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Batman The Animated Newsletter #66

Batman The Animated Newsletter #66

Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Weeks of May 15 – May 20/21, 2000
Volume 3,
Rated: PG for some “low-key coarse language and occasional griping”

THIS ISSUE’S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: “WOW! TWO INTERVIEWS IN A ROW!!!”
_______________________
EAGERLY ANTICIPATING…
New episodes are on the horizon! Here’s what we can expect in the near future…

THERE ARE NO NEW EPISODES ON THE HORIZON AS OF THE PRINTING OF THIS NEWSLETTER.
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WB ANIMATION SCHEDULES:
(courtesy of Brian Cruz and/or the official BTAS/STAS site)

THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES air Mondays thru Saturday; BATMAN BEYOND also airs on these days. Check local listings each day for what show is on at what time.

http://www.batman-superman.com/batman/cmp/episodes.html
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/schedules/
http://www.ktla.com/backstage/programming/kids_framed.frm

NOTE:
If our schedule is not updated, then go to the following URL. It will ALWAYS contain the most
up-to-date schedule possible.
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Taping/2928/airdate.htm

THIS WEEK:
Mon 05-15-00: Batman #80 Second Chance
Superman #43 The New Kids in Town

Tue 05-16-00: Superman #15 Ghost in the Machine
Batman #69 Avatar

Wed 05-17-00: Batman #68 Trial
Superman #42 Where There’s Smoke

Thu 05-18-00: Superman #13 Two’s a Crowd
Batman #103 The Demon Within

Fri 05-19-00: Batman #86 Holiday Knights

Sat 05-20-00: B-BEYOND #22 Rats
B-BEYOND #29 The Last Resort

All episodes #86 and onward of BATMAN are considered THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES while the original 85 are considered BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS) episodes.
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CANADIAN EPISODE SCHEDULE
(BATMAN, SUPERMAN, and BEYOND on YTV)
(courtesy of our friends at YTV)

-To find the episode guide and airing schedule of BATMAN and BATMAN BEYOND on YTV then please go to http://www.ytv.com and click on the YTV GUIDE icon at the bottom of the screen. To check out the schedule then click on BATMAN or BATMAN BEYOND in the time grid and it will have the schedule for the current week.

BTAS will air at Noon on weekdays (in all time zones), and BATMAN BEYOND will air at 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. YTV has the rights to show all 109 BTAS episodes. They also have the rights to air the first 26 episodes of BATMAN BEYOND (all of season 1 and the first half of season 2).

*YTV has just got the rights to air episodes #27 – 52 of BATMAN BEYOND. It’s unknwon when these episode to air, but expect fall 2000. YTV may air all the episodes through in ONE run, unlike the first 26 episodes.

THIS WEEK:
Mon 05-15-00: BTAS #72 Harlequinade

Tue 05-16-00: BTAS #73 Time Out Of Joint

Wed 05-17-00: BTAS #74 Catwalk

Thu 05-18-00: BTAS #75 Bane

Fri 05-19-00: BTAS #76 Baby-Doll

Sat 05-20-00: BEYOND #03 Black Out

Sun 05-21-00: BEYOND #04 Golem
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THE CARTOON NETWORK

BATMAN IS BACK ON THE CARTOON NETWORK!!!!

Thanx to CNX: Toonami Revolution – Batman: The Animated Series is getting more airtime on Cartoon Network; more accuratly, on Toonami. Toonami has a weekend block called Rising Sun which airs shows in morning hours. airing from 9 AM to Noon EST/PST. Rising Sun will be changed this weekend. Not only will Ronin Warriors be dropped from the lineup, but also, the second airing of Gundam Wing is dropped as well.

So technically, Rising Sun is missing an hour. Surely they’re not going to give that mutt an extra hour, so they’ve but in a American flavor to the block, one a familiar Midnight Run standby while the other is making its debut to Toonami (finally). Batman: The Animated Series airs on Rising Sun at 11 AM EST/PST while Powerpuff Girls ends Toonami at 11:30 AM EST/PST.
This is the new Rising Sun. Check it out! Now you’l have something to watch besides Pokemon!
The lineup, as of May 13, is:

9am-Thundercats (One Hour)
10am-Dragon Ball Z (The Garlic Jr. Saga)
10:30am-Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
11am-Batman: The Animated Series
11:30am-Powerpuff Girls
(all times in Eastern Time)
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EPISODE REVIEW: (SPOILERS!)
(by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)

All of Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton’s reviews of the new-style BTAS episodes and BATMAN BEYOND can be found via these links, which link to “Two-Face’s Tower of Tranquility and Terror”:

MAIN PAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFace/index.html
BTAS PAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFaceText/bats.html

The creative “team” for this column alternates between Zanna and Justin Chen, two loyal subscribers and great friends of ours here. Any other reviews printed here are written by editor Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton. Enjoy!

