Batman: The Animated Newsletter

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LITTLE FACTS AND BLOOPERS
(by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)

Here is a section that just points out various little facts and bloopers that we have noticed while watching BTAS and STAS countless times. If you have anything to contribute, feel free to do so! Enjoy!

CONTRIBUTED BY STAFF:
1) In "Growing Pains", right at the beginning, the biker gang circling about Annie consists of three members; in a later shot, right after Robin breaks up the fight, we see FOUR of them charging at him on their bikes. Whuh?

2) The name Max Gibson (from BATMAN BEYOND) is a mix of Mel Bigson and Mad Max (a character he played). Anyone know what movie this was from?

3) DID YOU KNOW that it was Bruce Timm's birthday on this past Sunday? (February 6).

4) Ever wonder what happened to DR. Long after NOTHING TO FEAR? He's now working at S.T.A.R. Labs beside Dr. Hamilton. He appears breifly at the very beginning of THE MAIN MAN Part 1 in the bunker.

CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:
(by "SoundNoff")
5) In the Batman Beyond Episode "Shriek", the factory in which Batman and Shriek are efighting is a car factory. The cars being manufactured have wheels? Aren't the cars of the futures supposed to hover? (Some cars have hovered - like Dana Tan's car in "Rebirth"). If the excuse is that it was an abandoned company, then why was the assembly line up and running?!?

6) In the BB episode "Heroes", one of the kidnappers is attacked by freon, who freezes his legs. When the police come to arrest them, they all walk into the police van, and the guy who's legs were frozen walks on with thawed legs. Whats up with that?
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MERCHANDISING: WHERE THE REAL BAT-CASH IS MADE
(by anyone that wants to contribute)

I'm afraid that we have no toy review for this issue of the newsletter. Be sure to check back here in the future!
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COMIC REVIEWS
(GOTHAM ADVENTURES by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)
(BATMAN BEYOND by Tim Wan)

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
ISSUE: "Do the Wrong Thing" (#23)
WRITTEN BY: Scott Peterson
PENCILLED BY: Tim Levins
INKED BY: Terry Beatty
ISSUED: February 2, 2000 (cover date, April 2000)
RATING (out of 5): ***

    I'm of two minds for of GOTHAM ADVENTURES. Fortunately, good Harv is dominating.
    Months ago, after the creative team on this title changed, I didn't like the opening splashes in the issues that followed; however, as time rolled along, I grew to accept them, and now find them to be a very unique and effective style in which to introduce the story. I also enjoy how Batman's humanity always shines through in the animated series, no matter how grim he ACTS. "Sometimes we have to stop someone from doing the wrong thing for the right reason."
Sound preachy? It easily COULD HAVE, but Peterson manages to work it into the story with great ease. Gotta love them family values. ;-Y
    Love Templeton as I do, his last Ra's Al Ghul tale didn't sit well with me. I was really hoping for a good comeback here - and that's what we got. When I originally heard that this story would be set in Canada, I cringed. I'm Canadian myself, and was worried that the issue would be packed full of stereotypes; gladly, these worries were put to rest. Sadly, my homeland isn't mentioned ONCE - how well known is Prince of Wales Island, anyhow? I guess it's a double- standard of mine - fitting, seeing who my namesake is, eh?
    Ra's plan, oddly enough, actually sounded very logical - and LEGAL - aside from the fact that he kidnapped a bunch of people and all that...it was rather intelligent, and I admit that I was guessing until the end. Just what was the connection between oil and saving the world?
    What did Ra's do during the oil crisis in the 70's, anyhow? That is something interesting to think about...
    Overall, a good, solid read. I'll never stop picking up this title.

;-Y
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COMIC SCHEDULES & COVERING THE BASICS

   This section gives a little bit more in-depth look into each monthly issue of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES, BATMAN BEYOND, and SUPERMAN ADVENTURES. Below each comic listing is a link to the cover of that comic. TALK ABOUT SERVICE!
   The price for any of these issues, unless otherwise posted, 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".)
   If we are unsure of the exact date of when an issue is being released, just check out "DIRECT CURRENTS" at http://www.dccomics.com for details.

