Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Weeks of Feb 22 - 27/28
Volume 2,
THIS WEEK'S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: FORGET THE "BATMAN BEYOND" TOYS AND MAKE MORE
"BTAS" TOYS!
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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to another action-packed issue of "Batman: The Animated Newsletter"!
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SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE
In this issue, we bring you an interview with STAS and comic writer Mark Evanier! Scroll
down and enjoy!
NOTE: Following this newsletter, issues of "Batman: The Animated Newsletter"
will be delivered at weekly intervals, and not bi-weekly - this is to compensate for the
"Batman Beyond" episodes which are being aired every weekend now. This is also
to shorten the newsletter, so all of our subscribers with free/limited e-mail providers
can read the newsletter. This means that all of our features from our writers, such as
comic reviews, toy reviews, and editorials, may not appear in every issue. We may go back
to the bi-weekly format in May, but for the time being, this is it. Stay tuned!
NOTE: In the evening of Feb. 14, 1999, our newsletter reached the 500-subscriber mark. And
then on Feb. 17, we hit 600! WOOHOO! Thanks for your continuing support and shameless
plugging, everyone. It's working great. :-)
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DC'S ANIMATED LEGACY
In early 1990, in the aftermath of the blockbuster "Batman" film, ideas began to
form about an animated Batman series. This task had been attempted in the past, from the
60's to the 80's, but the series were, moreover, a disappointment. However, in September
of 1992, when "Batman: The Animated Series" debuted, it became a financial and
critical success - seen as the best non-comics interpretation of Batman in history.
After 65 episodes, season two began in 1994 with a new name for the series - "The
Adventures of Batman & Robin". Like all other aspects of the Bat-mythos in that
year, things lightened up a bit - mostly due to Robin playing a heavier role in the
series. In 1995, the series passed away silently with 85 episodes, a feature-film, and 4
emmy awards under its Bat-belt.
In 1996, the BTAS team moved on to work on a series for DC's other major hero, Superman.
After 13 episodes, the season got off to a shaky start, but when it was paired up with
Batman in the fall of 1997, it got the exposure it needed and began to thrive. In this
year, Batman was renewed and 24 more episodes (including a number of crossovers with
Superman) were given the go-ahead.
Just as the 1998/99 season of Batman/Superman was drawing to a close, the WB team
surprised us once again with a new animated series - a futuristic version of Batman
entitled "BATMAN BEYOND". The season has just begun and it's already a hit! This
is the episode the WB team will be working on until the end of the 1999/2000 season. What
will follow? Rumor right now is...MORE BATMAN (the regular one)! Woohoo!
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BATMAN: THE ANIMATED ARCHIVES
The real nice people at TOONZONE (thanx!) have set up an archive section at their site,
storing back issues of BTAN. You can look back on past newsletters or maybe even print
them out, if you don't already. This has been very useful and got alot of positive
feedback from subscribers wanting copies of past newsletters. The URL is:
TOONZONE's BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/btan
If you're interested in information about the newsletter or are just plain curious about
some of our news, schedules, websites, etc... then please e-mail here:
btaninfo@yahoo.com
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NEW EPISODE(S)
This section will just basically give an insight into what the new episodes are about and
hopefully a synopsis of the episode. This section will feature both new Superman and new
Batman episodes.
THE LOSS OF THE WB ON WGN: Beginning this fall, the WB will no longer be carried on WGN-TV’s national feed to avoid conflicts with other WB affiliates. WGN-TV will
continue carrying the prime time WB in the Chicago area. If you’re outside the
Chicago area and know of no other way to pick up the WB, you may call them at
(818)977-5000 for more information. This is taken from the info section of the WGN
website, http://www.wgn.com . Thank you for Peter
Destructo for pointing this out.
'DEAD MAN'S HAND'
Batman Beyond #5?
Air date: ???
The Future Knight takes on the Royal Flush Gang - and one of them develops a crush on
Terry. Rumor of a Catwoman appearance of sorts.
'SHRIEK'
Batman Beyond #6?
Air date: ???
Powers hires another villain named Shriek (who uses sound-waves as a weapon) to nix the
Bat.
'DEMON REBORN'
Superman #??
Air date: ??
BATMAN'S FINAL CURRENT-DAY ANIMATED APPEARANCE! This episode, originally entitled
"Rise of the Demon", features Batman and Superman teaming up to take down Ra's
Al Ghul. One parter, probably - WOOHOO! THE BAT IS BACK! This'll probably air in May.
'LEGACY (Pt. 1 & 2)'
Superman #??
Air date: ??
This two-parter, featuring the final showdown between Superman and Darksied, will be the
season finale, airing this May.
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WB ANIMATION SCHEDULES:
(courtesy of Brian Cruz and/or the official BTAS/STAS site)
This section of the newsletter highlights the schedule and times that WB airs The New
Batman/Superman Adventures. For most affiliates it airs Monday - Friday at 4pm (ET) and
Saturdays beginning at 8am (ET). WGN airs Batman/Superman Monday - Friday at 10am (ET) and
Sundays beginning at 8am (ET). There's a chance that your local WB channel airs it at a
differant time. To find out when, we recommend you follow this URL (provided by Toonzone):
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/stations/index.html
PS - Remember that "Batman Beyond" airs 30 minutes AFTER
"Batman/Superman" is over, because "Men In Black" has been squeezed in
between.