THE SENTRIES OF THE LAST COSMOS
Written by John Shirley and Rich Fogel
Directed by Dan Riba
Animation by Koko Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Dong
Yang Animation Co., Ltd.
Original airdate: May 6, 2000
My rating: *** (Out of five stars)

Terry, Max, and friend Corey Cavalieri are playing the VR video game, Sentries of the Last Cosmos. The trio is under enemy fire and though Terry and Max are unable to break free from the assault, Corey not only escapes but also destroys the enemy single-handedly. The game ends and Corey is listed as the all time high scorer. Corey is obviously a major fan/player of the game with countless hours spent playing it. Unobserved by the three friends, someone dressed and equipped with a flying disc like a Sentry of the Last Cosmos is watching and taking a picture of them. Later, at Hamilton Hill High School’s computer lab, Corey receives an email from the creator of the Sentries game and is invited to Sentrycroft. Corey is thrilled and Max learns that Sentrycroft is the very private, secluded, estate of Simon Harper.

Corey is admitted to the estate by a robot camera at the front gate. He joins two other game champs and major fans and is amazed at the full size game paraphernalia on display inside. They meet with Simon Harper who explains that he monitors all the games by computer and has selected them because they are the three highest scorers of the game. He invites them to join the next level. Harper explains that the game is really a simulation of a real conflict occurring out in deep space and that for many years the Wise Ones have used the game to recruit capable sentries for the real battle. All three gamesters enthusiastically join the Sentries.

Later, the Batman of this future Gotham is investigating a break-in at the Hall of Records when he discovers three Sentries of the Lost Cosmos about to destroy a large data bank. Though he manages to disarm two of them, the Sentries complete their mission and a large part of the Hall of Records explodes. Batman must then discover the secret of the Sentries and stop them from any future mischief.

I enjoyed this episode. Like a few recent episodes, this too did not have a very dark theme, dramatic crime action, nor did it add to any new information about Bruce or Terry’s training. It did however show a bit of Terry acting like a normal teenager — enjoying some video games with his friends. The episode also displayed several representations of computer game, sci-fi movie (and gasp, comic book and cartoon super hero) die-hard fans. Writers John Shirley and Rich Fogel also placed many references to both the Star Wars movies and its creator, George Lucas. In addition, this story had a plot device very similar to one that was used in the movie, “The Last Starfighter”. Fans of those movies could easily point out the many references in this episode.

References to George Lucas and Star Wars stories included helmeted fighters looking like stormtroopers and Darth Vader, fire swords instead of light sabers, the enemy, the Dark Regent in place of the Dark Lord and the Emperor.

Other references were Sentrycroft, which looked like a futuristic Skywalker Ranch (see <http://george.lucas.net/prologue.htm> for actual Ranch pictures and information) and Eldon Michaels, the game writer, who had a red-haired, grossly overweight George Lucas look about him. Eldon Michaels and the villain were former associates, like Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader (okay, that’s a bit of a reach, 😉 ). The ending fight scene has the villain dressed in a dark hooded robe, seated on a futuristic throne; in front of a large circular window showing the starlit sky. The hooded villain throws blue electrical energy at Batman, much like the Emperor threw at Luke in the “Return of the Jedi” movie. Even the background music resembled the Star Wars movie themes.

The dialogue, too, had a Star Wars theme in it. When Max asks Terry if there is a connection between Corey visiting Sentrycroft and the break-in at the Hall of Records, Terry asks if Jar-Jar is lame. The writer of the Sentries of the Last Cosmos tells the Sentries to seek the center, which sounded very like seeking the force. When the fans question Eldon Michaels about various parts of the story, he tells them “It all started a long, long time ago, in a cosmos far from earth…”

The plot device used in the movie “The Last Starfighter” was that an alien military force created a video game to seek out individuals with the reflexes, piloting and fighting capabilities that would be required of an elite member of the Starfighter force. These individuals were then contacted and persuaded to join the galactic militia. Sound familiar? For those interested and cable connected, the TNT channel will be airing “The Last Starfighter” on Saturday according to Yahoo TV li stings for the Baltimore Comcast cable area. Perhaps other areas will receive the signal too.

Besides the many movie references, there were some other good lines in this story. When Batman arrives at the Hall of Records and finds a large cavity in the roof, he deadpans the following comment, ” A big, smoking hole, could be a clue.” When Bruce fails to get any more information on Eldon Michaels besides an old address, Terry says, “Maybe he really is from outer space.” Batman points to a mysterious object and asks Michaels if it is a word processor. Michaels angrily answers that it is a typewriter owned by Philip K. Dick, the greatest writer that ever lived. After the ending fight scene, when Bruce and Terry are discussing the recent adventure, Terry asks why the villain would behave that way when he was already rich. Bruce responds “it isn’t easy to give up being a god.” Terry responds, “I guess you’d know.”

The “is Jar-Jar lame?” line that Terry uses sounds a bit dated for a futuristic setting unless you assume that the Star Wars movies themselves become classic icons as some memorable movies do and that the dialogue or characters become part of the real common language. Everyone is familiar with references like “There’s no place like home” or ” This could be the start of a beautiful friendship” or “You need to be kissed, and often, by someone who knows how” or “We’re on a mission from God” or “Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” or many others.

