Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Weeks of July 23, 2001 – August 5, 2001
Volume 4,
Rated: PG (as with all other things Batman-related)
THIS ISSUE’S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: “Happy belated non-denominational national holiday, everyone!”
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
-On account of possibly growing tedious, there have been some changes here at Batman: The Animated Newsletter. There have been some shuffling of the sections, trimming here, and deleting there, in hopes of making a sleeker, easier read for all of you. That, and we’re testing out a new delivery procedure with this issue – some of our long-time subscribers may recall this method. Apparently we’ve been having some problems with the size of this newsletter – so hopefully it’ll load quicker and easier this way. I hope this works out, everyone! If you have any suggestions to make this newsletter better, just let us know!
Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
-fearing change, but willing to give it a try
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EAGERLY ANTICIPATING…
New episodes are on the horizon! Here’s what we can expect in the near future…
Unfortunately, there are no new Batman-related episodes debuting in the near future. We’ll just have to wait until the JLA debuts this fall.
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NEWS AND RUMORS
(see back issues for older info)
ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-A DVD of the original 1966 BATMAN movie with Adam West and Burt Ward is due out in August. West and Ward are both providing a retrospective commentary on the DVD, too.
-OnStar is staging an online promotion, with the prize being a walk-on role in the next Batman movie. Starting May 31, fans will have a chance to enter a sweepstakes at www.onstar.com to win a walk-on role in the next Batman movie, which is still in the planning stages with no firm dates set yet. The promotion is part of OnStar’s marketing campaign, teaming with DC Comics, that includes two new TV spots, print ads and an interactive animated comic on the Internet.
“The relationship between OnStar and Batman has been extremely successful, helping to push OnStar awareness to new heights,” said Mike McEnaney, OnStar director of sales and marketing services. “With this new integrated campaign, OnStar and DC Comics have created a simple, yet compelling way to tell more of the OnStar story.”
The TV ads highlight OnStar’s newest services, Personal Calling and Virtual Advisor. In one, which premiered during the Academy Awards, while fighting off an attack by the Penguin on his Batmobile, Batman places a hands-free call to longtime girlfriend Vicki Vale to warn her that he might be late for their dinner date.
The second ad pits Batman against the Riddler, who sends an e-mail via the OnStar Virtual Advisor. Batman also uses the Virtual Advisor to solve the riddle and prevent a crime. The commercials were directed by Vincent Ward.
-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)
-In addition to providing the voice of the Joker on JLA (of course), Mark Hamill will be voicing Solomon Grundy as well. (You might recall him from old Superman comics or THE LONG HALLOWEEN and DARK VICTORY.)
-Unfortunately, BTAS did not win the poll of series’ to bring back to the CARTOON NETWORK (which I just don’t understand), so don’t expect it to return soon. Sigh.
-The public’s first peek at the JLA series will be at the San Diego Comic-Con, July 19-21. I wanna go!
-BATMAN BEYOND will return to the Canadian cable channel YTV this September and will air episodes #31-52.
ANIMATED COMICS
-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.”
-A solo Harley story, a Riddler story, and the first Two-Face story in two years (how fitting) are upon us in the next few issues of GOTHAM ADVENTURES.
-Terry Beatty reports that the art-crew from BATMAN BEYOND (Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh) will be working on of the series.
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #42
Written by Scott Peterson; art by Craig Rousseau and Dan Davis; cover by Bob Smith and Terry Beatty. In stores September 5. Batman and Robin must combat a string of fires that are being set around Gotham. Could this be Firefly’s first animated comic-book appearance?
Cover: http://www.assignmentx.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages271350.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #43
Who’s out to get Harley Quinn? Batman has to take her on as a sidekick to find out. The answer awaits deep in Harley’s history…that is, if she and the Dark Knight survive the traps set for them all over Gotham.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com:81/stories/0107/17/batadv43.jpg
-BATMAN BEYOND #24
This is the final issue of the series. Written by Hilary Barda; art by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh; cover by Darwyn Cooke. In stores August 29. There’s something curious about Mom’s new boyfriend. Could it be the claws, the fangs or the glowing eyes? That’s right, it’s the issue you’ve been waiting for as “Terry’s Mom Dates a Splicer!” But what does Batman have to say about it?
