SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE

 

INTERVIEW WITH TIM LEVINS
(by Dick Grayson)

 

I was able to have a quick Q & A with BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES artist Tim Levins before he got bogged down with even more deadlines. Read on and enjoy...

 

BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER #1. Since many readers may not be familiar with your background, please enlighten us.

 

TIM LEVINS #1. Well, I studied both fine arts and animation in college (in Ontario, Canada, where I currently live), but I had always hoped to work in comics. My first step into the business was in 1996, when my friend, J. Torres, and I created THE COPYBOOK TALES, a slice-of-life, humour series for Slave Labor Graphics. It was well-received, but sadly wasn't very commercially successful. In 1998, J. and I did a three-issue mini-series for Image Comics called SIREN, which focused on a female P.I. working on paranormal cases. Again, the series got favourable reviews, but sales were low and we ended up losing money. After wrapping up SIREN, I decided to move away from comics and pursue a career in animation. I had been looking for a job for about a month when I received a call from then-editor of GOTHAM ADVENTURES, Darren Vincenzo, asking me to do a fill-in issue. Needless to say, I accepted, and I've been lucky enough to stay on the book for over a year now.
 
BTAN#2. When you first broke into comics, did you ever think you would make the jump from indie comics to a major publisher, or drawing Batman?
 
TIM#2.While I was working on COPYBOOK and SIREN, I was regularly sending out art samples to editors at major publishers in the hopes of getting assignments. I loved working on those two series, but it wasn't the most financially stable lifestyle. So, like most people trying to "make it" in this business, I kept trying to find work that would actually allow me to make a decent living. After a few years of mailing out samples to various editors and getting rejection letters in return, I finally lucked out with BGA. Darren Vincenzo had been looking at a copy of SIREN that I had sent him, happened to like my work, and offered me the fill-in issue. Now I'm fortunate enough to be able to make a "decent living", and, to top it all off, I get to draw Batman! BATMAN!!
 
BTAN#3. How do you compare you style on The Copybook Tales to your current work on BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES? Why?
 
TIM#3. Working on COPYBOOK was a much different experience. COPYBOOK was a humour book, BGA is more action/adventure. For example, I had never drawn anyone hitting another person before I started on BGA - there really wasn't much call for violence in COPYBOOK - but now I draw people fighting all the time. Personally, I think I have more of a knack for comedic stuff than for action scenes, and I've been lucky enough to have Scott Peterson (BGA's writer extraordinaire) throw in some really fun things for me to draw. As for the evolution of my style from COPYBOOK to BATMAN, it's actually kinda the same style if you look closely. Artists who work on the animated books have to conform to the "animated look", but our individual traits show through. It wouldn't be much of a stretch for me to have Jamie and Thatcher from COPYBOOK strolling through Gotham City. My skills as an artist may have been honed over the years (thankfully), but the basic style is pretty much the same.

 

BTAN#4. Do you ever plan to return to indie books? Why?

 

TIM#4. If I could make money working on things like COPYBOOK or SIREN, I'd love to, but at this point in my life I can't afford to spend my time on projects that don't pay. It's unfortunate, especially in the case of COPYBOOK, which I loved doing, but that's life. 
 
BTAN#5. What did you think when DC first approached you to do some work on GOTHAM ADVENTURES?

 

TIM#5. I was amazed that I was being given such a fantastic opportunity. Like I said earlier, I was about to leave the comic business altogether when I got the break. I've been reading comics since I was a kid, and the chance to work for DC on Batman is literally a childhood dream come true!
 
BTAN#6. Did your few fill-ins lead to the full-time assignment, or were you asked to be the new permenant penciller once the old creative team left?

 

TIM#6. Well, as far as I know, Rick Burchett (who left me with far too big shoes to fill, by the way) wanted to pursue other work at DC. Luckily, editors Darren Vincenzo, Frank Berrios, and Bob Schreck were pleased enough with my work on the fill-in that I was eventually asked to stay with the book full-time.
 
BTAN#7. Are you able to incorporate ideas into Gotham Adventures?

 

TIM#7. Scott Peterson is very receptive to any ideas I have for stories. So far, though, my contributions have been mostly requests to draw various characters, rather than actual plots. I also deal with assistant editor Frank Berrios on a regular basis, and he's very open to any suggestions I might have. Both he and Scott are great to work with.
 
