THIS ISSUE'S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: "HMPH. SO SUE ME IF MY CREATIVE WELL IS DRY. SO SUE ME IF I
COULDN'T USE A BETTER CLICHE."
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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: The WB is 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.

'HIDDEN AGENDA'
Batman Beyond #19
Air date: October 16, 1999
   Fellow high school student "Max" (Maxine) learns that Terry is Batman, when he saves her from the threat of a vengeful Joker.

'BLOOD SPORT'
Batman Beyond #18
Air date: October 23, 1999
   The Stalker - a cybernetically enhanced wild animal hunter - grows bored with Big Game and goes after the only challenge left in the world: Batman.

'ONCE BURNED'
Batman Beyond #20
Air date: November 6, 1999
   Batman/Terry's emotional resolve is put to the test when an old girlfriend, who also happens to be the notorious Ten of the Royal Flush Gang, reverts back to a life of crime. The situation becomes further complicated when he learns that she's being forced to steal to save her family from kidnappers.

'LEGACY (Pt. 1 & 2)'
Superman #44, 48
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. This is being touted as the FINAL Superman episode EVER. However, I must say that I've read a synopsis of the episode, and it's a doozie.

For synopses of all other upcoming BATMAN BETOND episodes, check out of BTAN at this address:

http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/newsletters/btan
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WB ANIMATION SCHEDULES:
(courtesy of Brian Cruz and/or the official BTAS/STAS site)

THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES airs Mondays thru Fridays beginning at 4pm (ET). It also airs every weekend at 8am (ET). BATMAN BEYOND airs on the occasional weekday at 4pm (ET), sharing the time slot with THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. BATMAN BEYOND also airs every weekend at 9am (ET). Check your local listings for time and station in your area. If this newsletter section is not updated in time, please refer to either of these three links for schedule information:

http://www.batman-superman.com/batman/cmp/episodes.html
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/schedules/
http://www.ktla.com/rebuild/programming/kids_framed.htm

THIS WEEK:
Mon 10-11-99: Superman #27 The Promethean
    B-BEYOND #07 Meltdown

Tue 10-12-99: Batman #107  Chemistry
    Superman #42 Where There's Smoke

Wed 10-13-99: Superman #32 The Late Mr. Kent
    Batman #80   Second Chance

Thu 10-14-99: Batman #98   Mean Seasons
    Superman #36 Warrior Queen

Fri 10-15-99: Superman #07 Feeding Time
    B-BEYOND #05 The Winning Edge

Sat 10-16-99: Batman #106  Mad Love
    B-BEYOND #19 Hidden Agenda  ---------NEW!!!

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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CANADIAN EPISODE SCHEDULE
(BTAS/BEYOND on YTV)
(courtesy of our friends at YTV)

-To find the episode guide and airing schedule of BATMAN on YTV then please go to http://www.ytv.com and click on the YTV GUIDE icon at the bottom of the screen. To check out the schedule then click on BATMAN in the time grid and it will have the schedule for the current week.
-To find the episode guide and airing schedule of BATMAN BEYOND on YTV then please go to this http://www.ytv.com and click on the YTV GUIDE icon at the bottom of the screen. To check out the schedule then click on BATMAN BEYOND in the time grid and it will have the schedule for the current week.

BTAS will air at 7:30am on weekday mornings (in all time zones), and BEYOND will air at 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. YTV has the rights to show all 109 BTAS episodes; it is still unclear as to whether they'll be showing any of the new STAS or BEYOND episodes as of yet, but we'll keep you posted!

THIS WEEK:
Mon 10-11-99: NO EPISODE

Tue 10-12-99: BTAS   #19 Prophecy of Doom

Wed 10-13-99: BTAS   #08 The Forgotten

Thu 10-14-99: BTAS   #27 Mad as a Hatter

Fri 10-15-99: BTAS   #31 The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy

Sat 10-16-99: BEYOND #05 The Winning Edge

Sun 10-17-99: BEYOND #09 Spellbound
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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

To see the 52 episodes that the CARTOON NETWORK does show, go to this link:

http://www.toonzone.net/brian/eplists/batman-cn.html

NOTE: The schedules at Brian Cruz' site are currently unavailable; if anyone knows of any other place where people can get listings for BTAS on the Cartoon Network, please e-mail us!
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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

NOTE: Due to the loss of the WGN, editor Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton has been unable to review any new episodes. Until he can once again, we'll be having someone substituting for him.  Thank you to Justin Chen for this review!

<BATMAN BEYOND>
SPLICERS
Written By Eva Dorkin & Sara Dyer
Directed by: Curt Geda
Animation by Dong Yang
Original air date September 17, 1999
Rating: ***1/2 (out of 5)

After the long, bleak wasteland of television programming known as summer, BB comes back at us with the season premiere "Splicers", and boy does it look good.

A new fad is sweeping the youth of Gotham City. Known as "Splicing", the process involves the integration of animal DNA into the genes of humans, thus producing animal-like characteristics. The school's loaded with spliced teens; even Dana's friend Chelsea has had her eyes altered to look like those of a snake.

