Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Weeks of August 16 - September 4/5
Volume 2,
Rated: PG for some "low-key coarse language and occasional griping"
THIS ISSUE'S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: "BUY THE 'BATMAN BEYOND' CD! IF THIS SELLS WELL, IT MAY INSPIRE THE WB TO MAKE A CD THAT FEATURES THE BTAS SCORE!"
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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to another issue of "Batman: The Animated Newsletter". Enjoy!
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SPECIAL NOTICE
Due to shifting schedules, summer vacations of various newsletter contributors, and the rush to get ready for the upcoming school year, this newsletter will have to tide you over for THREE weeks, instead of the usual two. We'll see you again on September 6, 1999! (Which, coincidentally, is Tim
"Two-Face"'s birthday. And he's the big TWO-OH! (Yep, 20!) YAY FOR HIM! *COUGH* *AHEM* (Why am I speaking about myself in the THIRD person? (Shouldn't it be SECOND?)) We just thought we should let ya know.
Also, we forgot to mention this back in , but we have passed our 1100 subscriber mark! In fact, we did it two hours after we delivered WAAAAAYYYYY back. Way to go us!
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SPECIALS IN THIS ISSUE
My co-editor, Dick Grayson, has managed to interview Chuck Dixon (who does oh, so many things in the mainstream Bat-comic-titles) - so just scroll down to read it! :-)
In addition that, he was able to submit a short-but-sweet interview he had with Ty Templeton and Terry Beatty (of "GOTHAM ADVENTURES" fame); you will find that right below the Dixon interview.
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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.
'SPLICERS'
Batman Beyond #14?
Airdate: 1999-2000 season
Teenagers at Hamilton Hill High School's new fad is 'splicing' where teens take characteristics of animals and geneticaly splice them into their own bodies. You can guess this goes downhill fast!
'ONCE BURNED'
Batman Beyond #15?
Air Date: 1999-2000 season
Ten returns to rekindle her love for Terry, and the Royal Flush Gang returns to once again kill Batman - but then again, is there more than meets the eye this time?
'THE DEMON REBORN'
Superman #44?
Air date: Fall of 1999
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 September.
'LEGACY (Pt. 1 & 2)'
Superman #48, 49?
Air date: Fall of 1999
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 differant time. To find out when, we recommend you follow this URL (provided by
Toonzone):
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/stations/index.html
And if/when that schedule is not available, go to the official BTAS/STAS site to check up on the air date schedules. The address is
http://www.batman-superman.com ...Then go to either BATMAN or SUPERMAN, and then click on EPISODES.
PS - Remember that "Batman Beyond" airs 30 minutes AFTER "Batman/Superman" is over, because "Men In Black" has been squeezed in between.
THIS WEEK:
Mon 8-16-99: Superman #14 Blasts from the Past (Pt. 1)
Superman #17 Blasts from the Past (Pt. 2)
Tue 8-17-99: Batman #88 Cold Comfort
Superman #30 Bizarro's World
Wed 8-18-99: Batman #91 Never Fear
Superman #20 Identity Crisis
Thu 8-19-99: Superman #18 Livewire
Batman #87 Sins of the Father
Fri 8-20-99: Superman #42 Where There's Smoke
Batman #99 Critters
Sat 8-21-99: Batman #103 The Demon Within
Superman #54 A Fish Story
B-BEYOND #11 A Touch of Curare
NEXT WEEK:
Episode schedules for the week of August 22 to September 5 were unavailable at the delivery date of this newsletter. For current schedules, go to Brian Cruz' site, via the link provided above.
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 TOONZONE for the complete episode schedule at:
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/schedules/batman-cn.html
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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: THE ANIMATED SERIES>
SINS OF THE FATHER
Written by Rich Fogel
Directed by Curt Geda
Animation by Dong Yang
Original air date: September 20, 1997
My rating: ***
"Sins of the Father" is the origin story of the third Robin, Tim Drake. After "Sub-Zero", Dick Grayson (the original Robin) became Nightwing, and needs to be replaced. Note: Tim Drake is the third Robin in the comics, but the second Robin on
BTAS. (BTAS overlooked the brutal but important death of Jason Todd.)