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0105/23/BB24.htm
-For more animated comic updates, go here:
http://www.toonzone.net/worldsfinest/bbeyond/previews.html
OTHER COMICS
-Paul Dini will be writing a ZATANNA miniseries for DC Comics’ VERTIGO series.
-THE JOKER: THE LAST LAUGH crossover news: (by Chuck Dixon)
-Issue #1: The Joker infects many other DCU villains with the concoction that made him what he is today – and only Black Canary stands in his way.
-Issue #2: Batman and Nightwing enter the story to stop the Joker from taking over the Slab.
-Issue #3: The Joker’s Jokerized buddies spread their terror across the world, and the whole JLA gets involved. The Joker then realizes there’s more to life than just a high body count, so his greatest scheme enters the planning stage…
-Issue #4: President Luthor decides to save the world from the Joker and his Jokerized buddies by bombing the bejesus out of ’em.
-Issue #5: Is it the end? Robin, Nightwing, and JLA, and…Harley?…vs. the Joker and his buddies?
-Issue #6: It all ends here. The Joker’s staked out scenic Gotham Cathedral as the spot to make his final stand against Batman’s allies, and he’s made sure no other heroes will interfere with his final revenge. Nightwing’s decided that the Joker’s actions finally need to be stopped — but will he go too far? And what is the fate of Tim Drake? Will he become the second Robin to die at the hands of the Joker?
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com:81/stories/0107/17/jll6.htm
-BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #22
With the Joker’s crazed super-villains terrorizing the DCU, Batman and Spoiler are left to defend Gotham City from a truly twisted new threat, as the Joker’s brand of chemical warfare has transformed the creatures of Gotham.
-DETECTIVE COMICS #763
With Batman out mopping up “Jokerized” pests, Sasha decides to go on solo patrol. But the danger is double for her as she meets up with the knife-wielding new villain Cucilla and…the Huntress! Plus, an all-new 8-part backup serial begins this issue: Josie Mac, written by Judd Winick and illustrated by Cliff Chiang.
-BATMAN #596
As Last Laugh continues to roll out “Jokerized” mayhem across the country, Batman must contend with Zeiss, the Russian Mob and a new villain who knows if you’ve been bad or good — Santa Klaus.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com:81/stories/0107/17/batman596.htm
-ROBIN #95
The horrific events of Last Laugh #5 tie-in as Robin defies orders and heads into Arkham Asylum to try and prevent the Joker from adding to his legion of villains. But the villains know he’s coming, and the odds are overwhelming. No problem, right?
-HARLEY QUINN #13
With the world becoming “Jokerized,” will this mean Harley is reunited with her one true love? Think again! Instead, the Joker sends two of the strangest villains we’ve ever seen — Moonrock and Luna — after Harley to bring his wayward honey home. After all, Harley knows the secret of the Joker venom which has been causing havoc all throughout the DCU — and that makes her a threat. With only Poison Ivy around to help, it’s time to run.
All other affected titles:
AZRAEL: AGENT OF THE BAT #83
ORION #19
YOUNG JUSTICE #38
BIRDS OF PREY #36
IMPULSE #79
NIGHTWING #62
SUPERMAN #175; a Jokerized Doomsday (oooo!)
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #597; a Jokerized Lex Luthor (ooo!)
BATGIRL #21
JSA #29
THE SPECTRE #10
SUPERBOY #93; featuring the Creeper
THE FLASH #179
GREEN LANTERN #143
SUPERGIRL #63; featuring Two-Face and Batgirl
SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL #119
WONDER WOMAN #175
ACTION COMICS #784
JLA #59
THE TITANS #34
-More news on Greg Rucka’s BATMAN: TEN CENT ADVENTURE has surfaced! Rick Burchett and Rodney Ramos are doing the artwork, and it will lead into a later crossover this year: BRUCE WAYNE: FUGITIVE.
-DETECTIVE COMICS #762: Vesper Fairchild, Bruce’s old gal-pal from the pre-CATACLYSM days, comes back. Also, TRAIL OF THE CATWOMAN concludes.
