Book Review - HOLY FRANCHISE, BATMAN! by Gary Collinson

OK, This Brand-New Book Review took me awhile to get out for two reasons. One, I have had to read like 3 or 4 new Batman Book recently for reviews. Plus, this new book, "Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen" by Gary Collinson, is extremely detailed and it took me awhile to read. Now I don't mean for that to sound bad. In fact, I think it's the best thing about this book. Yes, the Author researched the material for this book in very fine detail & it's a great read! 

Now most people who know me say that I'm a complete fanatic when it comes to our favorite Caped Crusader ( ha ha ).  And I'm not trying to say that I'm an Expert or anything but I know some things about the Batman and this book has tons of information and "behind the scenes" stories that I have never heard before. It's a fun read.

Basically, this book covers the entire  "Franchise History" of the Batman character from the early Movie Serials of the 1940's all the way up to the very recent DARK KNIGHT RISES movie that just came out. It also covers the 1966 Batman TV Show ( Episode Guide Included ) and even has all the animated TV cartoons that the characters have appeared in. I mean, it's extremely in-depth!

So as a last word on this book, I highly recommend it. Now, one thing to keep in mind is that this book was published in the UK and might be kinda hard for some readers to find. So, we have included this LINK right here as a great source to buy it. Thanks.

1966 BATMAN TV Batmobile Car and Pretty Pin-Up Girl

This Lovely Woman could easily qualify as "Batbabe of The Year"! Check out this photo of a 1966 Batmobile Car a friend of ours shared on Facebook yesterday. His name is Richard and I have no idea what the Girl's name is but, OMG, she's HOT!! Speaking of Facebook, if you're a member there then you please need to either JOIN OUR BAT-BLOG FAN Facebook Page or SHARE IT, or both! Thanks.

Pauly & Seth's BATMAN JOKER'S FUN HOUSE Lego-Style!

Here's a wonderful story & a nice set of photos too. This is a JOKER FUN HOUSE made entirely of Lego bricks. These photos were sent to us by our friend, Pauly, who lives in the UK. He has been trying to get a Fisher-Price Imaginext "Joker's Fun House" for his 5 year old son, Seth, forever and in the UK it's really hard to find. Plus, if you look on eBay all the idiot Scalpers want an arm and a leg. So, they got together and made one!

Wow! Great job guys, looks awesome! In fact, I think it's better than the real toy. Readers, if you would like to read more about this creation then just CLICK HERE!

New 2012 Hot Wheels Halloween Holiday 1966 Batmobile Car!

OK, I do not know the full complete story yet on this brand-new Hot Wheels Batman Car yet but it is kinda fun so I guess, for now, consider this a teaser. Anyways, it looks like Mattel is going to release a Special Edition 1966 TV Series Batmobile Car ( George Barris version ) that has a Halloween Holiday Theme! Stay tuned to the BAT-BLOG.COM and once we get more info we'll share that. 

Also, be sure to click on the photo up above for a larger, more detailed, version.

BATMAN FAN? Check Out These Very Cool Batmobile Photos

By some freak accident I started to notice that some of the photos that BAT-BLOG Fans have submitted recently were all sort of "Batmobile" related. So, that's the theme of this post. Relax, these pics are fun!

The 1st one is a "Batmobile Sighting" that must have been a very exciting & unexpected experience! One Friend of ours, while driving down the highway, all of a sudden saw this Batman-themed Limousine!! Yes! It looks kind of like the car in the 1989 BATMAN Movie, very cool!

Next up is a picture that is not really a Batmobile, but sort of. This photo was taken by our Friend Kay. She said something to the effect of, "I was surprised to see this super exotic expensive car going down the street but once I pulled-up behind it I saw the Bat-Logo, ha!".

Last, but NOT least, are two pics sent in by our good buddy BatDave from New Jersey. He has a friend named John who is currently building a 1966 Batmobile Replica Car and he does incredible work. Seriously, his Bat-Cars are sweeeeet! Anyways, here are a few pics BatDave took during his visit. Wow! Looks like this car is coming along quite nicely.

Thanks to everybody who sent in photos. These were really fun! If the Bat-Blog is any good at all then it's because of the awesome contributions from Bat-Fans all over the world.

Wacky BATMAN Themed Bowling Balls and Pins

Here is a very strange discovery that some Batman Collectors might find interesting. Right now there is a Bowling Supply Company out there marketing Bowling Balls and Bowling Pins with Batman-themed graphics ( comic book version ). 

They make 9 different Bowling Balls that not only feature"Batman" but some are geared towards Robin, Batgirl, Joker, Penguin, & Bane. The same format goes for the Bowling Pins as well. The Balls go for around $120 each and the Pins are $70 each. They even sell a "Batman Bat-Symbol Logo Bowling Bag" as well ( $70 ). I have only shown a few examples here to give you an idea but to view the entire series please CLICK HERE!

