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Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Weeks of April 15 - April 21, 2002
Volume 4, 3
Rated: PG (as with all other things Batman-related)
THIS ISSUE'S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: "Hey Cartoon Network,
thanks for airing JUSTICE LEAGUE and all, but please, STOP RE-RUNNING THE SAME OLD
EPISODES OVER AND OVER! And for that matter, WHY HASN'T 'INJUSTICE FOR ALL' AIRED
YET? Thank-you."
____________________________________________________________________
TEN YEARS AND COUNTING
On September 5 of this year, BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES will
be celebrating its tenth anniversary of production. This ranges everywhere from the show
itself to the comics based upon it to books, toys, video games, merchandising...everything
started on this date.
As a way to celebrate, co-editor Dick Grayson has set up a
page at his WORLD'S FINEST site where he has big things planned for this momentous
occasion, including creator interviews, reviews, and a poll that will ultimately decide
what the "best episode ever" is.
To check it out, go to this URL:
http://wf.toonzone.net/btas10.htm
____________________________________________________________________
EAGERLY ANTICIPATING...
New episodes are on the horizon! Here's what we can expect in the near future...
-JUSTICE LEAGUE
"Legends" (Pt. 1)
Airdate: Sunday, April 21, 2002
"Legends" (Pt. 2)
Airdate: Sunday, April 28, 2002
___________________________________________________________________
NEWS AND RUMORS
(see back issues for older info)
-Also, Canadian Batman fans may want to check out the new
specialty channel "Action", which airs the 1960's Batman series on Saturday at
4:30pm (ET). Check local listings for showtimes.
-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, JLA)
-CARTOON NETWORK has just ordered 26 more episodes of JUSTICE LEAGUE for its second
season; this brings the total episode count up to 52.
-To read an interview with BTAS/STAS/BEYOND/JLA guru Rich Fogel, go here:
http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15087
-The following is an entire episode-title listing for the first season of JLA:
#8, 9 Injustice For All
#16, 17 Fury
#18, 19 Legends
#20, 21 A Knight Of Shadows
#22, 23 Metamorphis
#24, 25, 26 The Savage Time
ANIMATED COMICS
-Coming soon, John Delaney will be writing a JLA issue featuring both Aquaman and Poison
Ivy.
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #49
A baffling series of jewelry-store heists puts the Dark Knight on the trail of an unlikely
suspect...and a brand-new villain. There's a mystery behind the mystery in
"Façade."
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/Apr_24/covers/down/dbatga_49.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #50
Catwoman returns! As she faces off with Batman during a foiled break-in, the Cat-burglar
takes a bomb. The mystery of who planted it - and what Catwoman was really up to - is one
the Dark Knight has to solve with his heart instead of his head, in an action-packed 50th
issue!
Awesome Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-05/batman/bga50.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #51
Mr. Freeze is sprung from Arkham by Nora (the ex-wife he never got over) to formulate the
compound that might return him - and the life they once shared - to normal. But love is
blind. Featuring super-cool guest-art by Brad Rader (CATWOMAN) & Terry Austin
(SUPERMAN ADVENTURES).
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-06/batman/bga51.jpg
-JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #6
If you have ever wanted to own the World's Greatest Super-Heroes, now's your chance!
Chronos, the Time Thief, has captured the members of the Justice League and is auctioning
them off to the highest villainous bidder! Can the Justice League find a way out before
they're going, going, gone?
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/Apr_10/covers/down/djladv_6.jpg
-JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #7
Meet the Fastest Fax Alive as the League's speediest member tries to save time by
traveling through the telephone lines - and accidentally dials a fax machine by mistake!
But being flat as a pancake isn't all it's cracked up to be, and when the fun of slipping
under doorways wears off, the Flash thinks his career is over...until the Earth is invaded
by amazingly thin creatures from the Second Dimension!
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-05/dcuniverse/jladvs07.jpg
-JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #8
When the League learns that there's a giant creature using the moon as a giant monster
incubator, they do everything in their power to keep things stable. But as the gargantuan
beast starts to hatch, the very Earth itself is threatened with certain doom! And when a
stormy old foe uses the opportunity to create chaos, the Justice League finds themselves
buffeted by the howling winds of fate!
