COMIC REVIEWS
(by Aaron Maurer)
BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
ISSUE: "Polar Opposites" (#5)
WRITTEN BY: Ty Templeton
PENCILED BY: Rick Burchett
INKED BY: Terry Beatty
ISSUED: August 5, 1998 (Cover date is October)
RATING: **** (out of 5)
"We're sending in the junior partners brigade and
the walking
popsicle instead of real cops?" - Bullock's reaction to Nightwing,
Batgirl, and Mr.Freeze going into Oceana to look for hostages.
SUMMARY: Mr. Freeze is being subjugated to poking and proding of his
lab by Waynetech scientists since his suit was made from their parts
(which were stolen, of course). They are going to try to use the
cryogenic research to save lives. Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake arrive and
meet the head of the project; Dr. Francis D'Anjou. Suddenly, Grant
Walker (last seen in the episode "Deep Freeze") arrives after escaping
from the iceberg he was previously trapped in. He kidnaps all of the
scientists so that they might save his body from decaying like Freeze's
did. When Bruce tries to stop him, Walker freezes his head to the
ground. Tim grabs a pipe and breaks it, but Bruce is out cold.
Tim calls Nightwing and Batgirl, and the former races to the scene.
When Bruce comes too, he reveals that D'Anjou was taken. Freeze demands
to be hooked up to his body that instant so that he can save D'Anjou,
who turns out to be Nora Fries' current husband.
Nightwing, Batgirl, and Mr. Freeze enter the ruins of Oceana (Grant
Walker's defunct perfect world of the future, also seen in "Deep
Freeze"). When Batgirl is pinned under some rubble, Freeze leaves her
and Nightwing behind. Freeze breaks in and battles Walker. He is about
to kill him when Nightwing and Batgirl come and stop him by engaging a
safety switch that shuts down his suit. Freeze pops out of the suit and
walks away on his spider legs, but D'Anjou tells Nightwind to let him
go. He says, "I owe him... not only for coming to my rescue... but also
for Nora... for saving her life... and because Victor Fries was Nora's
husband... and she loves him."
COMMENTS: Wow. As anyone who's read my review of "Cold
Comfort" on my
website knows, I hated it. I don't like the redesign, I don't like the
fact that Nora's remarried, and I really don't like that Freeze is just
a head. However, I really liked this issue. It actually worked! It
showed that even though Freeze is mad at the world, he's still the
compassionate, tragic villain we came to know in the original series.
While I like believing that "Cold Comfort" never actually happened,
I
had no problem with this issue. Grant Walker's return was fun, and I
liked the fact that Batman and Robin never appeared in the story. This
issue had a lot of Nightwing, which I like.
The true hero of the story was Mr. Freeze. He risked his own life to
save Nora's husband, just so she could be happy. Even though he is mad
at having lost her, he still will do whatever it takes to make her
happy, which is very touching. I also liked the nice touch at the end
with D'Anjou telling Nightwing and Batgirl that Nora still loves Freeze.
That was a beautiful moment which helped me accept Nora's remarriage.
Also, I think this issue's cover is the best so far.
CRITICISMS: I don't really see anything wrong with the story, except
the Freeze redesign and fact that he's only a head:)
BOTTOM LINE: If you're a huge Mr. Freeze fan, or you were until you
saw
the monstrosity that was "Cold Comfort," this is the issue for you.
It
redeems Mr. Freeze and tells a great, moving story.
______
COMIC SCHEDULES
This section shows what current Batman related comics (and Superman
Adventures) are being shipped and when. The price is $1.99 US ($2.95 in
Canada..GRRRRRRR!) unless otherwise stated.
"ANIMATED" COMICS
This section gives a little bit more indepth look into each monthly
issue of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES and SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. The price is
$1.99 in the US and..grrrrr....$2.95 in Canada
BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #6
Sept 9th
While pefroming beside Dick Grayson, Deadman is killed...for real! Now
Nightwing and Batman must help solve this murder with the most
unlikeliness of help...DEADMAN himself! (Confused? Me too!)
