BATMAN: THE ANIMATED FIGURES
(by Kevin Smith)
ktsmit2@ilstu.edu
Oh_Ho77@hotmail.com

The last time I wrote in, I asked readers to list their favorite Top 5 Animated Batman Figures, and what they would most like to see made. To my surprise, I actually got responses. (Thankyouthankyouthankyou!) And, as promised, I'm including their opinions here - this is your chance to speak out! (Are you paying attention, Kenner? This is what we'd like to give you MONEY for!!!)

"Leiter" submitted his opinion:
1. BTAS Mr. Freeze
2. TNBA Batman
3. TNBA Two-Face
4. TNBA Nightwing
5. BTAS Gangster Joker

And I REALLY want a TNBA Penguin! (I agree! I want a Pengy too!) Another reader, Chris sent a very detailed request - bonus points to you! Thanks for allowing me to voice my opinion Kevin! This is only about the 100th time, but hopefully someone behind their desk will get the idea
real soon. :)

*Honorable mentions that I would love to see made,but realize I never will include Alfred and the long-rumored Cops 3-pack featuring Gordon, Montoya, and Bullock*

5)Killer Croc/Baby-Doll - The perfect 2-pack! Killer Croc would make a pretty cool figure on his own, but throw in a never-before released Baby-Doll figure and this 2-pack would rock! Hell, I'd buy it just for the Baby-Doll figure! Doll would have to be articulated though and not just a stupid pvc figure like the first Croc's pet crocodile. Give her an exploding babydoll and kids and adults alike would take bunches of pleasure being able to re-enact the "Love's a Croc" episode. Are you listening Hasbro?

4)Scarface and Ventriloquist - Not one of my favorite new designs, but at this point I'll take this great character(s) anyway I can get him. Scarface must come with movable jaw and must be able to sit atop Ventriloquist's hand. Throw in a machine gun and uzi and you've got my $6.00

3)Calendar Girl - My favorite of the new characters, Calendar Girl is a must have. If not for the fact that she's a cool character, she should be made for the fact that her accessory possibilites are endless. A removable mask is a must, but she could also come with pumpkin bombs, Roman Candles, exploding turkeys, etc. Snap-on saches would also be a nice touch or color-changing costume action when you dip her in water. That would be a nice touch for the kiddies! :)

2)Poison Ivy - Another great character much in the need of a new figure would be Miss Isley. Her new design was a drastic one and she has become much more of a main character then she was before. She made more appearances then many other villains and she would just make one hell of
a great figure. Throw in a Potted Venus Flytrap accessory with open and close mouth and bendable vines and a few beakers full of deadly poisons and toxins and she'd be ready to go. Hell, she may even look feminine and seductive this time around and less like a man.

1)Catwoman - The #1 gotta have figure from the new style. I agree with you that she must come in a normal pose (no bent knee). Some neat accessories might include a few cats (like the original did with Isis) and a couple jewels for this master thief to steal. And her famous whip
of course. I figure that if we see any more villains, it will be here. She's the only main villain from the new style yet to be made into a new figure. (Toy Review - There *is* Penguin.) I just can't believe that Riddler made the cut before her.(Toy Review - They did it with TOS
figures. Didn't surprise me one bit.)

Well, that's it for now! If I get any other replies, I will include them too. Until next time, good luck finding a removable head Mr. Freeze!
- Kevin
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COMIC REVIEWS
(by Aaron Maurer)

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
ISSUE: "Never an Option" (#12)
WRITTEN BY: Ty Templeton
PENCILED BY: Rick Burchett
INKED BY: Terry Beatty
ISSUED: March 3, 1999 (Cover date is May)
RATING: **.5 (out of 5)

