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Batman The Animated Newsletter #92

Batman The Animated Newsletter #92

Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Weeks of May 7, 2001 – May 20, 2001
Volume 4,
Rated: PG for some “low-key coarse language and occasional griping”

THIS ISSUE’S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: Geez, after the last issue I just realized that I should’ve put a stricter warning/rating on my NO MAN’S ISLAND section…
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

-GOOD NEWS! THE BATMAN SITE AT FANDOM.COM WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE ON, EVEN AFTER FANDOM DIES! CHECK OUT OUR “Internet Endeavours” SECTION FOR DETAILS!

-Both the BATMAN BEYOND and SUPERMAN ADVENTURES comic series’ are being cancelled with issues #24 and #66 (probably) respectively. Noooo! (No word on GOTHAM ADVENTURES though, thank goodness.)

-CHECK OUT THE NEWS SECTION FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF JLA ANIMATED SERIES INFORMATION!!!!

-BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES OF OUR ‘RETURN OF THE JOKER’ GIVEAWAY! SCROLL DOWN TO JUST
BELOW OUR EPISODE REVIEW FOR DETAILS!

Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
-who’s pumped, baby…pumped!
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EAGERLY ANTICIPATING…
New episodes are on the horizon! Here’s what we can expect in the near future…

UNMASKED
Batman Beyond #47
Air date: May 2001
Synopsis: A little kid gets a glimpse of the face under the Batman mask. Written by Hilary J. Bader.
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KIDS WB ANIMATION SCHEDULES:
(courtesy of Toonzone & Kids’WB!)

Kids’WB! currently airs BATMAN BEYOND on weekdays and weekends. Remember, Kids’WB! is notorious for switching schedules around at the very last minutes. Batman Beyond currently airs at 11:30am (ET) on Saturdays and during a 3-4pm block on Monday-Thursday. Check out these links if we are unable to update our schedule:

http://www.kidswb.com/cgi-local/sched.cgi?976584931
http://www.toonzone.net/worldsfinest/worldsfinestpage/epsched.htm
http://www.toonzone.net/shows/schedules

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.toonzone.net/worldsfinest/worldsfinestpage/epsched.htm

THIS WEEK:
Mon 05-07-01: B-BEYOND #20 Once Burned
Mon 05-07-01: B-BEYOND #36 The Eggbaby

Tue 05-08-01: B-BEYOND #08 Heroes
Tue 05-08-01: B-BEYOND #17 Lost Soul

Wed 05-09-01: B-BEYOND #?? Untouchable
Wed 05-09-01: B-BEYOND #?? Sneak Peek

Thu 05-10-01: B-BEYOND #01 Rebirth (Pt. 1)
Thu 05-10-01: B-BEYOND #02 Rebirth (Pt. 2)

Fri 05-11-01: NONE

Sat 05-12-01: NONE

NEXT WEEK:
Mon 05-14-01: B-BEYOND #??
Mon 05-14-01: B-BEYOND #??

Tue 05-15-01: B-BEYOND #??
Tue 05-15-01: B-BEYOND #??

Wed 05-16-01: B-BEYOND #??
Wed 05-16-01: B-BEYOND #??

Thu 05-17-01: B-BEYOND #??
Thu 05-17-01: B-BEYOND #??

Fri 05-18-01: NONE

Sat 05-19-01: NONE

NEXT WEEK (NOT YET AVAILABLE):
Mon 05-21-01: B-BEYOND #??
Mon 05-21-01: B-BEYOND #??

Tue 05-22-01: B-BEYOND #??
Tue 05-22-01: B-BEYOND #??

Wed 05-23-01: B-BEYOND #??
Wed 05-23-01: B-BEYOND #??

Thu 05-24-01: B-BEYOND #??
Thu 05-24-01: B-BEYOND #??

Fri 05-25-01: NONE

Sat 05-26-01: NONE

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CANADIAN EPISODE SCHEDULE
(BATMAN on YTV – courtesy of our friends at YTV)

BATMAN BEYOND will be returning to show the remainder of its 52 episode run to YTV shortly! Keep reading here in future issues for details!

YTV currently has the rights to air all 109 episodes of BTAS. YTV usually airs these episodes in either chronological order, or in the original order they aired on Kids’WB! and FOX. Batman now airs at 3:40am Monday – Friday (well, technically, Tuesday – Saturday). If our schedules are not updated or are inaccurate, please use these links:

http://www.toonzone.net/worldsfinest/worldsfinestpage/epsched.htm
http://www.ytv.com/ytvguide

THIS WEEK:
Mon 05-07-01: BTAS #14 Heart of Ice

Tue 05-08-01: BTAS #20 Feat of Clay (Pt. 1)

Wed 05-09-01: BTAS #21 Feat of Clay (Pt. 2)

Thu 05-10-01: BTAS #11 It’s Never Too Late

Fri 05-11-01: BTAS #22 Joker’s Favor

NEXT WEEK: (this week may be slightly inaccurate)
Mon 05-14-01: BTAS #13 The Cat and the Claw (Pt. 1)

Tue 05-15-01: BTAS #16 The Cat and the Claw (Pt. 2)

Wed 05-16-01: BTAS #05 Pretty Poison

Thu 05-17-01: BTAS #03 Nothing to Fear

Fri 05-18-01: BTAS #09 Be a Clown

THE WEEK AFTER THAT: (this schedule may also be slightly inaccurate)
Mon 05-21-01: BTAS #26 Appointment in Crime Alley

Tue 05-22-01: BTAS #07 P.O.V.

Wed 05-23-01: BTAS #25 The Clock King

Thu 05-24-01: BTAS #04 The Last Laugh

Fri 05-25-01: BTAS #29 Eternal Youth
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THE CARTOON NETWORK

Cartoon Network has the right to air all 109 BTAS episodes, as well as all 54 SUPERMAN episiodes. Cartoon Network currently airs both shows in rotation and together during the weekday Toonami block. Since Cartoon Network is unpredictable with their schedules, we may be unable to keep up with them. Please, use these links to find out the schedule information you need:

Here is where you can find an air date schedules:

http://www.CartoonNetwork.com/TOONAMI/lineup/batman.html
http://www.CartoonNetwork.com/TOONAMI/lineup/Superman.html
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv/schedule.html
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EPISODE REVIEW: (SPOILERS!)
(by Justin Chen and/or Zanna)

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/btas.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!

With no new episodes debuting, we have nothing to review…anyone wanna submit reviews of older BTAS episodes? We’re always taking submissions!
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EDITORIAL
(by anyone that is willing to contribute)

Unfortunately, our newsletter just grew too large this issue, thanks to me, my ego, and my “No Man’s Island” section. Then again, we had no editorial prepared anyway, so…hey, just check back later, OK? Thanx.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Due to demand by some of our subscribers, we’ve decided to give a “Letters to the Editor” section a shot. Feel free to submit something you’d like to say to us, and each issue we’ll choose one to post and then reply to. (NOTE: It can be completely uncensored, positive OR negative, though any coarse language will be bleeped out. We want this to be a no-holds-barred column!)

* * * * * *

Dear Tim,

Last issue (#91) you gave BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #37 a whopping 5 out of 5 stars. I thought it was a good issue, but didn’t you think the ending was a little too much like the BTAS episode “Perchance To Dream”? The ending was so similar that it ruined the issue for me. Your thoughts?

