Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Week of May 10 - May 15/16, 1999
Volume 2,
Rated: PG for some "low-key coarse language and occasional griping"THIS WEEK'S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: "DON'T SHOW THE REST OF THE SUPERMAN
EPISODES IN SEPTEMBER! WE WANT 'EM NOW! Please?"
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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to another issue of "Batman: The Animated Newsletter".
Enjoy!
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NEW EPISODE(S)
This section will just basically give an insight into what the new episodes are
about and hopefully a synopsis of the episode. This section will feature both new Superman
and new Batman episodes.
THE LOSS OF THE WB ON WGN: Beginning this fall, the WB will no longer be
carried on WGN-TV’s national feed to avoid conflicts with other WB affiliates. WGN-TV will continue carrying the prime time WB in the Chicago area. If you’re
outside the Chicago area and know of no other way to pick up the WB, you may call them at
(818)977-5000 for more information. This is taken from the info section of the WGN
website, http://www.wgn.com . Thank you for Peter
Destructo for pointing this out.
KidsWB will soon be shown on a new channel called "WeB" - I
know little about this - but if you can get that channel, I'm pretty sure the WB shows
would be on.
'UNITY'
Superman #53
Air date: May 15, 1999
Supergirl teams up with Superman to save the Kents and the rest of Smallville from
an alien threat.
'A TORTURE OF CURARE'
Batman Beyond #11
Air date: May 15, 1999
I guess this is the long-awaited episode focusing on Curare.
'ASCENSION'
Batman Beyond #13
Air date: May 22, 1999
I'll make a guess...return of Mr. Fixx? ASCENDING from the dead?
'THE DEMON REBORN'
Superman #44?
Air date: ??
BATMAN'S FINAL CURRENT-DAY ANIMATED APPEARANCE! This episode features Batman and
Superman teaming up to take down Ra's Al Ghul, who has plans to send the world back to its
natural, pre-human state. WOOHOO! THE BAT IS BACK! Airs in May.
'LEGACY (Pt. 1 & 2)'
Superman #48, 49?
Air date: ??
This two-parter features the final showdown between Superman and Darksied in which
he strips Superman of his memory and adopts him as a son in an effort to take over Earth.
Now it seems this won't air until September! Argh!
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WB ANIMATION SCHEDULES:
(courtesy of Brian Cruz and/or the official BTAS/STAS site)
This section of the newsletter highlights the schedule and times that WB
airs The New Batman/Superman Adventures. For most affiliates it airs Monday - Friday at
4pm (ET) and Saturdays beginning at 8am (ET). WGN airs Batman/Superman Monday - Friday at
10am (ET) and Sundays beginning at 8am (ET). There's a chance that your local WB channel
airs it at a different time. To find out when, we recommend you follow this URL (provided
by Toon Zone): http://www.toonzone.net/brian/stations/index.html
PS - Remember that "Batman Beyond" airs 30 minutes AFTER
"Batman/Superman" is over, because "Men In Black" has been squeezed in
between.
Mon 5-10-99: Batman #72 Harlequinade
Superman #24 Solar Power
Tue 5-11-99: Superman #26 Monkey Fun
Batman #14 Heart of Ice
Wed 5-12-99: Superman #29 The Hand of Fate
Batman #88 Cold Comfort
Thu 5-13-99: Batman #18 Beware the Grey Ghost
Superman #18
Livewire
Fri 5-14-99: Superman #07 Feeding Time
Batman
#93 Growing Pains
Sat 5-15-99: Batman #106 Mad Love
Superman #53
Unity
------NEW!!!
B-Beyond #11 A
Torture of Curare ------NEW!!!
Note: All episodes #86 and onward of BATMAN are considered THE NEW
BATMAN ADVENTURES while the original 85 are considered BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS)
episodes.
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CARTOON NETWORK WB ANIMATION SCHEDULE:
"Yabba Dabba Doom"
(courtesy of Brian Cruz)
THE CARTOON NETWORK was able to get the exclusive rights to 52 episodes
of the classic BTAS, as well as both animated movies. BTAS airs Monday-Friday at 6pm (ET)
and then repeated again at midnight. If our schedule listings is not complete or up to
date then please go to TOON ZONE for the complete episode schedule at:
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/schedules/batman-cn.html
NOTE #1: BATMAN & MR. FREEZE: SUB-ZERO will be airing again on
CARTOON NETWORK on May 22nd at 8pm (ET) as apart of their CARTOON THEATRE
NOTE #2: CARTOON NETWORK will be having a BATMAN 'SUPER-CHUNK' on May 29th. The 3 hour
BATMAN Super-Chunk will be from 4pm-7pm (ET). The 'SUPER-CHUCK' means that we'll have
three hours worth of BATMAN episodes.