NEXT MONTH:In issue #7 we see the return of DAGGER DIXON (Batman &
Robin
Adventures #14) and it may have dire consequences on Robin's
crimefighting career! Also appearing are the Penguin and Two-Face.
SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #25
Sept 9th
Bruce Wayne is missing! Its time for another WORLD'S FINEST
team-up...with Batgirl? Superman and Batgirl team up to find Bruce Wayne
before its to late!(you see..someone's tryin' to kill him)
NEXT MONTH:In we see the return of Mr. Mxyspti..ah whatever
and he travels back in time to tell a young Clark Kent the tyrant he'll
grow up to be (which isn't true). Find out what happens!
MAINSTEAM COMICS:
Currently, Batman and the Gotham vigilantes brood and complain while
still saving citizens who are trapped in rubble. Also Batman's rogue
gallery is coming back full force in the wake of the big quake!
Sept 2nd
BATMAN: BATGIRL-relist (4.95 US)
BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #1,000,000 (1.99 US)
JLA: ROCK OF AGES tradepaperback-relist (9.95 US)
JLA/WILDC.A.TS: CRIME MACHINE-relist (5.95 US)
YOUNG JUSTICE #1,000,000 (2.50 US)
NIGHTWING #1,000,000 (1.99 US)
Sept 9th
AZREAL #1,000,000 (2.25 US)
BATMAN #1,000,000 (1.99 US)
JLA: YEAR ONE #11(of 12) (1.99 US)
Sept 16th
DETECTIVE COMICS #1,000,000 (1.99 US)
JLA #1,000,000 (1.99 US)
Sept 23rd
BATMAN: MASTER OF THE FUTURE-relist (5.95 US)
BATMAN: TOYMAN #1(of 4) (2.25)
CATWOMAN #1,000,000 (1.99 US)
ROBIN #1,000,000 (1.99 US)
Sept 30th
BATMAN: BLACK & WHITE HC-relist (39.95 US)
BATMAN: LOTDK #112 (1.99 US)
BATMAN: TWO FACES (5.95 US)
CATWOMAN #4 (of 4) (2.50 US)
JLA IN CRISIS SECRET FILES #1 (4.95 US)
SPECIAL:
BATMAN: ANIMATED - Released on Sept. 23rd.
And that's what's shipping in September!
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HELPFUL COMIC-FINDING HINT!
(by Ed Wiser)
Hey I have a tip about the SubZero comic. I couple of weeks ago I sent a
note to Act II about not finding the Subzero comic and how I was a loyal
user of their product and also a Big Batman fan. Well today in the mail
came my reply.
"Dear Edward,
Thank you for your letter requesting the Batman comic. This promotion
was what we call a flow through, which means, weship the product to
certain stores and when the shipment is depleted that is all there is.
That may be why you could not find it.
I am enclosing one for you."
Address:
Golden Valley Microwave Foods
7450 Metro Boulevard
Edina, Mn 55439
So I suggest sending a nice note to Golden Valley and you just might
get the Subzero comic.
Happy hunting!
______
COVERING THE BASICS...
This section will help you figure out (as if you need anymore help!
*S*) what comics to pick off the news-stands. All picutres are courtesy
of Brian's WB home page or the Bruce Timm Artwork Archive. Here we go!
To see the covers just click on the URL under the comic title!
SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #25
http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/covers/download/dsma25.jpg
SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #26
http://home.nycap.rr.com/cataldo/sadv26.jpg
BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #6
http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/covers/download/dbmga6.jpg
BATMAN: ANIMATED (new and improved pic!)
http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/bga/batanim.jpg
______
SITE WORTH CHECKING OUT
This is one of the best Batman/Superman sites on its net...what makes
it different is that it's the OFFICIAL site, which is odd seeing how
offical sites for shows usually suck. This sites offers background info
on characters (greatly needed to understand a lot of the newer episodes,
esp "The Demon Within"), plus schedules, games and much more. The layout
is superb and real easy to manuver but you'll need an updated browser to
get a lot of the special extras on the site
BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES:THE OFFICAL SITE
http://www.batman-superman.com
BRAIN'S BATMAN PAGE
This site has undergone a huge and recent revamp for the better. The
new layouts are amazing and the links are much clearer than before (and
they were excellent before!). The animation section is better then ever
and if you're a person who only likes to look at the new stuff then
check out the UPDATES section. It gives the info on all the recent
updates on the site. The revamp keeps it orignal feel but adds stuff
aplenty!
