LITTLE FACTS
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)
Here is a section that just points out various little facts that we have noticed while
watching BTAS and STAS countless times. If you have anything to contribute, feel free to
do so! Enjoy!
CONBTRIBUTED BY STAFF:
1) Ron Perlman, who does the voice of Clayface on BTAS, also does the voice of General Jax-Ur on STAS.
CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:]
(Kelly Tindall)
2) Didja notice in "Warrior Queen" that one of the punks Maxima kicks the tar
out of bears a striking resemblance to Spunky from "Baby Doll"?
3) In "Where There's Smoke", the rich fellow who unsuccessfully tries to buy his
way into the Metropolis Yacht Club is the comedian whom Joker forces to become Condiment
King in "Make Me Laugh". Later, inside the club, we see one of Bruce Wayne's honies. She's dyed her hair brown and changed her dress, but she's otherwise identical to
the way she appeared in "Mask of the Phantasm". Finally, Volcana's fence is the
same design of one of the hoods almost murdered by Toyman in "Fun and Games".
4) In their two most recent appearances, the Joker's Three Stooges have had different
voices. In "Holiday Knights", one was voiced by Ron 'Clayface' Perlman...but in
the bravura "Beware the Creeper", they are all done by Stooges impresario Billy
West, of "Ren & Stimpy" fame.
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BATMAN: THE ANIMATED FIGURES
(by Kevin Smith)
Our usual toy reviewer, Kevin Smith, was unable to provide a review for this issue - so,
instead, Craig "Gookie" Crumpton is supplying his thoughts on HASBRO's new line
of "Batman Beyond" toys.
-Info on BATMAN BEYOND from TOYFARE (with commentary on the new toy line)
(by Craig "Gookie" Crumpton)
There's a good chance many of you info-junkies/Bat-maniacs already caught this info on THE
BRUCE TIMM ARCHIVES before it went down, or have bought a copy of Toyfare Magazine this
month to get it. But just in case any of you missed it, I just wanted to give all the
Bat-fans out there a heads-up on the "BATMAN BEYOND SOURCE BOOK: An exclusive look at
the animated series and toys" in the April edition of TOYFARE MAGAZINE.
Well, besides the keen trivia and info from Dini and Timm on various details...oh, yeah,
there are some pics and such about the new toy line too. Unfortunately, these toys don't
offer much to this particular action figure collector. Maybe if I were in the 2nd grade
again, these action figures would be something I'd throw a tantrum for in the toy store in
order to get my mom to buy them for me. Key word: IF I was in second-grade again. The
appeal to this "grown-up" action figure collector is very low here. (I say
"grown-up" because saying "adult action figure collector" might give
you the wrong impression of me.)
In the new Batman Beyond action figure line there are eight (count 'em), EIGHT different
variations of figures for Batman (and that's just in "Wave 1", mind you), and
wouldn't you know not ONE of 'em looks like the one in the tv show? Heck, all they had to
do was leave the painted blue highlights off the "Future Knight Batman" (with
"cipher wings and magna-blades",
whatever the hell those are) and we'd at least have one reasonable facsimile. Simple as
that, but of course Hasbro screws that up in favor of making action figures with more
"play value".
You think they might actually ask a kid once what kinda action figures he likes to play
with, especially if it's from a tv show he likes. Oh, this would be justice, to watch the
following scenario take place between one of Hasbro's toy designers and his 7-year-old
son...
DAD: You wanna see what daddy tucked under his shirt and stole from work?
SON: Uh-huh!
DAD: It's the new Batman toys your daddy designed!
SON: Ooh! Like on Batman Beyond?
DAD: Well, kinda like that.
SON: Lemmee see! Lemmee see!
(Dad brings toys from behind his back)
SON: What the hell are those?
DAD: Why, they're the new Batman toys, son!
SON: The new Batman don't look like that.
DAD: But these are more fun to play with!
SON: I wanna action figger that looks like the one on tee-vee!
DAD: But these are neat, see? Look at these cool flapping wings, and this thing launches a
little hook with a string attached that you can annoy your sister with.
SON: I wanna action figger that looks like the one on tee-vee!
DAD: But look at the colors! Look how bright and gaudy they are!
SON: I wanna action figger...
DAD: Yeah, I know...that looks the one on tee-vee. *sigh* You know, you're right--they
don't look anything like the one on TV. This one's wings look like dried-up cheese dip
residue, and this other one looks like a zebra that's half albino. Well, what would you
think about him
having a pet dog for a sidekick that has a missle-launcher on its back?
SON: Does his dog on tee-vee have a missle-launcher? I don't think so!
DAD: *sigh* You're right again. But you just don't understand, son. We work really hard to
make toys that kids like to play with.
SON: I wanna action figger that looks like the one on tee-vee.