When Batman asks Eldon Michaels if he is a writer and Michaels answers, “Well, duh”, made me wonder if that expression would still be used in the future. Then again, the word cool has survived many years with the same meaning.

So this wasn’t the dark, gritty story some fans prefer, but it was an interesting look at fan mania, Star Wars, and the Last Star Fighter.

Reviewed by Zanna
(Zanna_Z@NOSPAMyahoo.com remove NOSPAM to email)
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SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE

INTERVIEW WITH CRAIG ROUSSEAU
(by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)

Yes, you’ve seen the name. Whether it’s been on eBay or in the credits to GOTHAM ADVENTURES and BATMAN BEYOND comics, it’s tough for any true “animated” Bat-fan to have not come across Rousseau’s name in recent months. Craig has agreed to do this interview with us, so, without further adieu, let’s begin!

BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER #1: Hi Craig! Thank you very much for agreeing to participate in this interview. Before we begin, could you tell us a little about yourself?

CRAIG ROUSSEAU #1: Well, let’s see…I’m a guy who’s lucky enough to get to do what he loves for a living …and i’ve got two dogs.

BTAN #2: How did you first get involved with the comics industry? Is this where you thought your career path would take you in your younger years?

CRAIG #2: I went to college here in Massachusetts for 2 degrees (in fine arts and illustration), thinking I would do more conventional illustration for a living…but i ended up making connections at Marvel (and then DC) and found myself working on comics .

BTAN #3: Could you tell us how you got the job of penciling for GOTHAM ADVENTURES/BATMAN BEYOND?

CRAIG #3: After two years working on IMPULSE for DC, I felt like it was time to try something new. Seeing as how I thought the BATMAN cartoons (and animated comics) were the best out there, I did a few sample pages and happened to meet with Darren Vincenzo, right at the time Rick Burchett was starting to work on other projects; Darren gave me a shot at a few covers and fill-in issues…and lucked into snagging [the] BATMAN BEYOND [series]!

BTAN #4: Was Batman your favourite hero growing up? Did you have any other favourites?

CRAIG #4: I was actually a big Marvel fan as a kid, so i’d hafta say Wonderman and Beast were my favourites; but I came around eventually! (although I did love all the Batman stuff on TV!)

BTAN #5: I forget when exactly it happened, but why did you move from working at GOTHAM ADVENTURES to BATMAN BEYOND? Was that your own choice?

CRAIG #5: DC was starting an ongoing based on the success of the BATMAN BEYOND miniseries and Darren offered my the job, and I jumped at it!

BTAN #6: Is it different working for each series?

CRAIG #6: Well, Hilary J. Bader’s scripts seem to pack a LOT into an issue (like an episode of the show).

BTAN #7: Do you pencil for any other series’ at the moment? Aside from IMPULSE, what other titles have you worked for in the past?

CRAIG #7: I worked on a few short stories in the 80 page giants and secret files, but now, BATMAN BEYOND is keeping me busy . . .

BTAN #8: What character designs do you like the most?

CRAIG #8: I really love the streamlined designs on THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES.

BTAN #9: What is your favourite issue that you’ve produced to date?

CRAIG #9: whenever I look at the books, i just see all the mistakes I made and think “ugh”. I’d say that I liked some of the Man-Bat story in GOTHAM ADVENTURES () and some of the stuff in [the forthcoming] Issue #9 of BATMAN BEYOND. I also really liked the Terrific Trio story we [originally] did way back for issue 3!

BTAN #10: Which writer have you enjoyed working with the most thus far?

CRAIG #10: I really enjoyed working with Scott Peterson’s scripts on GOTHAM ADVENTURES, but that’s not to say I don’t love working with Hilary’s BATMAN BEYOND scripts.

BTAN #11: Which inker have you enjoyed working with the most thus far?

CRAIG #11: Geez, that’d have to be a toss-up between Rob Leigh and Terry Beatty…

BTAN #12: What influences are there on your penciling?

CRAIG #12: You mean besides all the folks who’ve worked on the shows and books?! I’m a huge fan of Mignola.

BTAN #13: Is there anyone you’d like to work with in the future in a regular series or on a special project?

CRAIG #13: I’m actually getting to work with my old editor, Darren Vincenzo, on the adaptation of RETURN OF THE JOKER…does that count?

BTAN #14: Definately! Also, have you ever considered working as an inker or a writer?

CRAIG #14: Yes (on my own pencils), and occasionally.

BTAN #15: What is your opinion of the animated series in general? Who are your favourite characters and what are your episodes/comic issues? Any jump to mind?

CRAIG #15: For the most part, I think they’re exceptional, my favourites being the WORLD’S FINEST three-parter, the BATMAN BEYOND premiere, and the OVER THE EDGE episode.

BTAN #16: Which Batman-related character can you most closely relate to and why?

