Batman: The Animated Newsletter

COMIC REVIEWS
(BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)
(BATMAN BEYOND by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)
(SUPERMAN ADVENTURES by Dick Grayson)

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
ISSUE: "Six Hours to Kill" (#29)
WRITTEN BY: Chuck Dixon
PENCILLED BY: Joe Staton
INKED BY: Terry Beatty
ISSUED: August 2, 2000 (Cover date, Oct 2000)
RATING: ***** (out of 5)

I had all but completely forgotten that Chuck Dixon was doing an issue of GOTHAM ADVENTURES - and I didn't know this was the one! Joe Staton was on board, too - and the art was superb, especially the sequence at the Iceburg Lounge and the "blurry" effects in one panel towards the end.

The story was a good one, too. I was a little worried that this issue would have the same final result as Bob Hall's BATMAN: DOA one-shot from a couple months back, which had a some similarities in terms of basic plot. Fortunately, Dixon is a great writer whom always churns out greatness - so my fears were quickly put to rest.

Maybe it's just me, but I think I can honestly say that I like Tim Drake's Robin more than Dick Grayson's - he seems like a more distinct player in the Bat-team, particularly because of his age difference. I've always loved the stories that put him in the limelight, like the episode GROWING PAINS or of GOTHAM ADVENTURES; I still really want to see a follow-up to SINS OF THE FATHER, though - the Robin/Two-Face relationship should be explained more. Speaking of which, I loved Harley's line, "The Boy Hostage", a tribute to Frank Miller's DARK KNIGHT RETURNS; I playfully use that line to describe Robin a lot of the time, too.

I was happy to see the Penguin was back, too. It's been far too long since we've last seen him in the pages of BGA, and as always, his craftiness and status as a "legitimate businessman" make him a very notable character in any story. The cameos by Harley and Ivy were a nice touch, too; I liked how the cover misled me, too. I figured that they were gonna play along with Robin and go back to the Batcave to aid Batman - and then wreak some havoc. Nice to see that, right off the bat (ha ha), Craig Rousseau (who did the cover) threw us a red herring.

I loved the issue! I hope to see Dixon and other current Bat-writers (Rucka? Grayson? Loeb?) step in and do a special one-issue story for GOTHAM ADVENTURES from time to time, too! It's no wonder that this is my favourite book to buy every month (and considering I buy the books by the three previously listed writers, that's very high praise, indeed!)

However, I have a question - has this "Goggles" guy appeared before? I don't recall him, but Robin seemed to know who this guy was...anyone know?

;-Y
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COMIC SCHEDULES & COVERING THE BASICS

   This section gives a little bit more in-depth look into each monthly issue of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES, BATMAN BEYOND, and SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. Below each comic listing is a link to the cover of that comic. TALK ABOUT SERVICE!
   The price for any of these issues, unless otherwise posted, 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 #31
October 4th
Synopsis: Ty Templeton's leftover Joker story! Don't miss it!
Cover: Unavailable

FOLLOWING MONTH:
Synopsis: The Scarecrow is up to his usual sinister tricks as he unleashes a deadly gas that
has the entire city of Gotham going completely crazy! Mass mayhem and destruction ensue as
millions of Gothamites literally lose their minds. Can Batman and the gang save the masses from
themselves?
Cover: Unavailable

BATMAN BEYOND #13
September 27th
Synopsis: Fears brought on by the Scarecrow's fear gas (from OVER THE EDGE) are now manifesting themselves in the future-day Commissioner Barbara Gordon.
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/sept27/covers/down/dBMBCv13.jpg

FOLLOWING MONTH:
Synopsis: Unavailable
Cover: Unavailable

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #48
???
Synopsis: Unavailable
Cover: Unavailable

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

ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-An interview with DC editor Darren Vincenzo can be found at the following address:
http://www.sequentialtart.com/vicienzo.shtml
-The following artists are selling artwork on eBay. The following are their names and Seller ID's:
Terry Beatty: beatty@machlink.com
Craig Rousseau: cerousseau
Tim Levins: tlevins
Min S. Ku: min3000gt

ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS, STAS, BEYOND)
-YTV has just got the rights to air episodes #27 - 52 of BATMAN BEYOND. It's unknwon when these episode to air, but expect fall 2000. YTV may air all the episodes through in ONE run, unlike the first 26 episodes.