Russ Dimino
CKent15@aol.com

* * * * * *

TWO-FACE’S SIDE OF THE COIN

Hmmm…well I won’t lie to you, I did see the obvious parallels between of GOTHAM ADVENTURES and the BTAS episode PERCHANCE TO DREAM. What I really enjoyed about this issue, though, was how it revealed the inner-workings of Batman’s mind.

While PERCHANCE TO DREAM had a film noir, almost Alfred Hitchcock-esque feel to it (and I loved that episode, might I add), this one goes the exact opposite route and uses a cheesy style – the classic “campy” Batman look of the 50’s and 60’s – to illustrate a similar point. That, and it had some clever little barbs on just how “out there” the stories in that period were, compared to those of today.

I know this could easily be seen as a blatant rip-off and rehash of Laren Bright and Michael Reaves’ original BTAS story from nine years ago. The fact is that it wasn’t – Scott Peterson gave it a number of clever little twists to make it fresh and equally enjoyable. I would almost venture to say that I like it MORE than PERCHANCE TO DREAM, in that I would’ve never expected such a gem of a tale with the campy style in such a prominent role; it was just a delightful surprise.

True, the ending with the Mad Hatter could’ve used a little extra work – I never really thought Jervis really cared all too much for the feelings of others (Alice aside, but we won’t go there). Then again, it was still within character once I really thought about it – making Batman happy, thereby taking him out of action does fit the Hatter’s M.O., so hey, I was happy.

Perhaps I was a little generous with my 5/5 rating (which doesn’t mean the issue WAS flawless…but close to it), but I still stand by it. Still, Russ, you do raise a good point. I suggest that it would be fun to write DC Comics themselves and ask them this – they may not respond, but they could print such a letter in the fan-mail section a few issues down the line. I bet that there are quite a number of people that feel the exact same way, so DC is likely to address this at that time.

I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot. Either way, thanks for writing in, Russ!

;-Y
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‘RETURN OF THE JOKER’ GIVEAWAY

READ BELOW FOR THE RULES AND MORE!

In trying to get people both more involved with the newsletter AND want to help them out at the same time, we’re offering anyone that participates in our NO MAN’S ISLAND column a chance to win unedited copies of RETURN OF THE JOKER.

The way it works is as follows: vote for the two characters you’d like to vote off the island. Of the characters that are being cast off or even nominated in that particular issue, we will randomly select one of these characters for our contest. Anyone who voted for this character will be entered into a draw, according to the e-mail address from which their ballot was recieved. Every issue, we will randomly select one e-mail address (from a hat, to make it fair) and that participant, if willing, wins a copy of the unedited movie!

You may vote for NO MAN’S ISLAND as often as you like (just once per round), and are eligible to win once within each round.

If the selected winner for whatever reason declines, the will be another draw for that same week. The catch? The winner, if agreeing, must provide a tape and enough money to cover postage ($5 American) of the tape to and from their place of residence. There will be no extra profit for us at BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER (as that would be illegal) or anything. We just want to get this movie out to more people as it’s not going to be definately released on tape just yet.

NOTE: I am not promoting the act of bootlegging videos for profit, I am merely looking for the cost of the tape and postage, so fans will be able to view the movie as it was supposed to be.

That said, let’s get voting! (And make sure to read the NO MAN’S ISLAND section below.)
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NO MAN’S ISLAND
ROUND EIGHTEEN
(by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)Well that “real” Survivor thing ended (finally), and ours is winding down quite nicely, too. The ranks are really getting narrowed down now, with two villains and three heroes to go, all coming to a head in Crime Alley.

…A WALTZ DOWN MEMORY LANE…

A WORD FROM THE CAST-AWAYS:
HARLEY QUINN: “No…my puddin’…I can’t be anywhere without my puddin’…”
NIGHTWING: “Yes, damn right I’m bitter! It’s about time I’m out of that game. I pity Gordon and Alfred in there – but this has always been Bruce’s game, it always WILL be Bruce’s game. No one else has a say on his turf. Period.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Batman arrived just in time to see it all. Every bloody second of it.

Nightwing lay dead on the streets of Crime Alley far below – and he saw it all unfold before his eyes. He chased the Joker out of a window and knocked him over the railing of the fire escape; then he was presented with a dozen bullet holes in his back. Seconds later Two-Face had appeared at the same window from which he fell. There he was. The one who did it.

The Joker would have to wait for now. Against every ounce of judgement in his body, Batman actually let the clown go – for the moment.

The Joker bolted down the street as soon as he realized Batman was looming above him. After putting the distance of a block or two between him and Nightwing’s final concrete resting place, he spun around. Nothing. He couldn’t believe this. “Batman, where are you?” he mumbled. “I carefully pieced this WHOLE SCHEME together just to draw you out and you concentrate everything on that second-tier hack? You just don’t truly understand me, darling. But you will. I promise. I’ve been dreaming about it every night. You’ll love me for it.” Besides, he continued to think, taking care of ol’ Harv would give him even less competition.

Excellent.

“dOn’T jUsT sTaNd ThErE, yA mUg! RuN!”

Two-Face stared out the window with his mouth agape – the dead former boy wonder on the ground, and Batman saw the whole thing. If what the Joker told him weeks ago was true, that man was, more importantly, Bruce – his old friend Bruce. How could he do this to him??? But as long as he wore that mask, he couldn’t afford to care. All he knew was that he had to run, again.

Without a word, internally or externally, Two-Face ran back into the crumbling apartment complex, leaving Harley Quinn’s half-melted body on the floor without a second thought. Even Big Bad Harv didn’t have a crude suggestion of something to do with her as he departed – his mind was elsewhere at the moment.

Two-Face dove through the window on the opposite side of the building and righted himself on the ricketty fire escape there. It was only a two storey drop to the alleyway from here – he was gonna try to jump it. He shot a glance back into the room – no sign of Batman.

“MaYbE oL’ bRuCiE cOmMiTtEd SuIcIdE aFtEr He SaW tHaT yOu ShOt HiS bOy, HuH?”

“No, he’s probably checking to see if he’s alright.”

“PsHt! YoU’vE kNoWn FoR yEaRs ThAt BrUcE iS a ReAl SaD-sAcK – hE’s As DePrEsSeD aS hE iS oBsEsSeD! eVeN mOrE sO tHaN yOu!”

“You are so heartless.”

“mAyBe – BuT yOu’Re ThE oNe ThAt ShOt ‘Im. BeSiDeS, hE’s GiViNg Us An OpPoRtUnItY tO aMsCrAy.”

He couldn’t argue with himself over that. Two-Face dove – but, considering his fatigue, more like FELL – down to the ground, using the garbage cans as a buffer between himself and the ground. Batman probably heard that.

“Stop where you are!”

Two-Face gave his head a shake and looked up; Commissioner Gordon stood at the entrance to the alley, armed, and aiming his piece in his direction. Just where did HE come from?

Gordon was tired. Tired of running. He just spent the past half hour on a trek across the abandonned wasteland that was once Gotham City, tagging along on Batman’s coattails…or cape…whatever…and he hardly had the breath in him to keep standing. He’d been running for weeks now – and with the loss of his daughter and his two fellow badges to serious injury, his spirit was dwindling, too.

“Out of my way, old man – I don’t want to do this,” Two-Face replied, advancing towards Gordon.

“hEy! We’Re SuPpOsEd To FlIp On AlL dEcIsIoNs!” his inner voice chided.

“I said hold it!” Gordon shot a bullet right before Two-Face’s foot; he stopped, and raised his hands; his guns stayed visible inside his pockets, but far out of reach. “You killed my daughter, Harvey.”

