Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Weeks of December 23 – January 6, 2001
Volume 4, 7
Rated: PG (as with all other things Batman-related)
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!
HAPPY HANUKAH TO EVERYONE!
HAPPY ROMODAN TO EVERYONE!
AND SEASONS GREETINGS TO ANYONE WE’VE LEFT OUT!
THIS ISSUE’S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: “Putting out a fire in the warehouse district: $3,500. Rebuilding a destroyed wing of Arkham following a massive riot: $2,000,000. Scouring the city for crime on Christmas Eve but all is silent, calm, and bright: Priceless.”
BY THE WAY, this year’s fourth annual GOLDEN OVAL AWARDS ballot is at the bottom of this issue, and all following issues through November and December. Get those votes in and make your voices heard over what you think are the best and worst of Batman in 2001!
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GRINCHES OF GOTHAM
(written in the style of Geoffrey Chaucer’s GENERAL PROLOGUE OF THE CANTERBURY
TALES)
Ev’ry citizen of Gotham liked Christmas a lot,
But deep within Arkham were those who did not.
While Christmas, to most, brought holiday cheer,
Our beloved inmates only received jeer.
A break-out has happened, and promptly in time,
For each of the inmates, speaking in rhyme,
To tell their tragic tale and reason
For absolutely despising the holiday season.
Bane was the first to evade the walls
Of Arkham and enter Gotham, starting up brawls.
Ne’er was there a Christmas since his youthful age
Had he not felt an overwhelming rage.
He lost his father, and mother, and was all alone;
In this cheerful season, he felt like a drone.
A killer, too true, he still had a heart,
And wished for a family of which to be part.
Next, Firefly headed to the record store,
Where he could find music and games galore!
A new album of Cassidy had been released;
Oh, how he hated her now – her life must be ceased!
His desire’s object had hurt him and spurned;
He must retaliate for this third-degree burn!
All alone on Christmas without his dear,
He vowed to destroy this temptress’ career.
With emotions ablaze, Poison Ivy left
For the Christmas tree lot, no intent of theft,
But rather to save her enslaved race
From serving humans as decorations. What a disgrace!
For hundreds of years, plants grown just to be
Cut down and sold about now as a “Christmas Tree”.
It’s bio-ocide on the most horrific scale!
She must save her trees, and she couldn’t fail!
Then on her way, was the smallest of all,
The little brat-girl known as Baby-Doll.
Scorned by a Santa at the mall in her past;
He didn’t fulfill his promises. She was aghast!
He had to pay for the lies he had told –
Lying to a child – his soul has been sold!
What she wouldn’t give for that Barbie and Ken –
She still wants it now, just as she did then.
The Mad Hatter always had a thing to say
About this most upsetting holiday.
Once as a child, there once was a wretch
Dressed in a Santa hat that attacked Jervis Tetch.
That hat he wished he could have controlled,
But as a shy boy, he couldn’t be bold.
From that day forward, he hated this gift-giving season,
Scarring by that incident, his only reason.
“Bah Humbug” the Penguin said from within his club,
Upon doing his books for this criminal hub.
“I’m fifty grand in the hole, that’s no sense to me!
Have Jay, Lark, and Raven been giving to charity?”
They certainly had, to keep Penguin’s legit cover;
Nearly blown once before, they dared not have another!
Without his finances all set into gear,
The Penguin could not rest at this time of the year.
Victor and Nora once shared Christmas Eve
As their wedding night, when their souls did weave.
But now, gone afar, she’s out of his life.
Mr. Freeze could not accept not having his wife.
Though happily married to another man,
This cold-blooded individual had a plan.
He’d stalk his wife to her new house that night,
And with her new husband, ensure she’s all right.
Twelve O’Clock midnight; the alarm didn’t ring
Many years ago for a youthful Clock King.
He set his alarm so he’d catch a view
Of Santa Claus as he crept from the fireplace, through
Into his living room with a bag of gifts.
His clock let him down – for that, he’s quite miffed.
Perhaps if he escapes Arkham in time,
He’ll catch that glimpse finally, after the twelve chimes.
Six hundred Christmasses or more he had seen
During his life thus far. Ra’s Al Ghul wasn’t keen
On such commercially-driven holidays.
