Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Week of May 17 - May 22/23, 1999
Volume 2,
Rated: PG for some "low-key coarse language and occasional griping"THIS ISSUE'S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: "REMEMBER THE HYPE AROUND 'BATMAN &
ROBIN'? REMEMBER HOW IT DIDN'T PAY OFF? Just something to make note of..."
PS - Don't send me hate mail just cuz I said that! Even though I
didn't say what I was refering to...*CRINGES*
_____________________________
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to another issue of "Batman: The Animated Newsletter".
Enjoy!
_____________________________
WOOHOO!!!
Yep! Another milestone...the 900 subscriber mark was passed in the morning of
Saturday, May 15. Thank you for all your support, fellow subscribers!!!
_____________________________
SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE
May the hype be with us. No no, we're not gonna talk about THAT movie
that's coming up soon - however, it HAS influenced a writer named WT to write a special
article for this issue of the newsletter...scroll down and see! :-)
_____________________________
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.
'ASCENSION'
Batman Beyond #13
Air date: May 22, 1999
I'll make a guess...return of Mr. Fixx? ASCENDING from the dead, so to speak?
'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 or September.
'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!
____________________________
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 differant time. To find out when, we recommend you follow this URL (provided
by Toonzone): 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 5-17-99: Superman #36 Warrior Queen
Batman #105
Girl's Nite Out
Tue 5-18-99: Batman #73 Time Out of Joint
Superman #31
Prototype
Wed 5-19-99: Superman #05 A Little Piece of Home
Batman
#81 Harley's Holiday
Thu 5-20-99: Batman #78 Showdown
Superman #25
Brave New Metropolis
Fri 5-21-99: Superman #21 Mxyzpixilated
Batman
#77 The Lion & The Unicorn
Sat 5-22-99: Superman #52 Little Big Head Man
Batman #108
Beware the Creeper
B-BYND
#13 Ascension
------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.
______________________________
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 TOONZONE 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.
______________________________
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>
A TOUCH OF CURARE
Written by: Hilary J. Bader
Directed by: Dan Riba
Animation by: Dong Yang
Original air date: May 15, 1999
My rating: ***
A sword-wielding assassin makes her way through Gotham with one thing in
mind - KILL BARBARA'S HUSBAND. In a nutshell, that's what this whole episode is
about. Make note that you pronounce "Curare" as "CURE-RAR-AY".
#1 problem of this episode? We never learn why Curare is hunting
Barbara's husband, Sam. In the end, she fails, of course...but we still don't know
her motive...or even who sent her. Curare is very reminiscent of Ra's Al Ghul - of
course, they have excellent sword-handling abilities in common. But what else? She's
Arabic (everytime she's on screen, Arabic rock-music is played) and belongs to a league of
assassins. Could she be one of Ra's' followers, 50 years later? Or even Talia,
perhaps? It's possible. But we never learn anything about her. She was
unmasked during the episode, but we never got to see anything - only Terry did.
Sounds crappy huh? Why would an episode with such a lame plot get
the good rating I gave it? Well, this episode is the first to feature Barbara Gordon
in a large role - we get to learn more about her present and her past. Of course, we knew
most of this already...she and Dick dated, then they had a falling out (direct reference
to "Old Wounds"), and then she dated Bruce for a while - but, like Dick, she
grew sick of his brooding attitude, so she left him, cold turkey. (This also hints
at the fact that Dick is still alive - but what about Tim?) What's new, though, is
that we learn that, when in costume, she was shot...and, of course, being the greedy
little Bat-fans we are, "WE WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!"
Action sequences are great, and the hinting at past events was nice.
Curare is worthy of re-appearing, but only if we learn more about her. So, three stars is
this district attorney's final ruling.