“pShT! nO oNe LiKeD hEr AnYwAy! LaSt I hEaRd, ShE wAs PeNnYwOrTh’S nIeCe, AnYwAy, NoT jImBo’S dAuGhTeR.”

“Jim – don’t do this – I don’t want to hurt you, but…” Harvey’s voice croaked out from his throat, stuttering.

“On the ground!” Gordon commanded. He tried to not let his emotions get the better of him. Ohh, how sweet it would be just to see a bullet splitting into his skull…

“dO iT, hArV! i’S gOtS a PlAn!”

Not listening to his inner dialogue, Harvey knelt on his knees and put his hands behind his head. This was it – but at least he seemed to be getting out of here alive. Gordon moved over cautiously and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “You have the right to remain silent, Mr. Dent,” he began – but before he could finish, Two-Face threw an elbow behind him, elbowing Gordon in the ribs; he doubled over and shot in Harvey’s direction; the bullet grazed his forearm and a splash of steaming blood splattered on the brick wall of the alleyway.

Two-Face didn’t even think to flip on this; he moved back to Gordon, almost frantically, his two voices warring with each other. He dug his right, scarred hand into his pocket and pulled out his ever-trusty 22 calibre gun and aimed it at Gordon. Will he? Won’t he? Will he? Won’t he?

Gordon stared up at Two-Face and frowned. He tried to climb to his feet – he wouldn’t take this. And he didn’t think Harvey would do it. “Harvey, put the gun DOWN…” Though his old, tired face was firm, his voice was shaky and weak.

“I’m SoRrY, jImBo,” Big Bad Harv began, but the good side then concluded, “I told you I didn’t want it to come to this.”

BLAM!

BLAM!

* * * * * * * * * *

AND AFTER AN EIGHTEENTH ROUND OF VOTING…

Alfred’s ears perked up as the two gun shots rung through the city. It didn’t sound too far away, maybe five blocks at the most. He couldn’t believe just how well sound carried when the city was so void of life. He crossed his fingers, hoping that it was the Joker that got hit – just hoping – anyone else he’d care about in SOME capacity, except him. Please, be him…

The ever-present Joker that keeps going and going and going doubled-back – hey, Harv would be happy with that little pun – as soon as he heard the gun shots. He didn’t care who did it – Two-Face, Gordon, hell, Batman’s probably gotten so desperate these days, maybe he actually shot someone – but he had to see the kill. He couldn’t sleep peacefully until he found out who the newest victim was. He had to be a part of it. This is what he lived for!

“Hellooooooooo?” the Joker cooed. Nothing. He then heard footsteps; ducking into a corner under an awning, he hid in the shadows; Two-Face darted by, grunting and gasping. “Hmph,” Joker thought – like he cared. He continued in the direction of the gunshots he heard until he was interrupted by a soft but harsh swooping sound. He ducked for cover again, and realized it was Batman this time, gliding downward through the air in hot pursuit. “Soon, darling,” he whispered, kissing his hand and throwing it up to the sky, hoping the filthy breeze would carry it afar. “I’ll see you so very soon.”

After Batman was – sigh – out of sight, the Joker crept across the street and back into the alley in which he had pursued Two-Face and Harley Quinn earlier that evening. There on the slimy ground lay Commissioner Gordon in a crumpled mess. “Well hello hello,” Joker cooed, crouching down at Gordon’s side. He inspected the body – he was still alive – it looked like he’d been shot in both his right arm and leg, though, at the elbow and knee joints. He grinned and spoke sweetly. “Omigod, Jimmy, you’ve been hit!!!!” He grabbed Gordon’s body and hugged it, smearing his own suit with blood, but not caring. Not when the – gasp – COMMISSIONER of the police was shot. Oh, it was the May Sweeps and this is the sort of powerful melodrama that pulled in the big ratings. “Officer down! Officer down!”

Hey, that’d be a cool idea for a comics crossover, actually.

Just a passing thought – but a good one, Joker thought.

After a moment of gawd-awful overacting, Joker looked down again – Gordon’s eyes began to flutter. “Here, let me help you with that,” he said, pressing a joy-buzzer into Gordon’s shoulder; his body spasmed and shot awake. He coughed and sputtered and gasped, trying to collect his bearings. “See? All better.”

Gordon gasped when his vision cleared and he saw the Joker grinning. “You?”

“Don’t act so surprised, Commissioner – we all knew we’d have another run-in like this sooner or later. It’s fate! It’s kismet! It’s…” Gordon grabbed for his gun with his ailing right arm – the shot in his elbow burned and made even thinking about it a pain. The Joker saw this but hesitated reacting.

“OK, here’s the deal. I let you live, as long as you do a little favour for me.” Ohhhh, that sounded strangely familiar. However, Gordon wasn’t scared. He wasn’t even listening any more – Joker’s words were like a virus. “I need you to deliver a message to my love for me.”

Gordon scrunched up his face and growled. “No.”

“No no no, you don’t understand. After all your years as a beat-cop and you still just don’t get it. I’ve got the upper hand – I always have. I’m out of your league and only your pet Bat – and my darling, darling Brucie – has what it takes to even get close to me.”

“You’re nothing more than a cheap gangster that should have died back in the 40’s. You’re like Cesar Romero gone bad, gone stale. You’re like Vaudeville – people just don’t give it a second thought any more. So, Mr. Napier, if that really IS your name, get out of my face.” Gordon usually didn’t talk like this. He didn’t even know if it was cheesy dialogue that was so very out of character or if this is just what he really felt all these years. All he cared about was that he’d hit the Joker where it hurt most – his pride.

The Joker growled but quickly calmed himself down and waved it off. “Remember back at the Peregrenator’s Club? The dentist? Our mock-trial in Arkham? New Year’s Eve? You were there each time. So was I. A perfectly able cop, perfectly able to protect himself and his city. YET, you always called in Guano-Man to save you. Maybe back in Chicago you were something, but in Gotham we’re all out of your league, James.” He grinned. “So you should be thanking me.”

“Thank you!?” Gordon spat. The Joker delighted in his fury.

“Oh, you’re absolutely welcome! So, I shall spare your life for the moment.” He slapped Gordon across the face. “I’ll just have to knock you out first to make my message perfectly clear. Oh, I love this,” he gleefully giggled as Gordon turned cheek after cheek to Joker’s gloved fist.

As he saw Gordon collapse back onto the ground, he hoisted him back up. “No Jimmy, you have to be standing up for this…” he reached into his inner breast pocket and retrieved a small make-up kit. He also retrieved a scalpel and promptly tore Gordon’s suit apart down the middle from the collar to his waist. He bared his chest and grinned – this guy did keep himself in shape, he’d give him that. And it was just as well, too – it gave him a better canvas for his wondrous artwork.

“Oh, this is going to be magnificently malicious!” He cackled as he got down to work.

Brucie was going to be so displeased with him. And that’s just what he was looking forward to oh, so much.

BLAM!

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!

More gunshots rung through the urban landscape. Batman suavely dodged the blasts from high above, swooping left and right, bullets missing him by miles each time. Far below he could see Two-Face running through the shadows, shooting wildly behind him. He wouldn’t let him get away. He should have followed him earlier, weeks ago, after he first gathered his “Supa-Freakz” forces to dominate Gotham – but he didn’t. There was always something more urgent at hand, and justice for his old friend would have to wait.

Today was his day of comeuppance.

Batman lost sight of Two-Face for a moment, but he knew where he stood. Batman perched himself on a gargoylesque outcropping of rock on the side of a building and just listened. He calmed his own breath until he was silent, and then just listened. He could hear panting. He could hear sputtering. And he knew where it was – directly below him, five storeys below, on street level.