There need be some spirituality to interest Ra’s.
“Perhaps when the people lay asleep in their beds,
I’ll hatch my master plan,” said the Demon’s Head.
He’d return the earth to a natural state,
And set December 25th as the date.
“It’s A Wonderful Life” was the name of the movie
that Clayface starred in. It was hardly groovy.
Bashed by the critics and the fans alike,
Calling this remake pointless, silly, and trite.
Every Christmas since, the spurning ate away
At the disintegrating Matt Hagen. Oh, what a display!
Perhaps he could gain the respect of the public once more
With a public display of his talents. He’d have his encore!
Some get a lump of coal – but not Killer Croc.
One Christmas all he received was a rock.
He’d had quite enough as a one-gimmick type villain!
The joke was so old – so who’d he be killin’?
He had a brain too, didn’t they recognize
That you can be smart as well as have immense size?
This Alligator Bag had a bone to pick
With whomever was this prankster Saint Nick.
Why’d Maxie Zeus care, is a question we’re beggin’,
If he obviously is a fully-functional pagan?
He doesn’t celebrate Christmas, or New Year’s, even.
His outward appearance is totally deceivin’.
This is why he is rather upset with this day –
No one any more observes pagan holidays.
To Gotham he’d provide his culture’s background and news –
And they would, in return, all worship Maxie Zeus.
With no one did Catwoman have a bone to pick,
But she’d take this opportunity – and she’d do it quick –
To ransack the city of valuable goods,
Then sneak down chimneys in the slums and hoods,
Delivering wealth to the poor and the poorer.
She would be Gotham’s Christmas Eve warrior.
If she were, by chance, snared by the Batman,
She’d feel no guilt; for once, she was helping her follow man.
Puzzles and problems had always intrigued
The Riddler greatly. He was in his own league.
But the mystery of Santa, Jesus, or both the two
Perplexed him to no end. Would could he do
To prove that a fat man could fit down a chimney
Or that Jesus even existed. Oh criminey!
He’d search all through Gotham for concrete proof
That his puzzled mind had not gone aloof.
Calendar Girl felt especially dirty
For the Christmas Eve on which she turned thirty.
During that year her career downturned,
Her agents neglected her, and by critics, spurned.
Her first gift unwrapped was a magnificent sweater –
But two sizes too big – BIGGER WAS NOT BETTER!
As her body continued to sag and age,
She remembered that Christmas, mixed with sadness and rage.
The Ventriloquist remembers that Eve in hiding
Where he and Rhino were quietly biding
Their time, laying low for the holidays.
The warehouse was cold – they lacked fiery blaze.
To keep warm Rhino thought with his little mind
To burn the first thing he could possibly find.
He accidentally used the Scarface puppet, of course –
And Wesker much teach him a lesson, make him show remorse!
As Harley Quinn gleefully leapt over Arkham’s walls,
She parted from the pack, headed for Gotham’s malls,
With one thing on her mind: LAST MINUTE SHOPPING!
But she would be the last one to be dropping.
Once overcharged at a department store,
She sought her credit card’s revenge – and there was more.
To keep all the shoppers from fraud like hers in the past,
She’d gas the mall, stopping fraud at last!
Burglars and thieves scared Scarecrow as a child,
When he lay in bed, dreaming, meek and mild.
Santa was no different, for he broke in, too.
Of course, this was fake, as Scarecrow now knew.
It was now his mission to make children pause
And believe they truly feared Santa Claus.
Destroying the hope of the youths of the season,
With his sick, twisted pleasure as the only reason!
Two-Face’s Christmas feelings depends on the coin –
And this year bad heads has shown up. Oh, such joy.
One year, while on “Good Heads” he accidentally donated
His coin to the Salvation Army – they couldn’t be separated!
If it took all night, he would find it again –
And only then would his mind finally mend.
To find his original coin, evil plans he devises,
All because his new coin forced his heart to shrink two sizes.
Purposely last, and for only one reason,
The Joker, best for last escaped. He thought Christmas was treason!
The smiles on the children chilled him to the bone –
Nothing could make them smile but him alone!
A commercial holiday was standing up his act –
He’d destroy the Christmas spirit, and that was a fact!
