Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Weeks of November 15 - November 20/21, 1999
Volume 2,
Rated: PG for some "low-key coarse language and occasional griping"

THIS ISSUE'S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: "WE DON'T WANT A LIVE-ACTION BATMAN BEYOND MOVIE! NOOOOOOO!"
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
   Thaaaat's right! Co-editor James "Dick Grayson" Harvey celebrated his 18th birthday this past week. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUDDY!!!

-Tim "Two-Face" Leighton, BTAN Editor
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SPECIAL PETITION
 We all know that a BATMAN BEYOND score CD was released this past August. Fans were thrilled to be getting this, but were also peeved that the "regular" Batman/Superman shows have been overlooked. Who here would buy a BTAS/STAS CD set if one were ever made? Remember, the one BEYOND CD handled only 13 episodes in 40 minutes; BTAS has 109 episodes and STAS has 54 - that means it would be a multi-CD set, to be sure.  Who would buy this? I DEFINATELY would!
 Our friend RIDDLERWB has supplied us the following e-mail address.  E-mail the people at RHINO RECORDS and demand a BATMAN and/or SUPERMAN score CD!

drrhino@rhino.com
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UPCOMING NEW EPISODES
 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 new episodes for BATMAN, SUPERMAN, and BATMAN BEYOND.

'RATS'
Batman Beyond #22
Air date: November 20, 1999
   Batman must protect Dana from a dangerous secret admirer...a lonely teenage outcast who lives underground with giant mutant rats as his only companions.

'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 second season 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 Saturday; BATMAN BEYOND also airs on these days. Check local listings each day for what show is on at what time.

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

THIS WEEK:
Mon 11-15-99: Batman #93   Growing Painshin
    B-BEYOND #10 Dead Man's Hand

Tue 11-16-99: Batman #97   Over the Edge
    NO SECOND EPISODE TODAY

Wed 11-17-99: Superman #45 Knight Time
    B-BEYOND #04 Golem

Thu 11-18-99: Batman #95   Torch Song
    NO SECOND EPISODE TODAY

Fri 11-19-99: Superman #54 A Fish Story
    B-BEYOND #16 Splicers

Sat 11-20-99: Batman #98   Mean Seasons
    B-BEYOND #22 Rats        ---------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 and BATMAN BEYOND 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 or 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 BATMAN BEYOND will air at 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. YTV has the rights to show all 109 BTAS episodes.  They also have the rights to air the first 26 episodes of BATMAN BEYOND (all of season 1 and the first half of season 2).

THIS WEEK:
Mon 11-15-99: BTAS   #56 Harley & Ivy

Tue 11-16-99: BTAS   #   The Mechanic

Wed 11-17-99: BTAS   #51 The Man Who Killed Batman

Thu 11-18-99: BTAS   #54 Zatanna

Fri 11-19-99: BTAS   #32 Robin's Reckoning (Pt. 1)

Sat 11-20-99: BEYOND #19 Hidden Agenda

Sun 11-21-99: BEYOND #20 Once Burned (?)
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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 either of these sites for the schedule:

http://www.toonzone.net/brian/schedules/batman-cn.html
http://homes.acmecity.com/animation/saturday/352/schedule.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 virtually 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>
HOOKED UP
Written by Robert Goodman
Directed by Dan Riba
Animation by Dong Yang, KOKO
Original air date: November 13, 1999
My rating:  *** (out of 5)

Addicted to an ideal life simulated in a costly virtual reality, a runaway, Donny, is forced to steal to pay for his dreams.  Max wants to help Terry and becomes involved in Batman's investigation of Donny's activities.  Max 's own fantasy of a happy home life draws her into the virtual reality world and she becomes addicted.  Unfortunately, addicts of this virtual reality eventually suffer from a chemical imbalance and lapse into comas.  Batman must find the hidden virtual reality facility; stop the mastermind behind it; and rescue Max and the other addicts. 

GOOD POINTS: 

This episode has an interesting premise in illustrating a non-drug-related addiction.  Various fantasies are shown and people could probably identify somewhat with at least one of them.  It is a fairly gentle way of pointing out the problems caused by addictions and did not seem overly moralizing.

The early scene with Donny trying to escape from Batman through traffic was exciting and well drawn. The identity of the villain remains a mystery until he literally steps into the light.  I liked the interplay with Max and Terry throughout the episode.  The viewer gets a tiny bit of background information on Max and her home life.

In keeping with the TV rating system that rates this as a child's fantasy show, it is good that all of the addicted victims were pronounced cured at the show's end.

Terry's efforts in trying to keep Max out of the Bat-club parallels Bruce's efforts with his eventual partners.  I liked Bruce's reactions.  

Bruce was in the story!

The ending paves the way for more adventures with Max assisting Terry.

BAD POINTS:

Perhaps the scene with Batman stretched between the two cords and pulling the separate truck parts was a bit exaggerated.  In reality, a man would probably have been pulled apart, even with a strength-enhanced suit; however, this is a cartoon, not reality, so a little leeway can be allowed.

Terry's tranquilizer (supplied by Bruce, I suppose) was rather ineffective in keeping Max under control. It seemed a weak plot point, at first.  Perhaps the drug is deliberately mild for drug safety's sake (after all, Terry is not a doctor and he is administering a drug) and is meant merely to aid Batman as he subdues or restrains his prisoners.  Seen in that light and also since this is an addiction-related theme, using a drug with a very temporary effect was acceptable.

Spellbinder is an interesting villain, but he did not get much air time in this episode. The story wrapped up too quickly.  It was also unclear what was happening to Terry at the end of the episode. Aside from causing him intense pain, what WAS Spellbinder doing to him?  Was Terry's life flashing before his eyes at his near death by electrocution?  Was Spellbinder painfully extracting memories from Batman?