Cover: http://www.comicon.com/gallery/categories/DC_Comics/media/DetectiveComicsCvr762.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #20: In stores August 15. Bruce Wayne makes a trip to Metropolis for a meeting with Talia, the new CEO of LexCorp – but it doesn’t turn out as planned, and Batman has a run-in with Superman! Meanwhile, Dick Grayson and Batman both have to deal with the possibility that all of Grayson’s family isn’t dead after all, when a man claiming to be Dick’s grandfather comes to town.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0105/23/BmGK20.htm
-BATMAN #595, Cover: http://www.comicon.com/gallery/categories/DC_Comics/media/BatmanCvr595.jpg
-BATMAN: OFFICER DOWN will be collected in a trade paperback coming out on August 29.
-Here is a preliminary cover of Catwoman’s new ongoing series (entitled CATWOMAN: VOLUME TWO):
http://www.assignmentx.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages267930.jpg
-BATGIRL #20: Batgirl reluctantly seeks the Spoiler’s help for a case. Written by Chuck Dixon.
Cover: http://www.comicon.com/gallery/categories/DC_Comics/media/BatgirlCvr20.jpg
-HARLEY & IVY: LOVE ON THE LAM – a one-shot story chronolizing the duo’s relationship post-NML but pre-HARLEY QUINN ongoing series. It’s due out in September. Written by Judd Winick.
Cover: http://www.assignmentx.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages271321.jpg
-A hardcover version of DARK VICTORY, collecting all 13 issues, will be released on October 24. Don’t expect a softcover version any earlier than March 2002.
-Two-Face appears in SUPERGIRL #62.
MOVIES
-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.
-The original 1960’s Batmobile will be featured in a prominent role in the Mark Wahlberg/Jennifer Aniston movie, ROCKSTAR. It is due out on September 14th.
*BATMAN: YEAR ONE (BATMAN 5) NEWS:
-WARNER BROS. is currently aiming for a 2003 summer release date for YEAR ONE. Frank Miller has wrapped up all of his comics projects (such as THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN) so he’s focussing his attention on movie production, now.
-There is also rumours that YEAR ONE may not be made until 2005 or 2006, and BATMAN BEYOND may be the movie due out in 2003. For more, go here:
http://www.cinescape.com/7/editorial.asp?aff_id=7&this_cat=News&action=page&obj_id=27621&type_id=1130&cat_id=7576&sub_id=0
*BATMAN BEYOND: LIVE ACTION NEWS:
-The WB aims for the BATMAN BEYOND movie to be a continuation of the current Bat-movie franchise, following the previous four films, much like the BEYOND TV series followed BTAS.
-Paul Dini has already handed in the first script, and they’re waiting for the WB to contact them back. He said his script was a lot more “hard-edged” than the TV series.
-This is NOT official, but rumblings at the WB seem to indicate BATMAN BEYOND will make it to theatres before YEAR ONE does. See the previous story under the “YEAR ONE” heading for details.
*BATMAN BEYOND: THE FOURTH ANIMATED MOVIE
-Nothing new today…just expect it to revolve around Nightwing, folks.
*CATWOMAN
-Apparently there are rumblings that Tim Burton MIGHT be the director. I wouldn’t bet on this…yet.
-According to CINESCAPE, Ashley Judd has agreed to play Catwoman in the upcoming film of the same name.
-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
-For some shots (and a LOT of news) of the new SMALLVILLE series coming this fall, go here:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0107/09/index.htm
-For a promo poster for SMALLVILLE, go here:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0107/09/smallville.jpg
-SMALLVILLE creator Alfred Gough has gone public saying he’d love to involve Bruce Wayne on the show as a boarding school buddy with Lex Luthor, and really wants Christopher Reeve to make a cameo.
-A fifth ONSTAR commercial, featuring Batman and the Riddler, will be airing on TV soon.
-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
EXCLUSIVE INTERNET ENDEAVOURS:
-The Batman section of FANDOM.COM has moved to the following URL:
http://www.assignmentx.com/batman/
-The Batmobile from BATMAN RETURNS is up on the auction block! Go to the following link for details:
http://www.assignmentx.com/batman/editorial.asp?action=page&obj_id=270808
-BATMAN and future CATWOMAN writer Ed Brubaker now has his own web domain:
http://www.edbrubaker.com
-The second “season” of GOTHAM GIRLS has begun. The first webisode features Catwoman and Zatanna.
TOYS, BOOKS, AND OTHER MERCHANDISE
-BTAS is coming to DVD in early 2002! Stay tuned for further developments!
