New ALL-STAR BATMAN and ROBIN MINI STATUE

DC Direct just announced a brand-new Batman Statue that will be released early next year. It's the ALL-STAR BATMAN & ROBIN Mini Statue! It was designed by Jim lee & sculpted by Jack Mathews. This full color, hand-painted cold cast porcelain mini statue measures approximately 4.5" high x 5.73" wide x 4.5" deep, is packaged in a 4-color box. What I really love about it is that it's a total homage to the classic 1960's comic book artwork of Carmine Infantino, very cool! Look for it to hit retail around February 16th, 2011. Oh yeah, one last thing, it's gonna cost around 80 bucks.

NEW BATMAN BACKGROUNDS Wacky Wallpaper Wednesday!

Hey Kids, it's Wacky Wallpaper Wednesday! We got some really great Batman Backgrounds this week so get ready! The 1st one uses some promo art from the new DC Universe Online game. It's a beautiful pin-up of the super villain Poison Ivy, hubba hubba! The next one is a close-up shot of a Custom Batman Munny Figure that was customized by a friend of the Bat-Blog ( He did a really great job on it ). I thought that both of these images would make fun wallpapers. What do you think? Listen, you guys need to let me know which wallpapers you like the best or maybe which characters you would like to see. Ya know, I'm always trying to make the Bat-Blog the best fan site ever & I do need feedback every now & then, ha! Please remember, if you dig through the BAT-BLOG ARCHIVES, located on the left side of this page ( near the middle ), you can find hundreds of other Batman Wallpapers we have done over the years.

VIDEO - BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM With NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround Technology

OK, This is a very short video clip but it does show, extremely well, how the "Batman: Arkham Asylum" PC video game looks utilizing NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology.

Warning:
It's so awesome you better be prepared to cry.

MORE New Photos BATMAN - UNDER THE RED HOOD Movie

Yes, the release date for BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD movie just keeps getting closer & closer ( July 27th, I'm really excited! ) so I thought I would post a few new pictures from the film. The 1st pic with Batman & The Joker is my favorite but the one with Robin, The Boy Wonder, is pretty cool too. OK, the one with batman in the Batmobile is pretty awesome. Wait, ALL these pictures are wonderful...there you go! Now remember, after everybody sees this new animated movie I want to hear from you & know what you think about it.

BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD Batmobile - Hot Wheels Basic 1/64 Scale

YES! Awhile back, here at the Bat-Blog, we got the scoop on the latest Batman Hot Wheels Car but never had a decent picture of it. Until now! Ladies & Gentlemen, I present...the BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD Batmobile by Mattel! It's going to be "regular Basic Hot Wheel size", which is 1:64 scale. It's rumored to hit retail stores around late July 2010 so be sure to keep an eye out for it around then. I totally love this new Batmobile from the animated TV Cartoon series so you know I'm really excited! OK, enough talk, it's time to drool all over the pictures, enjoy!

SUPERMAN / BATMAN : APOCALYPSE New DC Universe Animated Movie

OK, Warner Bros has not even released BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD yet & they're already announcing another Batman-related animated film...AWESOME! Warner Premiere's next DC Universe animated movie will be titled SUPERMAN / BATMAN : APOCALYPSE ( Yes, I think Batman's name should have been listed first, ha ) will hit Blu-ray and DVD on September 28th. The movie is based on the second story arc, "The Supergirl from Krypton," from Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner's the "Superman/Batman." Plus, the exclusive animated short will feature Green Arrow, that sounds cool! This, and the cover art ( pictured below ), is about all we know about it so far. But, stay tuned to the Bat-Blog because you know we'll be telling you all about it!

