BATMAN EXTREME!! A New Batman Toy Collector Blog!

This post is a shout-out to a Friend of ours who has been doing an excellent job on a new Batman Toy Collector Blog called "Batman Extreme"! Now, he's a Major Batman Fan and he shares a bunch of cool stuff! At the end of this post I'll share a LINK to it but I gotta warn ya, his site is mostly done in Japanese! But wait, there is plenty of eye-candy to enjoy plus, he does some posts in English. Also, it's really not that hard to figure out how to navigate the site.

One tip, at the bottom of all his posts there is a "Pagination Area" where you click the numbers "2, 3, 4, etc..." Just click those and you can enjoy the whole site. There is some neat stuff like Tin Toys ( Robots and Batmobile cars ). Plus, a lot of new merchandise. It looks like he might focus on "THE DARK KNIGHT RISES" Movie Action Figures a little bit too. It's fun, just click HERE!

New 2012 KOTOBUKIYA BATMAN - POISON IVY Bishoujo Statue

The Japanese Toy Company, KOTOBUKIYA, just released their latest 2012 Statue of Batman's Arch-Enemy, POISON IVY! She's done in the Bishoujo (Pretty Girl) Style inspired by Japan's renowned Illustrator, Shunya Yamashita. One of the most detailed statues in the "DC Bishoujo" series to date, Pamela Isley struts her stuff in this wonderful piece of Art! Constructed of high-quality plastic, the gorgeous Green Lady stands 8 and 1/3" tall! For more details, click HERE!

New KOTOBUKIYA BATMAN STATUES For 2012 - THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and Frank Miller's THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS ( Joker )

At the recent 2012 TOY FAIR the Japanese Toy and Collectible Statue Company, KOTOBUKIYA, showed off 2 new prototypes for a few BATMAN Statues they plan on coming out with! The 1st one featured here is THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Batman Statue. It's a full-figure piece with a base that looks like "crumbled building" debris. Please keep in mind this is only the "prototype" and the actual product may vary. In fact, it will obviously be painted, ha! But these wonderful pics give you a great idea on the amazing attention to detail ( click the 2nd photo for a larger example ).


OK, the next Statue is sort of a surprise! They're making a Diorama-Style Statue of BATMAN and The JOKER in Battle. Plus, it's a scene from the classic Frank Miller Graphic Novel, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS!

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES - Japanese-Style BATMAN Wallpaper Design by Sean Hartter

Check out this awesome graphic art sent in by our buddy, Artist Sean Hartter. It's made from photos of characters from THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Batman movie and they have been photo-manipulated to look like old vintage newsprint. Then, the DKR Bat-Logo has Japanese lettering. Sean said he has a friend who speaks perfect Japanese translate the word "The Dark Knight Rises" so it's all accurate. That's cool & a very nice detail! But anyways, I took this and made it into some BAT-BLOG.COM Promo Art. Yeah, I know, as Robin the Boy Wonder would say, "Holy Shameless Self-Promotion, Batman!" But as a Blogger I have to constantly hype my site or no new people find it, ha! So, if you can, please tell a few of your friends about this website ( Like, on Twitter or Facebook or a Message Board ). Thanks. Oh yeah, also please enjoy this FREE Dark Knight Rises Wallpaper too!!



To See More Cool Graphic Art by Sean Hartter Just Click HERE!

BAT-MANGA! BATMAN IN JAPAN - Chip Kidd Lecture at MoCCA Tonight

The Author/Designer Chip Kidd will be talking about BAT-MANGA tonight (Thursday, January 12th) at New York's MoCCA, or the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. The lecture runs from 7:00pm to 9:00 but you should arrive there early because it will probably sell out! Now, for the first time ever in the US, original artwork and lavish cover art from the Batman-manga comics are on display at MoCCA, along with vintage era-specific memorabilia and toys. Admission is $7.00 (Free for Members). For more information click the link down below:



MoCCA

594 Broadway, Suite 401

(btwn. Houston and Prince)

New York, NY 10012

Phone (212) 254-3511

Vintage Japanese BATMAN Comic Book Goodness!

Just a quick post to share these beautiful photos I came across the other day of some Vintage "Foreign" BATMAN Comics from Japan. Actually I think they are SUPERMAN Comic Books because the Japanese LOGO is way different than what I have seen on the Batman ones. But either way they're extremely cool!

Video - BATMAN SHADOWS - Japanese TV Talent Show Skit

Yesterday, on our BAT-BLOG Facebook Page, a friend named Mark shared this amazing video that I just knew I had to share here! It's from a TV Talent Show in Japan and it's completely wacky-crazy cool! Yeah, the Japanese totally love Batman!! ( Thanks Mark ) Oh yeah, hey people, if you're a facebook member then please LIKE us there, we always have a link button on the right-hand side of this page, near the top... click it!

BATMAN WALLPAPERS - The HUNTRESS and Japanese ROBIN THE BOY WONDER Bat-Manga!

OK, How are these are obscure Batman characters, ha! Here are 2 Wallpaper Backgrounds I made to brighten your desktop! The 1st one is an extremely excellent graphic I found that was originally used to promote the HUNTRESS Comic Book Series. I like the simple color palette: Purple and Black with a little bit of White... WAY TOO COOL!

The next one is a scene from the BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD TV Cartoon where they did an episode that was a slight parody of Vintage Japan Bat-Manga!! It shows Robin, the Boy Wonder... with a Ray Gun! I love the Japanese Language BATMAN Logo!

OK, I hope you enjoyed at least ONE of these, ha! But if not, then click the button down below for more recent ones.

Fashion - Tokyo Girls Who Love Batman!