The city would only smile when he desired,
And quickly, the Joker had a devil’s plan conspired.
And as all our friends and foes from within the jail
Escape into Gotham, without any bail,
Batman and his crew keep watch over the town.
They’d keep the city safe from anything bad going down.
The peaceful night would remain disturbed
From the downtown core to every suburb.
Nothing could keep Christmas from arriving,
No matter how hard these Arkhamites would be trying.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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EAGERLY ANTICIPATING…
New episodes are on the horizon! Here’s what we can expect in the near future…
-PARADISE LOST (2 parts)
These two episodes prominently feature Wonder Woman and her home island of Themiscrya.
Part one: Airs Jan. 21, 2002
Part two: Airs Jan. 28, 2002
-INJUSTICE FOR ALL (2 parts)
The JLA faces off against a handful of their most formidable foes, “The Injustice League”, including the Joker, Lex Luthor, Solomon Grundy, Cheetah, Sinestro, and more!
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NEWS AND RUMORS
(see back issues for older info)
ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-The following artists are selling artwork on eBay. The following are their names and Seller ID’s:
Terry Beatty: beatty@machlink.com
Craig Rousseau: cerousseau
Tim Levins: tlevins
Min S. Ku: min3000gt
ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS, STAS, BEYOND, JLA)
-SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES is moving to the CARTOON NETWORK on January 7th!
-From January 21st to the 25th, Cartoon Network will be holding a week-long event pitting the Dark Knight against the Man of Steel. Each day that week, one hour of Toonami (6:00-7:00pm) will feature episodes of Batman: The Animated Series and Superman. During this hour, viewers will be able to call or go online to vote for their favorite hero: Batman or Superman. Then, on January 26th from 1:00-7:00pm, Cartoon Network will air a six-hour marathon of Batman and Superman episodes, with the final two hours devoted to the winner of the viewer vote. -The following is an entire episode-title listing for the first season of JLA:
#1, 2, 3 Secret Orgins
#4, 5 In Blackest Night
#6, 7 Enemy Below
#8, 9 Injustice For All
#10, 11 Paradise Lost
#12, 13 War World
#14, 15 The Brave & The Bold
#16, 17 Fury
#18, 19 Legends
#20, 21 A Knight Of Shadows
#22, 23 Metamorphis
#24, 25, 26 The Savage Time
ANIMATED COMICS
-JUSTICE LEAGUE #4
In “World War of the Sexes,” the Justice League must find out why Wonder Woman’s Amazon sisters have turned against the world, starting with all the men! Can the League stop the female warriors before they conquer the planet?
Cover: http://www.cinescape.com/multimedia/Batman/Comic_Book_Covers/BatmanComic_Book_Covers277252.jpg
-JUSTICE LEAGUE #5
It’s “Starro Wars” when a giant starfish-shaped conqueror from space uses mind-control to defeat the newly formed League. The World’s Greatest Super-Heroes are left helpless and must turn to a mysterious old member of the Green Lantern Corps for help. But what help is there against a single enemy that can break off into thousands?
Cover: http://www.cinescape.com/multimedia/Batman/Comic_Book_Covers/BatmanComic_Book_Covers278599.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVNETURES #45
Arkham Asylum’s in full lockdown, and one of its doctors is missing. It’s up to Batman to find out which of the inmates is in charge, in “Running the Asylum”. Due out on December 26th.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/bga/bga45.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #46
When Scarface and Ventriloquist disagree on how to pull off a job, they become each other’s worst enemies – but they’re also twice as deadly. Batman follows the puppet-master’s trail of trouble in “Saving Face.”
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com:8080/stories/0110/23/BatGA46.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #47
When the criminal doesn’t match up with the crime, Batman makes the rounds in Gotham’s underworld and learns there may be a crook in the long arm of the law. (And is it just me, or does that look sorta like Lock-Up to you?) In stores Feb 27.