Vintage Foreign BATMAN Movie Poster & Books

As a totally obsessed ( yes, crazy ) Batman Toy Collector one of my favorite areas in the genre are "foreign items". They're pretty hard to find here in the US & they're always interesting. Here's a few examples: This 1st item is a Vintage Movie Poster for the 1960's BATMAN film. But what make it unique is that it's from Italy & the language is completely Italian...awesome! I love the graphics on this thing. Now, the next 2 pictures show some cool Batman books from around the globe. The 1st book was published in France ( Yes, it's all in French, ha ha ) & it reprinted some Golden Age stories from 1943-44. It was released as a hardback around 1989, during the Tim Burton movie craze. The next book is a paperback & one of the things that make it extremely interesting is the size of the book is very very weird. It has a standard width, but it was made to be extremely tall ( or very long ). The next great thing about it is that it's from Uruguay! It was published around 1968 & is extremely RARE! So, I guess I'm gonna ask all Bat-Blog Fans who live outside the USA if they have any "foreign bat-books or toys" in their collections to please send us some photos. Thanks!

Vintage BATMAN Coloring Book From Argentina

OK, I'm wondering if anyone knows if this BATMAN Coloring book is an actual licensed product or just bootleg? ( Either way it's pretty cool ). It was made in Argentina around 1989 & the shape of the book is die-cut, which is interesting. The artwork is kind of cheesy but that's normal for a coloring book. It looks like it was made by a company called "Sylvapen". Does anybody have any information on this?

Indian Printed Designer Saree

Photoshop art of Indian Model posing in Printed Designer Saree

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
~ Victor Hugo

Listen carefully to first criticisms made of your work. Note just what it is about your work that critics don't like - then cultivate it. That's the only part of your work that's individual and worth keeping.
~ Jean Cocteau

...where music dwells
Lingering - and wandering on as loth to die...
~ William Wordsworth, "Within King's College Chapel, Cambridge

Any great work of art... revives and readapts time and space, and the measure of its success is the extent to which it makes you an inhabitant of that world - the extent to which it invites you in and lets you breathe its strange, special air.
~ Leonard Bernstein, What Makes Opera Grand?

Game Wallpaper - Soulcalibur 3

Game Wallpaper - Soulcalibur 3

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

All photos are accurate. None of them is the truth.
~ Richard Avedon

The camera cannot lie, but it can be an accessory to untruth.
~ Harold Evans, "Pictures on a Page"

You don't take a photograph, you make it.
~ Ansel Adams

Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul - and you answer.
~ Star Rich?s

Art - Chris Mason's ADAM WEST TRIBUTE Painting

Our good buddy Chris Mason recently did an amazing painting of Adam West as Batman, sort of like a "tribute". I mean, Adam West is a total ICON! Don't believe me? Well, Check out the 2nd photo showing Adam West's STAR at the "Walk of Stars" in Palm Springs...that's proof right there! If you read it, it says, ICON, ha! ( Thanks to Chris for allowing me to post this wonderful artwork ).

Eben's Special BATMAN BIRTHDAY CAKE - Party On!

I just got an email from a Bat-Blog reader named Eben. He has sent some stuff in the past, but this picture is extra special. I guess I will sort of let his letter explain it. This is what he wrote:

"I wanted to send a picture of the cake my wonderful girlfriend Ashley made for me this weekend. It's really special to me because she has never been very sure of her cooking skills and this was her first try at something like this. She's very proud of it and I love her for the effort."

Thanks for sharing this pic Eben. Yes, this cake is awesome!! Not only because it looks really cool but because the main ingredient is "love", aaahhhhh :) Please tell Ashley that she DID do a great job on it!

Patiyala Style Churidar Dress

Indian Model posing in Patiyala Style Churidar Dress.