CRAIG #16: Hmmmn, that’s a good one…i’ll get back to you there. (I guess I’d say Bullock , ’cause we both have a thing for donuts…mmmmmm, donuts!)

BTAN #17: I recently noticed that a new penciller named Min Ku jumped aboard BATMAN BEYOND with Issue #7 with Spellbinder. What do you think of his talents? Are you leaving BATMAN BEYOND and being replaced, or just taking a break? (It wouldn’t seem so…I saw that you’re back in Issue #8). Either way, what’s the situation there?

CRAIG #17: When Joe Illidge came on as editor, he scheduled a fill-in issue to get us back on track – we lost a month working on the terrific trio issue that we never used! He hired the very talented Mr. Ku.

BTAN #18: OK, inside scoop time: any chance that the long-thought-dead-but-probably-not-villain Blight will return in the near future?

CRAIG #18: Not that i know of!

BTAN #19: What do we have to look forward to in the BATMAN BEYOND series?

CRAIG #19: We’ve got a Curare story (in issue #9), a (sort of) Golem story (in ), the return of Terminal’s gang (from HIDDEN AGENDA), and more…not to mention the adaptation of RETURN OF THE JOKER (plug, plug)!

BTAN #20: If you had total creative freedom with the animated Bat-world, what would you like to do? What story would you like to draw?

CRAIG #20: I don’t know if they can top the cool stuff i get to do in the RETURN OF THE JOKER story…it’s got it all! I WOULD like to do an animated Deadman story with BATMAN BEYOND, though.

BTAN #21: Craig, many of our subscribers aspire to be a part of the comics industry in the future. Do you have any advice on how to get their art – or writing – into the hands of editors? Is submitting a portfolio via the DCComics web site a good start?

CRAIG #21: The best bet is actually getting to meet with an editor, and the best place for that is one of the bigger conventions.

BTAN #22: Is there anything else you’d like to say before we close for the day?

CRAIG #22: Yeah, isn’t Tim Levins’ stuff on GOTHAM ADVENTURES just beautiful?

Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule and participating in our interview, Craig! We wish you the best of luck with your work on BATMAN BEYOND in the coming months!

-Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
;-Y
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EDITORIAL
(by Kelly Tindall)
cointoss@hotmail.com

Kelly was unable to submit a review by the printing of this newsletter. Fear not, he will return shortly.
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BATMAN: THE ANIMATED TRIVIA
(by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)

This is one of my favourite sections, where I get to boggle the minds of all our readers! *EVIL LAUGH* This trivia is all animated-related in some form, and can deal with ANY aspect of the show or comics based on the show. Remember, answer the questions WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ANIMATED CONTINUITY. Now have fun – let’s see how well you do! Answers are provided below.

CORRECTION:
AGH! Can you believe it? Here’s the question I had last week, and here’s the CORRECT answer:
315. To date, Terry McGinnis has NOT fought (either in a training session or real life):
A: Two-Face
B: The Riddler
C: Egghead
D: The Joker
E: Bane
The answer is C and D, not C and E, as I stated. Agh…is my face half-red or what?

I’m just sitting here at the computer with about five toddlers screaming in the background. No, they’re not mine. But that doesn’t make it any better. One just whacked a book across my back; ack. The title of that book was “CARS AND TRUCKS AND THINGS THAT GO”; coincidentally, that’s going to be the title of this quiz.

316. In order of original air date, what is the first episode to feature the “new-style”
Batmobile?

A: HOLIDAY KNIGHTS
B: SINS OF THE FATHER
C: COLD COMFORT
D: NEVER FEAR
E: DOUBLE TALK

317. What action figure-vehicle from the animated lines had such low production that it’s the rarest of all BTAS action-vehicles to collectors?

A: The original Batmobile
B: The Jokermobile
C: The Batwing
D: The Robin Dragster
E: The remote-control Batmobile

318. Which of the following people have been dragged by a motorcycle?

A: The Joker
B: Robin
C: Tony Zucco
D: Batman
E: The Scarecrow

319. Who once foiled one of Ra’s Al Ghul’s plans while on an airship?

A: Talia
B: Arkady Duvall
C: Batman
D: Jonah Hex
E: Nightwing

320. Which of these vehicles was NOT featured in OVER THE EDGE?

A: The Batmobile
B: The Batcycle
C: The Batwing
D: The Batboat
E: Batman’s jet-pack
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AND THESE ARE OUR FINAL ANSWERS (to the trivia)

Answer to #316: B
Answer to #317: D
Answer to #318: C
Answer to #319: D
Answer to #320: C, E
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LITTLE FACTS AND BLOOPERS
(by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)

Here is a section that just points out various little facts and bloopers that we have noticed while watching BTAS and STAS countless times. If you have anything to contribute, feel free to do so! Enjoy!

CONTRIBUTED BY STAFF:
Na da.

CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:
(by “Bruce J. Cole”)
1) At one point in the fight with the Intergang goons at the train trestle in “TOOLS OF THE TRADE” (Superman episode), an electrical tower is damaged and crashes. The wires break at both sides, yet continue to hold electrical current, which Superman is basted in for a few moments as he tries to keep the tower from landing on a passing train. My problem with this, shouldn’t the current have dissipated immediately when both ends of the cable broke? or am I confused about some basic physical law. The other concern is, how did the second train come by if both tracks had been destroyed minutes before?
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‘UNDER THE KNIFE’ – BATMAN BEYOND UK CUT REPORTS
-by Brian Davis

Batman Beyond is called Batman of the Future in the UK. It is shown on CITV Sundays at 9.25am and they make a lot of cuts !!!! Brian Davis uncovers these cuts and lets the public know how good BB episode are being butchered in the UK.

Batman of the Future has now ended in the UK with the episode ‘Lost Soul’. Few cuts were made to the episodes after ‘Splicers’ where only a few scenes were toned down due to violence or intense lighting.

Lets hope Batman Beyond returns soon in the UK with ‘Hidden Agenda’. One things for sure, I’ll be back with more cut reports !!

Following scene cut from my article due to intense plugging : –

In the meantime for Batman UK news check out – www.batmanuk.freeserve.co.uk
Batman Animated : The Unofficial Fan Club – www.batmanuk.freeserve.co.uk/club/

Keep watching wherever you can !!!

-Brian Davis
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MERCHANDISING: WHERE THE REAL BAT-CASH IS MADE
(by Zanna)

While on the prowl for the new Alfred figure, I stumbled across a few Batman Beyond figures that actually looked like the characters in the show! Finally, DC and Hasbro made some Terry McGinnis Batman figures that are black with a red bat on them.

BB Strikecycle Batman is a deluxe figure that comes with street armor and a red Batcycle. The head is an unmasked Terry McGinnis and the body is the black Batsuit with parts of one arm, one leg, and the chest suit circuitry exposed. The circuitry is painted silver. The street armor consists of a flexible, rubber cowl that completely covers Terry’s head like a motorcycle helmet and black snap on armor that makes the figure look like the normal black Batsuit with the red bat insignia. Terry’s body is more beefy looking in this figure, more like the original Batman. Only the right hand, the underside of that arm, and a bit of collarbone area remain silver after the armor is attached. The figure is articulated at the neck, shoulders,
and hips. The sculptor or designer captured the Terry face quite well, including the wisps of hair at the forehead. If you can’t resist taking the figure of its packaging (guilty!), be warned that removing and reattaching the helmet onto Terry’s head does rub off some of the hair paint since it is a very tight fit. The Batcycle is designed so that Batman can ride the cycle without requiring a knee joint. The cycle itself resembles the red Jokerz motorcycle Terry rode in Rebirth part I. There was only one of these figures at the store among many other new and mostly just repainted figures. Perhaps there is only one per box?

Less expensive but also well styled is the BB Power Cape Batman with dual Batarang and jet thrusters. This figure has the more angular looking Batman Beyond physique seen on the show but there is still quite a bit of muscle definition on the body. This figure has a black and red cloth cape. From behind, only the black shows and the cape is cut to look like the glider wings this Batman uses on the show. Amber plastic thruster flames attach to the bottom of the figure’s boots to simulate the jet fires that boost Batman through the heights of Gotham. The black Batarang can be attached to the back of the figure.

Pictured on the back of the Power Cape Batman package is a two figure set of Jokerz gang members. The large African-American figure called Happy has spring loaded arms that can toss either a rope with a mace at each end or it can toss a pint-sized Jokerz figure called Smirk who is holding a pie. I have not found this in any store, yet.

Most of the other new Batman Beyond figures are repaint variations of the first line of BB figures with winged weapon or flying accessories. There is another Batman Beyond figure with Terry’s head exposed, but the body is painted a shade of grey or silver. One other Batman Beyond figure is painted all black but with a yellow bat symbol. This figure is called
Shatterblast Batman. It comes with a very large harness, and a large Batwinged accessory painted more fuschia than red and yellow. It fires a yellow Batshaped projectile.

Now if I could just find a Blight and an Alfred…

Reviewed by Zanna
(Zanna_Z@NOSPAMyahoo.com remove NOSPAM to email)
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COMIC REVIEWS
(BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)
(BATMAN BEYOND by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)
(SUPERMAN ADVENTURES by Dick Grayson)

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
ISSUES: “In Arms” (#26)
WRITTEN BY: Scott Peterson
PENCILLED BY: Tim Levins
INKED BY: Terry Beatty
ISSUED: May 3, 2000 (cover date, July 2000)
RATING (out of 5): ***1/2