BTAN#8. Did you have a difficult time on the title when you first jumped on, or did you just instantly mesh with the material and series?
 
TIM#8. My drawing style was already somewhat cartoony, so it wasn't TOO difficult to get into the swing of things. Still, I've had a lot of support from the other people on the book when I need it. Inker Terry Beatty has been wonderful in giving me pointers and generally helping me feel more comfortable on the book.
 
BTAN#9. What can we expect in the future from ya? Any other comics aside from GOTHAM ADVENTURES?

 

TIM#9. I just finished pencilling and inking a six-page story for of the Vertigo anthology, FLINCH, which I believe is coming out in August. It's quite a departure from the kind of stuff I've been doing on BGA. The style is still cartoony, but the subject matter is a  little more...adult-oriented, shall we say. Aside from that, I think I'm going to be contributing the occasional cover for BGA, which is exciting for me, since I've never actually drawn a cover for this series before.

 

BTAN#10. What issue did you just complete in GOTHAM ADVENTURES? What can we expect in that title? Any big time villians coming?
 
TIM#10. I recently finished #30. We have a bunch of really cool stories coming up, and there are definitely some big name villains who will be on the loose in Gotham City in the next few months. Keep an eye out for the Riddler, Clayface, Maxie Zeus, the Scarecrow - oh, and there might be a visit from a certain alien with a penchant for wearing the nineteenth letter of the alphabet on his chest... :)

 

BTAN. Thanx a mill, Tim. It's been great! (applause)
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EDITORIAL

 

Our regular editorialist, Kelly Tindall, will be unable to submit us any editorials over the summer. That said, we are looking for someone to fill in for him starting next issue (#68).  If you are willing to do so, either as a one-time freelancer or a full-time writer, e-mail us with a sample article. Thank you!
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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. 

 

"They're called COMIC BOOKS for a reason...not TRAGIC books..." 
-Joel Schumacher, director of the self-proclaimed "epic", BATMAN & ROBIN

 

321. Which character is referred to as "Charlie Brown" in a BTAS episode?

 

Answer: _____________

 

322. In what episode is the Joker seen reading a comic book?

 

A: JOKER'S FAVOR
B: THE LAUGHING FISH
C: ALMOST GOT 'IM
D: TRIAL
E: JOKER'S MILLIONS

 

323. Which of the following episodes did NOT directly adapt a story found in a Batman comic-book issue?

 

A: MAD LOVE
B: APPOINTMENT IN CRIME ALLEY
C: MOON OF THE WOLF
D: A BULLET FOR BULLOCK
E: TWO-FACE (Pts. 1 and 2)

 

324. To what two comic icons was the episode LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT dedicated to?

 

A: Frank Miller
B: Bob Kane
C: Dick Sprang
D: Denny O'Neil
E: Bill Finger

 

325. Which of the following writers of the animated Bat-books has NOT written a script for a TV episode or animated movie?

 

A: Paul Dini
B: Ty Templeton
C: Hilary J. Bader
D: Scott Peterson
E: Rich Fogel
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AND THESE ARE OUR FINAL ANSWERS (to the trivia)

 

Answer to #321: Charlie Collins
Answer to #322: D
Answer to #323: E
Answer to #324: A, C
Answer to #325: B, D
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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!

 

CONTRIBUTED BY STAFF:
Na da.

 

CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:
(by "SSS 979")
1) I don't think it's really a blooper, but it's interesting to note.  In "Perchance to Dream", they make a big deal out of the fact that a person can't die in their own dream.  In fact, the whole resolution is based on that concept.  So what happened in "Over the Edge"?...  

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Technically, OVER THE EDGE was a HALLUCINATION, and not a dream. I don't know if that matters any, but I thought I should point that out.  It's still something interesting to think about, huh?
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'UNDER THE KNIFE' - BATMAN BEYOND UK CUT REPORTS
-by Brian Davis
 
Batman Beyond is called Batman of the Future in the UK. It is shown on CITV Sundays at 9.25am and they make a lot of cuts !!!! Brian Davis uncovers these cuts and lets the public know how good BB episode are being butchered in the UK.
 
???
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MERCHANDISING: WHERE THE REAL BAT-CASH IS MADE
(by anyone who wishes to contribute)

 

Come on...contribute...come ONNNN....
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