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-06/dcuniverse/jladvs08.jpg
OTHER COMICS
-Good things don't last forever. Greg Rucka is leaving DETECTIVE COMICS as of DETECTIVE
#775, the October issue. Ed Brubaker will be taking over DETECTIVE in his absence, as well
as continue with BATMAN and CATWOMAN. He will still be working on GOTHAM CENTRAL, the new
comic series focussing on the GCPD, with Brubaker in the future. For the full story, go
here:
http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19884
-ROBIN: YEAR ONE will be released as a trade paperback on April 3. Here's the cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/Apr_03/covers/down/droby_1.jpg
-The BRUCE WAYNE: FUGUTIVE crossover is continuing until late July, with plans of a big
finale. This makes it the second-longest Bat-crossover ever, second only to the immense
year-long NO MAN'S LAND. In issues March through July, the cover of each chapter will
feature a jigsaw puzzle piece that, when assembled, will show a face of the killer of
Vesper Fairchild.
-HARLEY QUINN #21: Harley vs. The Demon
BRUCE WAYNE: FUGITIVE titles
Chapter 7: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #28; released April 17. Robin discovers something in the murder
mystery that makes him question Bruce Wayne's guilt.
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/Apr_17/covers/down/dgk28.jpg
Chapter 8: DETECTIVE COMICS #770; released May 8. Another clue in Vesper's murder is
revealed; meanwhile, Batman comes into conflict with an agent of the organization known as
Checkmate. Both seek to bring down the Lucky Hand Triad, and both are desperate to get a
deadly shipment of drugs off the street.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-05/batman/detective770.jpg
Chapter 9: NIGHTWING #69; released on May 15. In order to prove that Bruce was framed for
murder, Dick, Tim, and Alfred must prove that someone was able to break into the Batcave.
But with miles of unexplored caves and Batman's air-tight security system, can even
Nightwing find a security gap?
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-05/batman/nightwing69.jpg
Chapter 10: BIRDS OF PREY #43; released May 22. What is the mysterious connection between
the final news story of Vesper Fairchild's career and the break-ins at Wayne Manor? Oracle
must find the connection, but when Alfred comes forward with even more evidence, the
pieces begin to fall into place.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-05/batman/birdsofprey43.jpg
Chapter 11: BATMAN #603; released May 29. Old wounds are reopened as Batman is put on the
one case he never expected. The Dark Knight is summoned to the bedside of a dying ex-cop,
whose wish is to have Batman solve the one case the cop could never close: the murder of
Thomas and Martha Wayne! Guest-appearance by Catwoman! Plus, another piece to the Vesper
murder is revealed.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-05/batman/batman603.jpg
Chapter 12: DETECTIVE COMICS #771; released June 5. It's one thing to try and solve a
murder. Being cleared of the crime is a different matter. While Batman struggles to build
a new life, the shadow of the GCPD looms large.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-06/batman/detective771.jpg
Chapter 13: BATGIRL #29; released June 12. The Bat-team tries to piece them together by
recreating the crime, with Nightwing playing the role of the killer and Batgirl, the
victim.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-06/batman/batgirl29.jpg
Chapter 14: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #30; released June 19. What's eating Azrael? And why is he
using those closest to Batman as punching bags? Join us for the first part of a story
where the Agent of the Bat plans to take over Batman's cowl - permanently!
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-06/batman/bgk30.jpg
Chapter 15: AZRAEL #91; released June 19. Azrael's deterioration takes a savage turn as
guest-stars Batman, Robin and Nightwing struggle to keep up! With Jean Paul's dementia
increasing to match his super-strength, Batman feels responsible for all his new acts of
violence, since he failed to stop Azrael's career early on. But will his guilty conscience
make him fall victim to an enraged Azrael?