"Of course you get to live. You're one of the good guys." -Two-Face to Batman

SUMMARY: After being caught in customs, some smugglers take a hostage, but Two-Face surprisingly drops in and stops them. Later, at police headquarters, Harvey Dent's psychiatrist discusses several cases of Two-Face acting as good guy with Batman and Commisioner Gordon. She reveals that Harvey is using a weighted coin that always lands good side up; this coupled with his identity of the Judge has caused him to make decent decisions. She is worried, though, that Harvey has some sort of death wish since the Judge sentenced him to death for all his crimes. Batman finds out from an accomplice of Two-Face what he is planning
next, but he is inabled by a statue, so Harvey gets away. However, through deductive reasoning, Batman figures out what Harvey is up to. Meanwhile, Two-Face is planning to get out of Gotham with help from members of the Janus Corporation (see "The Lost Years" for background). However, he double-crosses them, and sends them out with parachutes. Batman has been clinging to the outside of the plane this whole time and he swoops in for a skirmish with Dent. Only one parachute is left and the controls to the plane are ruined, so Two-Face says that if the good side comes up, Batman gets the parachute and Harvey dies. Batman tells him that the coin is rigged, but he says it doesn't matter, and when good side comes up, he leaps out of the plane. Batman takes the parachute and jumps after him, grabbing him and opening the chute just as the plane crashes.

COMMENTS: This issue had some good things going for it. First, it incorporated characters from the show (Harvey's shrink, the twin henchguys (Min and Max)) nicely. It's always interesting to see supporting characters again, and this book does a great job. Next, the reference to Two-Face's drug smuggling a few years ago was made. This was a nice, relevant reference to the Lost Years. Also, the art in this issue was, as always, superb. (Check out the final page, for example.) I also like the little gags and nuances a lot. Don't the two drug smugglers from the very beginning of the issue bear a suspicious resemblance to Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob?...

CRITICISMS: All in all, I didn't feel that this story had too much depth. It was just another "switch the coin on Two-Face" escapade with a few rather pointless fights. However, I did like the ending; the last few pages were very dramatic and hopeful. Still, it was too little, too
late.

BOTTOM LINE: If you're a fan of Two-Face, you might enjoy this; otherwise, you may be disappointed.
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COMIC SCHEDULES & COVERING THE BASICS

This section gives a little bit more indepth look into each monthly issue of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES and SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. Below each comic listing is a link to the cover of that comic. TALK ABOUT SERVICE!
The price 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".)

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #13
April 7th
It's the return of Mastermind, the Perfessor and Mister Nice (from the pages of the original BATMAN ADVENTURES series)! This criminal trio has faced its share of challenges in the past, but now a visit from a strange child could lead to the dissolution of their partnership, if not their very lives! Can Batman save some of his greatest enemies?
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/covers/download/dbmga13.jpg

NEXT MONTH: - The final issue of "Gotham Adventures" written by Ty Templeton (we'll miss you)! This issue follows-up on the storyline in , where Harley resists being seduced by the dark side and returning to the Joker. Her romance novel is panned by critics so she goes on a rampage involving...mind control?
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/bga/bga14.jpg

BATMAN BEYOND #4
April 21st
Etrigan, the Demon, assists Batman in fighting crime in the futuristic Gotham City.
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/bb/bb4.jpg

NEXT MONTH: Issue #5 - On a field trip to the Gotham Museum of Natural History, Terry and his class are menaced by what appears to be a re-animated Egyptian mummy! Other strange events follow as several students contract a mysterious emaciating disease. Is there a connection between these strange occurrences and the new foreign student in school who seems obsessed with Terry's girlfriend Dana?
Cover: Not available.

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #32
April 7th
Meet Daily Planet janitor Ben Sullivan's girlfriend...Lois Lane? Ben, a mild-mannered staffer with a huge crush on Lois, accidentally becomes the object of the reporter's affections when she's hit by a supervillain's hypnotic device. Now Ben's in seventh heaven while Superman not only must foil a foe who can plant hypnotic suggestions in anyone's mind, but also find a way to break Lois's trance before it becomes irreversible!
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/sa/sa32.jpg

NEXT MONTH:
Superman's greatest enemies have never figured out that Clark Kent and the Man of Steel are one and the same person -- until now. Who's learned the world's greatest secret, and how can Clark prove him wrong before he reveals it to the entire world?
Cover: http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/sa/sa33.jpg
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ANIMATED NEWS AND RUMORS

ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-Mania.Com seems to have the inside scoop about Kids'WB! next season. Use this URL to go and check out the information:
http://www.mania.com/columns/amhh/amhh031999_kidswb.html
-The WB Network reported this week that on March 13 Batman Beyond (which was the debut of "Shriek") scored the highest metered market rating (4.4/12) in the Kids' WB! history. The Kids' WB! line-up matched its highest metered market output this season (3.0/9), improving +25% in rating over the weekend season-to-date average, and defeating ABC (2.9/9), FOX (2.1/6) and CBS (1.2/4) to rank #1 in the metered markets for the weekend. Congratulations Kids'WB! This weekend's new episode was all-new 'DEAD MAN'S HAND'. Did it do as good?