Batman is on the hunt for something called “Kristov” – something that all the different mafias and government agencies throughout the world are searching for. His search finally ends when he comes across a Kristov itself – a child whose DNA has been imprinted with missile launch codes.
As far-fetched as it MAY sound, it still is an interesting twist to the story. Once I found that this “Kristov” was a child, I figured he or she must be related to someone in power somewhere in the world, and would therefore be used for ransom; the launch codes provided an original change to this type of mafia story.
This issue made me wonder about a few things, though – and that’s a good thing. I recall that when BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES started up way back in 1992, one of the things they had to ABSOLUTELY stay away from was child endangerment; in this issue we see three consecutive pages of Batman fighting crime, rescuing people, and otherwise saving the day – all while Kristov is in his arms. Dangerous? Probably – but I think Peterson wrote the story this way to show not only how skilled and competent Batman is, but how much more he cares for children than anyone else. I suppose his excuse to NOT give it to Alfred back in the cave was reasonable, too; Ra’s Al Ghul just might come through, looking for the baby.
The scenes where Batman shows his incompetence of actually taking care of the baby were cute, too; Batman’s all heart, yes, but he knows nothing of raising infants, like feeding and diaper changing. Then again, Batman does have absolutely no experience here – all of his “kids” (i.e. Dick and Tim) were pre-teens when they entered his life.
To continue protecting the baby, Batman actually gives up his secret identity to the FBI (though they’re unaware of it); I won’t say HOW, because the way in which he does it makes sense. I just hope that Batman sometime gets into the DNA database and erases that information; he’s got to cover himself. That’s the only thing that could cause problems in this issue – but it also provides the story for a future issue.
Overall, I thought it was a great issue.

;-Y
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COMIC SCHEDULES & COVERING THE BASICS

This section gives a little bit more in-depth look into each monthly issue of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES, BATMAN BEYOND, and SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. Below each comic listing is a link to the cover of that comic. TALK ABOUT SERVICE!
The price for any of these issues, unless otherwise posted, is $1.99 in the US and…grrrrr…a whopping $3.25 in Canada. (Both our editors and many subscribers are Canadian, hence the “grrr”.)
If we are unsure of the exact date of when an issue is being released, just check out “DIRECT CURRENTS” at http://www.dccomics.com for details.

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #27
June 7th
Synopsis: A popular college professor of law who teaches a class on organized crime is in jail for the murder of a known mob boss. Has the professor stepped over the line and become judge, jury and executioner? Or is he being framed by a new player on the mob scene in Gotham?
Cover: Unavailable

FOLLOWING MONTH:
Synopsis: The return of the Riddler.
Cover: Unavailable

BATMAN BEYOND #9
May 24th
Synopsis: Batman VS. Curare. Oh, and Bruce Wayne, too.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/
0002/22/BatmanBeyondCvr9.jpg

FOLLOWING MONTH: .
Synopsis: A new, improved Golem returns to Gotham.
Cover: Unavailable

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #45
May 9th
Synopsis: The Commander, the manipulative malefactor with the power to force anyone to obey his orders, returns! And his only desire is to have all of Metropolis kill one man: Superman! How can the Man of Steel fight an entire city that has turned against him?
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/
comics/apr12/covers/down/dsupa44.jpg

FOLLWOING MONTH:
Synopsis: Unavailable
Cover: Unavailable
____________________

NEWS AND RUMORS

ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-Batman artist Dick Sprang passed away on May 10th. He worked at DC Comics on BATMAN from 1941 to 1963, when he retired; recently he was ill for many months and passed away in his sleep. His was 85.
-The BATMAN CHALLENGE is now up and ready at OnStar.com. Go check it out! -Terry Beatty has been and will be selling Gotham Adventures and Batman Beyond original art on
eBay. His Seller ID is: beatty@machlink.com Do yourself a favor and check out some great art!
-Craig Rousseau has been and will be selling Gotham Adventures and Batman Beyond original art on eBay. His Seller ID is: cerousseau@aol.com Feel free to check it out! You don’t wanna miss it!

ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS, STAS, BEYOND)
-YTV has just got the rights to air episodes #27 – 52 of BATMAN BEYOND. It’s unknwon when these episode to air, but expect fall 2000. YTV may air all the episodes through in ONE run, unlike the first 26 episodes.
-The results for the Daytime Emmy Awards (in which BTAS, STAS, and BEYOND earned a combined 9 nominations) will be aired on May 19.

ANIMATED COMICS
-Chuck Dixon has written an upcoming issue of GOTHAM ADVENTURES, in which Batman is poisoned and has one hour to live; he enlists in Robin and Poison Ivy’s help to find the culprit. The Penguin and Harley Quinn also appear.
-Craig Rousseau will be penciling and Rob Leigh will be inking the comic adaption of RETURN OF THE JOKER, most likely due out Oct. 18 or 25.
-The first six issues of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES will be collected in tradepaperback form, being released on May 17. These six issues feature great stories by Ty Templeton and great art by Rick Burchett and Terry Beatty; characters in the spotlight are Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, Joker, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, the Riddler, Clayface, Deadman, and more. It will cost $9.95, and the cover will be the same as the cover of GOTHAM ADVENTURES #1.
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #28 features the return of the Riddler.
-BATMAN BEYOND #10: A new, improved Golem returns on June 28.
-Terminal (villain in HIDDEN AGENDA) will return in BATMAN BEYOND #12
-BATMAN BEYOND #15 is being touted as nothing but a “WOW” issue. Wow!
-Min Ku may return to fill in for Rousseau on Issues #13 and #14.