_____________________________
SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE
Alright..."Batman: Episode One - The Phatasm Menace" or
whatever is coming out in theatres this week...so what better way to celebrate by having
an article all about Star TREK??? Hmmm? *PEOPLE THROW EGGS AND TOMATOES AT ME,
A LA 'BATMAN RETURNS'* Seriously though, when you think about it, the Star Treks of
the past and present hold many similarities to BTAS, at least in the casting
department. Read on and you'll see what I mean...and as for all those Star Wars fans
that are insulted I'd pull a stunt like this, "NYAH NYAH! IT'S MY NEWSLETTER AND I
CAN DO WHATEVER I LIKE!"
-editor Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton, right before mommy puts him back in his
playpen.
A LONG TIME AGO, IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY...
(by "WT")
Well, actually it's in the future. And, unless you're talking
about a certain Intrepid-class starship named U.S.S. Voyager, the galaxy is pretty close
by. No, it's not Star Wars; it's Star Trek.
Not only is it Star Trek, there's also a bat in a long cape running around. And
don't forget the Kryptonian.
Wait. A bat? In a long cape? And a Kryptonian? What does that have to do with Star
Trek?
Apparently a lot. Many of the actors or guest stars that appeared in the 23rd and
24th century also lent their voices to two of the most famous animated series in history.
That's right. Aside from having interstellar adventures, these actors also made their
voices heard in Gotham City, home of the Dark Knight, and in Metropolis, home of the Man
of Steel.
George Takei is best known as Hikaru Sulu from the U.S.S. Enterprise-A also voiced
the short-lived character Mr. Fixx on the series premiere episode of "Batman
Beyond", the latest series in the Bat universe.
During the second year of "Star Trek: The Next Generation", Diana Muldaur
took over as Doctor Katherine Pulaski when Doctor Beverly Crusher took a position in
Starfleet Medical. Muldaur also lent her voice to another doctor in "Batman: The
Animated Series", Leslie Thompkins. Yes, she was the one who, along with Alfred,
prevented the young Bruce Wayne from turning bitter after his parents' murder.
John de Lancie, the infuriating and wonderful Trek villain Q, also had a bit part in
Batman as Eagleton in "Blind as a Bat."
Robert Picardo, the Emergency Medical Holographic doctor with an attitude on Star
Trek: Voyager, voiced Eddie from "The Man Who Killed Batman."
By day, Michael Dorn is Worf, the honor-loving, warrior Klingon on "Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine" and formerly part of the bridge crew on the U.S.S. Enterprise-D in
"Star Trek: The Next Generation". By night, his voice makes guest appearances in
the form of John Henry Irons/Steel and Kalibak, both characters from Superman.
Kate Mulgrew made Trek history by becoming the first female captain of a Trek
series. She plays Captain Kathryn Janeway of the U.S.S. Voyager. But she also portrays an
international terrorist known as Red Claw from "The Cat and the Claw" and
"The Lion and the Unicorn." You'd hardly know it since she uses an accent for
the character.
Michael Ansara made it into the Klingon Hall of Warriors. Or rather, his alter ego
Kang did. Aside from playing the villain on "Star Trek: The Original Series",
Ansara also plays a frosty villain on Batman as well. If you guessed Doctor Victor
Fries/Mr. Freeze, you are correct.
There are many other actors with ties to Superman and Batman but too many to list
here. But it is sufficient to say this is the reason why Star Trek, Batman, and Superman
are still with us today. They all draw from the same talent.
P.S. To those of you who were disappointed that this article wasn't about Star Wars,
here's a consolation prize. You know Mark Hamill? The guy who played Luke Skywalker? Well,
he's the voice of Batman's infamous arch-enemy, the Joker. Can you imagine that!
_____________________________
EDITORAL #1
(by Laura Hysert, aka "Phoenix")
Ms. Hysert was unable to submit an editorial for this newsletter...but
fear not! She will return very soon. Be patient, my children.