Mon 2-22-99: Batman #56 Harley and Ivy
Superman #21 Mxyzpixilated
Tue 2-23-99: Superman #23 Double Dose
Batman #78 Showdown
Wed 2-24-99: Batman #80 Second Chance
Batman #81 Harley's Holiday
Thu 2-25-99: Superman #13 Two's a Crowd
Batman #69 Avatar
Fri 2-26-99: Batman #46 Almost Got 'Im
Superman #42 Where There's Smoke
Sat 2-27-99: Superman #43 New Kids in Town
Batman #107 Chemistry
B-BEYOND #01 Rebirth (Pt. 1)
Note: All episodes #86 and onward of BATMAN are considered THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES while
the original 85 are considered BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS) episodes.
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CARTOON NETWORK WB ANIMATION SCHEDULE:
"Yabba Dabba Doom"
(courtesy of Brian Cruz)
Due to the unpredictable airing schedule of Batman: The Animated Series on CARTOON NETWORK
we may not be able to keep track or schedule changes, episode changes and when the
animated movies air (either on TOONAMI or CARTOON THEATRE). To keep you most up to date,
go to this section of TOONZONE to keep updated with what's airing on CARTOON NETWORK and
when:
NOTE: MASK OF THE PHANTASM will be airing on CARTOON NETWORK again at 8pm (ET) on March
13th. It also looks like Kids'WB! won't be airing MASK OF THE PHANTASM at all.
BATAMN:THE ANIMATED SERIES ON CARTOON NETWORK
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/schedules/batman-cn.html
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EPISODE REVIEW: (SPOILERS!)
(by Bob Evatt)
Mr. Evatt is an experienced reviewer of the new BTAS episodes and has much of his work
shown at the Lazarus Pit website, and is now contributing to this newsletter! His other
reviews can be reached via this link:
http://effect.net.au/allan/lazarus-pit
NOTE: Mr. Evatt was unable to supply a review for this newsletter so Tim
"TWO-FACE" Leighton is filling in for him.
MELTDOWN
Story by Hilary J. Bader
Written by Hilary J. Bader & Alan Burnett
Directed by Curt Geda
Animation by Dong Yang
Original air date: February 13, 1999
My rating: ****
Derek Powers is getting mighty sick of having to put on a new skin to hide his radioactive
body every 24 hours. Who wouldn't? It is then brought to his attention that his scientists
may have found a way to clone his mind into a normal body - but he wants the process to be
tested on someone else first. Enter Mr. Freeze.
Yup! He's back, disembodied and everything. Being one of the only two current villains
that could actually live long enough into the next century (the only other is Ra's Al Ghul), it was obvious that he'd be involved in "Batman Beyond". Many will
remember that Hilary J. Bader also wrote the below-par "Cold Comfort", Freeze's
most recent appearance on BTAS; in this episode she not only makes up for it, but goes
beyond. Once Freeze enters the storyline, he steals the show.
It's revealed that Freeze has been alive and well for the past 50 years, but confined in a
lab, trapped in his dome. Powers' scientists then use their cloning process to duplicate
his mind into a normal body that no longer needs his suit; Powers is impressed. Freeze
then reforms, and actually starts up a charity worth over $500 million, named after Nora.
All the while, Bruce tells Terry to watch Freeze very carefully, telling him that he's up
to no good; after seeing Victor save a cat from being killed and forgiving a man who was
about to murder him (he was one of Freeze's victims in the past), Terry can't understand
why Bruce would feel this way.
It's interesting to note how Bruce has changed. In the BTAS episodes "Heart of
Ice", "Deep Freeze", and the movie "Sub-Zero", he sympathized
with Freeze a great deal. Now, it seems he's grown VERY bitter with age, and doesn't trust
Victor at all. Terry, on the other hand, still believes a reformation is possible.
After a time, the scientists reclaim Freeze so they can continue their testing on him - by
locking him in a cell and turning up the heat to 100 F, to see if the cloning can
withstand such heat. It's obvious he can't; Freeze escapes and then goes after Powers.
In the finale, we see Freeze, in a new, improved suit (really freaky looking - especially
how his head just blends into the dome), battling Powers - who turns into the radioactive
fiend Blight; so it's a battle of heat vs. cold, and Terry winds up in the middle. Bruce
says that Freeze only lives for revenge now; that's actually very true, and shows why he
feels this way. Think about it - can you recall a Mr. Freeze story that DIDN'T involve him
wanting to kill someone for doing something, or got in the way of him and his wife? Nope.
He just can't win.
Blight, Powers' alternate identity, is a radioactive being who melts everything he
touches. At one point, Freeze actually freezes him but he just breaks out of the ice
without breaking a sweat.