-All the 85 WB stores across the United States will be closed by October, 2001. However, there is word that the other 30 locations, such as in Canada and across the pond in European countries, will remain open because they operate under separate franchise agreements.
-More news on the special edition DVD’s. Apparently now, the WB IS interested in getting Tim Burton back to do a commentary track on both of his Bat-movies; whether they also intend to release cut material for these movies, or intend to do the same for BATMAN FOREVER and BATMAN & ROBIN, is yet to be seen. Don’t expect this to happen soon, though; Burton is busy doing a lot of promotional work for PLANET OF THE APES at the moment.
-January 23, 2002, marks ground zero for the release of a plush ACE THE BATHOUND doll!
Pic: http://www.assignmentx.com/multimedia/Batman/Batman_Collectibles/BatmanBatman_Collectibles271352.jpg
-Fast food chain JACK IN THE BOX is now selling JLA toys to go with their kids meal. These toys include figures of Batman, Robin, Batgirl, Superman, Supergirl, Steel, Hawkman, and Shazam. Check ’em out on eBay, too! (Thanks to Andie Nappi for providing this info!)
-Bad news, the SPECIAL EDITION BATMAN DVDs are not being made – at least not at this time. Argh.
-Craig “Gookie” Crumpton reports that he read at cube.ign.com that there’s another Batman game in development called “Batman: Dark Tomorrow” (Kemco) scheduled for release on November 5, 2001 for Nintendo’s Gamecube console. It will feature the Joker, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Killer Croc, Black Mask, the Ratcatcher, and many other baddies from the comics this is based on – NOT the animated series or the movies. Expect others to show up as well. There’s a video of the visuals for the FMV videos of the game, too! For more, read here:
http://www.assignmentx.com/7/editorial.asp?aff_id=7&this_cat=News&action=page&obj_id=27311&type_id=1130&cat_id=40717&sub_id=0
-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.assignmentx.com/batman/editorial.asp?action=page&obj_id=269762
http://ps2.ign.com/previews/16274.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
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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 07-23-01: B-BEYOND #35 April Moon
B-BEYOND #08 Heroes
Tue 07-24-01: B-BEYOND #12 Disappearing Inque
B-BEYOND #16 Splicers
Wed 07-25-01: B-BEYOND #36 Payback
B-BEYOND #15 Earth Mover
Thu 07-26-01: B-BEYOND #27 Eyewitness
B-BEYOND #34 The Eggbaby
NEXT WEEK: (NOT YET AVAILABLE)
Mon 07-30-01: B-BEYOND #??
B-BEYOND #??
Tue 07-31-01: B-BEYOND #??
B-BEYOND #??
Wed 08-01-01: B-BEYOND #??
B-BEYOND #??
Thu 08-02-01: B-BEYOND #??
B-BEYOND #??
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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: (this week may be slightly inaccurate)
Mon 07-23-01: BTAS #37 Robin’s Reckoning (Pt. 2)
Tue 07-24-01: BTAS #47 Birds of a Feather
Wed 07-25-01: BTAS #58 Blind as a Bat
Fri 07-27-01: BTAS #43 Day of the Samurai
NEXT WEEK (this schedule may also be slightly inaccurate)
Mon 07-30-01: BTAS #15 See No Evil
Tue 07-31-01: BTAS #59 The Demon’s Quest (Pt. 1)
Wed 08-01-01: BTAS #63 The Demon’s Quest (Pt. 2)
Fri 08-03-01: BTAS #64 Read My Lips
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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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SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE
(by Dick Grayson)
INTERVIEW WITH PAUL STORRIE
So, who’s this Paul Storrie guy? Name doesn’t ring a bell? Well, he’s writing BATMAN BEYOND #23, on sale July 25th. I figure you should get to know the guy a bit better before you read some of his work. He agreed to participate in a small Q & A session for the newsletter. Enjoy!
BTAN #1: Paul, I guess first off, could you give us some background info, like where you’re from, when you were born, etc…
PAUL #1: Well, let’s see…I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Not a suburb, but within the actual city limits. (For some reason, people always assume when I say “Detroit” I mean a suburb.) Just to be a bit cagey (but not too much) about when I was born, I always like to say I debuted the same year as Daredevil and the Ford Mustang.
BTAN #2: How did you break into comics?
PAUL #2: The usual way – with a crowbar!