In the BTAS incarnation of this character, Tim Drake is a down-on-his luck kid, who has pretty much been orphaned by his father, Stephen Drake. Tim is very street-smart...and idolizes Batman, for he possesses a collection of newspaper clippings about the Dark Knight and even a real batarang at his below-average residence.
Enter the villain. Stephen Drake used to work for Two-Face, and has something that Two-Face desires...and he and his mean are searching for him. They eventually stumble upon Tim at his home, and take him hostage.
Enter the hero. Batman saves the day, and in a hurried escape, takes Tim back to the Batcave in the new Batboat. One event leads to another...Tim's father is found dead in Metropolis, Tim discovers Batman's secret identity, and Batgirl makes her uneeded appearance...and after Batman's continual dissuasion, Tim becomes the new Robin.
I liked this episode. Two-Face is genuinely evil, and Batman is the stone-cold man he should be. Alfred makes his first "improved" appearance, and it now appears that Batgirl has full access to the Batcave. Tim Drake is a good Robin replacement, for he really is a "boy wonder". At the end of the episode, Dick Grayson enters to see Bruce training Tim...a very touching, and cool ending.
This one should have been a two-parter, though. That's the only downside.
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SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE #1
INTERVIEW WITH CHUCK DIXON
Remember that guy named Chuck Dixon? You know, he wrote DETECTIVE COMICS, and wites ROBIN, NIGHTWING, BIRDS OF PREY, as well as other assorted books? Ring a bell? Yeah, I thought so to. I had the oppurtunity for Chuck to answer some of my questions recently and this is what Dixon had to say. Trust me, it's pretty cool to see him in an intevriew in WIZARD magazine a few months
agon, and then to see yourself actually interviewing him. So sit back and read!
BTAN #1: First off, as always, tell us abit about yourself.
CHUCK DIXON #1: I've got basically the same "origin" as other guys who turned pro in comics. I was sick a lot as a kid and my mom bought me lots of comics so I could work on my reading. I graduated high school and spent the next thirteen years working donkey jobs until I could break into the comics book business full time.
BTAN #2: When did you realize that, well, you could actually make a living writing comics? Did it just hit you like an anvil or did you always just know?
CD #2: I always knew I wanted to do it. I wasn't sure I could ever make a living at it. I was willing to do it part time and work a 'real' job to supportmy writing. Luckily I didn't have to. My first real "fulltime" assignment was SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN; a guaranteed 50 pages a month. That allowed me to get married. Then my stint on the Punisher allowed me to buy a house.
BTAN #3: Which do you think is easier: Being a writer, or being an artist (penciller, inker, whatever)?
CD #3: For me, it's writing. I can't imagine the discipline required for putting art on boards. When I was a kid I wanted to be a penciller 'cause they were the superstars (still are.). But, while I have some native ability at drawing, I lack the discipline required to turn out a page a day and didn't pursue that line.
BTAN #4: Seeing how this is an animated themed newsletter I guess I'll jump right into it: What is your favorite BTAS episode? Why?
CD #4: ALMOST GOT 'IM is my hands down favorite. The pacing, characterization, and the humor are all on the money. Plus it's CRAMMED with story. Another fave is A BULLET FOR BULLOCK 'cause it's adapted from one of my stories. How cool is hearing your own dialogue spoken by actors?
BTAN #5: If you had a chance would you write an episode of BTAS? What would it be about?
CD #5: I'd love to try my hand at it. But the intimidation factor would be awesome. I think Batman: The Animated Series has the best writers on TV.
BTAN #6: Why do you think Batman is still around today, and will be still be around? I'm suprised (the movie) BATMAN & ROBIN didn't erase him off the earth, to be honest.
CD #6: Bob Kane himself admitted that Batman was cobbled together from a dozen different popular and literature icons. You've got the best of Zorro, Dracula, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Sherlock Holmes and the Shadow all rolled into one character. It's the ultimate male fantasy. To be wealthy and feared and have all that great stuff hidden away in your own underground lair. And the bat symbol itself plays a big part. It's easily one of the top ten most recognizable symbols in the world. Right up there with the Chevy shield and the swastika.
