SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE
HUGE BRUCE TIMM INTERVIEW IN COMICOLOGY
...With Exclusive "Return of The Joker" Character
Designs
(provided by Craig "Gookie" Crumpton)
From TwoMorrows Publishing (publishers of Comic Book Artist and the Jack Kirby Collector) comes the very first edition of COMICOLOGY.
The premiere issue offers an exclusive interview by Brian Saner Lamken with Batman Beyond producer Bruce Timm, along with a sketchbook loaded with never-before-published samples of his artwork (and who did one of the covers for the mag as well. Boasting an incredibly
impressive thirty-six pages, it's undeniably the definitive interview with the artist - filled with fascinating biographical facts, insight and opinion from a major creative force in Warner Bros Animation.
But the biggest surprise, by far, are the exclusive, authorized character designs from the upcoming movie, "Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker".
Warning: Spoilers will follow.
Clockwise from the Joker himself are the REAL members of the Joker's Gang: Woof, Bonk, Dee-Dee, Ghoul and Chucko. Click on the link directly above to see.
Timm also teases on the animation quality, the fates of Tim Drake and Dick Grayson, even hinting at a possible sequel to the movie, in addition to offering details on the "extras" to
be included on the DVD edition of the movie:
On the animation quality:
"We just got our first 10 minutes of animation back last week and it's stunning. Dynamite. The animation itself is a quantum leap beyond 'Mask of the Phantasm' or 'Subzero'."
On the DVD features:
"We're gonna try to stick as many bonus features on it as possible. There's SUPPOSED to be a director's commentary. Probably be a combination of Paul [Dini], [Bruce Timm], Curt [Geda] and Glen [Murakami] all jabbering away."
The DVD will contain both the full-frame and widescreen versions; 10 minutes of extra footage (2 deleted scenes) which will probably be included as "animatics" or storyboards on tape.
He says they will explain what happened to Tim, "and there's a line in the movie that says something about what happened to Dick, but he doesn't actually [appear], because we might want to save that for the sequel."
Additionally, Timm tossed out insider info on the Batman Beyond finale that will feature The Justice League of America. Characters to appear: Big Barda; a "Hawkman-type"; a Green Lantern "that you've never seen before"; an "Atom-type" named
Micron; Batman and, of course, Superman. Regarding the "Big Barda" character design, Timm says, "we had to change her trademark metal bikini to meet standards".
But for those hoping for a peek at the future Superman, sorry - he's keeping it under wraps, but does say that "he looks cool . and he will not look anything like he did in 'Kingdom Come'".
Timm says he has "remaining discomfort" with the JLA episode because "it has nothing to do with Batman Beyond and it doesn't take place in Gotham City". It's to be a "two-parter", "a big episode, but self-contained - Bruce Wayne
doesn't die or anything. It's gonna be a really cool episode." And it is not, as rumors have said, a "cliffhanger".
The rest of the interview is equally as interesting and overflowing with various bits of trivia on both Timm's personal background and work history. It would be a shame to give too much away - this magazine is something all Batman fans should want to own. But here are
just a few highlights from the interview:
On working with Filmation (where he did layout on He-Man and She-Ra): "They didn't encourage you to do good drawings - they wanted passable drawings. 'Don't bother making it good - just get it done.'"
On his work in Batman: The Animated Series
"I can't even look at [BTAS] anymore. I look at them now and can't believe how ugly they are. How slow they are."
On BTAS vs "The New Batman Adventures":
I think that the newer style is infinitely superior; all across the board, it's better. I never like the way Bruce looked [in BTAS]. I tried to give him a Dick Tracy nose - a big, sharp nose. Overseas interpreted it as this big, ugly, broken nose. [All the characters looked] fat and baggy.
By giving it that streamlined, angular style - it still looks sharp and elegant, [more consistent] and it's just animated better.
On WB execs asking them to "update" Batman:
"WB execs were talking about ways of freshening up the show and the words 'teenage Batman' came up. Our first reaction was horror. 'Teenage Batman? Aaaah!!!!!!'"