Here’s the long and factual answer: I’ve been flirting with the industry for quite some time. Was involved with an undercapitalized company in the mid-80s that never got off the ground. In those days, I was splitting my time between writing and drawing, and did quite a few illustrations for volume three of a gaming magazine called STARDATE. I focused on college for a while, graduating with a degree in English Language and Literature.
Then I did some artwork for a local digest/ashcan comic titled TALES OF (and later, PETRUS PRESENTS) published by a gent named Pete Welmerink and my pal Russ Colter. I wrote and drew a very short story for them as well. After that it was pretty much doing the con circuit, getting to know editors, and pitching unsuccessfully to Marvel and DC.
Then, in 1997, I got to know Joe Pruett who was working as an editor for Caliber Comics. I stopped by the offices (which were in the Detroit area) and chatted with Joe, his brother Jim who was the managing editor at the time, and publisher Gary Reed. My good friend Sean McKeever (writer of the critically acclaimed THE WAITING PLACE and co-writer of recent issues of THE INCREDIBLE HULK) had mentioned that the guys at Caliber were looking for writers. I talked to Gary about what kind of titles he was looking for. One of the things he wanted to do was a book based on the Robin Hood legends. I asked him if I could pitch. He said yes. I gave him two proposals, both of which he liked, but neither of which he wanted to do just then.
Instead, we discussed doing something with a son or daughter of Robin Hood. Thus, ROBYN OF SHERWOOD was born. The first issue came out in early 1998 and it featured the adventures of Robin and Marian’s daughter 15 years after their deaths. It received some good reviews, and I won an Internet award (the Don Thompson award, voted on by the CompuServe Comics/Animation forum) for Favorite New Talent of 1998.
Unfortunately, scheduling problems and low sales left me looking for other opportunities by the next year. I’d gotten to know the guys at Moonstone Books by then, and they asked me to contribute to their anthology MOONSTONE MONSTERS: WEREWOLVES! Being a werewolf fiend…er, fan …I couldn’t turn them down. About that same time, I began talking with Bill Williams, the publisher at Lone Star Press. Eventually, we decided that I’d be well suited to one of the titles he wanted to do. Additionally, Bill introduced me to one Michael Wright, a freelance writer at the time, who had worked on a couple issues of GENERATION X for Marvel and was writing Bill’s FORCE 7 title. Michael and I hit it off right away, and that turned out to be a fateful meeting.
BTAN #3: What kept you in the comics field? Why?
PAUL #3: Stupidity? Masochism? A real love for the medium and it’s potential? I think I’ll go with that last one. Comics are just a tremendous artform. The blending of words and pictures is a unique and powerful way to convey a narrative. I’ve loved comics all my life. Creating them is a dream come true. Now that I’ve had a taste of what it’s like, I don’t think I could ever walk away.
BTAN #4: How did you get an assignment on BATMAN BEYOND?
PAUL #4: It all ties in to that aforementioned fateful meeting. While I was plugging away at writing some small press books that have yet to see print (although the first of them ROBIN HOOD from Moonstone books will be coming out in October), that freelance writer guy Michael Wright was moving up in the world. Eventually, he landed the Associate Editor job in the Bat-Office. Suddenly, a guy that knew and enjoyed my work was helping steer one of the coolest bunch of characters in the DCU! So, when he was looking for someone to write a BATGIRL story for inventory, I got the call. I still remember it – the phone rang, it was Michael, and I thought to myself, “It’s weird that he’s calling to shoot the breeze in the middle of his work day!”
We chatted a bit, he asked if I had been following the adventures of the new BATGIRL, and the rest is history. That script has yet to see print (I hope it does one day, because I was pretty happy with it), but Michael liked what I did with that issue. When he inherited BATMAN BEYOND and needed a fill-in, he gave me a call.
BTAN #5: One of your two stories won’t be printed, can you tell us abit about the one that won’t see print?
PAUL #5: Despite the odds against it, I’m hoping that someday that story will see print in a special or something. It features a new character of my own creation called the Sphinx. A mysterious woman who shows up in Gotham after establishing a reputation for crime-busting in other cities. Thing is, when Terry (as Batman, of course) runs into her, the meeting is definitely NOT a team up situation. That leads to Terry and Bruce having to unravel the mystery of exactly who she is and what she’s up to. Like the Sphinx of legend, riddles are a big part of her shtick. Other than that, let me just say that there are some really nice twists to the story and leave it at that, just in case.