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

The question of common sense is always what is it good for? - a question which would abolish the rose and be answered triumphantly by the cabbage.
~ James Russell Lowell

The Irish gave the bagpipes to the Scots as a joke, but the Scots haven't got the joke yet.
~ Oliver Herford

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.
~ Aristotle

What we provide is an atmosphere... of orchestrated pulse which works on people in a subliminal way. Under its influence I've seen shy debs and severe dowagers kick off their shoes and raise some wholesome hell.
~ Meyer Davis, about his orchestra

Soulcalibur 3 - Game Wallpaper

Soulcalibur 3 - Game Wallpaper

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop.
~ Usman B. Asif

He who hears music, feels his solitude peopled at once.
~ Robert Browning

While I recognize the necessity for a basis of observed reality... true art lies in a reality that is felt.
~ Odilon Redon

You can't possibly hear the last movement of Beethoven's Seventh and go slow.
~ Oscar Levant, explaining his way out of a speeding ticket

VIDEO - Batman UNDER THE RED HOOD Film Clip

Here's a brand-new sneak peek at some of the animation in the soon to be released DC Universe animated movie, BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD. Now remember, this film comes out next month...Awesome!

Original 1966 TOPPS BATMAN TRADING CARD ART by Norman Saunders

Here's an extremely cool photo I found awhile back while researching some major "Pop Culture Collectibles" auction. In one of their lots they had some original comic art done by Norman Saunders ( Click on it for a larger, sharper, version ). Of course he's the ultra-famous illustrator for many of the vintage trading cards made by TOPPS back in the 1960's & 70's. This photo shows the original art (custom framed) with 2 actual 1966 Batman Trading Cards. This is card #1B & features "The Joker's Icy Jest". The weird thing is that you can see that the artwork is only a little bigger than the actual card, very cool! But regardless of size, it's an incredible piece of art....a total masterpiece! I never checked back on this thing to see what it went for. I mean, what's the use? I knew it would be totally out of my price range, ha ha! Whoever owns it now is an extremely lucky person.

BATMAN GOLF CART Inspired by "The Dark Knight" Tumbler Batmobile

OK, There's a few people who hated the new Tumbler Batmobile from the recent Batman movies & there's a ton of people who totally loved it ( I loved it ). But regardless of your opinion, you just gotta admit that this is an extremely clever Custom Golf Cart! Yes, this thing was totally inspired by "The Dark Knight" films. It's crazy! Unfortunately it's not an official product. It was customized by a Warner Bros employee & is currently used to get around the lot. Now, my question is, how many of you would totally buy one of these?

David's BATMAN and SUPERMAN MEGO BENDY Adventure!

Here's a wonderful vintage 70's family photo sent in by our good friend David. It shows him & his friend John Paul playing in the swimming pool with some of those Mego Bend & Flex Figures. Basically they were "bendy toys" of popular DC Comics superheroes ( they made MARVEL ones too ). I have a few of these in my collection. They're really hard to find in MINT shape. Mostly because, back in the 1970's, little kids played with them in the water ( Hey David, ha ha! ). If you would like more information about these toys, plus see some great pics, be sure to check out this article at the YESTERVILLE TOY ROOM website, just click HERE!

New "Passing on the Smile" Fan-Film Teaser Trailer - Harley Quinn's Origin

I received an email this morning from a guy who is working on a new fan-made film called "Passing on the Smile". Basically, the movie is all about the creation of Harley Quinn. She is an employee of Arkham Asylum in Gotham City & we all know that she turns into a villain ( and Joker's girlfriend ) ...but, how does it happen? I think this film is going to try & explain that. This is the teaser trailer & you also get a small glimpse of the Joker.

ADAM WEST BATMAN BACKGROUNDS - Wacky Wallpaper Wednesday!

When I woke-up this morning I was sort of in an "Adam West" mood so that's the theme I thought I would go with when posting a few Batman Backgrounds for Wacky Wallpaper Wednesday....please enjoy!

Humor - BATMAN AND ROBIN Funny Pictures!

Oh yeah, we all need a good laugh every now & then ( I know I do ). So, here's a few funny Batman-related photos, comic strips, & mock-ups that are all totally hilarious! ( Thanks to everybody who sent them in. You know who you are and YOU GUYS ROCK! ).

IT'S FUN TO BE A BATMAN!

