A SIGH IS JUST A SIGH
Continuing last week's discussion of the past and how it fit in 1992's Batman present, I think it would be an utter crime to forget the classic episode, "Beware the Grey Ghost".
It was a terrific episode in every way, from taking a crusty old superhero (played by Adam West, f'goodness sakes!) from the dusty black-and-white era and pairing him with his sleek, dangerous pseudo-protege. It was a love letter from Timm et al to those men and
women who crafted that which entertained Timm and company during THEIR childhoods.
Brilliant.
I'm especially fond of the poster advertising the Grey Ghost television show. Grey Ghost himself appears much like 1930's radio hero The Shadow, who know what evil lurks in the hearts of men. "Out from the shadows comes...the Greyyyyy Ghost!"
Cut to music. Beautiful. Not to mention the lettering used in the poster was from the title of comic superman Doc Savage.
The neatest little touch was the casting. Besides the savagely fabulous high-watermark casting of Adam West, Bruce Timm was cast as the Mad Bomber, an idiot with a thing for toys. He was creepy in the way that real people are creepy...totally
innocuous, but serious as a heart attack about their little predilictions. Not your standard villain, to be sure.
I think this level of love and commitment towards the medium is what separated the original Batman The Animated Series from its three spinoffs. The world that the animators watched and loved and grew up in was right there on display. Instead of a guy in a
trench coat, there was a man dressed up as a bat. What can be more right than that?
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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.
Entitled: "ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS YOU NEVER ASKED"
281. Gotham City has a police commissioner. This certain commissioner has a daughter. This daughter once invisioned herself being killed. Who was the first hostage of this said "almost-killer"?
A: Dr. Long
B: Ferris Boyle
C: Charlie Collins
D: Rupert Thorne
E: Batman
282. Who was in Batman's first fear-gas induced hallucination by the Scarecrow? Who provided this individual's voice? What other major character does this man or woman provide a voice for? What was the last word spoken in the third episode (in order of air date) in
which this character appeared?
A: Mine
B: Grace
C: Meatloaf
D: Candice
E: Now
283. How many issues will the "Harley & Ivy" miniseries run for?
A: 2
B: 3
C: 4
D: 5
E: What? I thought it was canned!
284. One villain once had Batman locked up in a guillotine. Name the first episode (in order of air date) in which this same villain appeared.
A: LOCK-UP
B: I'VE GOT BATMAN IN MY BASEMENT
C: MEAN SEASONS
D: MAD AS A HATTER
E: JOKER'S FAVOUR
285. What is the name of Egghead's first episode in the animated universe?
A: THE OGG GROWS IN GOTHAM
B: EASTER WITH EGGHEAD
C: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT
D: WHICH CAME FIRST...?
E: He has yet to be introduced into the animated continuity. Dang it - he rocks.
SPECIAL BONUS QUESTION: Has the word "hell" ever appeared in an animated Batman story, on TV or in the comics, said OR read? (Note: Bruce Timm's "Two of a Kind" story is excluded from this question - just to make it tougher.)
Answer: ___________
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AND THESE ARE OUR FINAL ANSWERS (to the trivia)
Answer to #281: A
Answer to #282: B
Answer to #283: B
Answer to #284: D
Answer to #285: E
BONUS QUESTION: Yes - of BATMAN ADVENTURES, I believe.
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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:
Alas, we here at the newsletter were unable to spot any new little facts OR bloopers over the past week. For that, we apologize. Really.
CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:
Na da. Rien. Je m'excuse, mes amis.
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MERCHANDISING: WHERE THE REAL BAT-CASH IS MADE
(by anyone who cares to contribute)
Come on, contribute! Someone! Please? :-)
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COMIC REVIEWS
(BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES by Tim "TWO-FACE" Leighton)
(BATMAN BEYOND by Tim Wan)
(SUPERMAN ADVENTURES by Dick Grayson)
BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
ISSUES: "Missed Connections" (#24)
WRITTEN BY: Scott Peterson
PENCILLED BY: Terry Levins
INKED BY: Terry Beatty
ISSUED: March 1, 2000 (cover date, May 2000)
RATING (out of 5): ***1/2
It seems like Peterson is finally getting a grasp on this title. When he started nine issues ago, he had a few stand-out issues, but they alternated with a number of very poor ones. Recently these said poor ones have been upgraded to "good", and occasional
great issue still remains. He's not the same as Templeton, but he's getting closer and closer. Either way, the title is still a great read.