Terry and Dana, (who seem to have made up since "Dead Man's Hand" last season) are in the minority now. Terry's cautious about this new craze, noting that the city is trying to ban splicing. During a newscast we are introduced to Dr. Abel Cuvier, a vampire-esque freak who heads the Chimera Institute, the company that invented splicing. "I was the first test subject, and as you can see I'm perfectly fine," he says.

Terry is creeped out by Cuvier and this entire splicing fad. Bruce agrees in this case, and makes an ominous prediction.

"Something bad will come of this splicing. Something we'll most likely have to clean up."

That's the premise for the the rest of this episode, in which it is revealed that Cuvier does not plan to stop his genetic revolution with only kids. The Chimera Institute has not only created some funky looking youths, but also some very hardcore followers of Dr. Cuvier's dream. Two punks spliced with bull and snake DNA respectively enter a brief battle with Terry. He wards them off, but the spliced pair warns the normal people that "their time will come".

Under the cover of accompanying Dana to explore Splicing, Terry observes Bull and Snake speaking to Dr. Cuvier in the Institute. Through Terry's investigation as Batman, he discovers the Doctor's plans to take out District Attorney Sam Young, who is Barbara Gordon's husband as well as the leader of the crusade against Splicing. Before he can do anything, Terry is sensed and captured by a cat-spliced employee of Dr. Cuvier. As he awakens, he sees Cuvier injecting something into him. Whatever it is, Terry drops in pain to the floor and is beaten by Cuvier until he narrowly escapes.

Sam Young from "A Touch of Curare" takes an important role in this episode, with the bloodthirsty followers of Cuvier attempting to assassinate him at his residence. Batman flies in and stops them, but then begins to go over the edge in beating them. Barb Gordon tries to tell Terry to stop, but it's of no use. Finally Terry begins to foam at the mouth and flies off into the darkness.

There's plenty more left in this episode, including BB's version of Man-Bat, Batman's showdown with Cuvier, and a major role for Ace the Batdog...and Terry really does call him that! There's no shoratge of high powered action in this episode, including Terry ripping the nose ring right out of Bull during their last battle scene. Surprisingly, I don't think anyone bled during this episode, but that's beside the point. Also, I was surprised that Bruce could come up with a cure for Splicing so quickly...but all BB eps have a rushed feel to them. I was expecting perhaps a reference to Kirk Langstrom and the Man-Bat of the old days, but no such luck. But like "The Winning Edge", which focused on teen drug use, "Splicers" explores the impact of fads on young people, although not to the near-corny extent that the former one did. In all, a good, but not amazing start of the new season.

-Justin Chen, aka 'The Overseer'
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EDITORAL #1
(by Laura Hysert, aka "Phoenix")

Laura is still on...*EVIL LAUGH*...extended vacation. She'll return shortly; in the mean time, editor Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton has submitted an article about a topic that's been on his mind lately...

WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK PAUL DINI IS A GOD?
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)

Paul Dini? Thought of as a god. WHY?  Let's see...what does he do for the show? He started as a writer, later became a producer, and then wrote the "BTAS Bible"...hmmm. 

So how is he a god? Someone please explain this to me.  Why do people mention him and Frank Miller in the same breath?  It's insane and unjustified.  Way back with the original 85 episodes, I totally DID respect the guy - a lot of his works back then were very well done.  He won an Emmy for his work on "Heart of Ice", and an Eisner for his work on the "Mad Love" comic - both of which were really great pieces.  He also wrote a handful of great episodes, and co-wrote about a dozen more.

But I remember, even at the age of 14, when 1994 rolled around, he was losing his style. His obsession with Harley Quinn was going way overboard, and any story that featured her really suffered - ESPECIALLY "Harlequinade".  Long gone were Dini's in-depth scripts, delving into the human psyche; now all his scripts were filled with lame jokes and cheap sex shows put on by the gals of BTAS.

Things got 10 times worse in 1997, when BTAS returned.  "Holiday Knights"? "Joker's Millions"? "Cult of the Cat"?  What's this crap? (OK, the latter of the three wasn't BAD, but it wasn't great.)   But still - look at all those bad scripts.  Now that Dini was a PRODUCER, it seemed that Joker and Harley were making a lot more impressions, but a lot less of an impression. "Hey look, guys!  Let's make Harley act seductive here and those foolish Bat-fans will love it, just you see!"  While I feel that the lightened tone was likely enforced by the WB execs, the story quality for most episodes truly suffered because of Dini as the producer.  Personally, I felt "Batman & Robin" was a lot better than these pitiful stories.

And people want Dini to write the script for Batman 5?

This season, Dini has done very little that I would consider GOOD. "Mad Love" would be included, but he wrote that in 1994.  "Growing Pains" would be included, but he ALSO wrote that script (intended for Dick Grayson and not Tim Drake) back in 1994; pretty much anything found in the final print of the episode was written by Robert Goodman.  "Over the Edge" is the only truly great episode that Dini wrote this season - but even there, he has to destroy the sombre mood by injecting four villains into a talk-show sequence (focusing on Harley again - what a surprise); the episode would have been PERFECT without that. Now it suffers.