DAD: I'm sorry, son. But the decisions just aren't up to me. "The Man" decides
what kind of toys kids will like - "The Man" really does know what's best for
kids. Okay, maybe "The Man" never had any kids of his own because he never
married "The Woman" but that doesn't mean he
doesn't know what kids like to play with.
SON: I wanna action figger that looks like the one on tee-vee.
DAD: ARGH...maybe I can make better money drawing comics for a living...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeah, you read that correctly - "Ace, The Bat-Hound" is actually getting his own
action figure, complete with missle-launching accessory. The reason? I'll let Hasbro
explain in their own eloquent way: "Since there aren't any second-tier heroes in
Batman Beyond--like Robin, Nightwing, or Batgirl, Bruce Wayne's pet dog Ace fill that
slot. Paired with Batman, the two make a formidable team, prepared to take down even the
fiercest of fores." Hmm...how clever! Sounds very plausible to me. I'll take three of
them, please!
[author makes gagging sound here]
The only villain that the eight Batmans (and Ace, the Dog-Wonder) get to do battle with is
the Jokerz Leader, who comes with a Hover-cycle at least. So I guess the only episode any
kid (or collector) would ever be able to re-enact would be one in which there are all
sorts of "Schumacher-neon-esque"-painted and heavily-accessoried Batman clones
terrorizing Gotham, if they decide to do something so lame as that.
And like the rest of you must be asking, what about the other villains so far like Mr.
Fixx, Inque, Freon, Magma, Future Freeze, The Royal Flush Gang, and Golem (with the nerdy
kid who's psychically linked to electric things), or even some of the other members of the
Jokerz gang? What about them? Any of them? Nope. According to what I read before me, you
can expect "Wave 2" (tentatively set for June/July release) to offer "a
continuation of the themed Batmans, as more specific situations--like water, speed,
etc.--present themselves. Oh joy.
Also, you can expect Blight (any guesses as to if he'll come with a Derek Powers
exoskeleton?)
and a transforming Terry-into-Batman figure. Way down the road, if you're lucky, you may
just see an old Bruce Wayne figure and possibly (though highly unlikely) an old Superman
figure if he ever makes an appearance on the show."
Wow! How cool! Grumpy old men figures! What kid wouldn't want one of those?!? I can
visualize them already! "Geriatric Bruce Wayne" has shin-kicking action, and
comes complete with his nifty cane and heart medication accessories, and his hunchback
opens to reveal a water cannon! And "Retiree Superman" features real garlic
scratch-and-sniff smell, broken hip and slobbering action, and includes a real cloth
bathrobe, walker and bedpan accessories.
Okay, I'll be honest and say I'd actually pay real money for an action figure of the old
version of Bruce Wayne...provided he looks like he does on the tv show, of course.
Anyway, despite all my ranting, it's definitely worth the $4 (or $5.49 Canadian) purchase
of Toyfare Magazine to have this nifty little booklet. And besides, Toyfare's a great
magazine anyway - my favorite monthly read and the best mag of its kind on the shelves
today. However, if you don't enjoy the occasional potty, cheese, breast and butt joke, you
won't like this magazine much. If I weren't a toy collector, I think this mag would still
be worth the 4 bucks if only for the "Twisted Mego Theatre" feature.
*TWO-FACE'S DIVINE INTERVENTION*: "And that's the end of that chapter."
Craig "Gookie" Crumpton
--Remember, they're not toys, they're ACTION FIGURES, DAMMIT!!!
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COMIC REVIEWS
(by Aaron Maurer)
Our comic reviewer Aaron Maurer was unable to submit a comic review for this issue,
because no new "animated" comics have been released since the printing of the
last newsletter. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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COMIC SCHEDULES & COVERING THE BASICS
This section gives a little bit more indepth look into each monthly issue of BATMAN:
GOTHAM ADVENTURES and SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. We have meshed this section with our
"COVERING THE BASICS" section, to make the newsletter much more succint. Below
each comic listing is a link to the cover of that comic. TALK ABOUT SERVICE!
The price is $1.99 in the US and..grrrrr....now a whopping $3.25 in Canada. (Both our
editors and many subscribers are Canadian, hence the "grrr".)
"ANIMATED" COMICS
BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #12
March 3rd
Two-Face has escaped again, but this time he's been slipped a trick coin that's rigged to
come up heads every time. Coupled with his rather tenuous grip on reality, it results in
his becoming a suicidal force for good in Gotham. The Judge is also set to re-appear.
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/covers/download/dbmga12.jpg
NEXT MONTH: - It's the return of Mastermind, the Perfessor and Mister Nice
(from the pages of the original BATMAN ADVENTURES series)! This criminal trio has faced
its share of challenges in the past, but now a visit from a strange child could lead to
the dissolution of their partnership, if not their very lives! Can Batman save some of his
greatest enemies?
