SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE #2:
(A fellow subscriber provided us with this info. He was lucky enough to go to the
huge Wondercon comics convention a couple weeks ago...and had this to say (lots of news in
here, too!)
"A WONDROUS-FUL DAY AT WONDERCON"
(by Derek Matthew Fridolfs)
Bruce Timm/Paul Dini WB Panel
The panel started off with an exclusive showing of the Superman/Aquaman episode "A
Fish Story", followed by the rest of the time with Q&A. They were supposed to be
showing a Batman Beyond episode...but they said there wasn't any one episode that was far
enough along and finished to even show. As they reminded the audience, they were actually
juggling three shows at once for a time...the last few episodes of Superman, Batman, and
also starting out on Batman Beyond. The Batman episodes, of course, are out of the way.
The Superman episodes are all done, with only 2 that will be shown in May (the Aquaman one
and the Batman/Ra's episode). The other three will be held to show...not in the
summer...but supposedly in the fall (the Supergirl episode and the 2-part Darkseid season
closer). Other notable things that were discussed:
-Bruce started right out and said "No JLA"...since he had been bombarded with
the question the day before.
-Someone asked about any DVD releases, which Bruce said he would imagine that it would
eventually happen (since everything is going that route anyways)...but nothing for
certain. He said he would try to mention it to the executives, along with his idea of
releasing a 4-tape boxed set of the Darkseid episodes (the New Gods 2-parter before and
the upcoming 2-part
finale as one set).
-Of course, people asked about the future of the Batman and Superman series. Their main
concentration of course is Batman Beyond, but they mentioned that doesn't mean that Batman
and Superman are cancelled...just not being worked on at the moment. Bruce mentioned if a
new Batman live-action movie is made (same probably goes for Superman)...then there would
probably be a good chance that WB might ask them to do more episodes (or as Paul
said...maybe they'll have us reissue/redesign a whole new Batman series at that time,
which Bruce just said "Nooooo!")
-Asked about Batman Beyond becoming a prime time series, since it did so well in its
prime time premiere: Bruce and the crew talked with the executives about it, since
it got such high ratings and it probably would've become a reality...if the Saturday
morning WB 'toons didn't have such bad ratings at the time. So they decided to plug Batman
Beyond into the Saturday morning lineup, to help bring up the ratings for the network
(which it did). And since it's doing so well, they ordered more episodes...thus the reason
why they're going to be showing them during the week now, to try to bring up ratings in
the afternoons.
-The question was asked about the reoccuring villains in the show, and they're going to
try to not do too many of them (as many many articles have already printed). They want to
develop a whole new rogues gallery for Terry and not have to rely on Two-Face 2000,
Clayface 2000, etc. ....so they said the old villains will be few and far between. They
did say that they're still looking at having an episode with Superman on Batman Beyond,
but that they haven't even written it yet...so it might not happen.
-Questions of characters that might appear in Batman Beyond: Etrigan - No (he
will be in the comic). Ra's - no comment. Whether Bruce would ever become Batman again - mmmm....no comment. And one fan asked about Green Lantern (how the ring would find a
new wearer after each wearer has died...and Bruce responded that he hadn't thought of
that. So we'll have to see if we'll get any Green Lantern "Beyond" guest star).
- One of the questions asked by a fan was if they ever considered mixing 2D and CGI
elements into the new Batman Beyond series (and if there was any in the opening sequence
to the show): Bruce let a little secret out....there is none (other than digitally
sequencing the show together). The opening sequence where we see, what looks to be, a CGI
closeup of Bruce Wayne's head turning...is actually, a little trick. One of the animators
made a maquette of Bruce Wayne's head, and then for fun, Bruce Timm took it, put it on his
kitchen table, and used a hand held camera to record it. They took the film, digitally
reconstructed it (changed the
quality of the tape image to the point where it looked like it was really grainy...and
almost CGI-ish), and they put it in the opening sequence. Cool!
-They talked about the differences between FOX and WB for Batman. They talked how
they've never gotten the chance to do that Nocturna episode...how FOX said no vampires on
their show (yet, they've had Morpheus and Blade in the Spider-Man cartoon). And when they
got to WB, they tried again (thinking...hey...this is the WB network - home of Buffy the
Vampire Slayer). But again, WB said...what are you, crazy? No vampires. Well then....what
about fangs?
No.
What if they don't bite and they bite off screen?
No.
-Asked about the 3-issue Harley & Ivy comic, Bruce said that they've been slowly
working on it. They're pretty pressed for time, working non-stop on these animated
episodes...so they've been trying to do the comic whenever they get the chance. Bruce's
part is done...the 3 issues are entirely drawn and finished. Shane Glines, who is the lead
character designer on the show, has been juggling those duties along with trying to ink
the issues. He's done with the first issue and is halfway through the second issue. Expect
the series out by the year's end.
-Asked if they'd ever been approached or would like to do any of the Marvel series.
Bruce is a big fan of the Marvel characters, and of course would like to do something with
it...but FOX has their own animation division making new cartoons (as he refered to it,
"Aren't they doing
Spider-Man Beyond...er...Unlimited?") But he figures they got their chance at
least doing the "Terrific Trio" episode as their homage to Stan and Jack's
Fantastic Four.