And SUPERMAN? Don't get me started. "Little Girl Lost"? "Unity"? What's this tripe?

Oh, and let's make something clear: Dini did NOT write "Mask of the Phantasm" - he merely helped out. Alan Burnett, a far better writer in my opinion, wrote the script. He still likes to focus on character and emotion, not gimmicks and cheesy costumes.

Dini started his work at WB with "Tiny Toons" - and in light of the recent contributions he's made to the Bat-universe (including the upcoming not-too-promising "Harley & Ivy" mini-series), it would seem that he wants to go back.  Quit destroying the show you helped create, already - you've made your point, now move along.

Moving along may not seem to far off, either. An article in a recent TV guide said that both he and co-producer Bruce Timm may be moving on, away from Batman, Superman, AND Batman Beyond.  Know what I say? YAY!  They're not the only people that can handle these series' now.  They're pretty much just "behind-the-scenes concept-guys" now, anyhow; I'd much rather see Alan Burnett stick around as producer of all three series', and have Stan Berkowitz and Robert Goodman do a large chunk of the writing.  And yeah, there's a lot of OTHER writers and artists and producers out there, too - Dini's not the only one that can handle the Bat-universe with style.

Dini's got talent, that's a given - but he sure as hell isn't using it these days. It's a true disappointment - almost EMBARASSMENT - to watch anything that he's written any more.

I understand that a lot of you out there do really like his work, and I respect that. My question is WHY? Please give me a couple reasons as to why I should enjoy everything he writes - how wonderfully constructed and beautifully worded it is.  Any takers? I'd love to change my mind on this subject - if there's any reason to.
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EDITORIAL #2
(by Kelly Tindall)

WHY BATMAN NEEDS A ROBIN

Batman doesn't need a Robin.

Or does he?

That was the question Jeph Loeb, writer of the hotly anticipated 13-part series "Batman: Dark Victory" posed to his collaborator, genius artist Tim Sale.  Sale had fought against using the 10-year old Dick Grayson, but a message of hope was to be that of "Dark Victory", and so Robin is in.

Frank Miller, back when he wrote "The Dark Knight Returns", had a similar notion.  Batman needs his Robin.  Robin is everything that Batman is not: innocent.  Small.  Colorful.  Talkative.  Robin is Batman's protege.  Robin's the hope that the dream Bruce Wayne started, to rid Gotham of crime forever, will live on.  Robin is Batman's legacy, his son, his teacher, and his friend.

He's also, to some extent, Batman's meal ticket.  Kids love seeing a kid fighting bad guys. ROBIN isn't afraid of the school bully.  ROBIN could fight THE JOKER, or TWO-FACE...he's not afraid of ANYBODY.  He talks back to BATMAN, of all people.  And he gets to hang around with the biggest, scariest super-hero there ever was.  What kid wouldn't want to swing around the city, following the greatest Big Brother in the world?

Fox figured this out, so in went Dick Grayson, as an aged Robin, to every episode.  The Adventures of Batman...AND ROBIN.  EVERY WEEK.  And it worked.  Kids love him. 

When Fox pulled the plug, well...the kids and the fans waited.  And back Batman came, with a brand-new set of kin to help him rid the night of evil.  Robin was growing up, just like the kids that watched him.  A new bunch of kids needed someone to look up to, so in came Tim Drake.  A spunky, street-smart little boy, Tim weaselled his way into the life and heart of Batman's collective unit.  Tim got to live every kid's dreams, all over again...a big sister who'd put her life on the line for him...a big brother who is a big scary hero all on his own, a rebel with a cause...a grandfather, a wise old man watching a third generation of crime-fighting legacy spread its wings...and, of course, a dad who happens to be the world's greatest detective.  It's not just neat for kids...it's COOL.

It's cool for us, too.  We can sit back and see how having a kid around changes Bruce into someone with a new mission, one of hope for the future instead of a dark tragedy down the line. Robin is living punctuation for Batman's every quirk.  He's small, while Batman is huge.  He's bright, while Batman is black.  He smiles.  He laughs.  He jokes around.  Batman can't.  He wants to, more than anything, but the promise he made to his parents makes him separate from everyone.  All but this smart little boy, who moved into the Batcave and took over.  Bruce sees that the boy is like he was at that age.  He knows how he feels.  And he knows that the pain won't ever go away, but he'll do his best to make little Dick Grayson feel better about himself and the world.

And what of the comics' Jason Todd, or Tim Drake?  Shadows, mostly...Tim has become a part of Batman's family, but he is clearly an invention, a contrivance to replace the feeling we get when we see little Dick Grayson being taught to throw a batarang by big Bruce Wayne.  Jason never had a chance.  Jason, like Barbara, became a character-developing point for the Joker.

What can we learn from Robin?  We can learn that you can become anything you want to be.  We can learn that there are ways of dealing with the pains of being a kid.  We learn about the child that we used to be, and hopefully cast a light on the children that we may one day have ourselves.  Most important of all, we learn about what it's like to have somebody need us.  Love us, unconditionally.  And make us want to fight that much harder to make this world a better place.
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