I'm growing accustomed to Peterson's splash on page one - it's a great way to introduce the story. The story itself is very simple, but a good one. Robin and Nightwing are captured by an unknown individual while attempting to save a fellow Gothamite; even Killer Croc
gets trapped.
When Batman and Batgirl investigate, the story finally begins to take shape. Catwoman - a total surprise to me - shows up and gives us all the details. Her last meeting with Batman, way back in Issue #4 (great issue, too - go pick it up) resulted in a big change in her
relationship with him; she had become a lot darker, more violent, and even more distant from the object of her affections. Here, she tries to make ammends - by trapping Batman so he and she can have their long-overdue conversation. Of course, Catwoman doesn't get her wish, and of
course, she gets away; Batgirl's conversation with Batman on the final page is quite enlightening, though. Does Batman still have SOME feelings for her, deep down inside?
And that's not all! There are many other little things to notice in here. Levins and Beatty are a terrific team, as always...the shading used when Robin and Nightwing are trapped is terrific, the colours used during the bridge sequence were terrific, and Batman and
Catwoman's chase through Gotham was superb. Sure, the dialogue lacked during that sequence, making this issue a rather quick read, but I still really enjoyed it.
It's nice to see Dick dating other people now - it'd be interesting to see an issue dedicated to this, and how Barbara would react. I see that Batgirl's "scar" under her right eye (that I pointed out in my review of ) is still present, too. I
DID notice, however, that Catwoman's ghostly complexion was absent - she's gone back to having a nice peachy skin-tone now. But why the change? I also wish that Killer Croc got to do a bit more than just be brainless, tough, and mean - but hey, I'm not complaining. His inclusion was
kinda fun.
Overall, a great issue. I can't wait until the double-sized issue next month!
;-Y
- - - - - - - - - -
BATMAN BEYOND (ongoing)
ISSUE: "The Most Dangerous Island" (#6)
WRITTEN BY: Hilary J. Bader
PENCILLED BY: Craig Rousseau
INKED BY: Rob Leigh
ISSUED: February 23, 2000 (cover date, April 2000)
RATING (out of 5): **
I'm going to have to say that the Batman Beyond Comic series is proving interesting in that all the odd issues are good, while the even ones are mediocre. I'd say that this issue seems to be more of a joke, and lacks common sense in many places, but is an interesting
read nonetheless.
The comic and the title is a tribute to the short story "The Most Dangerous Game." This would explain the randomness of Terry and his friends being on an island, and the traps. The author of the short story escapes me, but in it a man gets lost on an island
with one of a big game hunter who has lost all interest in hunting animals. Instead the hunter hunts humans who accidentally stumble on his island. The hunter invites the man to hunt with him, but he refuses. To make a long story short, the man avoids the hunter's traps, and ends up
beating the hunter at his own game. which is essentially what happens in this issue.
The opening with the bear is ridiculous and is obviously just thrown in for the sake of a parallel with the short story. The fact that Stalker invites Batman to hunt with him, but then turns on him later is also obviously from the story. Nonetheless both Batman and the
Stalker seem completely out of character. It's obvious that Batman is still the greater challenge, so why should he be hunting spliced animals? Why does Batman even bother with Stalker's games? He could easily rescue his friends as Batman. He doesn't even need to save the animals' lives,
because Stalker mentions that they die soon after.
The spliced animals are pretty darn cool, and probably the only highlight of the book. The ending is predictable and expected. Overall the comic is a big disappointment and probably isn't worth picking up unless you've read the short story.
-Tim Wan
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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.
SUPERMAN ADVENTURES #43
March 8th
Synopsis: A street thug finds a Mother Box in a story written by Jordan B. Gorfinkel (BATMAN: NO MAN's LAND #0) with art by newcomer Min S. Ku and Comics Buyer's Guide-elected "favorite inker of the century" Terry Austin.
Cover: Unavailable
FOLLWOING MONTH:
Synopsis: Unavailable
Cover: Unavailable
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