Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Week of May 3 - May 8/9, 1999
Volume 2,
Rated: PG for some "low-key coarse language and occasional griping"THIS WEEK'S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: "WHAT? YOU SAW GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES IN OUR
LAST ISSUE? SO SUE US! Have a nice day."
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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to another issue of "Batman: The Animated Newsletter".
Enjoy!
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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.
KidsWB will soon be shown on a new channel called "WeB" - I
know little about this - but if you can get that channel, I'm pretty sure the WB shows
would be on.
'A FISH STORY'
Superman #54
Air date: May 8, 1999
When marine life in Metropolis threaten the citizens, Lois Lane discovers it is
because Lex Luthor has taken Aquaman as a prisoner.
'DISAPPEARING INQUE'
Batman Beyond #12
Air date: May 8, 1999
Inque returns!
'UNITY'
Superman #??
Air date: May 15, 1999
Supergirl teams up with Superman to save the Kents and the rest of Smallville from
an alien threat.
'A TORTURE OF CURARE'
Batman Beyond #11?
Air date: May 15, 1999
I guess this is the long-awaited episode focusing on Curare.
'THE DEMON REBORN'
Superman #??
Air date: ??
BATMAN'S FINAL CURRENT-DAY ANIMATED APPEARANCE! This episode features Batman and
Superman teaming up to take down Ra's Al Ghul, who has plans to send the world back to its
natural, pre-human state. WOOHOO! THE BAT IS BACK! Airs in May.
'LEGACY (Pt. 1 & 2)'
Superman #??
Air date: ??
This two-parter features the final showdown between Superman and Darksied in which
he strips Superman of his memory and adopts him as a son in an effort to take over Earth.
Now it seems this won't air until September! Argh!
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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.
"SUPERMAN TEAM-UP WEEK" - a week dedicated to the best
team-ups of the Superman animated series, to hype everyone up about the upcoming team-up
with Superman and Aquaman. Even the Batman episodes seem to follow this format...
Mon 5-03-99: Batman #97 Over the Edge (Batman, Robin, Nightwing, and Alfred; Batgirl DIES)
Superman #22
Speed Demons (Superman with THE FLASH)
Tue 5-04-99: Batman #101 Animal Act (Batman and Nightwing)
Superman #34
Heavy Metal (Superman with STEEL)
Wed 5-05-99: Superman #43 New Kids in Town (Superman with THE LEGION)
Batman #107
Chemistry (Batman and HIS WIFE?)
Thu 5-06-99: Superman #37 Little Girl (Pt. 1) (teams up with SUPERGIRL)
Superman #38
Little Girl (Pt. 2) (again, with SUPERGIRL)
Fri 5-07-99: Batman #102 Old Wounds (Dick Grayson departs from the
Bat-team)
Superman #50 In
Brightest Day (teams up with GREEN LANTERN)
Sat 5-08-99: Batman #103 The Demon Within (Batman and the Demon)
Superman #54 Fish
Story ---------NEW!!!
B-Beyond #12
Disappearing Inque ---------NEW!!!
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)
THE CARTOON NETWORK was able to get the exclusive rights to 52 episodes
of the classic BTAS, as well as both animated movies. BTAS airs Monday-Friday at 6pm (ET)
and then repeated again at midnight. If our schedule listings is not complete or up to
date then please go to TOONZONE for the complete episode schedule at:
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/schedules/batman-cn.html
NOTE #1: BATMAN & MR. FREEZE: SUB-ZERO will be airing again on
CARTOON NETWORK on May 22nd at 8pm (ET) as apart of their CARTOON THEATRE
NOTE #2: CARTOON NETWORK will be having a BATMAN 'SUPER-CHUNK' on May 29th. The 3 hour
BATMAN Super-Chunk will be from 4pm-7pm (ET). The 'SUPER-CHUCK' means that we'll have
three hours worth of BATMAN episodes.
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EPISODE REVIEW: (SPOILERS!)
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)
All of Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton's reviews of the new-style BTAS
episodes and BATMAN BEYOND can be found via these links, which link to "Two-Face's
Tower of Tranquility and Terror":
MAIN PAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFace/index.html
BTAS PAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFaceText/bats.html
<BATMAN BEYOND>
SPELLBOUND
Written by: Robert Goodman
Directed by: Butch Lukic
Animation by: Dong Yang
Original air date: May 1, 1999
My rating: ***1/2
A student, a clothing designer, and a woman on her wedding day all
become the victim of a new villain in Gotham, who manipulates them into giving them all
their valuable possessions - artifacts, expensive dresses, and jewels. This villain
is known simply as "Spellbinder".