Vintage Batman Toys - William Visits the Mint Museum in Singapore

This photo is going to completely torture all of the Vintage Batman Toy Collectors out there, ha ha! This is our Good Friend William. Recently he was lucky enough to visit the Mint Museum in Singapore ( Please click on the photo for a larger version ). There, they had this special Display Case showcasing some amazing Vintage Batman Toys. Most of this stuff is from the 1960's and 70's. My personal favorites are the BATMAN Japanese Tin Toy Robots and Battery-Operated Batmobile Cars, OH YES!! ( Thank you William for sharing your wonderful photo )

New Hot Wheels DC UNIVERSE Batman Cars in Stores Now

OK, We reported on these new 2012 Hot Wheels awhile back here at the BAT-BLOG.COM but I just spotted these the other night at the evil Walmart & thought I'd grab some pics. These are the new "DC Universe" Diecast Cars from Mattel. I love the graphics on these and it's pretty cool that they're showcasing "Batman Villains"! Here are Bane, Catwoman, and Two-Face... AWESOME!

New BATMAN Products and Merchandise Spotted Everywhere!!

Because Bat-Blog Readers are the coolest people in the world; here are some recent photo submissions where they're sharing brand-new BATMAN Merchandise they have spotted. This is always fun because it keeps us up to date about what new bat-products are out there!

The first two pics are from our Buddy Frank who, I guess, went on a clothes shopping spree lately ( Side Note: He didn't buy me anything, ha ha ) and came across these 2 very cool Batman T-Shirts. The 1st one is from Nordstroms and he found the 2nd one at a Kohl's Store.

Then, here's a cool pic from out friend Christopher who bought some BATMAN Popping Candy at the Dollar Tree Store. I totally love the comic book graphics on this packaging, very cool! ( Thanks Guys, Y'all ROCK! )

BATMAN AND ROBIN - Parody Humor Comic Strips

Presented here, for your viewing pleasure, are some totally hilarious graphics and comic strips that are all Batman related. They're all pretty self-explanatory so I will just shut-up so you can enjoy them. But, I gotta say that the 1st one with "Spongebob Squarepants" is totally great because it's a parody of Frank Miller's  Graphic Novel, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Classic!!

 

Tom's SPOTTING BATMAN AT WAL-MART Adventure, Sort Of

OK, You can label this post as a major FAIL, maybe. The other night I woke up at like 3:00 in the morning, I couldn't go back to sleep and was totally bored. So, I thought I'd go hit the local 24-hour Walmart and see if I could find some new Batman Merchandise to report on. Yeah, I'm being productive, right? Well, I got there and started finding stuff like crazy. Then I started to take photos and after a few pics my batteries in the Digital Camera went dead. Aaarrgghh, what a Loser!! I just didn't think about it. But I did manage to get quite a few pics anyway so I went home, ha!

The 1st photo are some cool Batman Tank Tops I found in the Little Kids area. The graphics are from THE DARK KNIGHT RISES which I thought was kinda weird.

Then, speaking of weird. While walking through the Men's area I spotted these Batman Boxers and Briefs ( Hey, just a little something something for the Ladies ). I was kind of excited about finding some new merch but I'll admit I also felt kinda freaky taking this photo. I hope some Wal-Mart Shopper or Employee didn't see me and think I was a total perv, ha ha!

Next, I hit the Toy Area. I knew I was gonna find some neat stuff there and I did. Here are those BATMAN Apptivity Figures we mentioned here at the BAT-BLOG awhile back. They're shown here in their original packaging and I gotta admit they're way more neat than I thought they would be. Basically these things go along with your Apple iPad to play games, looks fun!

OK next time I promise to take an extra set of batteries with me. In the mean time, if YOU spot any cool BRAND-NEW Batman Products then please let us know.

Batman THE JOKER Graffiti Wall Mural Art Spotted in Chile!

Check out this amazing photo taken by our good friend Ruben. He recently spotted this excellent Batman Graffiti Wall Mural Art in Santiago de Chile ( The Capital of Chile ). Actually, it's the Joker ( duh! ) and in that country they call him, "El Guason". Thank you Ruben for sharing this fun pic; that is so cool!

Oh yeah, Hey Bat-Blog Readers, if you click on this photo it's a FREE BATMAN Wallpaper Graphic you can use to brighten your PC Desktop... Just Sayin'!

The BATMAN Bat-Symbol Logo is EVERYWHERE!!

Just one of the reasons Batman is so cool is because you can see his Bat-Symbol Logo in almost every shape, size, and form. Here are some wonderful examples:

First, This is Lillian. She's an extremely Cool Kid & she is also a HUGE Batman Fan! In fact, here she is wearing her Pink Batman T-Shirt. She loves the Classic TV Show and her favorite character is Catwoman. Plus, just look at that cute smile, she's totally adorable!!

Next up is a funny picture taken by our friend Cyndi. These are her 2 small dogs who both love Batman. But, Diego must like Batman more because he insists on wearing his Batman Costume all the time, ha!!

The last 2 shots are pretty self-explanatory. They are both some recent sightings of the classic bat-symbol. 

BATMAN AURORA RISE BENEFIT Auction and Fundraiser This Weekend!

