Batman Beyond: ROTJ Comic Adaptation Pic
Gookie
Sun Aug 6 22:36:33 2000

This is a pic from a climactic point in both the comic and the movie, so don't click it unless you want it spoiled for you:

Joker Returns

This is from the August edition of Previews: The Comic Shop's Catalog, which has several WB-related items of interest:

- Batman Beyond: The Return of The Joker (comic)
Paul Dini's screenplay adapted by Darren Vincenzo. Art and cover by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh. 48 pages - $2.95; street date: October 25.

- Batman Beyond (trade paperback)
Reprinted collection of the first 6 issues written by Hilary J. Bader, art by Rick Burchett, Joe Staton and Terry Beatty. 144 pages - $9.95; street date: October 25.

- Batman Beyond: ROTJ Official Screenplay (TPB)
Written by Paul Dini, this release will include "rare original art and storyboards from the film" - 40 black & white illustrations in all, plus the two deleted scenes. 128 pages - $9.95. [Watson-Guptill Publications] For those who haven't heard yet, this will be released in early September and is currently available for preorder through amazon.com. More than likely, if you order through Previews, you won't receive your copy until October.

- Batman Beyond: ROTJ VHS & DVD
I don't recommend ordering this one through Previews. Every video or DVD release I've ordered through them has arrived late, and usually for a higher price than other retail outlets were asking, even with the 10% discount my comic dealer gives me. Previews is selling the VHS for $19.96 and the DVD for $24.98. I've seen the previous BB video releases at Target for as low as $10, and the DVD release at Best Buy for $15. So don't get this one through Previews unless you want to get yours late and/or enjoy paying more for them.

- Batman Beyond: ROTJ Soundtrack (CD & cassette)
What I mentioned above applies here as well. Previews is selling the CD for $16.98 and the cassette for $10.98. The cassette will probably be that price no matter who you get it from, but who still buys cassettes? The CD you'll find cheaper at Target or Kmart, or by ordering online through such outlets as amazon.com or CDNow.com. Here are the details on what the soundtrack will include:

"Exclusive contributions by Platinum-selling artists. 'Crash' (Humble Bros remix) is a collaboration between WB and artists Mephisto Odyssey and chart-toppers Static X. Also includes performance by guitar virtuoso Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and noted Batman Beyond composer Kris Carter. Carter delivers a driving rock score with a full orchestra as well."

Those of you who have the first BB soundtrack release can attest that it's very cool and rocks hard, and I'm really looking forward to hearing the new one with a REAL orchestra and not all the synth/midi-keyboard stuff.

The new movie soundtrack from Rhino Entertainment currently has a street date of October 17th.

- Batman Beyond: ROTJ Young Readers Adaptation (TPB)
Written by Paul Dini. Includes a "decoder card" with the chance to enter a contest to win "valuable prizes". 144 pages - $4.99. [Scholastic]

- Batman Beyond Picturebacks
"Using comic-style art and captioning tailored to Pictureback readers, these books put young Batman fans inside the Batsuit .... Each book contains a Batman Beyond: Decode & Win gamepiece." 8x8 softcover - $3.25. [Random House]

- Static Shock: Trial By Fire (Trade Paperback)
Collection of the first 4 issues of the original Static series, written by Dwayne McDuffie (Impulse, Icon) and Robert L. Washington (Ninjack, Extreme Justice), with art by John Paul Leon (Earth X), Steve Mitchell (Detective Comics) and Shawn Martinbrough (Detective Comics). It's 104 pages for $9.95, arriving in stores October 4.

- IN Power #8 (Wizard Publications)
The October issue will feature a preview of "Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker".

And those of you who were complaining about the preview pics of the upcoming ROTJ figures. I've seen these firsthand, and they may be repaints, but they're GOOD repaints. I can't say I care much for the orange-overcoated Bruce Wayne, but the Batman figure looks really good. And if you haven't seen the new Joker maquette (TNBA style), I can also vouch for how nice this piece is. I'm the proud new owner of one signed by Mark Hamill himself.

Also wanted to mention that there's two more Powerpuff Girls videos coming out this fall (Birthday Wish and Dream Scheme), each with 5 episodes. And the highly-acclaimed "Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip" is coming to video too!

Gookie