“sHuT uP wItH aLl ThAt BrEaThIn’! BaTmAn’S gOnNa HeAr YoU!”

“I know, I know, I just can’t help it!” Harvey gasped in response.

“AnD kEeP aLl ThAt DiAlOgUe InTeRnAl! GeEz, I gOtTa TeLl YoU hOw To Do EvErYtHiNg! No WoNdEr I’m ThE bRaInS oF tHiS oUtFiT!” The evil side chided.

“Yessir…” Harvey sighed.

“YoU’rE eVeN sTaRtInG tO sOuNd LiKe ThAt HaRlEy GiRl NoW – i ToLd YoU sHe WaS bAd NeWs. WiMp.”

“But…”

“ShHhHhHhH!!!!”

Big Bad Harvey was right. He cocked his head, left ear facing upward, listening. He thought he heard something. Little chunks of stone fell on the ground with a light pitter-patter, shattering when they hit the concrete sidewalk.

“He’s right above us,” Two-Face thought. “Ohhhhh…”

“So ShOoT hIm AlReAdY!!!!” Big Bad Harv grabbed the gun from the holster on the left side of Two-Face’s body and shot through the purple and pink awning above him, aimlessly. “ThE bAt MuSt DiIiIiIeEeEeeEeEeE!!!!!!”

“You’re losing it, Harvey,” Batman thought as he stepped away from the edge of the roof. He then ran ahead and lept halfway across the street, then spun around and shot his grappling hook back behind him; he swung back down towards the street, arcing back right to where Two-Face stood. “There you are…” Batman grunted as he narrowed his vision on Two-Face, now aiming directly at him. He stood under the awning before the “Sugar & Spice Fashion Boutique” display window, hollering something profane and disgusting, guns ablaze. “Believe me, Harvey – this is killing me as much as it’s killing you.”

With a loud crunch, Batman collided with Two-Face’s body right across his midsection, not yet disposing of his gun. Both men belted out a grunt. Two-Face’s body fell back into the glass, and with the force of Batman’s body pressing upon him, still moving at an alarming rate, both men crashed through the display window, the glass shattering and raining down all around them.

Batman pushed both his hands up around under Two-Face’s jaw and squeezed. “Drop the gun. Now.”

“RiIiIiIgHt…” Two-Face moved his hand as well as he could and fired – Batman pushed down his shoulder and crunched his arm back, forcing him to drop the gun.

“OW!!!! I give up! I give up! Just let go of me!”

“DoN’t GiVe In So EaSiLy, IdIoT!” Two-Face grabbed a shard of glass still jutted out from the window frame, broke it off, and slashed and stabbed it into Batman’s back just below the shoulder. Batman winced in pain and let go of Harvey; he slithered out from underneath and groaned – he wasn’t feeling too great, either.

“Stay back!” Two-Face commanded as he clutched the glass shard tighter, gashing open his own fingers. He couldn’t even feel the burning – that would come later. All that was important now was putting this matter to rest, permanently.

Batman grunted and stood up. He lunged at Harvey, grabbed him by the lapels, and pressed him against the wall. Two-Face was kicking and screaming and ranting in tongues – Batman knew he wouldn’t be able to get through to him yet. He hurled Two-Face over his head and across the tiny little boutique, knocking racks of clothes and mannicans over. With a loud crash, Two-Face’s body slammed through the door to the changing room, knocking it off its hinges. When his skull hit the mirrored walls inside with a loud crack, Batman’s heart lighted, albeit slightly.

Two-Face twitched and groaned – no, this couldn’t happen. It could NOT. “GeT uP! fIgHt! CoMe On, StOp PrEtEnDiNg YoU’rE oUt FoR tHe CoUnT! wE’rE tOuGh! kIlL hIm!” Blood and glass criss-crossed his torn clothes, torn skin, and torn mind. He looked all about, at the three mirrored, reflective surfaces covering the walls around him; faces upon faces upon expotentially multiplied faces reflecting back, half clean but sad and depressed, the other half scarred and twisted with acid-induced rage.

“Your damage is done, Harvey. Don’t make this even worse for yourself,” Batman spat as he advanced through the wrecked boutique. “You broke into my cave. My lair. You beat Alfred. You gave Tim a concussion. You shot Selina. Killed Barbara before her father’s eyes – and Dick before mine.”

Two-Face sighed – his heart sunk. But Big Bad Harv overtook his body, and errupted in his nervous, rauccous laughter. “HaHaHaHaHaHa!!!! So, LiKe, WhAt’S yEr PoInT???”

“Please, just stop – I can’t put up with this, just let the man speak – he’s right, we’ve gone too far…” Harvey pleaded with himself, his heart burning.

“Oh CoMe On!!! We’Ve DoNe HiM a FaVoR! If BaTmAn Is WhO wE’vE bEeN tOlD hE iS, hE sHoUlD fEeL rIgHt At HoMe!! He WaS BoRn A lOnEr, AnD nOw He CaN dIe A lOnEr!”

Batman just listened. He didn’t want to hear it, but he let Two-Face rant himself into fatigue.

“Don’t listen to him, Batman – I’m willing to go peacefully…”

“It’S bRuCe, I tElLs Ya!”

“No, it can’t be – I’d never do it to him. He’s always been there for me, I have no reason to hate him.”

“Is ToO!!!! jOkEr ToLd Us So AgEs AgO! lOoK aT tHaT cHin!”

“I SAID SHUT UP!!!!!”

“MaKe Me!!” Pause. “SeE? yOu CaN’t! LoOk WhO’s In CoNtRoL nOw, HaRvEy BaBy! YoU cAn’T mAkE mE dO aNyThInG! HaHaHaHaHaHa!!!!”

Harvey cried. “No. NO!” He growled. “You’re wrong! And you’re wrong about Bruce being Batman, too! You have to be! He wouldn’t lie to us, we’ve been friends FOREVER!”

Batman felt this would be a good time to interject, when the good personality was in control. He extended his hand towards the floor upon which Two-Face was sprawled. “Give me your hand,” he said with a heavy heart, almost sounding like it was against his better judgement, “let me help you.”

“FaT cHaNcE, pLaYbOy!” Big Bad Harv growled, pulling the gun from the other holster on Two-Face’s body, this one on the right side. “BaTmAn Or BrUcE, oR mAyBe BoTh – I dOn’T gIvE a DaMn AnYmOrE – sTaY bAcK! hArVeY iS MiNe To DeAl WiTh, So GeT yOuR dIrTy HaNdS aWaY fRoM hIm!!!!”

“Please…” Harvey sobbed, “…don’t do this…”

“YoU cAn’T eRaSe Me – wE’rE dUaL tO tHe DeAtH.”

Harvey then conceeded, “…at least flip on it.”

“FiNe, If It’Ll MaKe ThE bAbY fEeL aLlLlLlL bEtTeR…”

He reached into his pocket, presented the coin to Batman for what he hoped would be the last time, and flipped; reflected infinite times in the mirrored mirrors around him, the coin arced directly up into the stagnant air. As the glimmering piece fell back towards earth, Two-Face greedily snatched it in mid-air.

“HeH hEh HeH – bAd HeAdS. tHe BoTh Of YoU kNoW oUr RuLeS.” He put down the coin and aimed the gun with his scarred blue hand.

“No!!!!!” Harvey screamed.

