1/6 Hot Toys Batman Forever Batman (sonar suit)

[Chopper Face]

Here’s a closer look at the (somewhat deteriorated) movie costume from an auction site.

Sonar Suit

The cape is described as ‘a voluminous black latex-coated fabric cape.’

HT are simply back at their standard trick of reusing old scraps- but it’s kind of close…

 

[CollectorGuy]

Well there is always the custom route. HT capes are usually meh anyways so i'm not shocked by this.

 

[Jungle_Hunter]

Has anyone gotten shipping notices from sideshow yet? Curious if they’re going to make it out quickly enough for the HK resellers to be defunct now.

Mine is set to deliver to me in Texas on Wednesday

 

[user 72759]

Here’s a closer look at the (somewhat deteriorated) movie costume from an auction site.

Sonar Suit

The cape is described as ‘a voluminous black latex-coated fabric cape.’
View attachment 612028
View attachment 612029View attachment 612030

HT are simply back at their standard trick of reusing old scraps- but it’s kind of close…

Is this the Forever sonar suit or the one from Looney Toons Back in Action?

 

[Aybaig]

Is this the Forever sonar suit or the one from Looney Toons Back in Action?

Those gauntlets and belt. I think it's definitely from Looney Toons Back in Action.

 

[Chopper Face]

Is this the Forever sonar suit or the one from Looney Toons Back in Action?

Those gauntlets and belt. I think it's definitely from Looney Toons Back in Action.

It’s listed as the Sonar suit worn in Forever but it includes the Panther Suit belt- likely the gauntlets too although the wording is unclear.

‘Completing the costume is a pair of gauntlets, each featuring three resin fins, and a black polyurethane utility belt, which was worn as part of the "Panther suit", the movie's main Batsuit.’

 

[lordnastrond]

Gotta say these figures look great - far more tempting than I was expecting....

These movies were a large part of my childhood and to be honest, odd as a reason for potentially picking up figures as this may be, but Val Kilmer and Chris O'Donnell in these... revealing... suits were a large part of what made me realize I was gay - so fairly tied to a big life milestone for me and hit me in that nostalgia button - despite coming from a movie I know to be objectively bad.

With all that aside, if I had more money and not so many things on pre-order I would pick these up - hopefully they will remain in stock for a long while so i can pick them up down the line.

Can't believe HT didn't give him the proper " BAT ASS " that the sonar suit displays in the film. It's super flat back there lol. Shame on you HT.

What no Bat ass? Well consider me out - did they even give Robin that thicc booty? Its an essential part of Dick Grayson's character.

 

[user 72759]

Gotta say these figures look great - far more tempting than I was expecting....

These movies were a large part of my childhood and to be honest, odd as a reason for potentially picking up figures as this may be, but Val Kilmer and Chris O'Donnell in these... revealing... suits were a large part of what made me realize I was gay - so fairly tied to a big life milestone for me and hit me in that nostalgia button - despite coming from a movie I know to be objectively bad.

In retrospect, I can’t believe WB were able to hire an eminently gay director to make Batman movies in the 90’s. I can’t believe some conservative group didn’t rally against WB for trying to “corrupt the youth” or something.

I don’t think it’s weird to get a figure just for nostalgia purposes and that’s pretty much why I got this one. The sonar suit was my favorite batsuit as a kid because I never really liked the yellow and black logo or suits that were very anatomical looking with fake muscles. Until Begins came out I considered it the best batsuit. I don’t really like it that much now but my memory of wanting a better figure of it as a kid remains and this one seems like a solid release so I say why not?

I’ve never really thought about when I realized what my sexuality was but for me it was probably Victoria’s Secret or sleazy beer commercials in the early 2000s. If it’s “normative” corruption of the youth no one bats an eye. I don’t think a figure from those would fit with the rest of my collection

 

[lordnastrond]

In retrospect, I can’t believe WB were able to hire an eminently gay director to make Batman movies in the 90’s. I can’t believe some conservative group didn’t rally against WB for trying to “corrupt the youth” or something.

I don’t think it’s weird to get a figure just for nostalgia purposes and that’s pretty much why I got this one. The sonar suit was my favorite batsuit as a kid because I never really liked the yellow and black logo or suits that were very anatomical looking with fake muscles. Until Begins came out I considered it the best batsuit. I don’t really like it that much now but my memory of wanting a better figure of it as a kid remains and this one seems like a solid release so I say why not?