While Spellbinder originated in the comics like the Royal Flush Gang
did, he draws a lot of attributes from both the Scarecrow and, even moreso, the Mad
Hatter, who use various forms of mind-control on their victims. To get the riches he
wants, Spellbinder uses a large hypnotic orb on his victims which puts them in a transe -
a dream-like state, which HE controls - like the Mad Hatter. Soon, however, these
transes turn into nightmares (a la the Scarecrow) in such a way that the victim would give
up their valuables - dropping them, throwing them away, or even giving them to Spellbinder
himself.
So let's see: a cool gimmick-villain, even if it's not completely
original, but, unfortunately, is only after money. "I wish I could say there
was a loftier purpose than just the money" (ahhh...a misquote from "Speed",
I'm sure), but that's just it. But why is this guy doing it? Spellbinder turns
out to be a psychologist at Terry's high school, who is fed up with his patients not
respecting him enough by paying him more - so he steals from them to break even. All
three of the victims had a connection to him...and things only grow worse when Bruce
learns that Terry went to see him once, which puts all of Bruce's valuables in danger.
Cool things to look for? Spellbinder's costume is kinda cool...a
red-and-black stripe pattern. In one scene Terry's Bat-suit gets torn to shreds, and the
resulting visual is quite impressive. A hint to Dick Grayson's whereabouts is made -
or, more precisely, where he stands with Bruce right now - and from Bruce's reaction, not
very good at all. It's also hinted at the end of the episode that Barbara Gordon now knows
that Terry is the new Batman...hmmm...she's either much smarter than her father or Terry
is not as good at keeping a secret as Bruce is.
Butch Lukic's episodes are always visually impressive, and this one is
no exception. Even if I didn't see his name in the credits, I would've known right
away it was his work: the hazy animation by the waterside at the beginning is very
reminiscent of his work on BTAS episodes like "You Scratch My Back".
Problems? Final fight is rather quick. What else? Well, if
anything, this episode proves that if it weren't for Bruce, Terry would have been dead by
now. Once Terry is put under Spellbinder's spell, he's virtually useless; only his
video-link with Bruce allowed him to remain alive. And does he thank him? Yeesh,
what an ungrateful child...erm...teen...whatever.
Still, a cool episode.
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EDITORAL #1
(by Laura Hysert, aka "Phoenix")
*Laura Hysert is proud to introduce a new fan-fic site which she is a
large part of. Ladies and gentlemen, here's DCX! (Whuh???)
-----
DCX...where fans give the DC Universe new life...where stories offer
fresh perspectives on your favorite heroes...where Gotham still stands, and Superman
doesn't build robots...
DCX...The universe you thought you knew.
**COMING MAY 23, ONLY TO DCX ( www.imagine-that.org/DCX/ )
What does a homicidal artist have to do to get some respect? When the
Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum, he discovers he no longer tops the list of 'Gotham's
Most Wanted.' But his scheme to destroy the competition draws the attention of an old man
with a dangerous grudge against the Clown Prince of Crime. The first issue of BATMAN: Dark
Knight by John Hardin begins the story of a man who shows the Joker why revenge is a dish
"Best Served Cold."
DCX: Best served hot with a drizzle of fudge sauce and two cherries.
After her father went to prison, Stephanie Brown left that painful
chapter of her life behind. With her mother's remarriage, Stephanie's future seemed
bright. But all her dreams of happiness are threatened when her father escapes from
prison. Now, with the help of a boy named Robin, she must discover if she is a
"Prodigal Daughter." The story begins in ROBIN: Fly by Knight #1, the start of a
monthly series by Brian Bedard.
DCX: Come home.
He may have accepted that he's not Batman, but Jean-Paul Valley's
troubles in Gotham City aren't over yet, Just as he's sliding back into Azrael's mantle
and taking up his crusade against crime, he stumbles upon a truck loaded with women,
driving into the night...Azrael's hunt for answers to this mystery begins in part one of
"Harvest," the debut issue of AZRAEL:
Knight of Vengeance, a monthly series by John R. Stephens.
DCX: We're not Batman, either. No, really.