BTAN #6: Have you alwasy been a comic or animation fan?
PAUL #6: For longer than I can remember, I think. I still own the first comic book I ever bought, of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. It was the first issue that ran without the Comics Code seal. Wish I’d known at the time it was historic. I wouldn’t have cut out pictures to paste on cardboard.
There were lots of superhero cartoons on the air when I was young. The original Fantastic Four cartoon. The Marvel Super Heroes cartoons (Cap on Monday, Hulk on Tuesday, Iron Man on Wednesday, Submariner on Thursday, Thor on Friday), The Superman / Aquaman Hour, the Batman cartoon, and Ralph Bakshi’s Spider-Man (“Does whatever a spider can!”) I’ve been a reader of comics and a watcher of cartoons since pretty much day one.
BTAN #7: What are your future plans? Will you remain in comics or maybe branch out?
PAUL #7: Both, I hope. I recently moved to Los Angeles, hoping to avail myself of the greater variety of writing opportunities out here. Still, I think I could be quite happy doing a couple regular comic book gigs and occasional special projects. Ultimately, I think I’ll end up writing novels as well. I’m a big fan of private detective stories and am itching to try my hand.
BTAN: Thanx alot for participating, Paul! I hope you stick around the DCU for awhile!
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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
ISSUE: “Colder than Arctic” (#40)
WRITTEN BY: Scott Peterson
PENCILS: Tim Levins
INKS: Terry Beatty
COLOURIST: Lee Loughridge
LETTERER: Albert T. De Guzman
COVER ART: Bob Smith, Terry Beatty, Nathan Eyring
ISSUED: July 4, 2001 (Cover date Sept 2001)
RATING: ***1/2
Once upon a time, Mr. Freeze only made appearances in the animated universe when a very touching story had been carefully crafted and even more carefully executed. The episodes HEART OF ICE and DEEP FREEZE follow this mold, and of course, so did SUB-ZERO (which I, coincidentally, watched again this morning). After the whole ordeal with Nora’s disease was solved, though, Freeze needed some new direction. After the mediocre COLD COMFORT, Ty Templeton got away with it in BGA #5, and his appearance on BATMAN BEYOND worked too. All great stories.
This one, Peterson’s first Freeze tale, is delightful as well, but I still feel something is lacking. I get the impression that this issue was intended to have an epic feel to it – how often do we see Batman THIS beat up? The added amount of violence in this issue certainly tried to drive the story in this direction. For such an issue, though, it read way too quickly. I know the splash panels to open the story are a trademark of this series now – and I quite enjoy them – but they just continued on and on and on. There was not enough dialogue – except when Batman rehashed Freeze’s entire back story. (Did this have to be done? I think most people know his origin by now.) I know Batman doesn’t speak much and Freeze even less so, but some internal narration would’ve been nice.
The “Vincenzium” thing was cute, too. And kudos to Tim Levins a great new Freeze suit.
The master stroke of this issue, though, was not in revealing Freeze’s employer to be Talia. who else but Ra’s Al Ghul or one of his affiliates would be able to woo Freeze for his services? Not many have that grand scope. What I liked was how Batman talked Freeze out of helping Ra’s, because Ra’s would double-cross him. Why? Because he couldn’t give him an heir. I’d never thought of that during all the months between reading the solicitations and the publication date, so I was pleased.
This title continues to impress! As the only continuing fraction of the animated Bat-universe, I hope it continues for many years to come.
;-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 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 #41
August 1st
Synopsis: Batman’s giving his all to help one of Gotham City’s denizens get on the straight and narrow. Unfortunately, the subject of all of his efforts couldn’t care less whether or not he was on the right side of the law – or the right side of the Bat. Batman may have to deal with someone who’s too lethargic to care about redemption, when dealing with “The Man Called Joe.”
FOLLOWING MONTH:
Written by Scott Peterson; art by Craig Rousseau and Dan Davis; cover by Bob Smith and Terry Beatty. In stores September 5. Batman and Robin must combat a string of fires that are being set around Gotham. Could this be Firefly’s first animated comic-book appearance?