Just as Two-Face was about to press his finger against the trigger, Batman ducked his head. To still keep everyone calm, he brought his hand up just below his nose and slowly peeled his cowl off of his face; he raised his head again and let the cowl flutter down around his shoulders. He tried to contort his face into a pleasant, non-threatening, bland expression on his face – it was tougher than he had ever imagined.

Two-Face sat slouched in the pools of blood and cracked glass, eyes wide and mouth agape – it was Bruce, after all. After all this time, he was fighting his best friend.

“ThErE, mY pOiNt HaS bEeN pRoVeN! cAn I kIlL hIm NoW????” He spat sarcasticly.

“My God…” Harvey whispered in despair, looking at Bruce standing before him, hand extended, but perfectly silent.

“Ya BoRiN’ mE, bAbY!!!!”

“I WON’T LET YOU DO THIS!” Harvey screamed – he lunged his right hand across his body and tore the gun away from the left.

“FiNe, YoU dO iT, tHeN. aLl ThE mOrE pOiGnAnT aNd PaThEtIc.”

Harvey had no such idea in his head. He looked back up at Bruce and gave him a half-smile. This was the end – he could finally leave Big Bad Harv’s grasp…finally…

“LoOk At HiM, hE’s BeEn LyIn’ To Us FoR yEaRs! He’S bEeN lIvInG bEhInD a MaSk AlL hIs LiFe! YoU tHiNk I’d HaTe HiM iF wE kNeW hIs SeCrEt AgEs AgO? PsHt!”

“…please, save me from myself…”

“DoN’t FaLl FoR iT! hE’lL jUsT tHrOw YoU iNtO jAiL oR aRkHaM oR wOrSe! YoU tHiNk He ReAlLy WaNtS tO hElP uS? oR eVeN jUsT yOu?? HeLl No!”

“…I’ve caused you so much pain…”

“ShOoT hIm AlReAdY! WhAt, DiD yOu FoRgEt HoW?”

“…I killed your boy, shot your friend, killed his daughter…”

“He BeTrAyEd Us! He SeNt PeNnYwOrTh As A sPy To ChEcK uP oN uS! iS tHaT vErY hOnOuRaBlE?”

“…and deep down inside, all you wanted to do was help me…”

“LoOk At HiM! hE’s TwO iN oNe! He’S jUsT aS tWo-FaCeD aS wE aRe!”

“…but no one can…the pain I’ve caused…”

“YoU lOsT yOuR lAdY lOvE, mS. qUiNzEl, AnD yOu ShOuLd Be PiSsEd OfF, MaN! ShOoT aT tHe FiRsT tHiNg ThAt MoVeS! LeT aLl ThAt AnGeR oUt!”

“…everything I’ve made you endure…”

“dO iT!”

“…I don’t…”

“I sAiD dO iT!”

“…deserve a friend…”

“Do It, HaRvEy, YoU wEaKlInG!”

“…a friend like you…”

“TiMe’S a-TiCkIn’! GiVe ThAt GuN tO mE aNd LeT mE wAsTe ‘Im!”

“…please Bruce…”

“I sWeAr ThAt If YoU dOn’T NaIl ‘Im NoW yOu’Ll NeVeR lIvE iT dOwN!!”

“…never give up on me…”

“PoOr BaBy!!!”

“…at least one of us still hasn’t…”

“Oh, DoN’t GeT aLl SeNtImEnTaL oN uS nOw! I’m SoAkEd WiTh SwEaT aNd TeArS! hAhAhAhAhAhAhA!!!!”

“…’cuz I’ve given up on myself.”

Two-Face drew the gun in his unscathed right hand and aimed it at Bruce. He shuddered and twitched and cried alouded, trying to hold back the sobs. Bruce still stood before him, arm outstretched, still believing he could reach out to his friend.

Two-Face sobbed once more and drew the gun back away from Bruce; he twisted his wrist upward and pressed the end of the gun underneath his jaw and groaned. Giving Bruce a pathetic, pleaing look, he actually managed to curl the good half of his face into a smile; it quickly disappeared as the tears returned. He whispered between his clenched teeth and tired lips, “I love you, Bruce.”

Two-Face yanked back on his finger and with a loud blast, two bullets shot up into the left side of his skull, shattering it, finally destroying Big Bad Harv forever. Pieces of bone and flesh and hair soared upward and flew about in a gush of blood, reflected a thousand times in the multitude of mirrors surrounding him. Bruce jumped back a step to take a better look at his friend – he didn’t know what to think. As the bullets embedded themselves in the ceiling, Two-Face awkwardly collapsed on the ground in a pool of his own blood and died, with Bruce somberly watching over him. It’s all a friend could do.

* * * * * * * * * *

ROUND EIGHTEEN

Kicked Off:
COMMISSIONER GORDON (32.0%)
TWO-FACE (26.0%)

Those whom you DID vote for, but they’re still hanging around:
ALFRED (18.0%)
THE JOKER (16.0%)
BATMAN (8.0%)

And now, here’s our up-to-date list of our remaining contenders:

BATMAN
ALFRED
THE JOKER

* * * * * *

Congratulations to our subscriber at Kevenn Smith for winning an unedited copy of RETURN OF THE JOKER! Now don’t forget to vote, the rest of you!

E-mail juno@dccnet.com with your votes of the TWO you’d like to see cast off. Remember, we need TWO choices! (I stress that again. TWO!)

PS – Voting for this issue closes at midnight (PST) on May 18, 2001.
___________________________________________________________________

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! (Mwuhahaha!) 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.

NON-FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

536. What is the only episode in which Two-Face and the Scarecrow can be seen standing side by side?

Answer: _________________

537. In which episode did the Joker abuse the Mad Hatter’s genius to forward his own criminal activity?

Answer: _________________

538. In what episode OR comic did the Penguin and Mr. Freeze work on a scheme together?

Answer: _________________

539. Aside from the Joker and Harley Quinn, what other Bat-villain appeared in a story that also featured Lex Luthor?

Answer: _________________

540. According to Maxie Zeus, what Bat-Villain, to him, represents the Greek goddess Demeter?

Answer: _________________

541. What episode marked the first time Tim Drake (as Robin) encountered the Joker?

Answer: _________________

542. During a hallucination, what Bat-villain sees Clark Kent and Lois Lane having a picnic in a Gotham City park?

Answer: _________________

543. During what season of BTAS’ production was a team-up with Catwoman and Black Canary planned?

Answer: _________________

544. Aside from the Joker, what was the first villain Harley Quinn can be seen either working with OR fighting with (in the same scene), in order of episode original air date?

Answer: _________________

545. What is the name of Barbara Gordon’s teddy-bear?

Answer: _________________
_____________________________________________________________________
AND THESE ARE OUR FINAL ANSWERS (to the trivia)

Answer to #536: TRIAL
Answer to #537: MAKE ‘EM LAUGH
Answer to #538: They didn’t. Freeze is a loner, remember?
Answer to #539: Maxie Zeus
Answer to #540: Poison Ivy – goddess of the harvest (or some such)
Answer to #541: HOLIDAY KNIGHTS
Answer to #542: The Ventriloquist
Answer to #543: Second season (1994-95)
Answer to #544: Catwoman (in ALMOST GOT ‘IM, her second appearance on the series)
Answer to #545: “Woobie”
_____________________________________________________________________
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, STAS and BEYOND countless times. If you have anything to contribute, feel free to do so! Enjoy!