Cover: http://www.cinescape.com/multimedia/Batman/Comic_Book_Covers/BatmanComic_Book_Covers277246.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #48
As Batman runs a mysterious mission, a tale unfolds within the walls of the Batcave – a tale of a revealing moment from the year young Dick Grayson entered his life. Featuring a non-stop action sequence by guest-artist Rick Burchett.
http://www.cinescape.com/multimedia/Batman/Comic_Book_Covers/BatmanComic_Book_Covers278591.jpg
-For more animated comic updates, go here:
http://www.toonzone.net/worldsfinest/bbeyond/previews.html
OTHER COMICS
-BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #27
Superman returns for another cameo in Gotham!
http://www.cinescape.com/multimedia/Batman/Comic_Book_Covers/BatmanComic_Book_Covers278587.jpg
-Within three days of its debut on December 5, the first issue of THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN is already the best-selling comic of 2001 and for the past 5 years, for that matter! It’s already out of stock in the UK, believe it or not! Congrats to Frank Miller and Lynn Varley for achieving this feat!
-Ed Brubaker has confirmed that GOTHAM CENTRAL, a comic series focusing entirely on the GCPD and co-written by Greg Rucka, is going to be happening! Go to this link for the interview:
http://www.sequentialtart.com/brubaker3.shtml
-Robin’s moving back to Gotham City by the end of Chuck Dixon’s run on the
title. Here’s the cover of ROBIN #99: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/2002-02/batman/robin99.gif
MOVIES
-A new BATMAN movie trailer is on the net…sort of. Look under SCOOBY DOO in the trailer section of DARK HORIZONS:
-ONSTAR is holding a contest where a winner gets to have a walk-on role in whatever the next Batman movie will be.
*BATMAN: YEAR ONE (BATMAN 5) NEWS:
-Speculation has it that YEAR ONE is still underway, but may not reach screens until 2004, contrary to earlier reports of a 2003 release. The reason for another delay is that the WB is already releasing a lot of high-profile franchise movies that year, such as the two MATRIX sequels and TERMINATOR 3, (is that a WB film???) so they don’t want to add BATMAN to the mix.
-(The following scoop is a few weeks older than the previous scoop.) Work is starting immediately to get YEAR ONE ready for an early 2003 release, though Aronofsky wants the final cut done by Winter 2002. Among the new designs already said to be sketched, there are:
*A very gothic Gotham City
*Several designs for Batman
*Designs for Catwoman
*A few designs for the Joker
*New Batmobile designs
(Now, is it just me, or did the Joker not even APPEAR in YEAR ONE? He was only mentioned in text on the last page! Regardless, thanks to the WORLDS FINEST NEWSPAGE and SCREENWRITERS UTOPIA for the scoop.)
*BATMAN BEYOND: LIVE ACTION NEWS:
-No new news here.
*THE FOURTH ANIMATED BATMAN MOVIE
-No new news here
*CATWOMAN
-Don’t count on this one any time soon.
*WORLD’S FINEST
-No new news here. Don’t expect this movie to happen for quite a while. Development Hell, folks.
LIVE ACTION TELEVISION
-No new news here.
EXCLUSIVE INTERNET ENDEAVOURS:
-Alan J. Porter, editor of the GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS (another newsletter) has once again published the “entry form” for the 2001 Alfred Awards (his awards for the best of Bat-stuff over the past year). Go to this link to vote:
http://www.geocities.com/gothamajp/alfreds.htm
TOYS, BOOKS, AND OTHER MERCHANDISE
-RELEASE DATES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR ANIMATED BATMAN DVD’s! The big day is April 23, 2002. On that day, you will get:
*1 – BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER, the uncut version! No extras, but it may Be in widescreen and will feature all the original scenes that only the bootleg copies floating around the world feature.
*2 – BATMAN & MR. FREEZE: SUB-ZERO. Also no extras, but if this particular movie sells well, more direct-to-video/DVD Bat-movies can almost surely be produced.
*3 – WORLD’S FINEST (aka, “The Batman/Superman Movie”). Little to no extras, just the three episodes of the first Batman/Superman crossover in their modern animated histories.
*4 – SECRET ORIGINS (aka, “Justice League: The Movie”). Some extras are expected. If this rehash of the three-part episode is successful, expect more JLA story-arcs to jump onto DVD.