While it is obvious at the end of the story that Terry is willing to let Max have a more active role in his part time job with Bruce Wayne, the episode fails to show how Bruce felt at the end.  After all, Bruce was vehemently opposed to Max having any additional involvement with Batman in the beginning.  Bruce acknowledges the difficulty in dissuading those who wish to become partners, but he didn't make any statement about changing his mind regarding Max.

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EDITORAL #1
(by Laura Hysert, aka "Phoenix")

Oh where, oh where has our Laurrrra gone? Oh where, or where can she beeeeee? Oh where, oh where has our Laurrrrra gone? I guess she'll no longer work for freeeeeee....
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EDITORIAL #2
(by Kelly Tindall)

None. Rien. Na da. Zippo.
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AND THAT'S THE FACTS
(by "Reliable Source")

(Yes, I understand that the title is grammatically incorrect. So sue us.  Actually, nix that. Don't sue us.)

(DISCLAIMER:  For those of you who are not yet familiar, Reliable Source is an anonymous character who first surfaced on Batman: The Animated Message Boards, spewing forth ridiculous predictions about the future of Batman Beyond under the guise of spoiler warnings.  His controversial posts created quite a buzz, and have landed him a temporary column with this newsletter.  The thoughts and ideas expressed by this shady character are in no way officially connected to Kids WB, Batman Beyond, this newsletter, or anything that is decent or holy.  That said, on with the show.)

Well, folks, it's time once again to reach into the Reliable Source Mailbag, and pull out a letter from one of you wonderful readers of this newsletter.  This week's letter comes from Peter Destructo.  Peter writes:

"Dear Mr. Source, I enjoy reading your news column in BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER. I have a question, though: When will the inevitable happen - that is, of course, the introduction of Harley Quinn Beyond? I heard a rumor about this, and I thought you might be able to clear things up."

Harley Quinn Beyond?!  Oh, Dear God, yes, please let it be so!  Er, ahem, uh, that is, I meant to say, what a fine question, Mr. Destructo.  That little rumor has indeed been buzzing around the underworld for some time, and, as you say, is inevitable.  Even as we speak, there are plans for Harley to have her own ongoing monthly series from DC Comics, a special limited series starring Harley and Ivy, a Harley breakfast cereal, Harley: The First Movie, and a Harley doll for girls, with removable costume.  (Note to self... buy the Harley doll with removable costume.)  Harley may even be in the next live-action Batman movie, played by Jenny McCarthy, Lisa Kudrow, Madonna, or George Clooney in drag.  That last one was most likely Schumacher's idea.

So, when will we see Harley Quinn Beyond?  Well, in the recent episode "Hidden Agenda," we see a female member of the Jokerz gang with blonde hair who bares more than a passing resemblance to Harley Quinn.  It is starting already, Mr. Destructo.  It is only a matter of time now, before we discover that this is, in fact, Harley's love child with The Mad Hatter, who she slept with on a whim after being beaten by her abusive ex-husband, The Riddler, who she married on a whim after being beaten by her abusive ex-boyfriend, The Joker.

And what have we learned from this?  That Harley Quinn has gone from Paul Dini's personal fantasy, to a cultural icon that no man, woman, or child can ever hope to escape.  Nor would they want to.  Harley Quinn...soooo hot...want to touch...ahem.  Again, I digress.

That's all for this week, folks, remember that you too can have your question answered right here in this fine newsletter if you just send it to me at Reliable_S@hotmail.com.  Thank you Mr. Peter Destructo for writing in, and, 'til next time, more as I hear it.

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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.

I decided to continue last week's gang-related theme in this quiz.  There are so many more questions I can ask here!

211. What is the name of the Jokerz' rival gang?

A: THE LEAGUE OF THE BATMEN
B: They don't have a rival gang - just a girl named Max Gibson
C: The T's
D: THE RIDDLERZ
E: Various Neon Street Gangs

212. In which episode did Poison Ivy's gang consist of more than JUST plant-based life forms? (Exclude any team-ups with Harley Quinn, too.)

A: PRETTY POISON
B: ETERNAL YOUTH
C: HOUSE AND GARDEN
D: CHEMISTRY
E: IT'S A WONDERFUL LEAF

213. The Penguin's three hench-girls, Jay, Lark, and Raven, have appeared in a number of episodes; however, there was one episode in which only TWO of them appeared. Which episode was this?

A: BIRDS OF A FEATHER
B: JOKER'S MILLIONS
C: THE ULTIMATE THRILL
D: GIRLS NITE OUT
E: JUDGEMENT DAY

214. Rupert Thorne has appeared in the origin/first appearance episodes of many villains on BTAS. Which of these villains' origin episodes has Thorne NOT appeared in?

A: SID THE SQUID
B: TWO-FACE
C: BANE
D: KILLER CROC
E: THE VENTRILOQUIST

215. There is an episode that begins with a biker gang harassing a young girl. The main villain in that episode once attacked two members of the GCPD in a different episode.  One of those two members appeared in an episode that won an EMMY for Oustanding Music Direction and Composition.  Take the episode number of that episode and take away one, then divide it by two. Then take that result; in the episode that pairs up with that episode number, you will notice two members of the rogues gallery appearing. Find the "lesser" costumed villain of these two (it's obvious), and find his/her origin episode. What is the original air date of that particular episode?

Answer: _____________________

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ANSWERS TO THE TRIVIA

Answer to #211: C
Answer to #212: B
Answer to #213: E
Answer to #214: E
Answer to #215: January 16, 1999