CONTRIBUTED BY STAFF:
1) In the scene of READ MY LIPS, Batman’s bedroom-interrogation scene of the Ventriloquist shows him pinning Wesker to the door, wearing nothing but his cyan-coloured pyjamas. In another shot of the scene, however, Wesker is shown from behind wearing a black suit – most likely the suit he is usually seen wearing. Even Superman can’t change his clothes THAT fast. Whoops!

2) Just after Batman and Robin pick up their “fixed” Batmobile in THE MECHANIC, Batman jumps into the car and sits in the passenger side seat. This NEVER happens – Robin always rides shotgun. The following shot of them driving away shows just that!

CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:
(by Phillip Ratter)
3) In the Batman Beyond episode OUT OF THE PAST, Bruce sits at the Batcomputer and looks at pictures of his old girlfriends. So the question here is, why doesn’t he have a picture of Andrea Beaumont? Doesn’t she count, since they were going to get married? Or the fact that she was from the movie count against her?
____________________________________________________________________
FIGURE THIS OUT!
(by Marc Rosenzweig)

Marc wasn’t able to supply an article for this issue of the newsletter, so subscriber Dave Artman has submitted a short review of a toy of his choice. Enjoy!

Knight Camo Batmobile

This is a recent release that has popped up in TRU, among other stores. It is essentially a repaint of the original BTAS Batmobile. This is the second re-release of this vehicle in a short period of time, as you may recall another release approximately a year or so ago. But that version was too garish, with bright orange hubcaps, etc., not exactly the color scheme a Caped Crusader would pick. Actually, when you think about it, the Batmobile used in the newer Batman series (the one with Batgirl, Robin and Nightwing) makes more sense realistically but few vehicles have looked cooler than the BTAS version.

The latest release features a midnight-blue color with black bats all over the surface, a more appropriate choice than the prior re-release. The back of the vehicle still detaches to reveal a small, jet vehicle. A Batman figure also is included, painted in the same blue shade as the Batmobile but sporting the plain bat symbol rather than the yellow circle style. All in all, a pretty nice toy, especially for those who don’t want to spend big bucks on eBay trying to score the original.

Thanks,
Dave Artman
____________________________________________________________________
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
ISSUE: “Sticking” (#38)
WRITTEN BY: Scott Peterson
PENCILS: Tim Levins
INKS: Terry Beatty
ISSUED: May 2, 2001 (Cover date July 2001)
RATING: **1/2 (out of 5 stars)

I’m watching the Stanley Cup playoffs as I write this, which is fitting, as hockey is the gimmick used largely in . Hey, I’m Canadian – say what you will about stereotypes, but I get excited over this sort of stuff.

Unfortunately, this issue didn’t prove to be as stellar as its recent predecessors. While I did enjoy seeing Robin and Batgirl in starring roles and Batman step out of the spotlight (entirely), I found the story to be not terribly engaging. It was still a nice little story about “normal” people instead of my favourite supervillains, but I didn’t find any clear message or moral to the story which Peterson usually does. It is for this reason that the final page where a little league player meets up with his criminal father falls flat.

Even so, the story was entertaining – to actually see the younger members of the Bat-crew sleuthing without their mentor’s help was interesting. It’s comforting to know that their world doesn’t ENTIRELY revolve around Batman, and that they can do some things on their own.

As per usual, Levins’ and Beatty’s work was terrific. Am I to expect anything less of these two?

Oh, just a side note:

While I’m on this pro-Canadian kick (hey, national pride is good, right?), I noticed that cover artist Bob Smith has been given the nickname “Canada Bob”. Is he, like previous writer Ty Templeton, a fellow Canuck? Mayhaps…

(Go Habs, Go…well, if they were in the playoffs, I’d be saying that…)

;-Y
______________________________________________________________
COMIC SCHEDULES & COVERING THE BASICS

This section gives a little bit more in-depth look into each monthly issue of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES and BATMAN BEYOND. 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 (or higher) in Canada. (Both our editors and many subscribers are Canadian, hence the well-deserved “grrr”.)

If we are unsure of the exact date of when an issue is being released, just check out “DIRECT CURRENTS” for details:
http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/

-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #39
June 6th
Synopsis: The Bat-team investigates odd, possibly dangerous occurrences at a production of Macbeth and are surprised to discover that the leading man is actually a very large and malleable Arkham inmate in disguise. Looks like Clayface is back.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0103/13/BGothAd39.htm

FOLLOWING MONTH:
July 4th
Synopsis: Mr. Freeze is back in Gotham City, and he’s looking for a way to bring about a new Ice Age. But he`s not working alone this time – there’s a mysterious person who has gotten Freeze to implement this latest plan. Batman must figure out what Freeze is looking for, what he`s trying to do and who`s got the influence over Freeze to push him toward this mad plan. But time is running out.
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages269036.jpg

BATMAN BEYOND #21
May 30th
Synopsis: The Justice League Unlimited make their comic-book debut! One of the most popular episodes of the Batman Beyond cartoon show featured a futuristic version of the JLA – the Justice League Unlimited – and now they appear for the first time in the BATMAN BEYOND comic-book! Batman teams up with the JLU in a high-voltage adventure as they battle a new villain called Blacklight!
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages260082.jpg

FOLLOWING MONTH:
June 27th
Synopsis: The conclusion to “In Blackest Day,” guest-starring the Justice League Unlimited. Batman and the JLU battle the strange new threat called Blacklight for the life and power of JLU member Green Lantern.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0103/13/BB22.htm
_____________________________________________________________________

NEWS AND RUMORSALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-Sign a petition in an attempt to get a soundtrack CD set of BTAS music produced! Go here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/2454/petition.html
-According to the Billboard Charts, ROTJ was the sixth-highest selling kids’ genre video in 2000.
-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)
-WE HAVE LOTS OF JLA STUFF HERE FOR YOU, TOO!
For example, here’s the run-down of everyone doing the voices of major characters on the show:
-Batman (Kevin Conroy, of course)
-Superman (George Newbern)
-Green Lantern (Phil LaMarr)
-Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg)
-Hawkgirl (Maria Canals)
-Martian Manhunter (Carl Lumby)
-Flash (Michael Rosenbaum)
-The injustice league includes two arch-foes that have already appeared in the animated series, each character still being voiced by the same voice actor:
-The Joker (Mark Hamill)
-Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown)
-COMICSCONTINUUM has snagged a huge interview with Bruce Timm on this series. Here are some things we learned…and go to the following URL for the full interview:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0104/24/jlaindex.htm
*November 2001 will be the premiere date.
*26 half-hour episodes were ordered for this coming season.
*Though the show is set in the same continuity of the current Batman and Superman shows, don’t expect the show to stick to it 100%.
*The painted backgrounds for the show will be more realistic and less stylized than they were on the other shows.
*The style of the show will look more like the original BTAS series, not the “new” designs of BTAS, BEYOND, or SUPERMAN. Yes, Batman got a new character design once again. Superman and the Flash still look pretty much the same. For a pic of them, go here:
http://www.cinescape.com/insider/jla010424a.jpg
*Storyboards of the pilot has been completed and are ready to be shipped overseas to begin production.
*The crew behind JL is still unsure whether the show will air as an hour or 30 minutes. It does look like it’ll be in a prime-time slot, though!
*There will be episodes focusing on specific characters. A Wonder Woman episode is currently in the works. An Aquaman episode is expected, and a Green Lantern episode (the premiere) has already been greenlighted.
*There will be a sub-plot throughout the season, behind each epic battle, that will lead to a big finale. (Much like how the first seasons of BATMAN BEYOND and SUPERMAN were structured.)
*Along with Lex Luthor and the Joker, other villains appearing on the series will be: Cheetah, Solomon Grundy, Shade, Copperhead, the Ultrahumanite, and probably Darkseid in the future (season two). Expect other DC Universe villains (including those from Gotham and Metropolis) to appear as well.
*Rich Fogel is the supervising/writing producer.
*Stan Berkowitz is the major staff writer.
*Glen Murakami and James Tucker are the artists and co-producers.
*Butch Lukic and Dan Riba are the directors.
*Andrea Romano is back as the voice director.
*Regarding the music of the series, no contracts have been signed as of yet, but Timm hopes to get Shirley Walker and all of the other BTAS, STAS, and BEYOND composers to contribute to the music for JLA.
*The first episode arc of the series will feature how the JLA got together.
-BATMAN BEYOND is airing on GLOBAL in Canada, again! Check out GLOBAL at 3:10am on Thursdays