BTAN #7: In the past 5 or 6 years, we've had alot happen to Gotham. We had the Knight trilogy, Contagion, Legacy, Cataclysm, and now No Man's Land. Which crossover have you enjoyed the most?
CD #7: Knightfall worked the best and was the most fun. We had a very strong framework to build on and were left plenty of room to improvise.
BTAN #8: Seeing how Bats is still stuck in NML, I'll guess I'll ask you this: How are you enjoying NML? People say DC has gone too far with this crossover, do you agree?
CD #8: No comment.
BTAN #9: At the Chicago ComicCon, the new creative teams and storylines were announced for Batman's Y2K relaunch. One thing that caught my attention is that one part of Gotham will be remade over with a 'Glass & Light' (or something along those
lines)image. Is this what the BATMAN of the future hinted about in the NIGHTWING #1,000,000 issue? Is there anymore little small details you can shed about this?
CD #9: I'm actually surprised at this. I've been lobbying for almost two years that the center of Gotham be built of tempered fiberglass in modular sections so that Midtown Gotham could literally be rebuilt inside of a few months. These towers of glass would allow light (moon and sun) through and seem to glow in the darkness around them. I thought it would give Gotham a different look from other DCU (and real) cities. I'm just suprised to find out someone listened to me.
BTAN #10: Also, It's reported that Batman will once again undergo a costume change. Is this to accomadate the 'new' Gotham? Does this mean there are certain dangers we can look forward to come Y2K?
CD #10: I haven't been apprised of the costume changes or even that there will BE any.
BTAN #11: Everyone knows you write alot of books, one of them being the critically acclaimed ROBIN. Now we've seen alot of stuff happen to poor ol' Drake. He's caught that disease during CONTAGION, been smacked around by Jean-Paul, had a friend shot, got dumped by his girl
Ariana,
and has the crappiest luck around. Will his luck be getting worse post-NML? Is there any details you can drop?
CD #11: His luck does not improve. His father will take steps to limit what he sees as Tim's delinquency. This will present new challenges to Tim and Robin. I've already written three stories into the new year and I think Robin's readers will LOVE these changes.
BTAN #12: Another book you write is NIGHTWING. Once NML is over and he moves back to Bludhaven, is there going to be any changes we're going to notice? Also, do you think the new creative team on NIGHTWING will alter the series in anyway. Scott McDaniel had a specific style, and now
we have the great team of Greg Land and Drew Geraci. Will this new creative team cause a sort of atmosphere change?
CD #12: There will be a shift in emphasis away from all-action toward more atmospheric stories. That's Greg and Drew's strength. There'll still be plenty of action though. No changes to the book. We'll return to the storylines that NML interrupted.
BTAN #13: Now the difficult question, out of all the stories you've wrote for DETECTIVE COMICS, ROBIN, NIGHTWING, BIRDS OF PREY, and about the 1000 other comics you've written, which do you have to say is your favorite story, and why?
CD #13: The 'Nam #66. It played like a movie in my head and I laid it down, without re-writes, in just a few hours.
BTAN #14: If you had a chance, would you write SUPERMAN. Most writers say they wouldn't touch those books with a twelve foot pole becuase of the history behind them. Would you, you think, be able to leave your mark on Superman if you had your chance? Maybe you have a SUPERMAN project coming up...?
CD #14: I did Superman: The Oddessey [Check it out!] and I'm doing SUPERMAN/ALIENS 2 right now. I've not been asked to join the Superman titles. I'd say that I don't have a lot of Superman story ideas in me. But I once said that about Batman AND Green Arrow. I also once said that I wasn't sure I could write more than a year of ROBIN. Never say never, I guess.
BTAN #15: Is there any little upcoming stories to plot-lines you can fill us in on? There are going to be questions abound when NML ends, and the post NML begins. Is there any suprises you cna prepare us for...?
CD #15: If I prepared you they wouldn't be surprises.
BTAN: Thank you, Chuck Dixon. You've provided with some great info as well as some interesting teasers. Everyone,a round of applause to Chuck Dixon! Thank you!
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