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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. 

.  Let's see what we can do with this for our newsletter, huh?

191. Name episode #41 of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES.

192. Name episode #41 of SUPERMAN.

193. 41 divided by 2. Round it up to the nearest whole number. Then minus one. What episode of BATMAN BEYOND corresponds with this number?

194. 41 times two, plus the numerical answer to Question #193. What episode of BTAS is this?

195. Is it possible to buy episode #41 of SUPERMAN on tape?
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ANSWERS TO THE TRIVIA

Answer to #191: TYGER, TYGER
Answer to #192: WORLD'S FINEST (Pt. 3)
Answer to #193: HOOKED UP
Answer to #194: OLD WOUNDS
Answer to #195: YES!
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LITTLE FACTS AND BLOOPERS
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)

Here is a section that just points out various little facts and bloopers 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:
We're blind!

CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:
Evidently, it's contaigous.
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MERCHANDISING: WHERE THE REAL BAT-CASH IS MADE
(by Kevin Smith) 
Oh_Ho77@hotmail.com

You'd think that with all this Bat-merchandies overcrowding our stores that we'd have SOMETHING to write about here, huh? Hmmm...we'll get an article in here soon, we promise!
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COMIC REVIEWS
(by Aaron Maurer)

Mr. Maurer was unable to submit a review for the printing of this newsletter, so editor Tim "Two-Face" Leighton is here to fill the void.

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
ISSUE: "Like a Bat outa Gotham" (#18)
WRITTEN BY: Scott Peterson
PENCILED BY: Tim Levins
INKED BY: Terry Beatty
ISSUED: September 1, 1999 (Cover date is November)
RATING: **.5 (out of 5)

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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. 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...a whopping $3.25 in Canada.  (Both our editors and many subscribers are Canadian, hence the "grrr".)
   If we are unsure of the exact date of when an issue is being released, just check out "DIRECT CURRENTS" at http://www.dccomics.com for details.

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #20
November 3rd?
Synopsis: Poison Ivy makes a comeback in a story featuring none other than... breakfast cereal?
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/
comics/covers/download/dbmbga20.jpg

NEXT MONTH:
Synopsis: A young girl has been kidnapped and the only "eye witness" is a blind jazz musician. Can even Batman, the world's greatest detective, use the information the old man provides to find the girl before the kidnapper takes his revenge?
Cover: Unavailable

BATMAN BEYOND #2 (ongoing)
October 20th?
Synopsis: The shadowy villainess known as Inque has found a way to get Gotham's citizens to commit her crimes for her. She hopes to use the ill-gotten gains to finance a cure for her inhuman condition, but she doesn't realize that becoming human again may cost more than just money. Can Batman capture her...and save her from a cure that is worse than the disease?
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/
comics/covers/download/dbmbd2.jpg

FOLLOWING MONTH: Issue #3.
Synopsis: The Terrific Trio returns.
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/
comics/covers/download/dbmbd3.jpg

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #39
November 10th?
Synopsis: Unavailable
Cover: Unavailable

NEXT MONTH:
Synopsis: Unavailable
Cover: Unavailable
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NEWS AND RUMORS

ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-Terry Beatty has been and will be selling Gotham Adventures and Batman Beyond original art on ebay. His Seller ID is: wlee@muscanet.com  Do yourself a favor and check out some great art!
-An 8-page preview of the NO MAN'S LAND novel will be found in DC#741, which hits shelves on December 15.  This will bump up the already large issue to 48 pages; it will cost $2.50 American, and presumably $3.75 Canadian.
-I can tell you that in Feb. 2000, these animated films will DEFINANTLY be released:
    Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
    Batman: Sub-Zero
    World's Finest
    Batman Beyond: Rebirth
Check out the following address for more info: http://www.mania.com.au/~grahark/darkjustice/
-KIDS'WB! has a new series coming in January! But what's differant about this seires is that it's a CGI-Series. The Name? MAX STEEL!If you want to know more about this upcoming Kids'WB! Animated Series then check out these links:
http://www.anotheruniverse.com/buzz/index.asp?x_date=10/14/99
(scroll down a bit to get the info)
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/9910/14/index.htm
Note: This same page also features information on 3 new BATMAN BEYOND episodes, HIDDEN AGENDA, BLOODSPORT, and ONCE BURNED (scroll down a bit to get the info)

"CURRENT" ANIMATED SERIES'
-BTAS/STAS will return in the fall of 2001 with NEW EPISODES, when Batman Beyond goes on hiatus.
-Then again, there is ALSO word that BTAS/STAS WON'T return.  So which do we believe? Hopefully the first...