According to a blog named TOKYO FASHION it seems that BATMAN Themed T-Shirts are now all the rage in Japan, that's awesome! They recently did a post that features many cute Japanese Girls wearing the DARK KNIGHT Gear. Here's a link to check them out, just click HERE!

RARE VINTAGE BATMAN TOYS EXHIBIT at The MINT TOY MUSEUM in Singapore

BAM! POW!! Right now, in Singapore, The MINT Toy Museum is having a major exhibition of super-rare Vintage BATMAN Toys! We just got some photos from our friend Bat-Cat ( That's him in the 2nd photo under the "Batman Robot" Banner Sign! ) and they are going to make you cry, ha!

The MINT Toy Museum is located on Seah Street in a 5-story building & it's collection includes over 50,000 rare and vintage toys ranging from Popeye to Mickey Mouse & everything in between. Included in the Batman Collection are some rare Tin Toy Batmobiles, Japanese Robots, Dolls, Gumball Rings, Puppets, Soakys, Board Games, Model Kits, Plush Toys, etc... WOW!

Vintage Wacky 1960's Japanese BATMAN AND ROBIN Tin Toy Jeep!

You know we love us some cool Vintage 60's BATMAN Toys, especially the ones from Japan! Here's a great example of the crazy wacky kind of stuff made for the Japanese foreign market. No, it's not a Batmobile car. This is a Tin Toy JEEP with a Batman and Robin design, and it has awesome bat-graphics all over it, POW!

Baby Portfolios of Cuteness

This is the 500th post.

Which normally would be an accomplishment to be proud of,

but I'm friends with Albie Rock, kids,

and he's way ahead.

Like 800 posts ahead.

And he started after me, too,

at the less-than-gentle prodding of yours truly.

(really, i just started it for him one day)

And since there's no catching up,

500 is just a minor milestone along the way.



But anyway,

since I'm heading to Oregon to work at GogueArt for 3 months,

and having to build a mostly new clientele out there,

I decided to make up these mini portfolios sans shop info.

Just links to where I live in the online world,

my website, this blog, tumblr, etc.

That little thing on the front is a qr code for all your robotphones,

and sends you directly to shawnhebrank.com when scanned.





For some reason I didn't take a photo of the backside

(and that's always the best part, right?)

















































































The idea came from my Japan trip a year and a half ago.

There was a shop there called Cat's Claw that gave away printed portfolios,

and a restaurant that had a mini accordion style menu.

You combine those two ideas,

and ask the awesome Robyn Seguin for her graphic/layout expertise,

and this happens.

You need some printed material, too?

Email her: seguin.robyn@gmail.com

She has a lot of skills with this type of thing,

she just doesn't tell anyone.

Exclusive BATMAN STATUE For Japanese ARKHAM CITY Collector's Edition

OK, for now, this is sort of a rumor I have not been able to 100% confirm but supposedly Japan will have a completely different Batman Statue inside their Japanese retail version of the BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY Collector's Edition Video Game. We have all seen the Statue for the USA & Europe versions, it's pictured on the left. On the right side might be the one for Japan. It's basically the same thing, just more colorized. It also looks a lot more realistically detailed. But hey, please stay tuned to the Bat-Blog & if we get more information on this then we'll report it.

Video - Interview with Vintage Japanese Batman Toy Collector Yuji Ueda

Here's a very well-made video featuring our friend Yuji Ueda. He's a big Batman Toy Collector & his main focus is the Japanese items from the 1960's. In fact, the video is sort of a tour of famous Vintage Toy Shops in Japan ( Yes, that would be my dream vacation, ha! ). But, as you'll see from this interview, he also likes the modern day stuff as well. OK, get ready to drool!

Crows are big in Japan.

The crows in Japan are Jungle Crows.
They are bigger, meaner, and louder than the crows you have.
After feeding them and taking pictures for the last two weeks,
I see this story on NPR.org.
ooops.
Sorry, Tokyo.
But they are just so dope.
And they really are boss in Tokyo.
But not in Kyoto....



A kettle of hawks?
I saw a swirling bunch of birds from 2 blocks away,
and I knew something was up.
I knew they were bigger than the crows, even.
I've never seen anything like it,
there must have been 20 or so,
and there was even some dive bombing going on.
By the time we got there,
the big deal was mostly over,
and they just circled around for the next 10 minutes.
The crows, however, pretty much stayed put.
They hung out with the ducks and pigeons until the hawks left the scene.
(I don't blame them)

Parts of Kyoto were pretty sexy.
We only had two partial days in the city,
and I'm tiring of being so on the move,
but I really enjoyed that area of Japan.



The Kiyomizu Temple at night.
Click on the link to see it during the day,
built all on stilts (and without nails).



Two more nights in Japan,
and then back to Minneapolis.
I hope you missed me,
and saved me some fried potatoes.

Horiyoshi III Tattoo Museum

Meryl and I decided to leave Tokyo,
and traveled to Yokohama for the Horiyoshi III Tattoo Museum.
We expected a weird little basement filled with tattoo memorabilia,
human oddities, old photos, and stuff for sale,
and that was almost it exactly.
(there wasn't anything for sale)

I know I got some tattoo friends back home who are super jealous and thinking I am undeserving to have visited such a tattoo mecca since I have so little enthusiasm for tattoo history.
But there's a "I (heart) dead birds" sticker on the front of the museum anyway,
and Horiyoshi III's wife told me I was able to sign the tattoo artist guest book,
which happened to be a plastic skull.



I am glad I went to the museum on this trip to Japan, for sure,
because all this stuff might not be around much longer.
None of it is exactly being displayed in any kind of archival manner.



(this antler display is pretty hot)




Ok, so I'm probably an a-hole,
but I wasn't converted.

Luckily, Yokohama also boasts the tallest lighthouse in the world.