ANIMATED COMICS
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #32:
On sale November 1. The Scarecrow is up to his usual sinister tricks as he unleashes a deadly gas that has the entire city of Gotham going completely crazy! Mass mayhem and destruction ensue as millions of Gothamites literally lose their minds. Can Batman and the gang save the masses from themselves?
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #33:
On sale December 13. Batman begins to doubt whether his actions really make a difference in the world, and the guest-starring Phantom Stranger appears to show him what a world without a Dark Knight would look like - and believe us, it isn`t pretty! Batman sees first-hand that his quest has made the lives of his comrades much greater, as one by one they seem to follow the wrong path in the Stranger`s vision!
-BATMAN BEYOND #15:
(Written by Jason Hernandez-Rosenblatt; art by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh; cover by Brian Stelfreeze)
On sale November 29. Just who is the mysterious new being called Erica Electra who`s been crossing paths with future Batman Terry McGinnis? Is she friend or foe? And will Terry`s girlfriend now have reasons to be jealous?
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Miscellaneous/BatmanMiscellaneous226298.jpg

OTHER COMICS
-DARK VICTORY #13: Has Batman finally found the identity of the Hang Man killer (if, in fact, there's only one)? What connection does the Hang Man have to Harvey Dent, and can the murders be stopped before the most horrifying killing of them all takes place? This time Batman is no longer alone in his quest for justice as a young, inexperienced Robin joins him. But will the addition of an untested partner prove to be more deadly than it's worth? Witness the last stand of the crumbling criminal empire, as the Falcone Family faces off against Two-Face and a mob of freakish allies that includes the Joker, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy and Solomon Grundy. Will all of Gotham City be left in ruins before the last gang war is over? Which, if any, of the Falcones, the Marionis and the Vitis will survive? And how will the change the lives of James Gordon, Harvey Dent and Janice Porter?
The cover can be found here: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0007/20/BDarkVict13.jpg
-The second issue of HARLEY QUINN: On sale November 8. Harley finds herself alone, adrift and without direction. Even a bizarre cameo by Poison Ivy (among others) can`t get our darling little nut job out of her funk -- but maybe a new job will? Enter Two-Face, and a wild kidnapping scheme which only gets stranger as the job unravels! And if that weren`t enough, a familiar face is now hunting for Harley, and the Penguin drops by for a visit!
-The cover can be found here: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Miscellaneous/BatmanMiscellaneous226292.jpg
-The third issue of HARLEY QUINN features an all-girl slumber party. Oh, Ivy's gonna be very happy about this.
The cover can be found here:
http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Comics/News/ComicNews232646.JPG
-Volume 3 of the collected NO MAN'S LAND editions will be out on September 27. It features "ASSEMBLY", "FRUIT OF THE EARTH", plus some stories by Larry Hama, and the various one-issue tales from April 1999.
-Volume 4 of NML will be out December 20, 2000.
*The following 7 issues are all a part of DC's " This Issue: BATMAN DIES!" promotion for December. (That's right! Batman dies in every one of the following issues in some way.)
-Bane appears in BIRDS OF PREY #26
-Two-Face and Montoya are again the focus of DETECTIVE COMICS #753.
-The Joker appears in ROBIN #85.
-Mr. Zsasz appears in GOTHAM KNIGHTS #12.
-Catwoman appears in NIGHTWING #52.
-Batman's war against the Penguin continues in BATMAN #586.
-Cain re-appears in BATGIRL #11.
-ROBIN: YEAR ONE #2
On sale November 29. Robin squares off against the Mothman, the original Blockbuster, and Two-Face - all while trying to live the life of a normal teenager. When duty gets in the way of blooming romance, Dick at last learns the impossible cost he must pay to be a champion of good.
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Miscellaneous/BatmanMiscellaneous226294.jpg
-ROBIN: YEAR ONE #3
Robin's first battle with Mr. Freeze.