OTHER COMICS
-Frank Miller is currently in the planning stages of his DARK KNIGHT RETURNS sequel, tentatively titled THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN.
-DARK VICTORY #9 features the first team-up of Batman and Robin. Check out the cover:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/
0003/21/BatmanDarkVictory9.JPG
-DARK VICTORY #10: Mr. Freeze enters the mix as the Batman/Gordon/Two-Face/Mob war escalates.
-Devin Grayson will be revealing the narrator of the GOTHAM KNIGHTS series in a five issue story beginning in issue #8, this August.
-Dale Eaglesham and Paul Ryan will be dropping their pencilling duties at GOTHAM KNGIHTS and move onto other projects once Roger Robinson (of AZRAEL fame) comes in with issue #8.

MOVIES
-A SPECIAL EDITION of the 1989 BATMAN film is in the making. It will feature two previously deleted scenes (the Joker at a radio station???), as well as the two preview trailers and commentaries by Tim Burton and Michael Keaton. This is due out in October.

LIVE ACTION TELEVISION
-For more info about the ONSTAR commercials, go to:
http://www.geocities.com/bbeyond/news.html
-Check out http://www.fandom.com/batman for downloadable versions of the ONSTAR commercials if the official ONSTAR site is not being cooperative with your PC. The commercials can also be found at http://www.adcritic.com – just search for “Batman”.
-It appears a fourth ONSTAR commercial will now be made. The release date is currently unknown.

TOYS, BOOKS, AND OTHER MERCHANDISE
-It looks like the fourth and fifth BATMAN BEYOND videos, SPELLBOUND and CRUSH, are available; I saw them on eBay not 5 minutes ago.
-A Bat-Mite plush doll is available for pre-order, scheduled to arrive by October 6. He stands 7″ tall, and comes in a four colour window box. If you would like to check him out, he is eBay item #326444611; just go to eBay.com and search for that number.
(Thanks to Andie Nappi for supplying that scoop!)
-Alfred FINALLY has a figure of his own! He’ll be included in a four-pack including Batman, Robin, and Clayface. Thanks to Bobby Simic for pointing that out! Go here for the pics:
http://www.geocities.com/jokerinc_2000/4pack.html

SPECIAL NOTE
For more BATMAN, SUPERMAN, AND BEYOND news throughout the week, check out the WORLD’S FINEST NEWS PAGE at:
http://www.geocities.com/bbeyond/news.html
_____________________
FEATURED BAT-SITE FOR THIS ISSUE
(feel free to submit your own for our consideration)

None whatsoever for this issue. Why am I not surprised? Sigh… ;-Y
_____________________
ANIMATED BATMAN/SUPERMAN SITES:

* – indicates a shameless plug for a site a certain double-faced editor created with his bare hands – in other words, a cheap advertising technique.

OFFICIAL SITES
—–
THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES
http://www.batman-superman.com
BATMAN:THE ANIMATED SERIES
http://www.batmantas.com
BATMAN BEYOND
http://www.batmanbeyond.com
BATMAN BEYOND VIDEO SITE
http://www.batmanbeyondvideo.com
YTV’S BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES PAGE
http://www.ytv.com/shows/batman_animated/
YTV’s BATMAN BEYOND Page
http://www.ytv.com/shows/batman_beyond/
SUB-ZERO: THE DEFINTIVE GUIDE
http://www.batman-subzero.com
KID’S WB
http://www.kidswb.com
DC COMICS
http://www.dccomics.com
KTLA KIDS WB SCHEDULES
http://www.ktla.com/backstage/programming/KIDSWB.htm
TOON ZONE
http://www.toonzone.net
PSYCOMICS
http://www.psycomics.com
RAVING TOY MANIAC
http://www.toymania.com
VOICE CHASERS
http://www.voicechasers.org

