____________________________
NEWS AND RUMORS
ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-The Canadian TV channel GLOBAL (which airs BTAS and BATMAN BEYOND) finally
has a website of their own. Want to check it out? Here's the link:
http://www.GlobalTv.com
-Rumour has it that one of the MAINSTREAM Bat-Titles may be heading for the
chopping block. I'll try and get more info on this.
-Don't forget that MASK OF THE PHANTASM and SUB-ZERO will be released on DVD
on December 21! Just in time for Christmas!
-Paul Dini, Bill Morrison, Jim Mahfood, and C. Scott Morse (plus a surprise
guest or two) will all be appearing at Brave New World Comics on
Thursday, December 9th at 6pm! Check out this website for details:
http://www.bravenewworldcomics.com
-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!
"CURRENT" ANIMATED SERIES'
-The final SUPERMAN episode 'Legacy' could air as soon as January, but will
likely air in May as the season/series finale.
-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
-The Stalker will be featured in BATMAN BEYOND #6, in February.
-1999's 6-issue BATMAN BEYOND mini-series will be collected in tradepaperback
in February. The cost will be $9.95 US. The cover can be found here:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/9911/16/bmbtpbth.jpg
-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
-Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon will be in the spotlight for of
GOTHAM ADVENTURES.
-Northern Canada is the backdrop, the kidnapping of oil is the crime, and Ra's
Al Ghul is the villain in of GOTHAM ADVENTURES. This issue comes out
on February 2nd. The cover can be found here:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/9911/16/bmga23th.jpg
OTHER COMICS
-*THE DARK KNIGHT'S CITY REBORN IN THE FIRES OF "NO MAN'S LAND"*
"No Man's Land" is no more. A new Gotham City stands in its place,
marking a turning point in the adventures of the Dark Knight and his closest
allies. Reflecting the change, BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT returns to
its roots, telling Batman stories free of present-day continuity from
throughout the Dark Knight's career, while BATMAN, DETECTIVE COMICS and a new
monthly title - BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS - test uncharted waters in this new era
for the Batman, with familiar "No Man's Land" writers and artists
coming on board as the new regular teams.
In January, to launch the post-"No Man's
Land" era in a startling and eye-catching way, the three titles will
feature no logos (just a type treatment in the upper-left-hand corner) and a
fifth colour on the covers. (In February, the three books will begin featuring
new logos and cover designs courtesy of the award-winning Chip Kidd [Batman
Collected, Batman Animated]).
January's issues see the debut of updated looks for
not only the main character and his car, but also for a stylishly revamped
Gotham, including the Batcave and Wayne Manor. Plus, each title puts a
different, series-specific stamp on one of the greatest characters in the
history of comics, beginning in:
DETECTIVE COMICS #742
The book that introduced the Dark Knight takes on a noir quality as "No
Man's Land" writer Greg Rucka (Whiteout: Melt) is joined by artists Shawn
Martinbrough (THE CREEPER, ACTION COMICS) and Steve Mitchell (DAY OF JUDGMENT)
and employs a muted colour palette for stylish mystery stories starring the
Dark Knight. For the first four months of 2000, each extra-length issue of
DETECTIVE will include 30-page lead stories (8 extra pages), after which an
exciting all-new second 8-page feature will make its debut.
In January's issue, a new year finds a violent murder
leading Batman to the discovery of organized-crime elements attempting to
create a power base in the new Gotham. Meanwhile, Commissioner James Gordon is
still reeling from his personal losses in No Man's Land. This issue also
features a cover by Brian Stelfreeze, with Dave Johnson (100 BULLETS) becoming
the book's regular cover artist in February.
BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #1
Frequent "No Man's Land" writer Devin Grayson (THE TITANS, Black
Widow) is joined by her "Fear of Faith"/"Spiritual
Currency" collaborator Dale Eaglesham and inker John Floyd (alternating
stories with artist Paul Ryan) for a thrilling new series that explores Batman
and the people who help him in his fight. Told through the eyes of an unknown
party, the series offers a new perspective on the Dark Knight Detective. Each
extra-sized issue will feature 8-page BATMAN: BLACK AND WHITE-style stories by
an array of writers and artists, beginning with an installment courtesy of
writer Warren Ellis and artist Jim Lee (later installments include stories by
writer/artists John Byrne and Paul Pope). This issue features a cover by Dave
Johnson, while Brian Bolland (BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE) becomes the regular
cover artist in February.
BATMAN #575
The NIGHTWING art team of Scott McDaniel and Karl Story join "No Man's
Land" writer Larry Hama for a new era of Batman action! With a focus on
high adventure and battles with new and classic foes, BATMAN #575 finds a
flag-wearing terrorist called The Banner taking aim at Gotham's newly restored
status as part of the U.S.A., putting the city under siege in his extreme
fight against the Federal Government. Batman and the F.B.I. stand together to
stop him, but can Gotham survive such a fierce battle when the paint's barely
dry?
(Courtesy of the DCOnline Newsletter)
-Wanna see a preview of DETECTIVE COMICS #742? Check out this link:
http://www.psycomic.com/articles/current/dcjanuary_19991123.shtml
-DC Comics editor Bob Schreck said he will be taking over the editing of
"Batman: Gotham Adventures", "Nightwing" and
"Batman".
-An ongoing Harley Quinn series is planned for a mid-2000 release. Oh,
please, shoot me now; here I thought that DC would be improving with the new
creative teams next year. She can't hold her own series - the Joker
couldn't, so why would a second-rate female-quota-fulfilling copycat villain
be able to? Let's all hope it gets canned, shall we?
-Here's a sneek peek at the redesign of the BATMAN titles, courtesy of
AnotherUniverse.com. The redesigns were done by Chip Kidd (BATMAN: ANIMATED).
Opinions? Click this link to check it out:
BATMAN #576
http://www.anotheruniverse.com/gifs/comics2/Bm576.jpg
-Issue #5 of DARK VICTORY has Catwoman on the cover.
-Issue #6 of DARK VICTORY features the Penguin on the cover.
-The Two-Face/Montoya relationship will be picked up midway through next year
in DETECTIVE COMICS #747.
-Expect to see Poison Ivy pop up in DETECTIVE COMICS sometime next year.
MOVIES
-BRUCE WAYNE: The Television Show? Sources have told the Comics Continuum that
WB is interesting in doing a pilot about Bruce when he is 18 and training
around the world. For more on this somewhat bizarre (but cool) news, go to
this link:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/9911/30/index.htm
-It seems that the proposed live-action BRUCE WAYNE show has a writer. The
writer slated for the series is THE IRON GIANT screenwriter Tim McCanlies.
This show looks ever more possible that it could actually happen, and sooner
then expected as well! For the latest news update
(Thursday) go to this link:
http://www.anotheruniverse.com/buzz/index.asp?x_date=12/2/99#7274
Here's another link with some info:
http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=4806
(Thanks to THX1138 for supplying that!)
-Also, rumour has it that Chris O'Donnell (we know him as Robin) may be the
next Spider-Man. He made a pretty good Robin, but will be make a good
web-slinger?
-Again, this isn't necessarily Bat-news, but there is rumour that an adaption
of the comic-series WHITEOUT (written by NML-favourite and recent interviewee
Greg Rucka) could be coming to the screen! I've yet to read this series
myself, but I've heard it's fabulous!
TOYS & MERCHANDISE
-In January, Burger King & Batman Beyond will team up for four weeks of
action figures and kids meals. Once BK is done with Pokemon toys, they will
start a four month promotional Batman Beyond Kids' Meal pack. These will
include all-new action figures made spefically for the fast food franchise.
-More BATMAN BEYOND figures are coming out - and these ones are actually GOOD!