This weekend marks a very important event. There will be a special gathering of Comic Book Artists, Batman Fans, and Concerned Citizens at ALL C'S COLLECTIBLES in Aurora, Colorado on August 25th & 26th to raise funds for the families affected by the recent tragedy in that city.

So far they have received many donations of art ( and many other items as well  ) by some very talented Comic Book Artists. As a matter of fact - Mike Mignola, Matt Fraction, & Steve Niles will be present at their Store location this weekend for a special meet and greet. Plus, many other people have become involved so there's just no telling who will also be there!

So, if you live in the area please be sure to visit. Also, for the rest of us who live too far away, they will be having online auctions & other ways to donate. Please be sure to check out the links provided down below.

AURORA RISE BENEFIT - Facebook Page

ALL C'S COLLECTIBLES - Store Website

Batman Fan Tries To Steal The Tumbler Batmobile!

OK, WAIT! No, This guy DID NOT try to steal the Tumbler Batmobile, just kidding! This is a Friend of the Bat-Blog, named Jon, who was very lucky recently and got the chance to view the Original "Film Prop" Tumbler Batmobile while going to see THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Movie in Hollywood, CA. The smile on his face says it all, this car is way cool! He DID NOT try to steal it but you know he probably had to think about it for a minute or two, ha ha! Thank you Jon for sharing your fun pic. Dang, I'm actually JEALOUS!!

Real BATMAN FANS Get Bat-Symbol Logo Tattoos Done!

Here are some wonderful photos sent in by some very loyal Bat-Blog Fans who recently got some "Batman Bat-Logo" Tattoo Art! 

The 1st pic is a nice girl named Simone, who just so happens to be from Australia ( That's where I wanna live! ). She got a "Batman Dark Knight Trilogy Movie Bat-Logo" on the back of her neck, very nice, looks really good.

Next up is our facebook friend, Tyson. He has TWO Batman Bat-Symbol Tattoos on the back of his legs. They're the "Comic Book" version which is also a great choice. A special thank you goes out to these people for sharing their fun pics. Both of your Bat-Tats look great, Thanks!!

Video - Joyride and Toronto Batman Review the New Hyundai i30

The JOYRIDE Website was recently out in Central London testing the Hyundai i30 hatchback when all of a sudden Batman swooped down out of nowhere and decided he'd be running the show!

The Dark Knight in question wasn't, strictly speaking, the real deal. This Caped Crusader was in fact, Toronto Batman - the comedy vigilante famous for instilling fear and merriment in innocent passers-by in his homeland of Canada.

It's fair to say Batman didn't like it very much at first. Sure, it packs more standard equipment than its rivals, does 75mpg and drives incredibly well but it wasn't enough to pry him away from his Batmobile or Tumbler.

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Part One - New Wallpaper Backgrounds from the Movie!

We know the new DC Animated Film, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Part One, won't come out for another month but we're all so excited here we decided to post a few Free DKR Wallpapers to celebrate! Hey, it is Wednesday and that means "Wacky Wallpaper Wednesday"! These were made from fresh stills from the movie. We get to see Batman, Robin ( Carrie Kelley! ), and Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon. Enjoy. Oh yeah, just to clarify, the movie will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray & digital download on September 25th, 2012.

New BATMAN Lamp and Home Accessories Coming Soon!

Yeah, the title says "coming soon" but I guess I'm hyping it a little bit, sorry. Here are some brand-new BATMAN Home Furnishings that will be coming out in November, 2012. OK, that's about 3 months from now but it's always good to know about these things in advance so you can budget your money, ha!

A company I have never heard of, Westland Giftware, is making a ton of cool Batman-related products and this post just covers a few of them. These are the"home decor" items; but this company will also be making Cookie Jars & Snow Globes too. Please stay tuned to the BAT-BLOG.COM  for many more pics we will post in the next day or two.

Whoops, I got so excited I almost forgot to talk about these, ha ha! OK, check out the majestic beauty of this cool Batman Lamp. It's gonna have a retail price of around $55.00. Then there's a fun Night Light ( $16 ) and a Retro-Style Wall Clock ( $25 ). Like I said, November... just in time for Christmas!

BAT-HISTORY - 1989 Batman Movie Makes Appearance in Another Movie!

This is pretty cool to see and a serious Batman Fan named Frank has a good eye too! This is a scene from the opening credits of the "Friday the 13th - Jason Takes Manhattan" film. They did a cheesy montage of the city where they caught a glimpse of a huge billboard sign advertising the 1989 BATMAN Movie. How cool is that?! ( Thanks Frank! )

New BATMAN Gumball Machines & Coloring Book!!

OK, I have not been able to find these Batman Gumball Machines any where but people have been telling me about them. I went to Toys-R-Us the other night, because they usually stock stuff like this, and the girl who worked there said, " They only got one box of these and they went quick!" She also added that they should have more later. So, these fun candy items are something to keep an eye out for in the future.

But wait! Here's something you can find in stores right now. Our Ace Bat-Reporter "Batmobilly" spotted these GIANT Batman Coloring Books at Wal-Mart the other night. The cool thing is that they're only $1.00 each. Hey, Something I can afford to buy, ha!!