ANIMATED COMICS
-BATMAN BEYOND #24 and SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #66 (probably) will be the last issue of each series, as each of the comic series based on the animated series is being cancelled. It looks like BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES is still making the cut, though.
-Just as with all WB animated series, the JLA animated series will also recieve a tie-in animated book, drawn in the animated style. It is tentatively entitled “JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES.”
-Comic writer Paul Storrie will be writing two issues of the BATMAN BEYOND comic series; the first is set to be released in July (#23), and the other the following months. This looks to be the final issue of the series.
-In a chat conducted with Tim Levins, he has confirmed that the following villains will all be showing up in GOTHAM ADVENTURES over the next few issues: Talia, the Riddler, Clayface (Issue #
39), and a solo Harley story ().
-Mr. Freeze is getting another new suit in of GOTHAM ADVENTURES! It’s pretty similar to his newer, sleaker suit, but with a few modifications. Check it out here!
http://www.toonzone.net/worldsfinest/wfnewspage/bgafreeze.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #40
Written by Scott Peterson; art by Tim Levins and Terry Beatty; cover by Bob Smith and Beatty.
In stores July 4. Mr. Freeze is back in Gotham City, and he’s looking for a way to bring about a new Ice Age. But he`s not working alone this time – there’s a mysterious person who has gotten Freeze to implement this latest plan. Batman must figure out what Freeze is looking for, what he`s trying to do and who`s got the influence over Freeze to push him toward this mad plan. But time is running out.
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages269036.jpg
-BATMAN BEYOND #22
Written by Hilary Barta; art by Rick Burchett and Dan Davis; cover by Brian Stelfreeze.
In stores June 27. The conclusion to “In Blackest Day,” guest-starring the Justice League Unlimited. Batman and the JLU battle the strange new threat called Blacklight for the life and power of JLU member Green Lantern.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0103/13/BB22.htm
-BAMTAN BEYOND #23
Written by Paul Storrie; art by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh; cover by Darwyn Cooke.
In stores July 25. There`s a new “King” in town, and he`s putting together a new Royal Flush Gang. Is Batman playing with a full deck when he asks “Ten” to help him take down this dangerous and motley crew?
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages269033.jpg

-For more animated comic updates, go here:
http://www.toonzone.net/worldsfinest/bbeyond/previews.html

OTHER COMICS
-Ed Brubaker has shed light on what DC plans for the “event” involving BATMAN #600, in 10 months time:
*It will be a 64-page issue.
*It will have an extra-sized lead story and a lot of back-ups.
*Brubaker said that he has approached James Tucker from the Batman and upcoming Justice League animated series to work on a Dick Sprang-influenced story for the issue. (Tucker worked on the portion of the “Legends of the Dark Knight” animated episode that featured a Batman from that era.)
-Greg Rucka has told FANDOM.com that one of the characters in the Superman comics will be moving over to the Batman comics permanently. He won’t say who or when, exactly – just that it will be later this year.
-BATMAN #593: An alien appears in Gotham – no joke. And I doubt it’s Superman. It somehow ties in with the OUR WORLDS AT WAR storyline this year. Oh well – I bet Brubaker can pull it off!
-AZRAEL #80: Scott McDaniel begins doing the cover pencils for the series with this issue. Fear not, he will still remain on the BATMAN crew, too.
-Here’s a more detailed look at the previously-reported upcoming October 2001 event at DC:
Written by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty, Art by Various, Covers by Brian Bolland, Six issues, Fourth Quarter 2001 The madcap madness of the Joker – one of the most heinous criminals in DCU history – is about to be multiplied a dozenfold this fall. When the Joker believes his days are numbered after a medical exam reveals a spot on his brain, he decides to go out with a bang – developing a way to `Jokerize` the other villains of the DC Universe and have them do his bidding. Beginning in Last Laugh, a six-part weekly series in the month of October and first week of November, the `Joker madness` then spreads into nearly all the DCU titles that month, as the world`s superheroes must face their already deadly enemies who now have unpredictable, murderous `Joker personalities`.
-Each of the “Big 7” JLA members will be recieving a prose-novel treatment in 2001. First up is a Batman novel by Alan Grant; each novel will sport a cover by Alex Ross.
-Here is a preliminary cover of Catwoman’s new ongoing series (entitled CATWOMAN: VOLUME TWO):
http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages267930.jpg
-Later this year, DC will be taking a shot at attractive new BATMAN readers by offering a full-length, in-continuity one-shot by Greg Rucka and Rich Burchett entitled BATMAN: THE TEN CENT ADVENTURE – seriously, DC will actually sell it for 10 cents! It will also tie in with an important upcoming BATMANstoryline entitled BRUCE WAYNE: FUGITIVE.
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages267928.jpg
-LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #142-145 features a four-part “The Demon Laughs” storyline where Ra’s Al Ghul seeks the Joker’s assistance to obliterate Batman and take over the world (and so forth).
Cover of part 1: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/Apr04/covers/down/dlodk142.jpg
Cover of part 2: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages260072.jpg
Cover of part 3: http://www.batman.com/directcurrents/comics/Jun06/covers/down/dlodk144.jpg
Cover of part 4: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages269020.jpg
-HARLEY QUINN #10: Barbara Gordon returns as Batgirl??? Oh, and Croc’s still got his hands full with Harley, too.
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages269038.jpg
-HARLEY QUINN #12 will be an extra-sized issue featuring Harley, Bo, Surley, and Killer Croc.

MOVIES
-For videos of the cut scenes from the edited ROTJ video, go here:
http://4colorreview.simplenet.com/reviews/return_of_the_joker/return_of_the_joker.shtml
-Paul Dini is pondering ideas for a second BATMAN BEYOND direct-to-video movie, but nothing, repeat, NOTHING has been greenlit by the studio just yet.

*BATMAN: YEAR ONE (BATMAN 5) NEWS:
-On April 26, 2001, Darren Aronofsky confirmed that “today [is] the actual signing day” for the movie.
-Clint Mansell (who did the score for Aronofsky’s PI and REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) will be providing the score for the movie.
-The projected release date for this movie will be sometime in 2002 – but I wouldn’t say it’d be out ’til a year or two after that.
-YEAR ONE will be set in the 1970’s.
-Aaron Eckhart (ERIN BROKOVICH), originally pegged to play the young Batman, has now been said to be “set to play the young Commissioner Gordon”, according to E! Online.
-Jack Nicholson IS still interested in doing another Bat-film if he were ever asked by the WB;
unfortunately, they can’t seem to get around the fact that his character died in the first movie.
-Read an interview with Darren Aronofsky here:
http://www.fandom.com/batman/editorial.asp?action=page&obj_id=248753

*BATMAN: YEAR TWO (BATMAN 6) NEWS:
-Yep, you guessed it! The sequel-hungry WB is already planning a sequel to Aronofsky’s YEAR ONE adaption. Whether this is going to be based on the YEAR TWO comic storyline (which, in my opinion, is NOT that great) or another story (like a LONG HALLOWEEN or an original tale) is unknown.