"CURRENT" ANIMATED SERIES'
-The current animated series has only about 5 more Superman episodes (one of which being a Batman crossover), all of which will air by May. After that, BTAS/STAS will not return until Sept. of 2000 at the earliest.

BATMAN BEYOND
-One of the new villains which has yet to appear this season is named Curare.
-The Comic Book Continuum has an article about this weekend's BATMAN BEYOND episode, if you want some more info on the episode go here:
http://detnews.com/metro/hobbies/comix/stories/9903/17/index.htm
-Ra's Al Ghul is currently NOT planned to be on BEYOND. However, Talia IS. (Where's Ubu?)
-Batman Beyond has reportedly been signed to a 52 episode commitment! We'll be seeing a lot of new episodes next fall on its weekend show. Repeats of Batman Beyond will rotate with repeats of Batman/Superman this fall on THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES weekday installments. New episodes will premiere only in the weekend BATMAN BEYOND time slot.

ANIMATED COMICS
-Also it seems that BATMAN BEYOND will only be a limited series, with a new ongoing series (so far titled BATMAN:ADVENTURES BEYOND) premiering in the fall with Hilary J. Bader still writing, but as of yet, an undetermined art team.
-Still wondering if you should spend $1.99 (or 3.25 CAN) on BATMAN BEYOND #3? Well here is a very positive review, with spoilers:
http://www.snapjudgments.com/snapjudg/week3/sjbeyond.html
-Inque returns in BATMAN BEYOND #6.
-Terry Beatty returns to working on "Gotham Adventures" with .
-Rick Burchett is taking a break from "Gotham Adventures" for the time being.

OTHER COMICS
-What's DC up to this year? Follow this link: http://www.mania.com/newsarama/dc99.html
-For more, see the "Road Through No Man's Land" section below.

MOVIES
-The third animated Bat-movie is on the way! The first script has been submitted to the WB; the plot hasn't been released, but it HAS been released that, at this point in time, there are NOT plans to have it shown in theatres. They are aiming for an August/September 2000 release date.
-The Gotham Weekly News says that there is a rumour that Gwyneth Paltrow could be the actor chosen to play everyone's favourite feline fatale in the rumoured "Catwoman" movie.
-NBC will be showing "BATMAN FOREVER" from 8:30pm to 11pm on April 4th

TOYS & MERCHANDISE
-The "Mission Masters" series continues in Wave 4 of the new-style animated figures. Riddler is the featured villain and there will undoubtedly be a multitude of hero variants - including a new Batman, and, finally, another Robin (Tim Drake)!
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THE ROAD THROUGH NO MAN'S LAND
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)

Yes, I know this isn't really an animated topic, but I thought, hey, it's Batman's 60th anniversary, and this is the big event that celebrates it, so I should have a section dedicated to this year-long crossover. Besides, so far it's been excellent in every issue. We have this section split up into two parts - the first saying what has already happened, the second previewing what's to come. Enjoy!