*5 – BATMAN: THE LEGEND BEGINS. This will feature the first five episodes of the series, in episode-number order: ON LEATHER WINGS, CHRISTMAS WITH THE JOKER, NOTHING TO FEAR, THE LAST LAUGH, and PRETTY POISON. Intros and featurettes will be included prior to each episode. If this one is successful, expect more DVD collections of BTAS episodes!
-Alex Ross continues his series of painted posters starring the heroes of the DC Universe. Classic DC Silver Age heroines are featured this month, beginning with this portrayal of Gotham City’s own Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl. This 22-inch by 34-inch poster is designed to be displayed on its own or be placed side-by-side with others in the set.
Picture: http://www.cinescape.com//multimedia/Batman/Batman_Collectibles/BatmanBatman_Collectibles278600.jpg
-Hasbro has not yet made any official announcements on a JLA toy line, but expect to hear something by the time Toy Fair rolls around in February.
-BATMAN: MISSION MASTERS 4!
This action figure line is on sale now! Each of the following figures have special glow-in-the-dark capabilities:
*Lunar Attack Batman
*Midnight Hunter Batman
*Night Fury Robin
*Nightshadow Batman
-A new animated statue is coming June 12! Check out this cool piece of Catwoman memorabilia:
http://www.cinescape.com/multimedia/Batman/Comic_Book_Covers/BatmanComic_Book_Covers277257.jpg
SPECIAL NOTE:
For more BATMAN, SUPERMAN, JUSTICE LEAGUE, BATMAN BEYOND, and related stories and news, check out the WORLD’S FINEST NEWSPAGE at:
http://news.toonzone.net
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CARTOON NETWORK SCHEDULE
CARTOON NETWORK has announced a schedule change for the month of January. The Friday showing has been dropped in favor of an all “Cartoon Cartoon” night line-up. JUSTICE LEAGUE will now rerun every Saturday at 12:30pm (ET). The network will be taking a different angle with the 12:30pm Saturday showing, though. The Saturday showings will restart from the beginning, with “Secret Origins” beginning January 5th. This means that a new episode, which premieres on Monday, will only repeat once in Sunday widescreen, before the next new episode airs.
BATMAN BEYOND SCHEDULE:
Tue 12-25-01 BEYOND #51 The Call (Pt. 2)
Wed 12-26-01 BEYOND #52 Countdown
Thu 12-27-01 BEYOND #01 Rebirth (Pt. 1)
Fri 12-28-01 BEYOND #02 Rebirth (Pt. 2)
* * * * * *
Mon 12-31-01 BEYOND #03 Black Out
Tue 01-01-02 BEYOND #04 Golem
Wed 01-02-02 BEYOND #05 The Winning Edge
Thu 01-03-02 BEYOND #10 Dead Man’s Hand
Fri 01-04-02 BEYOND #07 Meltdown
* * * * * *
Mon 01-07-02 BEYOND #08 Heroes
Tue 01-08-02 BEYOND #09 Spellbound
Wed 01-09-02 BEYOND #10 Shriek
Thu 01-10-02 BEYOND #11 A Touch of Curare
Fri 01-11-02 BEYOND #12 Disappearing Inque
JUSTICE LEAGUE SCHEDULE:
Dec. 7 7:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 1 (episode 6)
Dec. 9 8:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 1 (episode 6)
Dec. 10 9:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 2 (episode 7)
Dec. 14 7:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 2 (episode 7)
Dec. 16 8:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 2 (episode 7)
Dec. 17 9:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 1 (episode 1)
Dec. 21 7:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 1 (episode 1)
Dec. 23 8:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 1 (episode 1)
Dec. 30 8:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 2 (episode 2)
Dec. 31 9:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 3 (episode 3)
Jan. 4 7:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 3 (episode 3)
Jan. 5 Secret Origins (Pt. 1)
Jan. 6 Secret Origins (Pt. 3) (widescreen)
Jan. 7 In Blackest Night (Pt. 1)
Jan. 12 Secret Origins (Pt. 2)
Jan. 13 In Blackest Night (Pt. 1) (widescreen)
Jan. 14 In Blackest Night (Pt. 2)
Jan. 19 Secret Origins (Pt. 3)
Jan. 20 In Blackest Night (Pt. 2) (widescreen)
Jan. 21 Paradise Lost (Pt. 1)