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-06/batman/azrael91.jpg
BATMAN #604; released June 26. Batman returns to the place that started it all - Crime
Alley - to think over the events of recent months (Vesper's murder, his own arrest and
escape, his abandonment of the Bruce Wayne persona). But it's not a quiet moment of
reflection. He runs into Catwoman, and they proceed to roof-hop all over Gotham, fighting
thugs in between moments of deep thought.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/solicitations/2002-06/batman/batman604.jpg
MOVIES
-A new BATMAN movie trailer is on the net...sort of. Look under SCOOBY DOO in
the trailer section of DARK HORIZONS:
http://www.darkhorizons.com
-ONSTAR is holding a contest where a winner gets to have a walk-on role in whatever the
next Batman movie will be.
-For more news on the BIRDS OF PREY TV series, go here:
http://www.filmjerk.com/020126bop.html
*BATMAN: YEAR ONE (BATMAN 5) NEWS:
-Vancouver radio station CKNW recently did an interview with Gillian Anderson (of X-FILES
fame) in which she mentioned herself possibly getting a role in the next Batman movie. My
bet is that if this is true, she'll be playing the lover (and future wife) of Comissioner
Gordon, Sarah Essen.
-More confirmation on the 2004 release date of BATMAN: YEAR ONE. Darren Aronofsky's
next film, LAST MAN, is being filmed this summer, and YEAR ONE is likely his next project.
This should start filming by mid-2003, aiming for a summer 2004 release date. Thanks to
BATMAN-ON-FILM.com and the GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS for this tidbit!
-Aronofsky is also saying that Ellen Burstyn, the star of another of his films (REQUIEM
FOR A DREAM) will appear in his next film. This could be either YEAR ONE or another film
he has on his slate, "LAST MAN".
-There are also rumors that, on account of the popularity of the ONSTAR Batman
commercials, the WB is looking for a suitable "unknown" actor to play Batman in
YEAR ONE. (This same tactic was used when Christopher Reeve was chosen to play Superman
and, to a lesser extent, the whole Michael Keaton fiasco.)
*BATMAN BEYOND: LIVE ACTION NEWS:
-No new news here.
*THE FOURTH ANIMATED BATMAN MOVIE
-No new news here
*CATWOMAN
-Don't count on this one any time soon.
*WORLD'S FINEST
-No new news here. Don't expect this movie to happen for quite a while. Development Hell,
folks.
LIVE ACTION TELEVISION
-Though it is remaining in the current timeslot on the WB, in Canada, SMALLVILLE will move
from its Wednesday timeslot at 8pm to a Thursday timeslot at 7pm, also on GLOBAL.
EXCLUSIVE INTERNET ENDEAVOURS:
-Nothing notable to speak of...yet.
TOYS, BOOKS, AND OTHER MERCHANDISE
-Hot on the heels of all the new Batman DVDs coming out, we have to report about yet
another: BATMAN MEETS SCOOBY DOO! Yeah, way back when, the guys at Hanna Barbera
made two team-ups of the Scooby-Doo gang with Batman and Robin, "The Dynamic Scooby
Affair" and "The Caped Crusader Caper". The release date is set for this
summer.
-UbiSoft brought out a BTAS game for PLAYSTATION. Then a Superman game. Then they brought
out a BTAS game for PS2 - and now they're doing the same with Superman! To check out a
preview for SUPERMAN: SHADOW OF APOKALIPS, go here!
http://www.tothegame.com/article.asp?id=14
-On June 12, 2002, look out for an animated Catwoman statue, featuring the feline fatale
sitting atop a safe, also featuring Isis. It is done in the same general style as the
Batgirl/Batsignal statue that was released last year. Go to http://www.kebam.com
to check it out!
-A new Batman four-pack is in the works, RAVING TOY MANIAC reports! Another TOYS R US
exclusive, it is due out in February and will feature repaints of Batman, Robin, Ra's Al
Ghul, and...you guessed it...Talia! Here is a picture:
http://news.toonzone.net/Nass/BATMANRASALGHUL1.jpg
-BATMAN: MISSION MASTERS 4!
