The BatBlog!: November 2013

Christmas is near so I thought I should post some awesome batman themed gifts you should get.

Rise!

Courtesy of Kotobukiya, The Dark Knight Rises ArtFX Statue showcases Batman from this summer's huge blockbuster, complete with EMP gun and light-up base. Statue craftsmanship at its finest.

Bat Hoodie

You probably don't want to go patrolling the streets in this, but you might be tempted to! The Batman Costume Hoodie is good for boys and girls, and comes with a built-in cowl hood to help you see the world through the eyes of The Bat.

Required Reading

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's excellent Batman Vol. 1: The Court of Owls hardcover (pictured below) and the Geoff Johns/Gary Frank book Batman Earth One both came out last year, but we've selected a bunch more titles worthy of every Bat-fan's bookshelf.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: The ultimate Batman story, about the Dark Knight as an ageing crime fighter.
Batman: The Long Halloween: A look at Batman's early days as a detective as he tracks a brutal killer, from Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.
Batman: Dark Victory: The awesome sequel to The Long Halloween.
Batman: The Black Mirror: Another Scott Snyder gem: Batman's detective skills are put to the test as he tries to solve a series of brutal murders.
Batman Noel: Batman, as inspired by A Christmas Carol. A must-read from Lee Bermejo.
Batman R.I.P: Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel tackle the death of the Dark Knight in stunning fashion.
Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories: Awesome tales of Batman's rogues: Harley Quinn, The Joker and Poison Ivy. From Paul Dini, Bruce Timm and others.
Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1: You can tell from the cover that this is the one where Bane breaks Batman's back. A must-own from Chuck Dixon and Doug Moensch.
Batman & Robin: Batman Reborn: Grant Morrison, Frank Quitely and Philip Tan take on Batman and Robin, pitting them against the evil Circus of Strange.

Crimefighters

Check out the real Justice League: Batman, plus the folks of Law & Order. That famous team-up is commemorated in the Crimefighters Tee. Just kidding, that team-up never happened, except in the mind of mad scientist Brandon Bird.

A Batman For All Seasons

Those who live in cold weather climes now have the perfect way to represent for Bats between the snowy drifts. Wear this Batman Peruvian Beanie to stay warm and show your allegiance to The World's Greatest Detective. Women can add some extra warmth with this Batman Pullover, also available from Hot Topic.

LEGO My Dark Knight

LEGO and DC have paired up to deliver some of the coolest superhero toys ever. Case in point: the Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase LEGO Set, which features a kick ass LEGO interpretation of Batman's famous ride.

Not to be outdone, there is the Cataclysmic Cat Cycle City Chase LEGO Set, featuring a very cool Catwoman and the classic gray-and-blue Batman.

Dayglo Knight

When you absolutely, positively have to blend into the shadows, DO NOT WEAR THE Batman Silhouette Neon Tee from Stylin' Online. Good for Batmen and Batwomen.

Cape Pajamas

This changes everything. With the Batman Dorm Shirt from We Love Fine, now ladies can fight crime in their dreams. I mean, it's got a cape…

Joker Kicks

DC recently teamed up with Converse to collaborate on a line of sneakers that includes everyone from Aquaman to Wonder Woman. Our favorite of the bunch? These certifiably awesome Joker High Tops, available at Journeys.

Batman's Femme Fatales

The Ame-Comi line of statues has yet to disappoint, and the winning streak continues with these Batman-themed offerings, the Ame-Comi Harley Quinn Statue (left, below) and the Ame-Comi Holiday Catwoman Statue (right, below). Fans of the New 52 version of Catwoman (or let's face it, Catwoman in general) will delight in the Covergirls Catwoman Statue (center below). The box says "Catwoman is ready to whip The Dark Knight into shape if he tries to stop her!" Yikes… and meow.

Robed In Darkness

After a day of hardcore crime fighting, even Batman needs down time. And when Bruce is chillaxing, you might find him in something like the Batman Hooded Robe. Or maybe it's more for people who want to feel all badass waiting for the bubble bath to fill.

Chef Bats

For men or women, there's the Batman Costume Apron from Stylin' Online. Even though we all know Bruce Wayne has never been in a kitchen in his life… right, Alfred?

Bat Games of the Year(2012)

Batman Arkham City redefined not only comic book video games, but licensed video games. Hey, people developing movie games: this is how you do it. If you know a Bat-fan who doesn't own this game, it's the biggest no-brainer on the list. Available on Xbox 360, PS3, PC and now Wii: Armored Edition.

Also excellent is LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes, which finds Batman squaring off against a bunch of bricked-out villains with a little help from his super friends (like Superman and Wonder Woman). PS: GET BATMAN ARKHAM ORIGINS

We Can Be Heroes

The New 52 breathed new life into DC comics, and also brought about a whole new slew of collectibles. One of our favorites is the We Can Be Heroes JLA 7 Pack, which features the super team in their spankin' New 52 get-ups.

Cuddly Bane

Funko Pop Heroes strikes again, this time with an adorable lil' Dark Knight Rises Bane Vinyl Figure. All this guy seems capable of is bringing about a reckoning… of cute!

The Dark Slanket Rises

There's probably some legal reason this has to be called a Batman Cozy Throw With Sleeves, but c'mon… it's a Batman Snuggie, people. And you need it.

Bat Bag

It looks like a purse, but it's called the Batman Hobo Bag. Hey, I don't name these things.

The Ultimate Showdown

The Dark Knight Rises capped off Nolan's legacy with bonecrushing force, and The Dark Knight Rises: Batman vs. Bane Statue crystallizes the action into an impressive statue that will be the envy of other Bat-fans.

I'm Batgirl

Adding a cape or a cowl to Batman (or in this case, Batgirl) apparel, makes it at least 150% more awesome. It's science; look it up. This ladies' Batgirl Baby Tee With Cape features a printed-on utility belt for even more awesomeness.

The Batman Files

Although it is somewhat hard to find (and pricey when you do), Matthew Manning's The Batman Files is the ultimate Dark Knight resource, telling the tale of The Bat in Bruce's Wayne's own words. An awesome addition to any library.

Bat Beats

Whether you're listening to "The Batusi," or jamming out to "Bat Dance," these Batman Headphones give everyone the Bat signal that you like the finest things in life. Pair them with the Batman Sketch Logo Shirt to really drive the point home.

Bat Shades

These Batman Retro Sunglasses don't work very well during the unforgiving dark of Gotham at midnight, but they are perfect for cruising around in the sun.

Bat Pack

Get it, bat pack? More useful than a utility belt, this Batman Character Backpack from Stylin' Online is as cute as you'll ever see the Dark Knight. Actually, we lied. Nothing is more useful than a utility belt. There's shark repellent in there!