BATMAN BEYOND
-BATMAN BEYOND will now be airing on GLOBAL on Saturday mornings at either 8:30 or 9:30; check local listings!
-Synopses of episodes #17 through 36 have now been posted, thanks to the COMIC BOOK CONTINUUM.  Check out of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER for a complete listing.

ANIMATED COMICS
-Poison Ivy will be appearing in GOTHAM ADVENTURES #20.
-Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon will be in the spotlight for of GOTHAM ADVENTURES.
-Lock-Up is planned to be used in the near future.
-Ty Templeton's upcoming two-issue stint on Superman Adventures will be co-written with Dan Slott.
-The Royal Flush Gang will appear in BATMAN BEYOND #4.
-If you want pics for BATMAN BEYOND issues #1-3 go to GOTHAM CITY LIMITS http://www.batman.genxer.com

OTHER COMICS
-Wanna read what Rucka and Grayson have set for the final two months of NML? There are some slight spoilers and A LOT of teasers! This article will no doubt make any heavy NML enthusiast very excited for the NML finale. The URL is:
http://www.anotheruniverse.com/comics/interviews/rucka101599.html
-Jeph Loeb describes what he aims to do with the SUPERMAN books, as well as a few suprises he has instore for the very near future in a very recent interview with ANOTHER UNIVERSE. The URL is here:
http://www.anotheruniverse.com/comics/interviews/loeb101599.html
-The Paul Dini/Alex Ross tale "Batman: War on Crime" will be released on November 17, 1999.
-Batman, Robin, Gordon, Two-Face, and Joker will have large recurring roles throughout DARK VICTORY.
-Issue #2 of BATMAN: DARK VICTORY (in November) will feature the Riddler.
-Issue #3 of BATMAN: DARK VICTORY (in December) will feature the Scarecrow.
- of BATMAN: DARK VICTORY (next year) will feature Mr. Freeze

MOVIES
-CINESCAPE ONLINE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING:
"Goldsman Talks BATMAN"
   Now, don’t get too excited. Akiva Goldsman isn’t talking about writing another Batman movie script. On the other hand, he does have some ideas on how he thinks the franchise works as well as his opinions on recent rumors of Keanu Reeves’ interest in the franchise.
   While talking to the UK’s Empire magazine, scribe/producer Akiva Goldsman gave his opinions of the Batman film franchise even as he defended his work in the series, saying, "There are scenes in Batman Forever which are as true to the version of Batman that I believe in as I think I know how to write, or arguably could be written. They’re psychologically acute, dark character scenes. They actually do exist in Batman and Robin – you just can’t find them."
   Goldsman continues, "The most interesting Batman ever, in my opinion, on page or script (and I think the inspiration for the movies ultimately) was Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns, which is an aging semi-retired Batman at the end of his career who has been responsible for the death of many Robins and who comes out of retirement because a young girl decides to put on that Robin costume and go and fight crime." He then adds, "Now think how politically incorrect that was and how insane a notion it was to contort the franchise in that way and yet it breathed new life into it for new generations of kids. That’s what you do with Batman. You bend him and twist him and see what happens."
   Regarding Empire’s recent story about Keanu Reeves' take on the Batman franchise, the magazine reports that Goldsman had never heard it before and even laughed at it initially. He then explained why he doesn’t think a Keanu as Batman movie project is likely saying, "The ideal sort of version would be Keanu and the Wachowskis. That would be cool. My guess is it’s not true, because I think Warners currently has a a tremendous amount invested very successfully in The Matrix as does Keanu and the Wachowskis. If I were them, I would do what was planned [on The Matrix sequels]."

TOYS & MERCHANDISE
-The new line of Batman bean bags have been out since September at least:  Batman "Beyond", Riddler, Penguin, Joker, Harley.
-Batman/Superman World's Finest Boxed set offers previously released figures with new paint decos/accessories.  Set includes Batman, Superman, Joker and Lex Luthor.  Except for Luthor, all designs are to model with the animated series.  This is also due out soon. 
-Last item from Previews is the new porcelain statue of Harley based on Bruce Timm's design.  It's pretty darn expensive though.  There are pics in WIZARD #99.
-The new Batman Beyond Maquette and two limited edition Batman Beyond gallery pieces are both available from wbstore.com, as are the Ron Lee mini-Batgirl porcelain figure, The History of Batmobile Cars (gallery piece), Batman/Superman vinyl coin bank (not to mention the cookie jar), medium Batman bust (smaller $20 version of the $55 bust)
-A BATMAN BEYOND costume will be available in Kmart, Target, and Wal-Mart for this upcoming Halloween.
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THE ROAD THROUGH NO MAN'S LAND
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)

Yes, I know this isn't really an animated topic, but I thought, hey, it's Batman's 60th anniversary, and this is the big event that celebrates it, so I should have a section dedicated to this year-long crossover. Besides, so far it's been excellent in every issue. We have this section split up into two parts - the first saying what has already happened, the second previewing what's to come. Enjoy!