Here's a really great vintage 60's Batman item that I know a lot of people may have never seen before. In my collection I have almost every single Batman paperback from this era, except this one, it's very hard to find! In fact, I've always been familiar with what the cover looks like but I didn't know what the content was. So, here we go! This is a vintage paperback book titled IT'S FUN TO BE A BATMAN! ( Written by Leonard Goldstein ). It was made around the time of the 1966 TV Show & it featured a lot of altered B&W photos where they took some person in the picture & made them into Batman or Robin. Plus, they gave them funny captions. It's a really weird book. I wanna thank our buddy Chris who shared these pics. I told him I never knew about the strange photos inside. I hope to find myself a copy of this book someday...it will be MINE, ha ha!

Lord Shiva Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

Hindu God Lord Shiva - Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

Shiva is one of the Hindu trinity that comprises the creator Brahma, the protector Mahavishnu, and the godhead Shiva whose primary responsibility is maintaining the life cycle. Shiva is the only godhead who is forever in deep meditation, totally absorbed in contemplation in His abode, Kailaasa mountain in the great Himaalaya.

Shiva is an ascetic and several religious stories and dramas portray that all attempts to distract Him from that principal pursuit through temptations always ended up with disaster for those initiating such an effort. Thus Kaama, the Lord of Desires, who tried such a distraction was burned alive through the fire when Shiva opened His third eye.

On the other hand Shiva is all compassion when it came to saving the world from the serpent Vaasuki’s poison during the amritamanthana. Vaasuki, used as a churning rope, was so tired and sick from the repeated action of churning that he vomited the most potent poison into the ocean of milk.

Fearing the destruction of the world through this poisoning, Shiva immediately drank the poison. He Himself would have succumbed to the poison were it not for the timely intervention by Paarvati, His consort. Paarvati held Shiva’s throat tightly preventing entry of the poison into His body.

Shiva Mantra

II Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra II
Om Tryambakam yajamahe
Sugandhim pushti-vardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhanan
Mrityor mukshiya mamritat

This is a very powerful chant dedicated to Lord Shiva. This mantra is believed to be the death conquering mantra and is found in the Rig Veda. The mantra is sometimes also referred to as the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra as it has the power to restore life in a dying person. In this potent mantra the lord is referred to as the three eyed god. It is a plea to him to restore life in the dying body. Worshipping the lord will liberate one from death just like the ripe cucumber is separated from the binding stalk.

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Goddess Durga Mantras
Lord Brahma Mantras
Mantra of Goddess Sarasvati, Maa Saraswati Mantras, Goddess Saraswathi Mantras
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Indian Model in Designer Saree Digital Sketch

Indian Model in Designer Saree Digital Sketch

FAMOUS ART QUOTES, MUSIC QUOTES, PAINTING QUOTES, FILM MAKING QUOTES, PHOTOGRAPHY QUOTES:

I am for an art that is political-erotical-mystical, that does something other than sit on its ass in a museum.
~ Claes Oldenburg

Music rots when it gets too far from the dance. Poetry atrophies when it gets too far from music.
~ Ezra Pound

Science is out of the reach of morals, for her eyes are fixed upon eternal truths. Art is out of the reach of morals, for her eyes are fixed upon things beautiful and immortal and ever-changing. To morals belong the lower and less intellectual spheres.
~ Oscar Wilde, The Critic as Artist, 1891

There will be times when you will be in the field without a camera. And, you will see the most glorious sunset or the most beautiful scene that you have ever witnessed. Don't be bitter because you can't record it. Sit down, drink it in, and enjoy it for what it is!
~ DeGriff

New BATMAN - UNDER THE RED HOOD Desktop Wallpaper Background

There has not been much brand-new news lately to report about the DC Universe animated film BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD lately so I thought I would post a cool RED HOOD Desktop Wallpaper ( 768 X 1024 ) for people to enjoy. Believe me, Warner Bros will be hyping this again pretty soon so keep an eye out at the Bat-Blog for more info. As each day passes, I get more excited about this movie! I mean, it's coming out next month on July 27th!!