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EPISODE REVIEW: (SPOILERS!)
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)
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/bats.html
<BATMAN BEYOND>
DISAPPEARING INQUE
Written by: Stan Berkowitz
Directed by: ???
Animation by: Dong Yang
Original air date: May 8, 1999
My rating: ****
"I admit it. As unprofessional as it sounds, I've fallen in
love with my patient." - Alright, so it's not from this episode, so sue me.
An employee at a cryogenics plant falls in love with its incarcerated,
frozen inmate, Inque. Upon losing his job (he was seen kissing her frozen tube, and
his supervisors are not impressed), he releases Inque from her "cell", wanting
only one thing in the world - to be like her.
Sound familiar? This really reminds me of the BTAS episode
"Deep Freeze", when Grant Walker wishes to have the same condition as Mr.
Freeze. Unlike that episode, the one desiring the other's condition is in love.
Inque agrees to help him (though she thinks he's crazy), but on one
condition - if he aids her in finding a cure to make her human - or at least able to
change into her human form, as seen in "Black Out". Apparently, being
frozen for so long altered her cell structure, rendering her unable to even look human.
Inque's new buddy agrees. Awww - so mushy...no pun.
What makes this episode so cool? Well:
-Inque is always animated beautifully, as are the action sequences.
-The romantic aspect of the episode, while a tad forced, is interesting.
-We get to see Bruce in the Batsuit again! Sorta...but this Bat-suit is like a cross
between his fire-proof suit in "Torch Song" and Optimus Prime (from "The
Transformers").
-Returning along with Bruce in the Batsuit is the original BTAS musical theme.
-Inque's liquidated buddy is really freaky looking.
There were a couple things that I thought about in retrospect, though.
If Batman hadn't ever run into Mr. Freeze, would he have ever had the technology to defeat Inque? Of course he would eventually, but would it have been too late? I also
thought the idea of having the finale during a rainstorm was a tad obvious of how Inque
would be defeated...and why exactly is this episode entitled "DISAPPEARING
Inque" anyways? What's disappearing?
My only real problem? Ends too quickly! That's it...everything else is
good. 4 stars outa 5.
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EDITORAL #1
(by Laura Hysert, aka "Phoenix")
THE IVY LEAGUE
I promised a looooong time ago I would write about
the women of the animated series. Of course, I was doped up on cold medication when I made
that promise. Whether or not that invalidates it is for you to decide.
But I press onward. I was going to title this editorial "Why
Poison Ivy Kicks Harley's Butt, Any Day, Any Time," but that seemed a little too fanboyish. Even if she does.
What does Harley have going for her? There's that delightful Bronx
accent. Which, after watching five episodes in a row of contrived Harley cameos, can be
about as delightful as getting your teeth pulled out by a drunken Superman. (Not that
Clark would get drunk. Oh, no.)
She's a tragic villainness, in an abusive relationship and never quite
able to put her life back together. She caught Batman once. Nearly killed him. She
deserves our pity and respect. We watch her flip through her cycle of abuse and psychosis,
cheer for her when she stands up for herself, but always knowing that she'll end up by the
Joker's side before the twenty-two minutes has ended.
Now, for your consideration, Poison Ivy. She was the unwitting victim
of chemical experiments, so she has the tragic/pity factor in her favour. Her costume,
though green (I HATE green) is sleek and befits her M.O. If I were male I would think
she's far more the "babe" than Harley.
But who cares?
The truth is, Poison Ivy is a far better villainness (and character)
than Harley could ever hope to be, because she's a nut with backbone. She doesn't let
every man with a malicious grin wrap her around his finger; she snaps the strings on him
and makes her puppet dance. How many men has she seduced and deceived to advance her crazy
plots -- or just for the fun of it? She's the seductress that bitter alley cat Selina
wishes she could be.
Ivy always conducts herself with a cold, imperious grace, unlike the
out-of-control Harley. Only Ivy's fiery temper makes her grandiose plans falter. Speaking
of which, we must admit that we partially agree with her: humans screw the world up. It
probably WOULD be better if we all just took an extended vacation from the planet.
But even that isn't why we should drop the clown and embrace Mother
Nature. What it comes down to is this: Poison Ivy always gets her man. And it's always the
one she wants. Even if they do get taken away from her. How many men has she nearly
killed? And the coup de grace: giving Bruce a taste of romance and happiness, in his
lovely wife Susan -- and then violently snatching it from his grasp. And they say the
Joker is Bruce's greatest nemesis. Right.