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #24
March 1st
Synopsis: Members of the Bat-team are being kidnapped one-by-one. But who is behind it all?
Cover: Unavailable

FOLLOWING MONTH:
Synopsis: A team-up between Batman and the Flash.
Cover: Unavailable

BATMAN BEYOND #6 (ongoing)
February 23rd
Synopsis: When Terry McGinnis and his friends try to go on a quiet camping trip to a river island near Gotham, they enter a lost world of genetically altered creatures kept prisoner there for the amusement of the world's most dangerous gamehunter: Stalker! It's up to Batman to keep himself and his friends alive, if he can outrun, outwit and outfight the half- dinosaur/half-jungle animals populating the island!
Cover: http://www.dccomics.com/directcurrents/comics/covers/bmb6.jpg

FOLLOWING MONTH: Issue #7.
Synopsis: The return of another popular BEYOND villain (we're not telling WHO) makes Terry's life a living hell.
Cover: Unavailable

SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #43
February 9th
Synopsis: A street thug finds a Mother Box (Orion's computer - Connected to god-like powers) and Superman must stop him in a story featuring art by newcomer Min S. Ku. (Batman Beyond Storyboards)
Cover: Unavailable

FOLLWOING MONTH:
Synopsis: Unavailable
Cover: Unavailable
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NEWS AND RUMORS

ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-Kids'WB! is expected to announce the premiere date of the new CGI series MAX STEEL, and whether or not it will bump BATMAN/SUPERMAN from the weekend line-up, which it is expected NOT to. (Whew!) Kids'WB! is already airing teasers for the show during POKEMON and BATMAN BEYOND.
-In response to MARVEL jacking all 1.99US/2.99CAN cover price comics up to 2.25US/3.50CAN, DC plans to keep their titles currently at 1.99US/3.25CAN.
-Advance orders for DETECTIVE COMICS #743 have been amazing! If current ordering rates continue, this title could seen rival JLA as DC's #1 title and could even break the top ten!
-The BATMAN, SUPERMAN, & BEYOND: THE WORLD'S FINEST website has been undergoing some revamps and additions these past few (and upcoming) weeks. New sections (including a News section, and a Comment section) are on the way and all current WORLD'S FINEST sections have been updated.
http://welcome.to/worldsfinest
-Terry Beatty has been and will be selling Gotham Adventures and Batman Beyond original art on ebay. His Seller ID is: beatty@machlink.com Do yourself a favor and check out some great art!
-A number of sources say that the official BATMAN BEYOND site will get its long-overdue revamp in the near future.
-YTV is moving BATMAN! BATMAN will no longer air at 7:30am (ET). BATMAN will now air at 12 noon (ET) Monday thru Friday. YTV is making their early morning shows all kid oriented, and felt that BATMAN did not suit that time slot.
-BATMAN, SUPERMAN, & BEYOND: THE WORLD'S FINEST is ading a news page which will be updated daily. The page is scheduled to launch Monday. The URL for the newest section of WORLD'S FINEST is:
http://www.geocities.com/bbeyond/news.html

ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS, STAS, BEYOND)
-The long-anticipated Superman episode "LEGACY" could air during the February sweeps.
-News on the third and final season of BATMAN BEYOND has been released. One of the tidbits is that SUPERMAN WILL appear in season three, but his appearance will have a sufficient effect on the series. To read the article, then click ont he URL Link below:
http://www.anotheruniverse.com/columns/animated/animated012100.html
-Wanna see a clip from BATMAN BEYOND where Terry fights Two-Face, the Riddler, and Killer Croc?
Go here:
http://www.batman-superman.com/batman/dld/train.mov

ANIMATED COMICS
-MIN S. KU will be the fill-in artist for BATMAN BEYOND #7. Ku's art has previously been seen in SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #41. He also does storyboards for BATMAN BEYOND.
-The Flash will be appearing in the double sized BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #25. For a cover of
this issue, go here:
http://comicscontinuum.com/stories/0001/25/bmgothadvent25.jpg
-BATMAN BEYOND #7 and #8 will be written by both Hilary J. Bader AND Rich Fogel. The cover to #8 can be found here:
http://comicscontinuum.com/stories/0001/25/bmbeyond8.jpg
-The Martian Manhunter will be appearing in SUPERMAN ADVENTURES in the coming months. No specific issue was given. Lobo is expected to return soon as well, possibly for .