Cover: http://www.assignmentx.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages271350.jpg
BATMAN BEYOND #23
July 25th
Synopsis: 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.assignmentx.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages269033.jpg
FOLLOWING MONTH: – FINAL ISSUE
Written by Hilary Barda; art by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh; cover by Darwyn Cooke. In stores August 29. There’s something curious about Mom’s new boyfriend. Could it be the claws, the fangs or the glowing eyes? That’s right, it’s the issue you’ve been waiting for as “Terry’s Mom Dates a Splicer!” But what does Batman have to say about it?
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0105/23/BB24.htm
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EDITORIAL
(by anyone willing to contribute)
This space is for sale. Please make all inquiries out to juno@dccnet.com
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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!)
* * * * * *
Hello?
* * * * * *
TWO-FACE’S SIDE OF THE COIN
Ahh, can you believe it? No one wrote in this issue! Ah well…maybe next time.
;-Y
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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! (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.
VOICES
581. In what episode does Batman curiously have the voice of George Dzundza (and not Kevin Conroy) for a few moments?
A: BATMAN & MR. FREEZE: SUB-ZERO
B: THE LAUGHING FISH
C: READ MY LIPS
D: THE STRANGE SECRET OF BRUCE WAYNE
E: CATWALK
582. The voice actor of what recurring character is the only actor in BTAS history to have won an Oscar?
A: Roxy Rockett
B: The Penguin
C: Comissioner Gordon
D: The Joker
E: Mr. Freeze
583. Which of the following characters HASN’T been voiced by more than one voice actor?
A: The Scarecrow
B: The Joker
C: Batgirl
D: Nightwing
E: Baby-Doll
584. Aside from Kevin Conroy, what other BTAS actors have lent their voices to BATMAN BEYOND?
A: Mari Devon
B: Bruce Timm
C: Adrienne Barbeau
D: David Warner
E: Michael Ansara
585. Mark Hamill was cast to provide the voice for a BTAS character BEFORE he was fortunate enough to land the role of the Joker. What character was he originally signed on to portray?
Answer: _______________
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AND THESE ARE OUR FINAL ANSWERS (to the trivia)
Answer to #581: C
Answer to #582: B
Answer to #583: D
Answer to #584: A, B, C, D, E (all of ’em!)
Answer to #585: Ferris Boyle (HEART OF ICE)
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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, STAS and BEYOND countless times. If you have anything to contribute, feel free to do so! Enjoy!
CONTRIBUTED BY STAFF:
1) In the edited scenes of “Return of the Joker”, there is a sequence at the beginning of the movie where Bruce beheads a Two-Face dummy. In the background there is a manican of Mr. Freeze as well, sporting his “new” suit seen in the episode COLD COMFORT and GOTHAM ADVENTURES #5. However, since Issue #5, Freeze got another new suit (in ). Wouldn’t Bruce have the most up-to-date version of the suit in the Batcave for safe-keeping? You’d think…unless Freeze switches back down the line.
CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:
Li’l help?
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FIGURE THIS OUT!
(by Marc Rosenzweig)
Welcome back all Gothamites!
This week I am in the middle of researching the new release of 9 Jack in the Box action figures based on an limited time offer of the animated DC Super Heroes. I am awaiting information from my sources at the Warner Bro’s Studio offices in Burbank. Once I have received my information, I will be passing the juicy tid-bits on for your reading pleasures.
Until next issue, remember the 1966 Batman series will be airing on the Sci Fi network this coming Monday 7/23/01, from 11:00 until 4:00pm(ish). Dont forget to set those VCRs!
Same Bat-Time
Same Bat-Channel!
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FEATURED BATMAN INTERNET ENDEAVOURS FOR THIS ISSUE
(feel free to submit something for our consideration)
THE ANIMATED BATMAN: AN UNOFFICIAL GUIDE
The Animated Batman: An Unofficial Guide (now an affiliate of World’s Finest) has been redesigned and relaunched and with new features. It contains a complete episode guide/companion to BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES and BATMAN BEYOND, with complete cast credits, plot summaries and reviews, and filmographies for quick reference. Screengrabs (provided with the courtesy of World’s Finest and Batman: Tomorrow and Beyond) now complement each episode entry, and an Actor’s Index provides information on regular cast members and guest stars alike. Meahwhile, quick links take you to other great Batman sites, and to on-line interviews and profiles of the producers.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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, 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
‘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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