Poison Ivy is Mother Nature, the feminine power, running wild and free.
Harley is a madman's pet; you can almost see the chain running from her neck to the
Joker's hand. Is there any contest? I am certainly, to make a forced connection to my
title, a member of Ivy's League.
Now if only the writers wouldn't make her so damned easy to catch!
And in this newsletter's tradition of shameless
plugs:
You've probably been asking yourself, "Jeez,
where's that editorialist gone? What's she up to?" Well, let me enlighten you. I've
been busy in my dual roles of advertising director and writer of two books (ah, Tim, you
love this duality theme, don't you) for DCX, the new fan-fic website advertised in last
week's newsletter. Here's the lowdown:
DCX takes DC characters and puts them in a new continuity...OUR
continuity. If we don't want Gotham to be decimated by an earthquake, we don't do it! It
gives us the freedom to create and let you, the fan, read stories about your favourite DC
characters that aren't dictated by
marketing decisions or a continuity so krunked-up that you can't make heads or cat tails
of it. It's your favourite heroes as their fans want to portray them. And let me add that
there are some top-quality writers working for DCX.
"Does this sound like an advertising pitch?" you ask. Why,
yes, I answer, what else do you think an advertising director does?
"What does this have to do with the animated series?" you
ask.
Nothing directly; but here's a little insider information for you. The
two people who write the two Batman titles for DCX (myself and a fellow named John) are
both big fans of the animated series and take most of our frames of reference for the
character from B:TAS.
Below are some previews for titles coming out on May 23, only to DCX
(www.imagine-that.org/DCX/).
*SHAMELESS PLUG FOLLOWS:*
DCX...where fans give the DC Universe new life...where stories offer
fresh perspectives on your favorite heroes...where Gotham still stands, and Superman
doesn't build robots...
DCX...The universe you thought you knew.
**COMING MAY 23, ONLY TO DCX ( www.imagine-that.org/DCX/ )
What does a homicidal artist have to do to get some respect? When the
Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum, he discovers he no longer tops the list of 'Gotham's
Most Wanted.' But his scheme to destroy the competition draws the attention of an old man
with a dangerous grudge against the Clown Prince of Crime. The first issue of BATMAN: Dark
Knight by John Hardin begins the story of a man who shows the Joker why revenge is a dish
"Best Served Cold."
DCX: Best served hot with a drizzle of fudge sauce and two cherries.
After her father went to prison, Stephanie Brown left that painful
chapter of her life behind. With her mother's remarriage, Stephanie's future seemed
bright. But all her dreams of happiness are threatened when her father escapes from
prison. Now, with the help of a boy named Robin, she must discover if she is a
"Prodigal Daughter." The story begins in ROBIN: Fly by Knight #1, the start of a
monthly series by Brian Bedard.
DCX: Come home.
He may have accepted that he's not Batman, but Jean-Paul Valley's
troubles in Gotham City aren't over yet, Just as he's sliding back into Azrael's mantle
and taking up his crusade against crime, he stumbles upon a truck loaded with women,
driving into the night...Azrael's hunt for answers to this mystery begins in part one of
"Harvest," the debut issue of AZRAEL:
Knight of Vengeance, a monthly series by John R. Stephens.
DCX: We're not Batman, either. No, really.
What happens when goody two-shoes meets the school bully? A new Batgirl
is born, and she's ready to rumble! Meet the two teens -- and an exciting new nemesis --
that make it all happen in this month's BATGIRL: Dark Knight Damsel. You can find
"Dusk," the premiere issue written by Brendan Crowther, at only one place.
DCX: We don't guess who the new Batgirl is. We KNOW.
**Discover these and many more of your favorite DC characters, including
Huntress, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash, at DCX. You never know who
you'll find here, so come and see for yourself. Starting May 23.
**And don't miss these Batman-related titles coming to DCX on JUNE 6:
BATMAN: Shadows of Twilight
CATWOMAN: Night Moves
NIGHTWING: Bludhaven Nights
**And on JUNE 20, catch the debut of ORACLE: Hidden Voice.
-Laura Hysert
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EDITORIAL #2
(by Michael Mandeville)
batboym@wtp.net
Batman: The Animated Newsletter proudly presents The second editorial in
this newsletter, ladies and gentlemen... The Batboy of Beyond!
Greetings.
I will first say that I am proud to announce publicly that last Monday,
I walked out of my local Wal-Mart with the Mission Masters Spider-leg Head Mr. Freeze! The
best figure that follows the animated series! Okay, on to some other stuff:
Hasbro-Kenner has outdone themselves for this years figures. The new
Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace figures are PERFECT! Totally authentic...AND they
talk! Each one comes with a computer chip that you can use to talk with other figures
through a special Chip-Reader devise.