I’ve never really thought about when I realized what my sexuality was but for me it was probably Victoria’s Secret or sleazy beer commercials in the early 2000s. If it’s “normative” corruption of the youth no one bats an eye. I don’t think a figure from those would fit with the rest of my collection

Thanks for sharing mate - I appreciate it!

I am glad Joel got work despite being open about his sexuality in a, lets be honest, not entirely forgiving time. He was a kind and lovely human being and was a genuinely talented filmaker - The Lost Boys (another stepping stone on my gay self-discovery) in particular is an incredible movie.

Nostalgia is indeed a powerful force... I may well cave in and get both of these down the line!
There are things about this design I really like and the bat symbol crossing the whole chest with no yellow behind it always struck me as a nice touch.
For aforementioned reasons I was always more... drawn to the anatomical designs/panther suit.
But I do think this is a good look, glad you are excited for it!

Indeed, its only "corruption" if its something seen as being against (what those people consider to be) the "norm".... its like when they show so much as a relatively chaste gay kiss in a movie and these people go on like its R-Rated stuff and moan about it "being shoved down their throats" without a hint of irony to the fact that pretty much every single movie with a male and female lead has a hetero kiss and usually implies they have sex and we all have to put up with that.
Can't argue with hypocrites my man - they lack a moral compass to appeal to in my experience. Some are willing to listen, but thats quite rare.
The very worst ones who pretend they are "protecting the children" or are on some moral crusade.
As for getting a 1/6 Victoria secret figure to commemorate your sexual awakening - I'm pretty sure Phicen was developed for that exact purpose! Some of the things I've seen on some Asian 1/6 forums by accident would make an adult performer blush.

 

[pug205]

Was Joel's sexuality a well known thing at the time of Batman Forever? I only learn't he was gay a few years before he died and felt it was just something not really mentioned in regards to him compared to other film makers at the time.

I think in regards to him being "allowed" to make a Batman movie, being gay and being behind the camera was much less of a thing than being a gay actor during that era.

Also the 80's and 90's had so much unintentional and unware campness happening on screen and in culture that it was easier for it to go under the radar!

 

[user 72759]

As for getting a 1/6 Victoria secret figure to commemorate your sexual awakening - I'm pretty sure Phicen was developed for that exact purpose! Some of the things I've seen on some Asian 1/6 forums by accident would make an adult performer blush.

Yeah, I've accidentally seen some Phicen stuff on eBay that, while really not surprising, shocked me.

Was Joel's sexuality a well known thing at the time of Batman Forever? I only learn't he was gay a few years before he died and felt it was just something not really mentioned in regards to him compared to other film makers at the time.

I think in regards to him being "allowed" to make a Batman movie, being gay and being behind the camera was much less of a thing than being a gay actor during that era.

Also the 80's and 90's had so much unintentional and unware campness happening on screen and in culture that it was easier for it to go under the radar!

I've been wondering this myself. I was 5 and Catholic when Forever... came out... (sorry) so I was oblivious to all of this. I asked my somewhat conservative parents about it recently and me mentioning it was the first they had heard about it. They said something that was somehow surprisingly progressive and a little regressive at the same time, "Just because someone is Gay and a director doesn't mean they're pushing some agenda". I sarcastically replied, "idk have you seen the movie?" and no I don't think Forever or B&R have an agenda but there is that inherent campiness to them.

I think its difficult to accurately assess just how much more plugged into things we are now. I think your average adult in the 90s didn't think too much about who directed movies and you had to go a little bit more out of your way to find out info about them. Unless it was on the TV news or in the paper most people wouldn't even hear about it. IDK if this is right, but it seems you could be "out" in Hollywood for a long time before middle America would find out unless you wanted them to.

I hate to say it but I feel like even now there could be backlash if a well known gay actor got cast as Batman, which is ironic since Conroy was gay and voiced the character for 3 decades. I'm really glad that that becoming more known hasn't affected his legacy amongst Batman fans for the most part. Sometimes Batman fans let me down, especially seeing the ones so excited to watch Batfleck murder people or the ones who seem to think of Batman as some sort of authoritarian power fantasy. To me Batman is a character who wants to create change and would give up his mantle as soon as it wasn't needed, not a power hungry maniac that's determined to fight crime until his death.