This action figure line is on sale now! Each of the following figures have special
glow-in-the-dark capabilities:
*Lunar Attack Batman
*Midnight Hunter Batman
*Night Fury Robin
*Nightshadow Batman
-There is also rumours of a Ventriloquist/Scarface four-pack, and a new "REVENGE OF
THE PENGUIN" four-pack, featuring a new sculpt for Penguin, based on his
nightclub-owner redesigns. Batman, Robin, and Nightwing are likely the other figures
included.
Check out our BAT-MERCHANDISE section for more!
-A new animated statue is coming June 12! Check out this cool piece of Catwoman
memorabilia:
http://www.cinescape.com/multimedia/Batman/Comic_Book_Covers/BatmanComic_Book_Covers277257.jpg
SPECIAL NOTE:
For more BATMAN, SUPERMAN, JUSTICE LEAGUE, BATMAN BEYOND, and related stories and news,
check out the WORLD'S FINEST NEWSPAGE at:
In coming months, the CARTOON NETWORK will have the ability
to show all of the WB's superhero series. Until these dates, only BATMAN BEYOND and JLA
will be on the air. Here are the times all will be shown:
JUSTICE LEAGUE SCHEDULE:
Mon 04-15-02 JLA Paradise Lost (Pt. 1)
Tue 04-16-02 JLA Paradise Lost (Pt. 2)
Wed 04-17-02 JLA War World (Pt. 1)
Thu 04-18-02 JLA War World (Pt. 2)
Sat 04-20-02 JLA Fury (Pt. 2)
* * * * * *
Mon 04-22-02 JLA The Brave and the Bold (Pt. 1)
Tue 04-23-02 JLA The Brave and the Bold (Pt. 2)
Wed 04-24-02 JLA Fury (Pt. 1)
Thu 04-25-02 JLA Fury (Pt. 2)
Sat 04-27-02 JLA Legends (Pt. 1)
* * * * * *
Sat 05-04-02 JLA Legends (Pt. 2)
Sun 05-05-02 JLA War World (Pt. 1)
BATMAN BEYOND SCHEDULE:
Mon 04-15-02 BEYOND #20 Once Burned
Tue 04-16-02 BEYOND #21 Hooked Up
Wed 04-17-02 BEYOND #22 Rats
Thu 04-18-02 BEYOND #23 Mind Games
Fri 04-19-02 BEYOND #24 Revenant
Sat 04-20-02 BEYOND #05 The Winning Edge
* * * * * *
Mon 04-22-01 BEYOND #25 Babel
Tue 04-23-02 BEYOND #26 Terry's Friend Dates a Robot
Wed 04-24-02 BEYOND #27 Eyewitness
Thu 04-25-02 BEYOND #28 Zeta
Fri 04-26-02 BEYOND #29 Last Resort
Sat 04-27-02 BEYOND #10 Dead Man's Hand
* * * * * *
Mon 04-29-02 BEYOND #30 Final Cut
Tue 04-30-02 BEYOND #31 Armory
Wed 05-01-02 BEYOND #32 Sneak Peek
Thu 05-02-02 BEYOND #33 Plague
Fri 05-03-02 BEYOND #34 The Eggbaby
Sat 05-04-02 BEYOND #07 Meltdown
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
Sat 04-20-02 #09 Be a Clown
Sun 04-21-02 #10 Two-Face (Pt. 1)
Sat 04-27-02 #10 Two-Face (Pt. 1)
Sun 04-28-02 #11 It's Never Too Late
Sat 05-04-02 #17 Two-Face (Pt. 2)
Sun 05-05-02 #33 The Laughing Fish
FOR UP-TO-DATE SCHEDULES:
http://www.toonzone.net/shows/cnschedules/
_____________________________________________________________________
CANADIAN EPISODE SCHEDULE
(BATMAN on YTV - courtesy of our friends at YTV)
YTV has just re-added BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES to its
timeslot! Set your VCRs though, kiddies, because these episodes come on at 3:30am! Ack!
YTV also has the rights to all of the BATMAN BEYOND episodes,
which will air every Saturday mornings at 10:00am, and then Saturday nights (or,
technically, Sunday mornings) at 12:30am.