On why the JLA series will never come to be:
"Way too many characters, way too many set pieces, way too much stuff happening."
On his "dream project":
"I would kill to do Conan The Barbarian: The Animated Series. If I could do it my way, it would be my dream project." [You'll have to buy the magazine to see Timm's incredibly cool concept art for such a series.]
On Star Wars:
"I was up for the [Phantom Menace comic] adaptation. Thank God I didn't get it - it would've killed me." [Nevertheless, the sketchbook includes a sample tryout page featuring Star Wars characters - looks like Terry McGinnis as Luke Skywalker, but still cool-looking.]
On targeted young age groups for animated shows:
"I won't sacrifice storytelling on the altar of the fast-paced."
Overall, it's the sketchbook's eye candy that makes the magazine well-worth the cost, like this rejected cover art for Mad Love and pin-ups for a DC Dark Knight Gallery book:
Just lots and lots to oogle and admire: pencil roughs, finished sketches, rejected covers and pin-up art, and many other exclusive samples of his work like his take on such characters as The Thing, BTAS, TNBA, Spider-man, Iron Man, Dr. Strange Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
Vampirella, Women of Marvel, Conan, Star Wars, Human Torch, Namor, and Johnny Storm. There's also a sketch of a fight scene Timm never got to animate for "Superman: The Animated Series", with Supes literally knocking Captain Marvel head-over-feet.
And those are just the highlights of this great interview. [To offer more details . well, that would probably seem less like a review and more like a violation of federal copyright laws.] Without belaboring the point, this magazine is a "must-see", though it
should be noted that it does contain nudity and the sort of cheesecake pin-up girls that Timm's so fond of drawing and fanboys are so eager to see.
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EDITORIAL
(by Kelly Tindall)
THE RETURN OF THE JOKER
SPECULATIVE SPOILERS AHEAD
On Halloween 2000, The Joker is going to rise from the dead like the ghoul he is and begin to lay waste to the world of Batman Beyond. Now, I'm pretty much the biggest Joker fan I know, and I'm of two minds on the whole issue. It will be great to see Mr. J
again, both in his past and future incarnations. I suspect that this will be a one-time-only trip, though, and let me tell you why.
The story revolves around the passing-over of a character named Jordan Pryce, or something to that effect, of what he believes is his rightful spot in Wayne-Powers by Bruce Wayne himself. This happens at a time when the Jokerz steal some extremely complex computer
machinery. Soon after, the one true Joker apparently returns, seemingly immortal and immune to aging. Bruce panics, and Terry begins to wonder what's up and why Bruce is convinced that the Joker can't be back.
It seems pretty simple to me. The new character, Pryce, is the Joker, or is funding him. The original Joker died at Batman's hand after killing Tim Drake and/or Dick Grayson, and through technology he has come back. I suspect he'll prove to be an
android, or perhaps, Lost Soul- style, the Joker's mind will find itself in Pryce's body. At any rate, it will be interesting to see.
I guess it serves as a good way to close the lid on the original Batman cartoon...with the Joker's fate decided, the writers are free to build up and work on the future's present without the past's constant intervention. One last conflict between Clown and Bat, so
to speak. I must say, it's with no small amount of nostalgia that I mourn the loss of the past this October. I grew up with Batman battling the Joker, and now that the children of today are seeing the end of what I grew up with, well, I feel as though I can put some of the toys away.
I'm outta here...this is bat country! Have a good summer, constant readers.
_____________________
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.
"FILL IN THE BLANKS"
326. Who was the first person to learn Batman's identity?
Answer: _____________
327. What is the numerical address of Wayne Manor?
Answer: _____________
328. What was the name of the location where the end of the episode SECOND CHANCE took place?
Answer: _____________
329. What is the only episode in which the Scarecrow showed everyone that he WAS capable of
having proper posture?
Answer: _____________
330. Which three Batman villains have ever been featured in a story that took place on Christmas Eve?
Answer: _____________
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