Cover of #13: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/covers/download/dbmga13.jpg
BATMAN BEYOND #3
March 17th
One of the all-new villains from the Batman Beyond animated series menaces the Batman of
the future. As the radioactive foe known as Blight tries to procure a substance that will
help him render inert all the sources of power in Gotham City, Batman might have to choose
between stopping the villain and saving a group of homeless kids who get in the
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/bb/bb3.jpg
NEXT MONTH: Issue #4 - Etrigan, the Demon, makes an appearance.
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/covers/download/dbmb4.jpg
SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #31
March 3rd
The conclusion of a two-part story. Blasted a year into the future, Superman stands as the
final line of defense for Earth. And the threat he's trying to protect the planet from?
Himself.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/sa/sa30.jpg
NEXT MONTH: - Meet Daily Planet janitor Ben Sullivan's girlfriend...Lois
Lane? Ben, a mild-mannered staffer with a huge crush on Lois, accidentally becomes the
object of the reporter's affections when she's hit by a supervillain's hypnotic device.
Now Ben's in seventh heaven while Superman not only must foil a foe who can plant hypnotic
suggestions in anyone's mind, but also find a way to break Lois's trance before it becomes
irreversible!
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ANIMATED NEWS AND RUMORS
OTHER
-The DC Comics site has set up a new section, filled with abut 100 message boards each
designed for a single specific DC comic book! To check it out go here:
http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/
-Color me corrected. My doubting the truth to the rumors of the Supergirl/Lobo animated
series is no more. Bruce Timm confirms that both projects were indeed in the early stages.
Although no final decision by the WB has been finalized, the Supergirl series looked less
likely to happen but Lobo (oddly enough) "looks real good for a 13-episode commitment
this fall," Timm was quoted as saying. (Thanks for the info, Gookie!)
MOVIES
-Rumor has it that the third animated Bat-movie will dive deeper into the romantic
relationship between Dick and Barbara. But the burning question for most people is...WHO'S
THE VILLAIN?
-Batman 5 rumors have resurfaced, but nothing new. Schumacher states he wants to do a
"Year One" film with an unknown actor under the cowl. One mentioned Leonardo
DiCaprio, but Schumacher said NO. Good choice.
"CURRENT" ANIMATED SERIES'
-Evan Dorkin talks more about his stay and what should've been on SUPERMAN :THE ANIMATED
SERIES, and his new episode on BATMAN BEYOND. Go here: http://www.mania.com//columns/animated/animated021999.html
-Kevin Conroy appears in an exclusive interview and talks about Batman: TNBA, Batman
Beyond and why making WORLD'S FINEST was so fun in the latest issue of SCI-FI TV. SCI-FI
TV #4 (April 1999) has a cover price of $4.99US/$6.50CAN.
BATMAN BEYOND
-Batman Beyond's Rogue Gallery expands with these new villinas; Shriek, Curare, and the
Terrific Trio! These villians will debut later this season. Also Ten, a member of The
Royal Flush Gang, falls in love with Terry in their upcoming episode! Thanx to Chip
Cataldo for the
news!
-And contrary to what it seems, Powers' lackey Mr. Fixx will return for more appearances
this season.
-BRIAN'S BATMAN PAGE has the cover art to the BATMAN BEYOND: The Movie (REBIRTH Pts 1
& 2) being released May 18th. The pic can be found with this link, or at the updates
section of Brian's Batman Page (see links in link section): http://www.amazon.com/covers/0/79/074/146/0790741466.l.gif
-Check out of WIZARD magazine for an in-depth look at the creation of
"Batman Beyond"! This issue's cover date is Feb. 1999.
ANIMATED COMICS
- Sometime after , Bane will make an appearance in GOTHAM ADVENTURES.
OTHER COMICS
- For all Superman fans, read this: The January issue of Cinescape includes a review of
Les Daniels and Chip Kidd's Superman: The Complete History, reviewer Frank Kurtz called it
"A beautifully designed book that would do any coffee table proud", and
"even seasoned comics enthusiasts may find themselves surprised by the depth of the
material."
-Can't find any issues of the first NML arc? Well that's becuase they're sold out! But DC
is reprinting their runaway hit NML opener on March 24th. The tradepaperback will collect
the first four issues of NML, "No Law and a New Order". The price? A very
affordable $5.95.
-JEPH LOEB will be joined by ED MCGUINESS as the new creative team of SUPERMAN
-DEVIN GRAYSON is leaving CATWOMAN as of . She will be replaced by JOHN
OSTRANDER, who will be doing a 6 issue stint on the title.
TOYS & MERCHANDISE
-The second wave of "BATMAN BEYOND" figures may contain more Jokerz members, and
will definately include a BLIGHT figure.
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