UP UNTIL NOW...
After 100 days of absence, Batman has returned, and took down the Ventriloquist and Scarface; Rhino no runs that sector of town under Batman's control. The GCPD have eliminated the "lesser" gangs in Gotham by starting up a bloody turf war. Batgirl has appeared here and there, and has also encountered Batman himself. Pretty much all the villains have made an appearance as a cameo by now.
The Scarecrow took up refuge in the "Faith Sector" of town, and tries to get them to get into a major gang-war with the Penguin and Black Mask. The Huntress is the only hope once Father Chris agrees to store Penguin's weapons at the church in exchange for food. Batman and Huntress eventually take the Scarecrow down - but he's still on the loose. It is then revealed that Batman is not working out of the Batcave anymore, but Arkham Asylum.
Then we see a flashback of Rene Montoya in Downtown Gotham, where she runs into good-Samaritan Two-Face, who is helping the people there, due to the luck of the coin. Batgirl saves a couple from the Joker's old hideout, and Harold (Batman's mechanic) runs into Gotham to "help fix things".
In earlier March, Batman confronts the Penguin in the Iceberg Lounge - and he wins a small victory, and the Penguin loses some of his power in Gotham; the word of Batman's re-appearance spreads like wildfire. Gordon makes a deal with the devil - figuratively speaking - but no one knows who this devil is. Many think it is Two-Face (there are some hints), but no one knows for sure at this point.
In the most recent story, mob boss/cult-leader Black Mask, who owns the largest chunk of Gotham, tries to take the GCPD sector, putting Oracle in grave danger; she is just about to kill him, but Batgirl gets in the way. And, believe it or not, Lock-Up and KGBeast make appearances, too - and they're on Batman's side, in seems.

That's 12 issues of NML so far. For a complete list, e-mail us.

AS FOR THE OTHER HEROES:
-Robin and Nightwing return to Gotham in June!
-Robin's first duty is to aid Batman in saving Poison Ivy from Clayface.
-Nightwing tries to bring order back to Blackgate prison.
-Superman arrives in Gotham this April in Batman #566, and will later return in October.
-Catwoman's not really a hero, but I'll include her here anyhow. She's still searching the world for more pretty things. Paris didn't satisfy her - but will New York? She will eventually return to Gotham.
-Azrael will confront the Joker in April.
-A single issue focusing on Alfred's dealings with No Man's Land will also come out soon.
-And it seems that new GCPD officer Petit, who has a thirst for blood, gains control of most of the GCPD, leaving Gordon in the cold. I bet Bullock still sticks with 'im, though.
-Speaking of which, a one-shot focussing on how Bullock is handling No Man's Land is also due out.

WHAT'S TO COME...
-For the rest of March, we will see Batman and Batgirl confronting underworld kingpin Black Mask.
-May, we see the GCPD confront the Penguin, and Batman confronts Two-Face. The Penguin and Two-Face stories are said to be one of the most important segments in the battle in No Man's Land.
-Francine Langstrom comes to the Penguin for help, which results in Man-Bat returning to Gotham.
-Batgirl's identity will be revealed in June, in "Legends of the Dark Knight" #120! But rumor is that there may be MULTIPLE Batgirls?
-Also in June, Robin returns to aid Batman in the three-part "Fruit of the Earth" story-arc, featuring Poison Ivy and Clayface.
-See more below.

AND AS FOR THE REMAINING VILLAINS...
-Lock-Up and KGBeast will re-appear in smaller roles, presumably, after their first NML appearances in Batman #565.
-Mr. Freeze seizes control of the power plant to stay alive - and to have something valuable to trade with the rest of society. His story involves - a plumber?
-Poison Ivy has sought refuge in the Robinson Park and turned it into a Garden-of-Eden paradise. But then Clayface appears and turns this Eden into a Hell for Ivy.
-Bane tries to gain control of the city - again - but has to break in from the outside - across the river filled with land mines. This is in Detective Comics #736, in July.
-Man-Bat appears, thanks to the Penguin
-Penguin seems to have the only access to points of the world OUTSIDE of Gotham, and basically rules the city, living in luxury. The GCPD will move in on him during the first major turf war in NO MAN'S LAND.
-Two-Face has seized control of the political and financial districts in Downtown Gotham, and has a unique tie to Rene Montoya of the GCPD. While the GCPD confronts the Penguin, Batman tries to take Two-Face down but fails in his first attempt. Two-Face then releases the Russian assassin "Echo" from Blackgate Prison, who goes on a killing spree, with a bounty on Batgirl's head.
-The Joker doesn't appear as a major player until close to the end, along with the new, improved Harley Quinn - whom will appear with the Joker AND Poison Ivy in August.
-The Mad Hatter, Killer Croc, Mr. Zsasz, and various other "lesser" villains have their own chunks of Gotham to rule as well.
-Ra's Al Ghul, meanwhile, is in Washington D.C. battling Anarky in his new ongoing series.
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