Last weekend (Friday-Sunday) I was in Denver, Colorado, the seemingly center of activity
this year with the gun protestors. But that's not what I was at. While the protestors
marched, I was standing in a twenty-mile line in the rain, waiting to get into a tent to
see Ray Park, the villain of Episode 1 at the Star Wars Celebration.
Okay, now onto the Batman stuff:
The first thing I would like to say is: I AM ROYALLY TORKED! It isn't enough that the WB
had to cancel an animated old Batman film, (not that I don't like Batman Beyond) They also
canceled the animated Catwomen film! What's next? A totally weird Joel Schumacher (Oh,
joy) film that sways COMPLETELY off the Batman story line? Hasbro making seventeen stupid
versions of Batman Beyond? (Oh, wait, they did that already...) Canceling Batman and
Batman Beyond to bring on yet another "hit" show such as the thrilling: Furby:
The Animated Series? Replacing Batman Beyond with Chicken Boo Beyond: The thrilling, high
action show that shows a futuristic Chicken Boo (from ANIMANIACS) dressing up in human
disguises? Will-He-Get-To-The-Phone?: The Animated Series two strait, non-commercial
interrupting hours of pure terror? Or here's a great idea: The Really Stupid, Bad Acting,
Bunch of Cartoons, Bad cramming, Hour long, Forget Batman, Big Dummy Show! (Yay.)?
Okay, enough with the WB bashing, I don't want to get in too much trouble here, so I'll
just talk about some of the girls (from my point of view) from Batman and Batman Beyond,
so I get in a WHOLE lot of trouble with every girl in the country:
Harleen Quinnzelle, Harley Quinn, Harlequin: Why does everybody think the Bronx sleeze is
a sex freak? (I mean, minus that parts in "Mad Love". And in "Trial".
And in "Beware the Creeper"... I just answered my own question, didn't I?)
Selina Kyle, Catwoman: Can dupe Batman into doing any stupid thing because they used to be
in love with each-other. Had a drastic hair color change in between BTAS and TNAB which
made her cuter (Not to mention that new design).
Talia: I'm not touching this one.
Poison Ivy, Pamala Isley: Changed from pretty cute to dead plant over that three years
span in BTAS and TNAB. Deceased... Supposedly.
Veronica Vreeland: Filthy rich...what more can I say?
Batgirl, Barbara Gordon: Hot new design. But a little to old for me (Twenty-Three).
Supergirl, Kara: Have mercy. Younger than Batgirl, cuter than Batgirl. Okay, I'm done.
Please don't take offence if I offended you, I have more coming next week.
Batboy [Beyond]
batboym@wtp.net
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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! *EVIL LAUGH* 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.
Lately I've been watching a lot of Darkwing Duck reruns. I knew that it
was a humourous take on Batman (among other comic book superheroes) but only recently did
I realize how much his world parallels DC's. Here's a quiz focusing on DW and his DC
counterparts.
121. One villain on "Darkwing Duck" uses the same
havoc-wreaking gimmicks as Poison Ivy does. What is the name of this villain?
Answer: __________
122. Likewise, there is a villain whose "powers" as similar to
those of Clayface and/or Inque. What is this villain's name?
Answer: __________
123. Fill in the blank. "Batman is to Robin as Darkwing is to
__________."
124. In the BTAS episode "Blind as a Bat", Batman temporarily
loses his sense of sight. There was a Darkwing Duck episode which followed a similar
plotline. What was the name of this episode?
125. "I am the terror the flaps in the night. I am the winged
scourge that pecks at your nightmares. I am Darkwiiiiiiiing Duck!" On BTAS,
Batman says something similar to this - by similar, I mean he says three sentences
consecutively beginning with the words "I am". Which BTAS episode is this heard
in?
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ANSWERS TO THE TRIVIA
Answer to #121: 'Bushroot'
Answer to #122: 'The Liquidator'
Answer to #123: 'Launchapd McQuack'
Answer to #124: 'Duck Blind'
Answer to #125: 'Nothing to Fear'
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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!b
CONBTRIBUTED BY STAFF:
1. Didn't the female assistant at the very end of "Disappearing Inque" sound A
LOT like Alice from the BTAS episode "Mad as a Hatter"?
CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:
("Jeremy")
1. In the Superman episode "Little Girl Lost", the reporters are being told
about the coming of the comet at Fliescher Simposium. Fliescher made Superman
cartoons in the 40's.
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