful photos all the way from England. Our friend, Michael, who lives in Leeds, went to the BATMAN LIVE event in the UK ( Super-Jealous! ) & took these pics. The 1st one is an advertising standee of Batman that he saw in the foyer of the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. I begged him to steal for me but he's a good citizen & would not do it, Ha Ha!
Then, Michael got this great shot of the Official "BATMAN LIVE" Souvenir Merchandise they have on sale. It looks like there are many different T-Shirts to choose from, a few Ceramic Coffee Mugs, a Program Booklet, and even some Batman Cowl Masks! ( Be sure to click on the photo for a larger version ). Great, more cool Bat-Stuff I can't afford, ha! But really, I can't wait till this show hits the USA next year. Thanks Michael for sharing your photos, you ROCK, Sir!
Last week, in the UK, the BATMAN LIVE World Arena Tour had started & ever since then we have got a ton of personal reports. The good news, all the reviews are really positive. I've been keeping up with this show from the beginning & have been kinda skeptical. I mean, they were either going to make this show amazing or it would totally bomb. Luckily, it's a great event, whew! Here are a few photos sent in by our friend Billy, who is lucky enough to live in the UK. He said the show was totally great! Now, at the show he only had a camera phone but he did manage to get a few nice pics.
In the 1st one we get a really good look at the costumes for Batman and Robin, nice. Next, is a scene where a HUGE Joker Hot Air Balloon appears on stage! Then, the last 2 show the giant-sized bat-shaped video screen. I've heard that this is used to great effect for making transitions to other locations. Plus, it gave the show a great visual effect, like seeing tons of Bats flying across Gotham City or the Batmobile driving through the city. Oh yeah, in the last photo you can see a photo of our friend Billy. Yes, photographic proof that he was there, ha!
Oh yeah! If you're lucky enough to live in, or near, England then you know that today is the day that the very 1st BATMAN LIVE World Arena Tour show starts tonight! It will be in Manchester & I am already totally super-jealous, JEALOUS!! It will run for 6 nights from July 19th - 24th at the Manchester Evening News Arena. Check out this TV Commercial Advert showing in the UK right now!
With the BATMAN LIVE World Arena Tour opening pretty soon in the UK ( The very 1st show, I think, starts next month ) the advertising hype is starting! Shown here, in the very 1st photo, is the Official Marquee Poster that will appear in front of theaters. Then, in the 2nd pic, is a French Advertising Poster at a Bus Stop Terminal in Paris, France. Then, a HUGE Giant-Sized Vinyl Billboard in Liverpool, England! ( Please click on it, it's a really BIG Photo ) WOW! OK, I'm asking all of our friends who live in Europe to please send us some photos of this kinda stuff when you see it. You guys get to experience this event a full year before we Americans do & I'm totally jealous, ha!
Shown up above are the 1st five Issues in the "Batman Automobilia" Series by Eaglemoss, in the UK. You should be familiar with these toys, the BAT-BLOG was practically the 1st website to report on them. Basically they're highly detailed Batmobiles with small dioramas set-up inside clear-plastic display cases that were sold with it's own special magazine that told the history of that particular Batmobile. Well, the Eaglemoss Company had 10 cars already planned, but now there is very recent news that they now plan to only make the 1st five & the rest will be cancelled. This is sad news because these things are totally cool. We're not quite sure why they have been terminated but hopefully things will turn around. Stay tuned & we'll let ya know.
Here's a short video from the UK production team bringing the BATMAN LIVE World Arena Tour to life. It's main focus is on the choreography of the fight scenes.
Yesterday, here at the BAT-BLOG.COM, we featured a few videos of the unveiling of the Batmobile Car that will be used in the BATMAN LIVE World Arena Tour. The event happened in the UK & you know people there must have went insane. Well, today we decided to share some amazing photos of the BATMOBILE CAR! ( Please click on them for larger versions ) For a Batmobile Prop Car I think it looks pretty cool! I don't know, what do YOU think about it? Please share your comments on Facebook or Twitter. Also, if you're a member at one of these social networks, but not yet a friend of BAT-BLOG, then please join us! The buttons for finding us there are always on the top right-hand side of this page. Thank You.
The Bat-Blog has a friend on Facebook who sent this amazing photo! Scott said, "My sister in law sent me this, apparently they're shooting the Dark Knight Rises outside of her office in London." In the photo we can see a Gotham City SWAT Van... AWESOME!! ( Thanks Scott ).
This is a very quick post to share some extremely cool Batman Collectibles from the UK. These wonderful pics were kindly send in by a good friend named Kevin who is lucky enough to live near there. What are they? These are beautiful display boxes for Batman Easter Candy ( Milk Chocolate Eggs with Fruit-Flavored Gum ). One is in the shape of the Dark Knight's head & his eyes are die-cut open so some happy kid can see the goodies inside. The next one is more of a "box shape" with a great scene of Batman and Robin in Gotham City. Both of these boxes came out during the existence of the "Animated Series" cartoon on TV so that explains the cool graphics. I have a few of these UK items in my collection & they're different ( They would be added here if they were not so deep in storage right now ). So, that makes me wonder how many variations they made. But that's what is so great about being a Batman Toy Collector. There seems to be a TON of stuff out there to find & you can stay busy for 2 lifetimes, ha! ( Thanks Kevin for sending in these photos ).