The episode ends on a sad note, where Freeze, after killing many people in Powers' lab,
commits suicide by having the lab freeze and then crumble around him, finally putting him
out of his misery - he WANTED to die - which makes me believe that Freeze doesn't make
another appearance on the show, ever again.
Good episode. I don't know what else to say. Having an enemy of the past being introduced
to the show was a real treat, and expanding Blight's character was welcome, too. The only
complaint I had was that during the emotional sequences of the show, the rock music just
didn't fit, which sort of detracted from the effect. But overall, it's a good one. 4/5.
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THE ORIGINAL 85
(by E. Nygma)
Welcome to the second installment of my bi-weekly column. In this column you will read
about all of the episodes ever made of Batman, Superman, and Batman Beyond starting from
the very beginning. This week, I will detail BTAS episodes #6-10. Enjoy!
NOTE: These are not in order of air date, but rather, episode number.
#006 - THE UNDERDWELLERS
Story by: Tom Ruegger
Teleplay by: Jules Dennis & Richard Mueller
Directed by: Frank Paur
Originally Aired: 10/21/92
Heroes: Batman
Villains: The Sewer King
Quote:
BATMAN: I don't pass sentence! That's for the courts! But this time...this time I am
sorely tempted to do the job myself!
Picture: http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Studio/7636/tu_05.jpg
When Batman discovers that there is a madman living underground using forgotten runaway
children as his personal slaves, he sets out to stop him anyway he can. He even invites
one of them into his home for Alfred to tend to. Batman leads the children to revolt
against the Sewer King and his alligators.
#007 - P. O. V.
Story by: Mitch Brian
Teleplay by: Sean Catherine Derek & Laren Bright
Directed by: Kevin Altieri
Originally Aired: 09/18/92
Heroes: Batman
Quote:
BULLOCK (voice over): I was closin' in when this loud noise tipped 'em.
BULLOCK STEPS ON A CAN AND FALLS TO THE FLOOR WITH A THUD.
BULLOCK: (voice over): Must have been Batman!
Picture: http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Studio/7636/pov_06.jpg
When Bullock blows a sting operation, he and the other officers involved, Montoya and
rookie Wilkes, are questioned by Internal Affairs. Bullock's self-saving story is at odds
against the other testimony so the I.A. investigator believes no one and suspends them
all, pending further investigation. Eager to clear her name, Montoya follows up on some
clues which lead her to the location of the gangsters they were after during the sting.
With Batman's help, whom she presumed dead, she cracks the case and re-instates everyone
involved, teaching Bullock a thing or two about the importance of teamwork.
#008 - THE FORGOTTEN
Written by: Jules Dennis, Richard Mueller, & Sean Catherine Derek
Directed by: Boyd Kirkland
Originally Aired: 10/08/92
Heroes: Batman
Villain Cameos: "Boss Biggis", The Joker (in a dream sequence)
Quote:
BRUCE: What is this?
SMITH: If it's moving, it's a rat. If it isn't, it's a cooked rat.
Picture: http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Studio/7636/tf_03.jpg
Batman goes undercover after reports of homeless men missing. Disguised as a homeless,
he is attacked and loses his memory. He regains consciousness not knowing who he is and
working as a slave in mines. When Batman doesn't return from his investigation, Alfred
enters the Batwing and goes searching.
#009 - BE A CLOWN
Written by: Ted Pedersen & Steve Hayes
Directed by: Frank Paur
Originally Aired: 09/16/92
Heroes: Batman
Villains: The Joker
Quote:
JOKER THROWS A CUPIE BOMB AT BATMAN.
JOKER: You just don't like to play with dolls, do ya?!
Picture:
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Studio/7636/bac_05.jpg
After his father neglects him, Mayor Hamilton Hill's son runs away with the guest clown
from his birthday party who turns out to be the Joker in disguise. The Joker had attempted
to assassinate the mayor with an explosive candle but his efforts were melted by Bruce
Wayne. When they find the real clown that was supposed to appear, Batman goes to the
carnival to track down the Joker and the mayor's only child. The ensuing battle takes the
adversaries on a roller coaster ride filled with exploding gas dolls on the Twin Terrors.
#010 - TWO-FACE (Pt. 1)
Story by: Alan Burnett
Teleplay by: Randy Rogel
Directed by: Kevin Altieri
Originally Aired: 09/25/92
Heroes: Batman
Villains: Two-Face, Rupert Thorne
Quote:
THORNE: All men have something to hide. The brighter the picture, the darker the negative.
Picture:
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Studio/7636/tfp1_01.jpg
Harvey Dent's life couldn't be better. He has just been re-elected as the District
Attorney of Gotham City, he has great friends, and a fiance. But when his deep dark secret
threatens to arise, it puts all of success at risk. Harvey Dent has a second personality.
Rupert Thorne uses this information to blackmail him and after a fight with "Big Bad
Harv", Dent's face is scarred and his second personality surfaces permanantely.
Thanks to the following sites: Batman: The Animated Homepage, Brian's WB Cartoon's Page,
and www.batmantas.com for the information above. Their links are provided in the links
section.
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