UP UNTIL NOW...
  JANUARY - APRIL: For synopses of what happened in the first four months of NO MAN'S LAND, go see Issues #26 and #27 of "Batman: The Animated Newsletter".  Follow this link:
http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/newsletters/btan

  MAY, JUNE: For synopses of what how things really heated up in the fifth and sixth months of NO MAN'S LAND, see of "Batman: The Animated Newsletter".  Follow this link:
http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/newsletters/btan

  JULY: For synopses of the many things that happened in the month that all of the other major players in Gotham broke back into the city, see of "Batman: The Animated Newsletter". 
Follow this link: http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/newsletters/btan

  AUGUST: For synopses of the many things that happened in the final full month of summer, see of Batman: The Animated Newsletter". Follow this link:
http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/newsletters/btan

  SEPTEMBER: For synopses of the issues dealing with the set-up of the final crunch of No Man's Land, see of Batman: The Animated Newsletter". Follow this link:
http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/newsletters/btan

OCTOBER: Batman foils a scheme where some hoods promise citizens an escape from Gotham; meanwhile, Catwoman battles Maxie Zeus in New York City for the discs that are "vital to saving Gotham City".  Azrael aids Catwoman in breaking back into Gotham, Superman pays Batman another visit, and things heat up *WINK WINK* between Nightwing and Oracle.
   Then, in NO MAN'S LAND #0, we learn that Batman abandonned Gotham for Monaco the day the bridges were blown, and Talia was the one that forced him to go back. We also learn the details as to why the Huntress became Batgirl.
   Then in NO MAN'S LAND SECRET FILES we see various congress reports, newspaper clippings, character bios (including Penguin, Harley, Ivy, Dr. Thompkins, and newcomers "Mute" Batgirl, Cain, and Echo).  We also see a tale of a dying man during the day the bridges were blown, where he encounters the Penguin, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, and the Huntress.
  
That's 61 issues of NML so far. For a complete list, e-mail us.

WHAT'S TO COME...
-October: Two-Face breaks his deal with Gordon, kidnaps him, and puts him on trial in "Jurisprudence" - BATMAN #572 and DC #739.
-November: Batman confronts Gordon. The "Outside Interest" is revealed. Bane assembles all the remaining villains - Joker, Penguin, and Harley - for a final blow-out. The Joker, realizing that Batman has totally neglected him since NML began, tries to get his attention in the worst way possible.
-December: NML concludes with the three-part "Endgame" story, and then a final reflection in the final issue of SHADOW OF THE BAT (#94). The hope of a new Gotham comes into view - which is when the event we've been waiting for finally hits. The Joker returns in a big way to "destroy hope"...by kidnapping and killing children. And this all happens during the Christmas season. Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Azrael, Oracle, Batgirl, and Huntress all have major roles. The outside interest makes his/her move.
-ONE OF THE MAJOR HEROES WILL DIE BEFORE "NO MAN'S LAND" ENDS. (This is in Detective Comics #741).
-See below for more.

AS FOR THE OTHER HEROES:
-Batman MIGHT reveal his identity to Gordon in November.
-Robin goes up against Killer Croc in Robin #71 and 72.
-Azrael faces off against the Joker AGAIN in AZRAEL #60 and 61 - both guest-starring Batgirl.
-The Huntress hangs out with Petit for the remainder of NML.
-Commissioner Gordon is kidnapped by Two-Face in BATMAN #572 and DC #739, in October. Batman later confronts him in LOTDK #125.
-Tim Drake's father breaks into NML to retrieve his son from the ghastly warzone - in December.

AND AS FOR THE REMAINING VILLAINS...
-Killer Croc appears in ROBIN #71 and 72, in October and November.
-Two-Face cuts his deal with Commissioner Gordon and promptly kidnaps him; he puts him on trial in the two-part "Jurisprudence", this October. Apparently he is the second-last villain to be defeated. (How fitting.)
-Bane re-appears, and the "outside interest" is revealed in SOTB #93, in November.
-Catwoman battles Maxie Zeus in CATWOMAN #75, and then seeks refuge in the Penguin's territory in CATWOMAN #76, in November; she then faces Deadman in December.
-The Joker and Harley re-appear in November in the two-part "Shellgame", just as Gotham is beginning to be re-built. This leads directly into the three-part "Endgame" in December, during Gotham's Christmas season, just as NML draws to a close, to once and for all destroy Gotham and all of its citizens.