-Asked about a straight-to-video-movie of Batman, and they said they couldn't talk
about it...that it was still in the planning stages. Pressed again if it would be a Batman
Beyond movie...and they said, yes it was, but that's all that is known right now. They're
still working on the story and details and didn't want to say anything until it became
more official
(and even then, they want to actually surprise us for once and not tell us everything that
will happen).
-They talked about how when they were first developing Superman, that they were
thinking of developing it as a "JLA" type series, where Superman would star with
two other heroes in each episode...but then they ditched it since it would be tough to
cram everything into each episode. Dini commented briefly that he was writing one episode
of Superman with Captain Marvel and the JLA in it...but never finished it, and Aquaman was
finished at better at the time so they went with that instead.
-As for the video market division of things, they were always trying to develop other
properties (Boyd Kirkland was, since Timm and Dini and the rest are busy with the animated
series). Always thought of as mini-straight-to-video-featurettes with possibilities for
the New Gods, Aquaman, Legion of Superheroes....even talk of a possible Teen Titans
series...but all are either not going to happen, or still being talked about. Nothing is
for certain, so don't get your hopes up. Questioned if they'd ever thought of doing a
Kingdom Come type movie? No.
-Towards the end of the Q&A, there was a lot of talk about voice acting and
casting. They mentioned that Miguel Ferrer is so typecast as playing the bad guy, that
they wanted to have him play a good guy on the show. And being a big fan of comics, they
wanted to give him a cool role...so they called him up to see if he'd be available to do
Aquaman (and he was). They
talked about the auditions for the voice of Batman, and they brought in tons of big name
(and no name) actors, but no one quite got the part right. But as soon as Kevin Conroy did
the voice...they all knew right away that he was the one.
Tim Curry was the original voice actor for Joker (but he didn't quite have the role
down. Bruce mentioned that Tim was a smoker, so when he did the trademark Joker laugh...he
coughed and sputtered and sounded ugly). So they let him go and decided to recast it. They
knew that Mark Hamill expressed interest in the part before, and after hearing him...they
had their Joker.
As for Superman, they had an actor from the "Darkman" movies that they
had a good idea could play the role. When they called him in, the actor had just found out
the night before, that a new tv show he was starring in, had just been cancelled, he'd
been up all night worried and he'd now been reduced to finding voice work in cartoons. He
came in...read one line...stopped...told the guys he just couldn't do it....got up and
walked out. Eventually, they found Tim Daly.
Guest voice actors to look forward to on Batman Beyond: Henry Rollins (who's
a big fan of the show), Ice T, and many others (that they couldn't think of at the
time...but there are a lot they said to look forward to).
Overall, a nice panel discussion, and reception by the fans to the creators of the
show. What does this mean to us, the fans....lots to look forward to and be hopeful about.
While there might've been a time where I wouldn't care to see WB pursue anymore Batman
live action movies (after the dismal "Batman & Robin")....now, I hope they
get more made, if it would mean sacrificing a lousy or average live-action feature, in
order to get more regular Batman episodes made (same goes for Superman).
And while I'm at it...let me encourage all of you to go out and support WB's
feature animation division, by seeing "The Iron Giant" when it's released in
August. I don't know how much of an ad campaign this movie will get, but it is being hyped
by animators in the industry as a "can't wait and see" movie (will easily make
one forget about the poorly made "Quest for
Camelot" and "King and I"). I've already seen a rough cut of Disney's
"Tarzan"...and while I'll go see it, I'm still looking more forward to
"Iron Giant" (not a musical but a mature kid's story). See it, support it...and
WB's Feature Animation Division will continue to make more movies down the line, with
anything possible. But if does badly...it might spell doom for anymore features in the
future. There's my two cents (and if any WB TV/Feature animation staff are out there
reading this....give me a job)! ;)
Derek
dmf15@csufresno.edu
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EDITORAL #1
(by Laura Hysert, aka "Phoenix")
Sadly, the lovely Laura Hysert will return shortly with a new editorial. Be patient, my
children.
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EDITORIAL #2
(by Michael Mandeville)
batboym@wtp.net
Lady's and gentlemen, children of all ages, D Generation X proudly brings to you...the
Batboy of Beyond!
Hi there and welcome to another one of my editorialist articles (which are probably being
protested against and have caused riots in the streets). Now, on to some business:
Okay, so, in the last issue of this Newsletter, there was an e-mail with Boyd
Kirkland. I do so hope I don't offend anyone with my interventions in the following
article. In case you missed it, here it is - and my interventions have brackets around
them:
BOYD: It's nice to know there are fans out there who care about what's happening. (What do
you think we do? Watch the shows and don't care?) It's great for the WB and for our studio
(How great? Great Great, or just great?) that "Batman Beyond" is such a huge
rating success, (Yes it is) but it's unfortunate that that success has also spelled the
end of the regular Batman shows. (Hey, you can't expect the WB crews to work on two things
at once, and we still have an awesome cutting-edge futuristic Batman show that's cooler
than the original).