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
THIS WEEK:
Mon 04-15-02: BTAS #37 Robin's Reckoning (Pt. 2)
Tue 04-16-02: BTAS #47 Birds of a Feather
Wed 04-17-02: BTAS #58 Blind as a Bat
Thu 04-18-02: BTAS #43 Day of the Samurai
Fri 04-19-02: BTAS #15 See No Evil
NEXT WEEK:
Mon 04-22-02: BTAS #59 The Demon's Quest (Pt. 1)
Tue 04-23-02: BTAS #63 The Demon's Quest (Pt. 2)
Wed 04-24-02: BTAS #64 Read My Lips
Thu 04-25-02: BTAS #62 Fire From Olympus
Fri 04-26-02: BTAS #57 Shadow of the Bat (Pt. 1)
THE FOLLOWING WEEK:
Mon 04-29-02: BTAS #62 Shadow of the Bat (Pt. 2)
Tue 04-30-02: BTAS #52 Mudslide
Wed 05-01-02: BTAS #65 The Worry Men
Thu 05-02-02: BTAS #53 Paging the Crime Doctor
Fri 05-03-02: BTAS #70 House and Garden
BATMAN BEYOND:
THIS WEEK:
Sat 04-20-02: 10:00am #36 Payback
Sun 04-21-02: 12:30am #06 Shriek
Sat 04-27-02: 10:00am #37 Sentries of the Lost Cosmos
Sun 04-28-02: 12:30am #07 Meltdown
_____________________________________________________________________
EPISODE REVIEW: (SPOILER ALERT!)
(by "Belle Book")
<JUSTICE LEAGUE>
THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Pt. 1)
Written by: Rich Fogel, Paul Dini
Teleplay by: Dwayne MacDuffe
Directed by: Dan Riba
Aired: March 11, 2002
Ranking: ****1/2 (out of 5 stars)
While exploring an archaeological dig, an archaeologist witnesses a gorilla
escaping from a hidden city, while his pursuers retreat after seeing the archaeologist
watching them. Some days later, the Flash is trying to impress two girls when he has to
stop a truck that caused a car to crash into the restaurant where he was. With the aid of
Green Lantern, he is able to catch the criminals and recover the truck. The truck was
carrying nuclear isotopes that were stolen - problem is, the criminals don't remember
stealing the isotopes. The mystery deepens when the Flash is knocked out while attempting
to capture a huge gorilla, and doesn't remember stealing the isotopes later on!
Ultimately, the huge gorilla, Solovar, provides the answers to both the Flash and Green
Lantern. Grodd, a power-mad gorilla from the hidden Gorilla City, had been thwarted in his
efforts to take over Gorilla City by means of mind-control, and escaped, seeking to
destroy the city in revenge. Can the Flash and Green Lantern stop Grodd, or will his
mind-control techniques affect them?
Finally, an episode which features one of the best "odd couples"
in the cartoon universe, the Flash and Green Lantern! And the episode's a very good one so
far, too! The most interesting part by far is the scene where Dr. Corwin, Grodd's human
ally, knocks out the Flash with a cannon and we see him in a nightmare sequence! We see
how the Flash became what he is today, as well as a very interesting glimpse into the
hunger he develops from rushing around a lot when he seems to get fat. Other parts of the
sequence make me wonder if maybe on some level, the Flash is aware of his faults, such as
having a rather big head.
As for the characters, they're pretty well developed for a more
light-hearted episode (within the limits of a series as dramatic as Justice League, that
is). Dr. Corwin's rather interesting. At first, one doesn't pay too much attention to her
insistence that the Flash not try to feed a gorilla that banana. But then we see her with
the cannon, and we have to wonder about her involvement in whatever's going on. Solovar's
revelations indicate that she's a worse woman than we knew. However, considering Grodd's
mind-control abilities, is Corwin also a victim of his brainwashing technology? Or is she
a willing partner? And if she knows what she's doing, what is her motive? We'll find out
next week.
