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.

Batman Forever Merchandise Review - The Riddler figure by Kenner

Back to the action figure reviews. Here's a look The Riddler figure by Kenner. One of four figures that they released for the line - there was also a black suited figure, a deluxe talking figure, and one as part of a Two-Face double package that had slightly different paint work. I'll hopefully be covering those in the near future.

News: Funko POP are releasing a figure of George Clooney's Batman!

No this is not an April Fool's Joke. Funko really are going to be releasing a George Clooney Batman figure from the much maligned Batman Forever follow-up Batman & Robin.

I've got to say it actually looks pretty great in toy form. I imagine a Batman Forever Sonar Suit can't be far behind because it's a pretty similar design/mould.

I've sorted of avoided talking about the infamous 1997 movie for a long time. And... well... there's a reason that this website is called 1995Batman.com.

I don't really have a great hatred of Batman & Robin (like so much of the internet does) but I don't really have a great love for it either. I'm sure at some point I'll put down my complicated feelings about the movie. The short version is I think it's a rushed, lazy movie that tries and fails to copy all the beats of Batman Forever without getting the recipe right.

Anyway, I'll probably be picking this up and will do a review regardless.

Batman Forever Merchandise Review - Plastic Mugs by Applause

This time we're looking at the four plastic mugs that were released by Applause.

Miscellaneous content: Amitron Batman Forever Watch

I won't be doing a video review but here's a few photos of the Amitron watch that I picked up on eBay. There were a couple of these released with various designs - along with several plastic ones. I figured an adult can just about get away with wearing this one - it looks grown up enough from a distance.

And while we're on the topic of watches here's a a random article from The Quarterly Watches looking at the prop watch that was used in the film - a Jaeger-LeCoultre - apparently. I've zoomed in but the text is still very small and hard to read.

I'm not sure what they are on about with the flipping mechanism. I guess that wasn't featured in the film and is only part of the promotional ones they made for the film release. I've got to say it's really great that they went to the extra effort of illustrating the scene from the film for this spread.

Magazine article: Comics Scene Presents Batman and Other Dark Heroes Part 2

Part 2 of this magazine has brief interviews with Val Kilmer, Chris O'Donnell, Jim Carrey but NOT Tommy Lee Jones (who probably wasn't interested in puff piece editorials like this).

Magazine article: Comics Scene Presents Batman and Other Dark Heroes Part 1

This particular magazine seems to be another off- shoot of Starlog. First up there's a very long interview with Bob Kane who has alot to say about the new movie including wanting to see Tom Cruise play the lead role (!) and being glad that Robin didn't end up being played by Marlon Wayans (!).

Cards: Metal Fleer Batman Forever cards 71-75

We're nearly there. 3/4 of the way through.

What the heck us going on with Robin's thighs in "Up in smoke"?!?!