_____________________________
EDITORIAL #2
(by Michael Mandeville)
batboym@wtp.net
I'm here to talk about 'Disappearing Inque' a very (words escape me
here) show. It went way to fast. They killed Inque. As if enough people haven't been
killed already. Another show I watch, Beast Wars, killed ALL of the bad guys except two,
one of which deserted. It killed MOST of the good guys even my favorite one and even the
one that had only been in two different episodes. The only ones left were part of the
original ones. And besides, if they were going to kill Inque, they could have given it a
better plotline. They could have changed the crappy title (What's "disappearing"
about her? I mean, besides the fact she dies?). And they could have made the guy at the
end REALLY dangerous, like the first (and greatest) Inque.
OTHER THINGS THAT CONFUSE ME:
Okay, all this week I've been waiting for the Curare episode. But all
this week it's been under different titles everywhere: 'Touch of Curare', 'Torture of
Curare', 'The episode with Curare' (Okay, so I made the last one up). Who the heck is
'Curare' anyway? Well, Saturday we found out.
The Inque story and BTAS 'Deep Freeze' episodes were alike, how?:
1. The guy spends a lot of time talking to the ink blot just as Grant Walker did studying
Mr. Freeze.
2. The guy wanted to be LIKE Inque, just like Grant Walker wanted to be like Mr. Freeze.
3. At the end in both episodes, the villain (Mr. Freeze and Inque) give every APPEARANCE
at the end to be dead (except we do see Mr.. Freeze and Nora in the Arctic that follows up
in 'Subzero').
4. The guys who became like the villains both survived and paid miserable consequences for
it; Grant Walker trapped in an ice cube until he decays like Mr. Freeze, and that other
guy being a living whatever-he-is for the rest of his life.
Speaking Of 'Subzero':
At the end of 'Subzero' nobody knows Mr. Freeze is still alive, yet, in
the next follow-up, Cold Comfort we find out that Nora has been waiting for Victor Fries
(Mr. Freeze) to come back and then runs away with her doctor and Batman and Batgirl (still
looking good) act like they knew all along that Mr. Freeze was dead. (I notice little
flaws in movies/cartoons).
THE CONTINUING OF MY LAST EDITORIAL, THE GIRLS OF BATMAN AND SUPERMAN:
Okay, I told you all that I would continue. I'm going to do things a little different
here, though. Her is going to be the girls of Batman Beyond:
Bunny Vreeland: Appeared in 'Rebirth'. Filthy rich. looks like the WB took Veronica
Vreeland's new design and changed the hair and some other things (which I don't really
mind).
Dana Tan: Terry's lucky. Except for the fact that Terry and Dana broke up in 'Dead Man's
Hand' and in the next episode they were automatically together again, Dana's pretty
cool.
Blade: Spoiled teenager
Chelsea Cunningham (girl at the beginning of 'Spellbinder'): A spoiled RICH teenager.
Melanie/Ten: The less I say about her the less chance I have of getting kicked out of this
newsletter.
Some thoughts on this by one of my friends: "Why do they ALWAYS have to make the
animated girls a lot hotter than the ones in actual life?" The Answer: "So
plastic surgeons can make a bundle of girls trying to look like the girl from "Tomb
Raider" and such.
But seriously, I like the real life girls more.
Batboy Beyond
batboym@wtp.net
_____________________________
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.
I have no actual theme for the following questions...I just hope they're
tough!
126. Which was the first villain to appear in an in-theatre Bat-movie
whose only previous exposure on-screen (TV or film) was on BTAS?
Answer: __________
127. Name the only episode in which both Rupert Thorne and the Penguin
appeared.
Answer: __________
128. Name the episode in which Clayface APPEARED, but didn't say a word.
Answer: __________
129. What is the first word in the name of the street on which Wayne
Manor is located?
Answer: __________
130. Name the only episode in which Batman and "the president"
appear together.
______________________________
ANSWERS TO THE TRIVIA
Answer to #126: If Harvey Dent in "Batman" is not included, then it'd be Poison Ivy.
Answer to #127: 'Second Chance'
Answer to #128: 'The Worry Men'
Answer to #129: 'Mountain'
Answer to #130: 'World's Finest (Pt. 1)'
_____________________________