Edit: You know what, maybe I'm just pessimistic, Ian McKellen was prominent in two major franchises at the same time in LOTR and X-Men and it didn't seem to bother anyone.

 

[pug205]

I'm confident a gay actor playing Batman would cause little concern these days. Keep him white and male and it should be mostly ok with the usual trolls on the internet.

Good point about Conroy too. Man that loss has hurt a lot this year.

 

[shells075]

Can't believe HT didn't give him the proper " BAT ASS " that the sonar suit displays in the film. It's super flat back there lol. Shame on you HT.

True, Bats was thick

Not quite as good as the Batman & Robin suit up scene though.

 

[lordnastrond]

Yeah, I've accidentally seen some Phicen stuff on eBay that, while really not surprising, shocked me.


I've been wondering this myself. I was 5 and Catholic when Forever... came out... (sorry) so I was oblivious to all of this. I asked my somewhat conservative parents about it recently and me mentioning it was the first they had heard about it. They said something that was somehow surprisingly progressive and a little regressive at the same time, "Just because someone is Gay and a director doesn't mean they're pushing some agenda". I sarcastically replied, "idk have you seen the movie?" and no I don't think Forever or B&R have an agenda but there is that inherent campiness to them.

I think its difficult to accurately assess just how much more plugged into things we are now. I think your average adult in the 90s didn't think too much about who directed movies and you had to go a little bit more out of your way to find out info about them. Unless it was on the TV news or in the paper most people wouldn't even hear about it. IDK if this is right, but it seems you could be "out" in Hollywood for a long time before middle America would find out unless you wanted them to.

I hate to say it but I feel like even now there could be backlash if a well known gay actor got cast as Batman, which is ironic since Conroy was gay and voiced the character for 3 decades. I'm really glad that that becoming more known hasn't affected his legacy amongst Batman fans for the most part. Sometimes Batman fans let me down, especially seeing the ones so excited to watch Batfleck murder people or the ones who seem to think of Batman as some sort of authoritarian power fantasy. To me Batman is a character who wants to create change and would give up his mantle as soon as it wasn't needed, not a power hungry maniac that's determined to fight crime until his death.

Edit: You know what, maybe I'm just pessimistic, Ian McKellen was prominent in two major franchises at the same time in LOTR and X-Men and it didn't seem to bother anyone.

I'm confident a gay actor playing Batman would cause little concern these days apart from the usual trolls who hate on any and everything.

Good point about Conroy too. Man that loss has hurt a lot this year.

Hmm its one of those tricky issues to judge - as much as I would like to think it would be fine, the truth is that globally human rights are in a bit of a reverse trajectory at the moment and there is certainly more media and political power being used more openly to campaign against LGBTQ+ people.
Its like there are less homophobic people in general - but those that are still homophobic are more rabidly homophobic then ever and politicians are catering to this (Extremely loud) minority.
Plus markets like China, the Middle East etc are swinging their ***** around more to force Hollywood to cater to their edicts.

Ian Mckellen is an iconic actor well established for a long time - also the role of Gandalf isn't a "leading man" role, he isn't the type of character that people are supposed to insert themselves into as a power fantasy or is meant to have sex appeal in a "women want him and men want to be him" type of way like Batman.
An openly gay actor playing Alfred, Joker or the Riddler or something I think would get little to no attention - but Batman, Superman? I suspect that Hollywood execs and a large part of media etc would quietly campaign against it.
In fact, unless I am mistakenly remembering, this has cost actors like Matt Bomer a shot at the roles of Batman, Superman and Christian Grey in the past.
Its okay to be gay, but not if you are the leading male role intended as a hetero power fantasy.
I would love to be wrong about that though.

As for Joel's sexuality - I have known he was gay for as long as I remember and cared to know about the subject - but to be fair I would have more reason to be clued in on that sort of thing. (plus I am fairly young so it wouldn't have been back in the 90's)

 

[lordnastrond]

True, Bats was thick

Not quite as good as the Batman & Robin suit up scene though.

Truly peak cinema

 

[DiFabio]

The sonar suit was my favorite batsuit as a kid because I never really liked the yellow and black logo or suits that were very anatomical looking with fake muscles. Until Begins came out I considered it the best batsuit. I don’t really like it that much now but my memory of wanting a better figure of it as a kid remains and this one seems like a solid release so I say why not?