*BATMAN BEYOND: LIVE ACTION NEWS:
-Word has it that Paul Dini is moving well along with their script, and it may be in the second draft already!
-This is NOT official, but rumblings at the WB seem to indicate BATMAN BEYOND will make it to theatres before YEAR ONE does.

*BATMAN BEYOND: THE FOURTH ANIMATED MOVIE
-Nothing new today…just expect it to revolve around Nightwing, folks.

*CATWOMAN
-According to FANDOM, Ashley Judd has agreed to play Catwoman in the upcoming film; of course, this could be a mistake, and maybe she has actually signed on to play Catwoman in Darren Aronofsky’s BATMAN: YEAR ONE movie.
Go here for details: http://www.fandom.com/batman/editorial.asp?action=page&obj_id=267816
-John Rogers is writing the script.
-Denise DeNovi (producer of BATMAN RETURNS) is producing the film.
-Batman has yet to officially have a cameo appearance.
-It looks like this Catwoman won’t even be named Selina Kyle…apparently a new “mousy geeky girl” named Patience Prude is donning the Cat-cowl. Ugh – what’s up with that?
-For a review of the script, go here: http://filmforce.ign.com//articles/50949p1.html
-(Can someone please explain to me how this even works as a Batman film? Or even a spin-off?)

LIVE ACTION TELEVISION
-BATMAN & ROBIN will make its network TV premiere on CBS on Friday, May 18th, at 8pm.
-More Batman/ONSTAR commercials are in the works! During the Academy Awards ceremony, a commercial entitled “Hot Date”, featuring an attack of the Penguin keeping Batman from being able to show up for a date with Vicki Vale on time. This can be found at ONSTAR.COM and ADCRITIC.COM.
-The fifth ONSTAR webisode, featuring (sorta) the Riddler and the Penguin, is now online, too.
-For a current airing schedule for the 1966 Adam West series, click here:
http://www.scifi.com/bin/schedulebot.cgi?wd=w&s=batman&ds=1&db=US%3AEastern&mon=4.01
-Proudction of SMALLVILLE series is underway in Vancouver, BC, Canada; the pilot episode is nearing completion.

EXCLUSIVE INTERNET ENDEAVOURS:
-BATMAN and future CATWOMAN writer Ed Brubaker now has his own web domain:
http://www.edbrubaker.com
-Sad news…one of the best and most official sites out there, the one at FANDOM.COM, will be shutting down, along with all the other internet FANDOM sites. We don’t have a specific date yet, though.
-More “Gotham Girls” episodes are on the way! Paul Dini has already scripted a Catwoman/Zatanna team-up, and it looks like Hilary Bader will be writing a number of other ones, too.

TOYS, BOOKS, AND OTHER MERCHANDISE
-BATMAN: VENGEANCE, a new game by Ubi Soft for the Playstation 2, is in production! The story is being written by the show’s writers, and it will have the “new” design look. Go to this address for stills from the game, featuring Batman, the Freezettes, Poison Ivy, Ivy’s Lab (?), Batgirl, something else from what I presume is the Mr. Freeze level, the Funnibone warehouse (looks like Joker’s in it for sure, too), the Batcave, and a whole bunch of shots of Gotham City. The game will probably price around $49.99, US.
http://www.fandom.com/batman/editorial.asp?action=page&obj_id=269762
-BATMAN: GOTHAM CITY RACER for PLAYSTATION is now available!
-Subscriber Victor Espinosa has told us that there is another Toys R Us exclusive four-pack on the way! It is called the GOTHAM CITY ENFORCEMENT TEAM, and it features figures of Batman, Batgirl, Nightwing, and, finally, Comissioner Gordon! Check out these links for more:
http://www.toonzone.net/worldsfinest/worldsfinestpage/frames.htm
http://www.jokerinc.action-figure.net
-A new Poison Ivy statue will be available on September 26 from DC Direct. Here’s a picture:
http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages265326.jpg
-A Harley Quinn snowglobe is due out on November 21. Here’s a picture:
http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages265335.jpg
-SPECIAL EDITION DVDs of all four live-action Batman movies (BATMAN, BATMAN RETURNS, BATMAN FOREVER, BATMAN & ROBIN) will be for sale by this Christmas! Included on these DVDs (particularly BATMAN and BATMAN FOREVER) will be additional footage, trailers, behind the scenes info, and more!!!!! We’ll keep you posted!

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
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FEATURED BATMAN INTERNET ENDEAVOURS FOR THIS ISSUE
(feel free to submit something for our consideration)

MESSAGE BOARDS!

World’s Finest has got brand new message boards up, and they are read for action! These new boards are packed full of conversation and great posters. A wide array of discussions ar eheld here, even occasionally about this very newsletter. The discussions ranging from Batman to theJustice league and everything inbetween! Check out these discussions at:

http://forums.toonzone.net

* * * * * *

Just an hour or so after I delivered the last issue of this newsletter, Dave Carroll e-mailed me. You know, Dave, the webmaster of the BATMAN: DEFENDER OF GOTHAM website over at FANDOM.COM. Anyway, as we found out a few issues ago, FANDOM was going to be shutting down, but Dave has brought us some good news! Even when FANDOM dies, his personal BATMAN site will live on! The exact internet location right now is not set, but in the meantime, he has created a message board where he can post news and all current readers can still interact.

Here it is:

http://pub59.ezboard.com/bbatmandefenderofgothammessageboard

And here’s hoping this website gets set up elsewhere, post-haste!
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ANIMATED BATMAN/SUPERMAN SITES:

Wow, our links section has grown so big that we’ve had to eliminate it from the newsletter! Fear not, you can still find all these links at the WORLD’S FINEST NEWSPAGE, if you follow this link…that’s hypocracy for ya!

http://www.toonzone.net/worldsfinest/worldsfinestpage/linkpage.htm

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@dccnet.com

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 updated with the latest one. To check it out go here:

TOONZONE’s BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
http://www.toonzone.net/news/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@dccnet.com, 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@dccnet.com
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, & WORKING, TOO!: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
CO-EDITOR AT COLLEGE, ALSO WORKIN’: “Dick Grayson”
AIR DATE SCHEDULES: Toonzone, Kids’WB!, and YTV
EPISODE REVIEWS: Zanna/Justin Chen, and occasionally Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
EDITORIAL: Help Wanted!!!
COMIC REVIEWS: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton, Dick Grayson
NO MAN’S ISLAND: SURVIVAL IN GOTHAM: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
‘RETURN OF THE JOKER’ GIVEAWAY: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
FIGURE THIS OUT: Marc Rosenzweig
“BTAN ARCHIVES” MODERATOR: Eileen Delgadillo
TRIVIA: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
PROMOTIONS, JUST GETTIN’ THE WORD OUT: 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
THE CREATION OF THIS NEWSLETTER INSPIRED BY: Alan J. Porter
BATMAN CREATED BY: Bob Kane & Bill Finger (who else?)

Batman and all related indicia are trademarks of DC Comics, Copyright c 2001.
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Regarding No Man’s Island…
*~SIGH~*

Batman The Animated Newsletter #92

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