UNOFFICIAL SITES
—–
*TWO-FACE’S TOWER OF TRANQUILITY AND TERROR
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFace/index.html
BATMAN, SUPERMAN, & BEYOND: THE WORLD’S FINEST DISCUSSION CENTER
http://welcome.to/worldsfinest
THE DISCUSSION CENTER (same as above)
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Taping/2928/boards.htm
BRIAN CRUZ’ WB CARTOON PAGE
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/index.html
BATMAN UK (BRIAN’S BATMAN PAGE)
http://www.batmanuk.freeserve.co.uk
RA’S AL GHUL’S THE LAZARUS PIT
http://zap.to/lazaruspit
THE DARK KNIGHT
http://www.darkknight.ca
BATMAN BEYOND: WELCOME TO THE FUTURE
http://www.batmanbeyond.net
TIM WAN’S BATMAN BEYOND
http://come.to/batmanbeyond
DCU ANIMATED
http://www.DCUAnimated.zzn.com
BRUCE TIMM ARCHIVE SITE
http://members.xoom.com/brucetimm
HARLEY’S HAVEN OF HEDONISM
http://www.harley-quinn.com
GOTHAM CITY LIMITS
http://www.batman.gexner.net
BATMAN: DEFENDER OF GOTHAM
http://www.fandom.com/batman
THE RIDDLER – EDWARD NYGMA’S PUZZLE WEBSITE
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/prospero.milan/nygma
THE BATMAN ACTION FIGURE PAGE
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Boulevard/7659/
CHARACTERS ON THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN & ROBIN
http://www.xse.com/leres/batman.html
ARKHAM ASYLUM
http://animation.acmecity.com/saturday/352
JOKERZ TERRITORY
http://members.xoom.com/Jokerz84/index.htm
THE BATZONE
http://www.batzone.cjb.net/
JLA: THE ANIMATED SERIES
http://animation.acmecity.com/character/375
ANIMATED TALES
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dunes/2294/at
A TRIBUTE TO BATMAN
http://www.angelfire.com/ny2/russkafin/batman.html
ANIMATED STYLE ARTWORK ARCHIVE
http://hjem.get2net.dk/twt/asaa/home.html
BATMAN CEL SITE
http://animation.acmecity.com/carbon/111
DARK JUSTICE
http://www.mania.com.au/~grahark/darkjustice/
ROGUE AVENUE, GOTHAM
http://www.ultros.com/rogue_avenue
THE BATMAN BEYOND INFO PAGE
http://www.rogue-spear.com/BB
THE VAULT
http://dmoz.org/Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors

NEWSGROUPS
—–
news:alt.comics.batman
news:alt.animation.batman
news:alt.comics.superman
news:rec.arts.sf.superman
news:alt.tv.cartoon-network
news:rec.arts.animation
news:alt.animation.warner-bros
_____________________
QUESTIONS, SUBMISSIONS, AND FAN-MAIL

If you have any questions, problems, links do not work, or anything else, then please e-mail this address with your problems and we’ll try to fix them as soon as possible. Also if you’d like to send any fan-mail then please send it to this address:

juno@direct.ca

As for submissions, feel free to submit an article or opinion on anything pertaining to BTAS. Keep in mind that as the editors, we have the right to edit your submissions if we deem it necessary. Such instances would include problems with length, grammar, and language. If we do feel we must edit something, however, we will do our utmost to ensure that the opinion and the basic message of the submission does not change, as that is the most important part of any article, and everyone is entitled to it. And if you do submit something, please don’t just submit a basic review of an episode or a comic or something (because we have people writing for those purposes already) – write about an issue you’d like to discuss.
_____________________
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED ARCHIVES

The very kind people at TOONZONE were nice enough to give us our own little section of their huge and diverse website. The archive contains past newsletters and is semi-regularly updatedwith the latest one. To check it out go here:

TOONZONE’s BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/newsletters/btan
_____________________
LIKE WHAT YA SEE? WANNA SUBSCRIBE? HERE’S HOW!!!

For those of you who are seeing this at the WBC HOMEPAGE BTAN ARCHIVES section and want to subscribe, just follow these simple instructions:

To subscribe email juno@direct.ca, put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line, and put the e-mail address you’d like the newsletter to be sent to in the body of the message.

For more information about the newsletter just email juno@direct.ca Thank you for your time, and thanks for reading! Tell your friends!

-Tim TWO-FACE Leighton and Dick Grayson, editors
_____________________
TO ALL GOOD THINGS…
…there must be an end. We would like to thank the endless amount of contributors for contributing their editorials, columns, news, jokes, reviews and other articles. We hope you’ve all enjoyed it as much as we’ve enjoyed making it! Thank you for reading! See ya next time!

CREDITS FOR BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER

EDITOR AT COLLEGE, NOT IN A DORM: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
EDITOR AT COLLEGE, BUT IN A DORM: “Dick Grayson”
AIR DATE SCHEDULES: Brian Cruz, RiddlerWB (at the official BTAS/STAS site), and YTV.com
EPISODE REVIEWS: Zanna/Justin Chen, and occasionally Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
EDITORIAL: Kelly Tindall
COMIC REVIEWS: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton, Dick Grayson
UNDER THE KNIFE: Brian Davis
MERCHANDISE REVIEW: Various
“BTAN ARCHIVES” MODERATOR: Eileen Delgadillo
TRIVIA: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
PROMOTIONS AND JUST GETTIN’ THE WORD AROUND: Dick Grayson, Eileen Delgadillo, Brian Cruz, Brian Davis
THOSE WHO FILL IN FOR OTHERS WHEN THEY FOUL UP:-Y Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
DELIVERY: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
E-MAIL RECEPTION HANDLING: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
BATMAN CREATED BY: Bob Kane & Bill Finger (who else?)

Batman and all related indicia are trademarks of DC Comics, Copyright c 2000.
____________________

AND THANK YOU TO CRAIG ROUSSEAU FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR INTERVIEW!!!

(IN MEMORY OF DICK SPRANG, age 85)

Batman The Animated Newsletter #66

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