Two other projects I developed her this past yeat that were not picked up were Legionaires
(As in The Legion of Superheroes, or the JLA?) and Lobo (that crazy idiot biker guy who
drives around space screaming). Everyone here was certain that Lobo was a go right up
(Why?) until the week when the network finally announced it's schedule to the press. That
was another major disappointement to us (Ahhh again). Unfourtunetly, the network never
showed much interest in Legionaires (Even in Saturn Girl?). I really liked (Saturn Girl)
what we were doing with it, and know it would have been a great show (Amen brother!).
Other DC properties I have developed here in previous years that the network has passed
over (Ahhhh) are (Drumroll please) Wonder Women (Not to excited about that), Green Lantern
(That would be okay), and The Metal Men (WHO?).
I probaly won't be involved with the "Batman Beyond" movie, as I am not part of
that crew (Which means they threw you out?). I believe Paul Dini (The cool guy) will write
it and Bruce Timm (The REALLY cool guy) will produce it. I'm not certain yet what my
future plans are (Hey, buy a house in the Bahamas). There is another movie/video project
here that I helped develop (What? What? What?) which is currently under construction (Ok,
I'm preparred to take notes, what's the title, the hero, and the plotline?) I can't say
much about it yet (Ahh, MAN!), but it's not a DC or superhero property (Ahh, MAN!). I'll
know whether the studio wants to move ahead with it in a couple of weeks (Don't hold your
breath).
The basic storyline of our recently canned (Sealed, trash, thrown away, rubbished,
demolished) animated Batman movie involved the Joker and Bane (Is this a coincidence or am
I dreaming?), both prisioners in Arkham (For the 6 billionth time), who team up (With
each-other or with Bruce Timm) to escape and seek revenge on Batman (Who else?). Bruce
Wayne is involved in a heavy romance (With a cut girl?) before this happens (Then his new
girlfriend abandons him when Bane and the Joker crash one of their dates), and is
seriously considering (A face-lift) retiring the cape and cowl (And the suit and belt) to
get married (Yeah, right, it's probably another one of Poison Ivy's creations) when he's
attacked (During a date and his girlfriend leaves him). Robin is seriously injured (Did it
damage his bug eyes?!?!?), but plays an important role in helping Batman before the story
is over (Meat Grinder, Potato Pealer, Onion slicer). THe story was full of non-stop action
(Oh, make us feel WORSE why don't you!) and eye-popping visuals (AH! STOP STOP! Your
beginning to sound like an advertisement!), as well as had a lot of heart and romance (Oh,
MAN!). I had one of the best studios in Japan lined up to animate it, with a bigger budget
than I had for "Sub-Zero". It would have been great (Sigh). Needless to say, I'm
extremely disappointed (Of Course!) that it won't be made (OF COURSE!). Oh, Well - time to
move on.
Sincerely,
Boyd Kirkland
Well that's all for now! (And if the brilliant WB executives who made the decition to
scrap this movie read this and want to e-mail me It's: Michael@BiteMe.com
)
And for the rest of you who want to e-mail me it's:
batboym@wtp.net
See ya next time from the Batboy of Beyond!
PS - To the parents and friends of the kids that were killed on 4-20-99 of Littleton,
Colorado:
May God be with you in this time of tragedy.
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TO INFINITY AND BATMAN BEYOND
- a column dedicated to "Batman Beyond"
(by Ed
Wiser)
ewiser@iglou.com
Ed Wiser will return shortly with a new article - thank you for your patience!
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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.
Seeing how this issue is dedicated to Ty "the Guy" Templeton, I figured this
issue's trivia should have to do entirely with the comics based on BTAS, since he's the
guy that makes them so great. These include "The Batman Adventures",
"Batman & Robin Adventures", and the current "Batman: Gotham
Adventures". Any comic in the animated style is eligible to be tested here.
111. Which of the following animated comic-series' currently has the longest run?
A: THE BATMAN ADVENTURES
B: BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES
C: BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
D: BATMAN: THE LOST YEARS
E: SUPERMAN ADVENTURES
112. Which was the first issue of any of the animated comics that Ty Templeton WROTE?
A: BATMAN ADVENTURES #1
B: BATMAN ADVENTURES #33
C: BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES #1
D: BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES #4
E: BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #1
113. Which of the following characters HASN'T Ty Templeton drawn on the cover of an
issue of "Gotham Adventures" (excluding the cover of Issue #1)?
A: Deadman
B: Dagger Dixon
C: The Scarecrow
D: Tim Drake
E: The Riddler
114. Which of the following episodes was NOT based on a BTAS comic?
A: "Mad Love"
B: "Holiday Knights"
C: "World's Finest"
D: "Sins of the Father"
E: "Old Wounds"
115. In which animated comic, at any point, does Two-Face appear with his evil side
PURPLE inside of blue?
A: BATMAN ADVENTURES #22
B: BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES #2
C: BATMAN & ROBIN ADVENTURES #22
D: BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #10
E: BATMAN: THE LOST YEARS #4
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ANSWERS TO THE TRIVIA
Answer to #111: 'A
Answer to #112: 'B
Answer to #113: 'C, E'
Answer to #114: 'C'
Answer to #115: 'B, D'
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