Well, the title says it all. Hot Toys just released these promo shots of the forthcoming Batman & Robin figures.
Got to say these look pretty perfect. Love that we're getting so many gadgets and interchangeable jaws for Batman.
Robin feels a microscopic step down from the Forever version. The face just doesn't quite feel right.
Will definitely be getting both of these regardless.
Once again Drew Griffin has provided us with another audiobook. This it's time it's Tomasz Zaglewski's Neon Knight Forever book that charts the evolution of how Joel Schumacher's Batman duology has been perceived by fans and critics over the last 30 years.
Check out my review here.
Also if you enjoy this recording, I'm excited to say Tomasz's book is coming out in paperback in June 2025 - just in time for the 30th anniversary of Batman Forever.
Pre-order your copy here for UK or here for US.
While the Batman's Bathammer and Batgirl's Ice Cycle were more or less faithfully translated to toy form by Kenner, Robin's Batskiff (as it's sometimes dubbed) was translated twice and neither are particularly close to the size or shape of the vehicle.
It's a much longer shape than it appeared on screen and the fan is much smaller but it's still a nice design. I wish they had picked a slightly shinier grey than the matt colour they went for.
Sadly, there are no light up features like it had on screen. Clearly all the money was put into making the Bathammer toy light up. It's not a complete loss though, the vehicle has a fun pull-out wings feature and best of all the missile is NOT another push button affair. We have a novel spinning blade wheel that fires out.
I think this feature was taken from an existing projectile feature that had been used a couple of years earlier in a Batman Forever role play toy called the AeroDisc Shooter.
Anyway, if you have the other vehicles, this one is a must. Otherwise what is Robin going to drive.
The 85th anniversary of Batman has been great for fans like me. Lots of companies have taken the opportunity to make figures of characters from the previous movies.
I'm very surprised that Funko have made another figure from the Batman & Robin movie. Sadly it's not a Bane or Batgirl or Robin but instead a cloaked version of Poison Ivy.
Of course Uma Thurman's version had lots of alternate outfits and hairstyles used throughout the film so it makes sense to go back and do another one.
This is the most seen version - with the ivy clad bodice. I like that it includes the Little Shop of Horrors-esque mutant plant but the plastic isn't quite clear enough to see the monster clearly.
If you like Funkos, I recommend it.
Back to the Kenner reviews with Attack Wing Robin. There some heavy Marvel influences on this one.
His helmet looks like Ant-Man. His wings looks like Archangel. And his suit looks like Spider-man. Who knows if that's intentional or not?
I actually really like the sculpt on this. I vener really noticed until now that although the paint work on the B&R figures is a bit lacklustre, the actually sculpts are really intricately detailed.
This is definitely a fun one if you can find it.
Joel Schumacher's two Batman films are incredibly special to me but... there's only so many times I can watch them. I try to leave it to just once a year so that it always feels like special event.
I love find other ways to experience them - looking at toys and other merchandise. One of my favourite things for Batman Forever is the audiobook read by Rene Auberjonois, based on the novelisation by Peter David.
It's a three hour abridged version of the novelisation but it has lots of extra details as well as Auberjonois' great reading style.
Back in 1997, for Batman & Robin, they only did a short 30 minute radio play adaptation of the film that was really cheesy and over the top (which is saying something given the film it's based on). Jan Michael Friedman's slightly more mature novelisation - which has lot of fun extra details and scenes - was never recorded...
...until now.
Recently, fan of this website Drew Griffin has dedicated a ton of time and effort recording a 6+ hour reading of the book with music. It's a great book and Drew does a fantastic job reading it. I can't thank him enough for doing this and giving us all a new way to experience the film.
What are you waiting for? Start listening now.
To celebrate this year being the 85th anniversary of Batman, Cineworld and Vue cinemas are showing 7 Batman movies.
Most important to readers of this blog, Batman & Robin will be back on the big screen for one night only.
Details for Cineworld (Wednesday 11th September) here
Details for Vue cinemas (Friday 13th September) here