Solovar's also interesting. It's very possible he would've captured Grodd if
he and the others chasing Grodd hadn't seen the archaeologist. Later on, he is the one who
reveals what Grodd's up to, and provides Green Lantern with the device that stops Grodd's
mind-control. Too bad the Flash left before Solovar could help him. One last thing about
Solovar is that he's voiced by David Ogden Stiers, who's done plenty of voice work
(Cogsworth from Beauty and the Beast, among other things).
Grodd seems to be motivated by a desire for power. So far, he's not quite as
interesting a villain as characters such as Mongul, Felix Faust, and Lord Hades. But I'm
giving him time - he may prove very interesting in Part Two.
There are only two members of the Justice League here, so it won't take me
too long to deal with them. Green Lantern is his usual self - "by-the-book", as
is indicated by his desire to call the other members of the Justice League. Also, he's
unwilling to believe in the Flash's story that Solovar can talk. Unlike episodes such as
"The Enemy Below" and "War World", Green Lantern's personality doesn't
hinder him. In fact, it clearly helps him here, as Solovar is able to give him the
headband that breaks Grodd's mind-control. Another good thing is that he posts bail for
the Flash, even if it's because he knows that if the Flash was really a criminal, he
would've gotten out of those cuffs long before he actually did.
But the episode focuses most on the Flash, and deservedly so. We see here
just how big a problem the Flash's basic immaturity is. First of all, if he had thought
ahead, he wouldn't have been hit by Corwin's gun and put under Grodd's mind-control.
Second, if he had only waited for Solovar to give the headband, the Flash would've avoided
falling under Grodd's mind-control again. Part of the problem is that the Flash relies too
much on his speed and too little on his brain. Also, he does seem to have a big head, as
the nightmare sequence indicates, and his underestimation of the problems Grodd can pose
confirms. The combination of flaws gets him into big trouble time and time again. The
Flash has to have his big ego deflated a bit, and start relying more on his head and less
on his speed. He's still funny, though.
All in all, a neat episode, one which leaves me waiting to see Part Two!
<JUSTICE LEAGUE>
THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Pt. 1)
Written by: Rich Fogel, Paul Dini
Teleplay by: Dwayne MacDuffe
Directed by: Dan Riba
Aired: March 11, 2002
Ranking: ****1/2 (out of 5 stars)
<JUSTICE LEAGUE>
THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD (Pt. 2)
Written by: Rich Fogel, Paul Dini
Teleplay by: Dwayne MacDuffe
Directed by: Dan Riba
Aired: March 18, 2002
Ranking: ****1/2 (out of 5 stars)
At the end of Part One, Grodd sets off a generator that causes Central City
to seemingly vanish off the face of the earth. J'onn J'onzz discovers this and, along with
Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl, investigate. They, along with Green Lantern, Solovar, and the
Flash (restored to normal), discover that there's an energy field surrounding the city.
Batman discovers a second energy signal similar to the one at Central City in Africa --
Gorilla City. He, the Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, and Hawkgirl investigate but are
captured by the gorillas. Meanwhile, Green Lantern, the Flash, and Solovar track down
Grodd and discover he has the whole city under his mind control. Moreover, he sics the
crowd on the heroes, then goes with Dr. Corwin to a military installation, where he
activates missiles, intending to destroy Gorilla City! Now Green Lantern and
the Justice Leaguers in Gorilla City have to stop the missiles, while the Flash and
Solovar have to stop Grodd.
Whoa, what an episode! It's full of tension, excitement, and humor (courtesy
of the Flash, of course). And more of the members of the Justice League appear (except for
Superman). I think Fogel, Dini, and McDuffe decided to delay showing all six of the JL
members until Part Two and just focus first on Green Lantern and the Flash, since they are
such an "odd couple". No doubt the purpose was to enhance the characterization
of the Flash. I'd say they succeeded in that, as we see more of the Flash's nature than we
did in his other appearances.
Characterization of the other characters is also spot-on, unsurprisingly.