MOVIES
-The following comes to us from CINESCAPE ONLINE:
George Clooney, who on numerous previous occasions has unnecessarily taken personal responsibility for killing the Batman movie franchise, has an idea on what do to do next in a possible Batman 5. While talking to Movieline magazine (via Empire Online), Clooney revealed an idea which would be set in Bruce Wayne's near future after Alfred's funeral. Soon afterwards, Robin is also killed in a story where the entire Batman saga may all just be a figment of Wayne's imagination.
Clooney adds, "You do the movie cheap, in film noir style. Make Batman the dark knight, something Tim Burton didn't even do… Do it for $30 million. You reinvent the franchise…What they want to do instead is this Batman Beyond, and just like with Anthony Hopkins in Mask of Zorro, you have this guy create the whole thing all over again with someone new. I think they are going to do Batman Beyond but they should use my ending to start the movie."
-UNFORTUNATELY, another rumour has popped up, saying that forthcoming big budget movies from all the major studios - like Batman 5 - may be pushed back and/or canned if the forthcoming actors and writers strike (next summer) takes place.
-The fifth GOTHAM GIRLS webisode (featuring Zatanna) can be found at http://www.gothamgirls.com Her voice is provided by Stacie Randall.
-Exciting sounds from the movie will be available in October on the Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker soundtrack, featuring a hot single from debut Warner recording act Mephisto Odyssey (featuring platinum act Static X). Guitar wonder Kenny Wayne Shepherd also appears on the soundtrack. Additionally, a music video for the song "Crash," the first single from the soundtrack, will be running on music-video outlets beginning in October."
-The Batman Beyond website (www.batmanbeyond.com) will be adding interactive features that include a 10-minute "Return of the Joker" preview Webcast, a soundtrack sampler, a clip from the music video, interactive arcade games, character biographies, weekly contests and sweepstakes for chances to win great prizes, questions for the creators, chat events and much more. (all the previous movie info was taken from Alan J. Porter's "Gotham Weekly News" newsletter)
-Apparently Freddie Prinze, Jr., is vying for the role of Terry McGinnis in the live-action BATMAN BEYOND movie (this, after he was unable to hang onto the role of Spiderman in that OTHER superhero movie being made). Nic Cage is also said to be interested in the role of Derek Powers/Blight.
-Director BOAZ YAKIN says this about his take on the BATMAN BEYOND feature: When asked if he can avoid the cliches of previous comic book films, Yakin answered, "Just because the characters are familiar and mainstream doesn't mean we need to follow a traditional, generic arc with them. Everything I do I hope is really sophisticated, so this will not stop here."
-It is also reported that despite this new BEYOND movie news, WB is still hoping to move ahead with a fifth movie in the current movie series. DARK HORIZONS once again reports that Julia Roberts is in talks to play Catwoman (I highly doubt this, though). CINESCAPE reports that Brad Pitt is in talks with director Darren Aronofsky to play Batman.
-Considering that one of the RETURN OF THE JOKER action figures is entitled "Arkham Assault Joker", it looks like the Joker...well...assaults Arkham Asylum at some point in the movie.
-SUPERMAN 5 is back on track again? Apparently Brad Siberling ("City of Angels") is directing, Russel Crowe is being eyed for the role of Superman, and Kevin Smith's original script may be used after all.

LIVE ACTION TELEVISION
-Remember the BRUCE WAYNE television series? You can read a review of the pilot script by following the link provided. Note: Chances are that this won't be made for quite some time, if at all.
http://filmforce.ign.com/news/1391.html
-To view anything regarding the Batman ONSTAR commercials, go here:
http://www.onstar.com
-Four online, interactive comic books (featuring Batman, the Joker, Catwoman, Two-Face, Alfred, and Commissioner Gordon) can also be found at the OnStar site.
-It looks like a fifth webisode featuring the Riddler will be coming soon.
-Check out http://www.fandom.com/batman for downloadable versions of the ONSTAR commercials if the official ONSTAR site is not being cooperative with your PC. Two of the commercials can also be found at http://www.adcritic.com - just search for "Batman".

TOYS, BOOKS, AND OTHER MERCHANDISE
-I snagged some pictures of four of the upcoming RETURN OF THE JOKER action figures. Have a look!
GOTHAM KNIGHT BATMAN
http://images.honesty.com/cgi-bin/honesty-image/12309796/newbatman.jpg
ARKHAM ASSAULT JOKER
http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/bin/viewimage.x/000c8bb9/jamil/Mvc094s.jpg
GOTHAM DEFENDER BATMAN
http://imagehoset.auctionwatch.com/bin/imageserver.x/000cdbf1/toysexpo/BatBeyondJoke_a.jpg
RAPID SWITCH BRUCE WAYNE
http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/bin/imageserver.x/000d1497/toysexpo/RetJok_BruceWayne_a.jpg
-On September 1, it will be possible to order a copy of Paul Dini's RETURN OF THE JOKER script through Amazon.com.
-THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES will be available for Game Boy by Christmas 2000.
-Looking for a Batman-related costume this Hallowe'en? E-mail CowardlyLot@aol.com and put in a request! Go to http://www.fandom.com/batman/editorial.asp?action=page&obj_id=225572 for details and sample pics!

SPECIAL NOTE
For more BATMAN, SUPERMAN, AND BEYOND news throughout the week, check out the WORLD'S FINEST NEWS PAGE at:
http://www.geocities.com/bbeyond/news.html
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