Well, it looks like the BATMAN ARKHAM CITY Video Game is showing up, like crazy, on covers of some UK Gaming Magazines in England. Here are 2 examples: Playgamer and 360. Of course each magazine covers different consoles, the Playstation 3 ( PS3 ) and XBox 360. If anyone, anywhere in the world ( ha ), sees some other covers soon then please let us know.
I guess this post is sort of a "photo reference". These are some pics I collected awhile back where it's the Vintage 1966 BATMAN TV SHOW and MOVIE Paperback Books, but these are all "foreign-issued" copies. The 1st five are from England & were reprinted by Four Square Illustrated. These special UK editions have slightly different covers than the US versions. My favorite one is THE JOKER with all the weird "Pop Art" colors. I'm not sure about THE CATWOMAN Book & I'm wondering if it's from the UK too. It looks like it was reprinted by some other publisher. Now, the very last photo, is THE PENGUIN Book that was made in Argentina. It appears to be wayyyy more thin than an actual paperback. What's up on that? OK, I'm wondering if anybody has any other versions of these. If so, then please let us know. I think it would be cool if there were German, Spanish, or French editions, ha!
You're not going to find these BATMAN AND ROBIN Mugs ( Coffee Cups ) in any retail store today. These babies were made in the 1960's by Washington Pottery of the UK... probably around 1966, to capitalize on the popularity of the TV Show. In fact, they were only sold in England & are kinda hard to find. Well, thanks to the Internet they're not extremely rare. Here are some pics sent in to me by a friend of mine who collects pottery. He knew that I would love these. I do, they're great! Now all I have is one mug & somewhere I have a small platter. Unfortunately they're in deep storage. Yes, they also made Batman Plates, Patters, Bowls, and ( I think ) even an Ashtray! But for now we have these photos to drool over ( Thanks Dave ). The graphics are totally vintage & completely wonderful. Seriously, I love the sharpness & color. The one with the Batmobile car is just beautiful.
OK, This post is mainly for our friends who live in the United Kingdom, Australia, & New Zealand. The TITAN COMICS Company will be publishing a BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD "Comic Book" Magazine. The neat thing is that the very First Issue #1 will come with a few special gifts included ( I guess the thing will be poly-bagged ). The items include: a Stationary Set, Batman Mask, & Stickers. The "Stationary Set" looks like it includes a Pencil, Ruler, Paper, & Pencil Case...AWESOME! Now, I'm pretty sure they sell these at Grocery Stores but since I don't live there I have no idea, ha! The local Comic Book Shops there will probably carry them too. But, from their website, you can subscribe for a year & get 13 Issues for only £27.60. But the thing is, you have to live in the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand. Bummer! Here's the link for their website, just click HERE!
OK, This is a really really great, very heart warming, story! This photo is of the Hughes Family who live in the UK. They recently sent us this picture. Now at first I thought they had dressed-up for Halloween ( Do they have Halloween in England? ) but they did not. To help explain everything I'm just going to quote the letter they sent & it will give you a way better idea. Here it is:
The reason we were all dressed up was because my Mum hadn't been feeling very well, she is disabled and gets very down a lot. So we thought we would cheer her up by dressing up and going out in broad daylight to see her. My Mother had never seen us dressed like this before, but she has heard that my husband Richard loves Batman and owns a Bat-Suit. My Mother has never laughed so hard and we got so many strange looks from people on the drive over there! Batman with his mask on in the car, with a little Batman and two Joker villains...Yes, very funny!
I agree! Yes, Very funny indeed! See, I told you it would be a great story!! This is completely wonderful! I wanna thank the Hughes Family for sharing their photos. It's great that good things like this still happen from time to time. I bet your Mum will NEVER forget that special day, ha! If any other Bat-Blog Readers have similar events to share then please do. Send us some pics & your story!
I know that the Bat-Blog has kinda been crazy with the Halloween Holiday lately & we have been neglecting the toy collector aspect of the blog. So, here's a post to make up for it, ha ha! Here's a really nice example of a few pieces of Bat-Memorabilia made in different parts of the world. The 1st example comes from the United Kingdom ( England ) & is the Original Bubble Gum Wax Wrapper for a Set of 1966 Batman Trading Cards. Oh man, I am totally crazy over those vintage-style graphics...awesome! The next item might appear to be French but it's not from France. This is a Batman Board Game from Canada! It was made by Hasbro in 1973. OK, the last 3 pictures are a Set of Japanese Batman Canvas Sneakers. These shoes, of course, are from Japan & came out around 1966. The original shoe box is shown here with the product & it's equally as cool! Again, the graphics are just totally beautiful. Do you live outside the USA? If so then please send us some photos of some fun "Foreign Batman" items you might have. Sharing the love of Batman Toy Collecting is one of the main functions of this fan site. Our e-mail button is always on the top right-hand side of this page, thanks.
Our buddy Kenneth sent us this extremely rare Vintage BBC British Television video showing Neil Innes as Batman doing a Batman-themed comedy skit. Andy Roberts is playing the guitar, dressed as Robin. Now, the name of the show was "Rutland Weekend Television" & was written by Eric Idle. I know everybody would recognize him as one of the main actors in the Monty Python & The Flying Circus TV comedy team ...just do a quick search on the Internet & you'll know who he is! In the mean time, enjoy this super-wacky crazy song called "Boring". WARNING: You will not be able to get this song out of your head for the rest of the day, ha ha!