Dr. Corwin's very interesting. In my review of Part One, I wondered if she was under
Grodd's mind-control, or if she was a willing partner; and if she was a willing partner,
what her motive was. I honestly thought that if she wasn't under his mind control, she had
been swayed to help him by greed. Well, I got my answers -and a bit of a surprise with
them. Grodd never used his mind control on Dr. Corwin - but she helped him because she
loved him! Kind of a Beauty-and-the-Beast theme there, only with a power-mad genius as the
Beast. However, I wasn't expecting love to be her motive, so I was surprised - and felt a
bit sorry for her. This indicates the power of love to lead a person down the wrong path.
Solovar proved very helpful to the Flash and Green Lantern, putting his
headband on the Flash so he'd be restored to normal, and urging the Flash not to take off
his headband (something I was agreeing with). If there was anything he and the other
gorillas learned from this experience, it's that not all humans are bad. Certainly the
Justice Leaguers aren't bad - they were very helpful to the gorillas.
As for Grodd, I found the scene where he was revealed to have the
inhabitants of Central City under his mind control very interesting, mainly due to the
image of him as a political leader exhorting the masses. He is clearly a dangerous threat,
thanks to his ability to control minds, and it was ironic that his own device betrayed him
(with a little aid from the Flash). Perhaps the lesson here is that the devices you use
for evil can turn against you in the end. However, he'll still be a threat in the future,
since the amnesia he suffered must've been temporary, if the final shot of him was any
indication.
What about the Justice League members? I'll start with the Martian Manhunter
first. He was the one to first alert the others at the Watchtower that Central City was
"gone"; later on, he proved very useful in the defense of Gorilla City by using
his phasing abilities to grab the missile control system from the third missile. He also
tried to comfort Batman when it appeared that Wonder Woman was dead. Incidentally, he's
the only member of the Justice League to appear in all six episodes so far, an indication
that he's probably the most indispensable member of the team.
Hawkgirl was herself - charging into the situation with mace in hand, and
sometimes getting herself in trouble as a result, as we see when she tries to break
through the force field surrounding Central City. Her impulsiveness also caused some
problems when she attacked the fourth and final missile, but let part of it fall to the
earth, meaning that Wonder Woman had to stop the main part of it from hitting Gorilla
City.
Batman's detective and scientific skills were also put to good use in this
episode. He was the one who discovered the similarities between the force field in Central
City and that in Gorilla City, leading the Justice League to Gorilla City. And he showed
quite a bit of courage in trying to dig Wonder Woman out from underneath the missile. I
also liked seeing his embarrassment when Wonder Woman caught sight of his dirty gloves and
kissed him on the cheek. It was cute.
Now for Wonder Woman. She showed tremendous courage and strength when she
volunteered the help of the Justice League in stopping the missiles, and when she stopped
part of the fourth missile from destroying Gorilla City. Incidentally, the scene where the
gorillas and the rest of the Justice League are afraid she's dead reminded me of the scene
in "Secret Origins" where J'onn J'onzz tells Wonder Woman that Batman's dead (a
lie, as it turns out). In both episodes, I figured that the seemingly-dead Justice League
member would be okay, and in both episodes, I was proved right. And I loved seeing her
reaction to the discovery that Batman had tried to dig her out.
Green Lantern was the voice of reason in much of the episode, especially
when he urged the Flash not to "heckle the super-villain". Sound advice, if you
asked me. Too bad the Flash didn't listen. Also, Green Lantern played as big a role as any
of the members of the Justice League in Africa in stopping the missiles - he managed to
destroy two of them. I also liked his final words to the Flash - "You're not as dumb
as you look." However, I would've said, "You're not as dumb as you act."
And what about the Flash? Well, he's funny, as usual. Although heckling
Grodd was clearly a dumb move, his words were funny, including the reference to King Kong.
However, in an interesting twist, he doesn't always find a witty word to use -- his
"naked" taunt to Grodd definitely wasn't witty. Also, while he still uses his
brains far too rarely for my comfort, he was able to use his speed and his head
effectively when he crossed those wires in Grodd's mind-control device. Looks like he's
pretty intelligent after all - he just doesn't use his brains often enough.
All in all, a very good episode. Another fine job for Bruce Timm and
Company!
Belle Book
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