What happens when goody two-shoes meets the school bully? A new Batgirl
is born, and she's ready to rumble! Meet the two teens -- and an exciting new nemesis --
that make it all happen in this month's BATGIRL: Dark Knight Damsel. You can find
"Dusk," the premiere issue written by Brendan Crowther, at only one place.
DCX: We don't guess who the new Batgirl is. We KNOW.
**Discover these and many more of your favorite DC characters, including
Huntress, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash, at DCX. You never know who
you'll find here, so come and see for yourself. Starting May 23.
**And don't miss these Batman-related titles coming to DCX on JUNE 6:
BATMAN: Shadows of Twilight
CATWOMAN: Night Moves
NIGHTWING: Bludhaven Nights
**And on JUNE 20, catch the debut of ORACLE: Hidden Voice.
-Laura Hysert
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EDITORIAL #2
(by Michael Mandeville)
batboym@wtp.net
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and girls, Children of all ages, Batman: The
Animated Newsletter proudly brings to you, the second main editorial in this
newsletter...The Batboy of Beyond!
Greetings. This article will be centered Batboy's analyses of the first Batman Beyond
episodes:
'Rebirth (Pt. 1, 2)'
One of the best Batman Beyond episodes. The one where we see Bruce retiring the cape and
cowl at an old age and a young boy jumping into the advanced, power, cutting-edge Batman
suit. Okay, that's enough on this episode. What I really like is the reference that Terry
gave to Scooby-Doo when he spoke to Ace, "Down Scooby, It's me." And Blight's
first appearance.
'Black Out'
A cute lady named Inque makes her debut. Not much to say here except that Inque is always
nude. A big, black, nude, oil splotch named Inque. And Powers starts shedding his skin,
revealing the Blight behind the man.
'Golem'
A geeky kid whom is tired of getting picked on (Hence the movie 'Waterboy') steals his
Dad's GLM (Golem), a big machine used for construction and becomes one with it and just
about every other electronic devise.
'the Winning Edge'
BANE! Bane makes his futuristic appearance as an old man. This is a pretty cool episode
and Terry's stupid mom didn't even listen to him when she found the drugs on him.
'Dead Man's Hand'
My FAVORITE of all episodes! The premiere of The Royal Flush Gang (And the VERY hot Ten)!
Ten falls in love with Terry (Terry is SO lucky!). Kind of sad story, and Selina Kyle gets
mentioned at the end. The best parts are when the episode focuses on Melanie/Ten.
'Meltdown'
"And behold, thou shalt be a Blight upon the land, and everything I touch shall
wither and die." -Blight
Mr. Freeze returns! Blight makes a BIG appearance! Blight is awesome! Mr. Freeze dies!
Short, but sweet,
Batboy [Beyond]
batboym@wtp.net
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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.
Clothes do make the man, or so the saying goes. This quiz focuses
on the various costumes the Bat-characters have worn.
116. Which of the following characters has been seen dressed as a judge?
A: THE JOKER
B: TWO-FACE
C: HARLEY QUINN
D: COMMISSIONER GORDON
E: BRUCE WAYNE
117. In which episode(s) did Batman wear his "Matches Malone"
clothes?
A: NEVER FEAR
B: VENDETTA
C: THE FORGOTTEN
D: SHADOW OF THE BAT (Pt. 2)
E: ROBIN'S RECKONING (Pt. 1)
118. What is the first thing Batman says when he puts on his Anti-Freeze
Bat-suit?
A: "I'm sending you to the cooler."
B: "Put the girl down."
C: "I don't think so."
D: "Damn it, this doesn't protect me from Firefly at all."
E: Batman doesn't own an Anti-Freeze suit on BTAS.
119. Which of the following characters is completely naked at all times?
A: Poison Ivy (her clothes are actually a part of her skin)
B: Clayface
C: Killer Croc
D: Man-Bat
E: Freon
120. In the animated TV show AND comics, one person aside from Andrea
Beaumont has been pictured as the one who wears the Phantasm-costume. Which character is
that?
A: BATMAN
B: CARL BEAUMONT
C: SALVATORE VALESTRA
D: THE JOKER
E: ARTHUR REEVES
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ANSWERS TO THE TRIVIA
Answer to #116: 'A, B'
Answer to #117: 'D'
Answer to #118: 'E'
Answer to #119: 'B'
Answer to #120: 'D'
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