I remember seeing the Sonar suit in a magazine for the first time and being awestruck by it as a kid.

The armor, the lack of yellow badge, the huge black bat across the chest, the bubble sonar eyes, the fins on the gauntlets, the vents in the ears, it just all stuck out to me.

For me it always represented the initial hype I had for Batman Forever. All the illustrations that promoted the movie depicted him in that suit too.

 

[Chopper Face]

It’d be nice if the industry and public simply didn’t care to know and celebs didn’t feel the need to announce their sexuality or beliefs. In any other profession, that stuff is protected personal information. People can’t ask and you shouldn’t bring it up. Just play the part and go live a life of luxury out of sight. How simple life could be.

Just learning about Conroy now- because I don’t take any sort of interest in celebrity’s personal lives- and there’s no reason it should impact his work or legacy.
He’s the definitive voice of Batman. The best man for the job got the part and that pretty much sums up my entire philosophy on employment and enrolment in every field. Considering any aspect of a candidate’s character beyond those relevant to the position/field is discrimination plain and simple.

Speaking of all these muscular suits- I really don’t like how slim and compact the abs are on the Panther suit. I prefer wider, blocky abs from an aesthetics stance and the Panther has these tiny little pebbles... Robin’s suit anatomy is better all over.

I was always fascinated with musculature, anatomy and the skeletal structure- but mostly muscles. I’d study them, sketch them, build my own. Probably all stems from loving superheroes and wrestling and I was a gymnast/swimmer/athlete from a young age and kept it up for awhile so couldn’t avoid being shredded by default and just wanted to match out to my idols.

 

[Jay Virtual]

In case anybody isn't aware, Kevin Conroy wrote a comic not too long ago, "Finding Batman" about the struggles he faced being a gay actor and how it informed him on his portrayal of Batman. I believe DC made the book free online after his passing.

 

[lordnastrond]

It’d be nice if the industry and public simply didn’t care to know and celebs didn’t feel the need to announce their sexuality or beliefs. In any other profession, that stuff is protected personal information. People can’t ask and you shouldn’t bring it up. Just play the part and go live a life of luxury out of sight. How simple life could be.

Just learning about Conroy now- because I don’t take any sort of interest in celebrity’s personal lives- and there’s no reason it should impact his work or legacy.
He’s the definitive voice of Batman. The best man for the job got the part and that pretty much sums up my entire philosophy on employment and enrolment in every field. Considering any aspect of a candidate’s character beyond those relevant to the position/field is discrimination plain and simple.

Speaking of all these muscular suits- I really don’t like how slim and compact the abs are on the Panther suit. I prefer wider, blocky abs from an aesthetics stance and the Panther has these tiny little pebbles... Robin’s suit anatomy is better all over.

I was always fascinated with musculature, anatomy and the skeletal structure- but mostly muscles. I’d study them, sketch them, build my own. Probably all stems from loving superheroes and wrestling and I was a gymnast/swimmer/athlete from a young age and kept it up for awhile so couldn’t avoid being shredded by default and just wanted to match out to my idols.

In an ideal world mate, I agree that it really ought to be a complete non-issue.
Someone's sexuality ought to be as non-issue as their middle name or hair colour.
The problem is that a lot of people with power use this veil of silence approach to oppress people or discriminate quietly behind the scenes and in contrast when things are done openly its then used as fuel for either some insipid culture war issue or companies blanket themselves with the cleansing power of "inclusive" messaging to cover up their heinous policies in other areas - there is no single perfect solution because, to be frank, the ******** always find a way of ruining it for everyone.

In case anybody isn't aware, Kevin Conroy wrote a comic not too long ago, "Finding Batman" about the struggles he faced being a gay actor and how it informed him on his portrayal of Batman. I believe DC made the book free online after his passing.

I did know that, but somehow forget till now - thanks for the reminder I will check it out!
losing Conroy is a real kick to the teeth - what a bloody tragedy.

 

[Chopper Face]

This Conroy talk led me to watch a trailer for some new Suicide Squad game in which he is of course voicing Batman and they have a brief tribute to him at the end that got me a little teary-eyed.

It’s all giving me a huge urge to binge watch BTAS and play some Arkham games.