OTHER COMICS
-An interview with Denny O'Neil can be found at the following address. (Look under FEATURE ARTICLES for January 30, 2000, for the link to the article).
http://silverbulletcomics.hypermart.net/index1.htm
-The first issue of Greg Rucka's BATMAN/HUNTRESS: CRY FOR BLOOD will hit the shelves on April 12, 2000.
-Greg Rucka will be writing a Batman/Wonder Woman crossover later this year.
-BATMAN #577, Larry Hama's third outing as the writer of the series, features Bruce and Alfred
combatting rats in Wayne Manor. Huh?
-Batman will guest-star in BATGIRL #3 and ACTION COMICS #766.
-DETECTIVE COMICS #748 and 749 will be told from Commissioner Gordon's POV.
-Word has it that Azrael will be getting his old costume back sometime soon.
-Calendar Man will be the featured villain in DARK VICTORY #7, due out in April.
-For these and all the other April DC solicitations, go here:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0001/25/index.htm
-Howard Porter (JLA) will be the new regular artist for THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN. He is expected to join the title in late 2000 when new writer J. M. DeMattais joins in. BTAN will provide a complete round-up of the new artists on the titles in a few weeks when everything is finalized.
-Ra's Al Ghul will be the featured villian in a new JLA story-arc scheduled to begin in and will run for a minimum 3 issues.

MOVIES
-BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER (I really hope they give it a better title than that) now has a trailer available for downloading. Check it out here:
http://www.batman-superman.com/batman/dld/bb.mov
-CINESCAPE ONLINE reports the following:
Something’s happening with Warner Bros. troubled Batman franchise. Rumors have been flying around the internet about a candidate to helm a fifth Batman movie and save the film series. This last week, Ain’t It Cool News reported on rumors that writer-director Darren Aronofsky (Pi) was in talks with producer Lorenzo DiBonaventura to take on a possible fifth Batman movie. Now, the Hollywood Reporter is confirming that something is up with word that the director is a candidate for the post. In addition, the trade is once again reporting that Warner Bros. is looking to return Batman back to his dark roots in the flavor of the Tim Burton films.
In addition, as it appears that the studio is moving forward again with the Batman film franchise, word has it that the oft-mentioned Bruce Wayne TV series is being placed on hold. The Bruce Wayne TV series was set prior to the millionaire taking on the mantle of the bat and would have been a nice means of paving the way should the next film be the Batman: Year One story.

TOYS, BOOKS, AND OTHER MERCHANDISE
-Starting January 3, Burger King & Batman Beyond teamed up for four weeks of action figures and kids meals. Once BK is done with Pokemon toys, they will start a four week promotional Batman Beyond Kids' Meal pack. These will include all-new action figures made specifically for the fast food franchise. Go to http://www.burgerking.com for details.
-THE BATMAN BEYOND INFO PAGE reports that there will be a softcover paperback book entitled THE BATMAN BEYOND FILES to be released in April. The book is said to have information on the upcoming movie as well as behind the scenes info and much more! There has been no price set yet, but AMAZON.COM has more information on the book.
-Thanks to THX1138 for the following!
GameSpot News has learned that Ubi Soft has some major plans for future titles based on the Batman license. The company currently has two lines of games in the works - one based on the Batman animated series, and one likely based on the Batman: The Dark Knight returns line. Both titles are currently headed for the PlayStation2 and could likely end up on others platforms, such as the Dreamcast or the Dolphin as well.
While Ubi Soft has been extremely quiet on both projects, we expect to hear new details leading up to this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Stay tuned.
By Sam Kennedy, videogames.com