Here's a link for:
JOKERZ TWO-PACK:
http://209.197.117.27/databases/features/actionfigures/2/sub/22.3.34.jpg
BLACK-SUITED BATMAN:
http://209.197.117.27/databases/features/actionfigures/2/sub/22.3.43.jpg
-For more BEYOND figures (including a new ROBIN), go here:
http://www.action-figure.com/new99/newsreports/comicnews.shtml
-Sadly, there are reports that some of the 140 Warner Bros. stores will be
closing down indefinately.
-The SUPERMAN video game for Playstation will be out in the first quarter of
2000.
-The first issue of the Sega Dreamcast magazine says a Batman Beyond video
game is due out in 2000.
____________________________
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
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
NOVEMBER: For synopses of the issues
dealing with the wrapping of of many important tales and the revelation of the
mysterious benefactor, see of "Batman: The Animated
Newsletter". Follow this link:
http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/newsletters/btan
DECEMBER: Helicopters fly into Gotham on November
29 - day 333 of NML - bringing the bare necessities and joy for the
forthcoming Christmas season. LexCorp, Wayne Enterprises, Star Labs, and
the US Government come together (some grudgingly) to rebuild Gotham.
Gordon is reinstated as Police Commissioner; Montoya is given a promotion by
Essen with regards to her dealings with Two-Face; Bullock and Hardback are
joined by a number of volunteers to police Gotham City, with more coming by
the New Year. Petit grows even more barbaric; Huntress remains in his
camp just to keep him in check. Batman hunts for the Joker, and goes to
Penguin, Ivy, Ventriloquist, and Two-Face for answers; no one lends him a
hand. On Christmas Eve, when all the "good guys" (the cops,
the Bat-squad, and Leslie) are having Christmas dinner, Petit's camp is
attacked by the Joker. He finally makes his move.
That's 74 issues of NML so far. For a complete
list, e-mail us.
WHAT'S TO COME...
-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. Batman, Robin,
Nightwing, Azrael, Oracle, Batgirl, and Huntress all have major roles. Lex
Luthor completes his takeover of Gotham.
-ONE OF THE MAJOR HEROES WILL DIE BEFORE "NO MAN'S LAND" ENDS. (This
is in Detective Comics #741). TWO OTHER "NAMED" CHARACTERS WILL ALSO
BE KILLED.
-See below for more.
AS FOR THE OTHER HEROES:
-Azrael faces off against the Joker AGAIN in AZRAEL #61 - guest-starring
Batgirl.
-Billy Petit continues to hover on the brink of insanity, and the Huntress
sticks around to keep him in check.
-Tim Drake's father breaks into NML to retrieve his son from the ghastly
warzone - in December.
AND AS FOR THE REMAINING VILLAINS...
-Lex Luthor, the mysterious benefactor, continues his scheme to rebuild Gotham
in his image; he and Mercy will be around throughout "Endgame".
-Catwoman faces Mercy Graves in December.
-During Gotham's Christmas season, just as NML draws to a close, the Joker
returns to once and for all destroy Gotham and all of its citizens.
___________________________
FEATURED BAT-SITE FOR THIS ISSUE
**HOLIDAY BAT-CHATS**
-Over the holiday season, the BATMAN/SUPERMAN Chat Room will be holding two
chat events, one on Dec. 23rd, and the other on Dec.31st, for Christmas (Dec.
23rd chat) and New Year's (Dec. 31st chat) respectively. The chat times will
be 8pm (Eastern Time). Mark those dates on the calendar and hopefully we'll
see ya drop in on either or both of those dates! Here's the complete info:
BATMAN/SUPERMAN Chat Events!
Where: Batman/Superman Chat Room
When: Dec. 23rd & Dec. 31st @ 8pm (ET)
Chat URL:
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Taping/2928/chatmain.htm
Other notes: You WILL need to get a chat handle registered before you can chat
in the chat rooms, and please go through the rules first. Happy Holidays!