The URL is in the BATMAN/SUPERMAN website section.
_____
ANIMATED BATMAN/SUPERMAN SITES:
THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES
http://www.batman-superman.com
BATMAN:THE ANIMATED SERIES
http://www.batmantas.com
KIDSWB!
http://www.kidswb.com
http://www.wbanimation.com
TOON ZONE
http://www.toonzone.net
TWO-FACE'S TOWER OF TRANQUILITY AND TERROR
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFace/index.html
BRIAN'S BATMAN PAGE
http://members.aol.com/bdavis2613/main.html
THE ANIMATED BAT
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/7382/index.html
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED HOMEPAGE
http://www3.sympatico.ca/quartet/home.htm
SUB-ZERO
http://www.warnerbros.com/subzero
SUB-ZERO: THE DEFINTIE GUIDE
http://www.batman-subzero.com
RAVING TOY MANIAC
http://www.toymania.com
CHARACTERS ON THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN & ROBIN
http://www.xse.com/leres/batman.html
THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN & ROBIN F.A.Q. SITE
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/1216
THE BRUCE TIMM ARTWORK ARCHIVE
http://home.rr.nycap.com/cataldo/timm.htm
HARLEY'S HAVEN OF HEDONISM
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/harlequinhideaway
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (unofficial site)
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Makeup/5158
These are some of the best BTAS sites on the web at this
time. Most sites are updated or have been recently and all are up and
running.
If you've watched Batman on WB there's a fair chance you've watched
Superman as well. This show has picked up 40% more viewers this past
season thanx to Batman. This series is one of the most underrated shows
on TV becuase it's stuck under Batman's (pun intended) shadow. There's
one website that treats it as its own show and its a damn good website!
I recemmend all who have seen this show to check out this site:
SUPERMAN:TAS
http://www.rain.org/~stas
_______
ANSWERS TO THE TRIVIA
Answer to #11: 'C'
Answer to #12: 'B'
Answer to #13: 'D'
Answer to #14: 'E'
______
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE:
BATMAN and all related property is a registered trademark of DC Comics.
Visit DC Comics website at:
http://www.dccomics.com
DC Comics is owned and operated by Warner Brothers. Visit their website
at:
http://www.warnerbros.com
Kids'WB! is a part of Warner Brothers. Visit the Kids' WB! site at:
http://www.kidswb.com
If I've left any out I'll probably be suee and homeless within a year
so please tell me.
______
TO ALL GOOD THINGS...
...there must be an end. Well our newest installment of the newsletter
has now been completed. Tim and I would like to thank the endless
contributors for contributing their editorials, columns, news, and
reviews and other articles. We also hope you enjoyed all of the regular
columns as well!
See ya next time!
CREDITS FOR BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER
CONCEPTIONISTS: James Grayson-Harvey and Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
EDITORS: James Grayson-Harvey and Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
AIR DATE SCHEDULES: Brian Cruz
BTAS REVIEWS: Bob Evatt
EDITORIAL: Laura Hysert
COMIC REVIEWS: Aaron Maurer
THIS MONTH'S VOTING POLL: Brian Davis
TOY REVIEW: Kevin Smith
"BATMAN BEYOND" PREVIEW: Ed Wiser
"BTAN ARCHIVES" MODERATOR: Eileen Delgadillo
PROMOTIONS AND JUST GETTIN' THE WORD AROUND: Brian Cruz, Brian Davis,
Eileen Delgadillo
THOSE WHO FILL IN FOR OTHERS WHEN THEY FOUL UP:-P James Grayson-Harvey
and Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton
BATMAN CREATED BY: Bob Kane (who else?)
SPECIAL THANKS to MARK MILLAR for participating in our interview for
this issue!
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