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GOTHAM
WEEKLY NEWS #58
Friday 6th November 1998
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BOB KANE (1915 - 1998)
======================
This is a sad week for all Batman fans as on the evening
of Tuesday 3rd November, Mr. Bob Kane - the creator of The Batman passed away
at aged 83.
As I write this I'm still a little stunned at the news. A
personal appreciation of the man and his timeless creation will be posted in
the November issue of GOTHAM GAZETTE early next week.
Kane collapsed at his Los Angeles home Tuesday and was
pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, his attorney, Jim Leonard, said
Thursday. The cause of death was unclear.
"Bob described himself as a doodler, so he found it
absolutely amazing that one of his doodles should live this long and become the
symbol that it is," Leonard said. "The day before he died he was
sitting there looking at fan mail. They get stacks and stacks every
day."
Kane also created the television cartoon characters,
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse and Cool McCool. In recent years, he served as
a consultant on the Batman films. Kane said he was inspired by the drawings of
Leonardo da Vinci to create Batman. "I remember," Kane said in an
interview, "when I was 12 or 13 I was an ardent reader of books on how
things began - the automobile, the steam engine, the parachute - and I came
across a book about Leonardo da Vinci. This had a picture of a flying machine
with huge bat wings. ... It looked like a bat man to me."
Adam West, who played Batman in the late-1960s ABC-TV
series, spoke to the Comic Book Continuum web site about Kane's death:
"One late afternoon at (New York's) Shea Stadium
after rehearsal for a live show, I was backstage in a gloomy corner pulling off
my cowl in front of a mirror," West said. "Two hands reached out of
the dark and grabbed it. The person had it on his head in an instant, yelling,
'I created you! I created you!'
"That was my first encounter with Bob Kane. I'm
sorry to see his passing. He is the person who created, arguably, the most
popular pop-cultural icon of the 20th century."
Jenette Kahn, president of DC Comics, said, "Bob
Kane is a giant in the field of popular culture, one of a handful of people who
launched the comic-book industry and who gave the world a group of characters
so colorful and inventive that they continue to captivate every new generation.
Bob will be greatly missed, but he has left a legacy that will keep his memory
alive."
Kane is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Sanders Kane, an
actress who appeared in the last two Batman movies; his daughter, Deborah
Majeski of New Jersey; his grandson Matthew Alderman; and his sister Doris
Atlas of New York. Private services will be held at Mt. Sinai Mortuary in
Burbank, Calif. today - Friday 6th November.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made
to "Feed the Children," "Make a Wish Foundation," the
Westside Children's Center (Santa Monica, CA), the Bay Area Youth Center
(Hayward, CA) or any other agency providing services to hungry, homeless,
abused or abandoned children.
I would like to put together a book of condolences from
the readers of GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS. Once it is compiled I will pass it on to DC
for onward transmission to Mr. Kane's family. If you would like to contribute
e-mail me your messages and thoughts and I will include them.
Alan J. Porter
[email protected] / [email protected]
IN THIS ISSUE OF GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS:
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- Comics Shipping
Next Week
- Comics News
- TV Show
Schedules
- TV Show News
- On-Line
Happenings
- Meet The Bat
Team
- Movie Trivia
================================================================
COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK (11/11)
************************************************
AZRAEL: AGENT OF THE BAT #48
By O'Neil & Robinson
ROAD TO NO MAN'S LAND. Batman cameos as the malevolent
Nicholas Scratch takes center stage in the conspiracy against Gotham City and
Azrael as the Angel Of vengeance is framed for murder. ($2.25)
BATMAN #561
By Dixon & Aparo
ROAD TO NO MAN'S LAND. Bruce Wayne goes before Congress
to plead for the survival of Gotham City. ($1.99)
BATMAN BLOODSTORM SC
By Moench & Jones
ELSEWORLDS: DC reoffers the second chapter of the Batman
vampire trilogy as a softcover. ($12.95)
BATMAN: TOYMAN #3
By Hama & Williams.
A special wordless issue told from the point of view of a
deaf child. (2.25)
DCU HOLIDAY BASH #3
By Various.
Among the specail Christams stories in this year's
Holiday Bash, Superman and BATMAN team up to help a family in need and recall
what the holiday meant to them as children, plus short stories featuring The
Joker and Robin. ($4.95)
LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE #12
By Priest & Lashley
The start of a two-part story featuring the Silver Age
JLA and former league members, Green Arrow and BATMAN. ($1.99)
NIGHTWING #27
By Dixon & McDaniel
Nightwing gets closer to the identity of the mysterious
killer known as Torque, while Huntress gets much closer to Torque than she'd
like to. ($1.99)
SUPERMAN & BATMAN: GENERATIONS - AN IMAGINERY TALE #1
By Bryne
ELSEWORLDS: It's the 1939 World's Fair and the new
superheroes, Superman and Batman, battle a runaway robot and have a showdown
with Luthor and The Joker. ($4.95)
YOUNG JUSTICE SECRET FILES #1
By various
The secrets behind DC newest team. ($4.95)
COMICS NEWS
*******************
-According to writer
Grant Morrison there will be a DC One Million 80-Page Giant sometime in 1999.
- Scott
Lobdell and Jeph Loeb have signed as
co-writers for the spring '99-scheduled DARKNESS/BATMAN one-shot by Top Cow
Comics. The long rumored book will apparently be illustrated by Marc Silvestri
and David Finch.
- Batman: The Long
Halloween, recently released as a hardback,
will be collected into a cheaper softcover trade paperback.
TV SHOW SCHEDULES
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NEW BATMAN / SUPERMAN ADVENTURES
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The new season of Batman/ Superman Adventures is now on
the WB Network Scheduled times are posted as Monday through Friday at 4:00 and
4:30pm; NOTE ADDITIONAL EPISODE now on Saturdays at 8:00, 8:30am and
9.00am Eastern and Pacific Time on the
Kids' WB! ... But DON'T FORGET TO CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR EXACT TIMES IN
YOUR AREA
Sat 11-07-98 @ 9.00am
#108 "Beware the Creeper" - NEW EPISODE
Mon 11-09-98 @ 4.30pm
#072 "Harlequinade"
Tue 11-10-98 @ 4.00pm #030 "Perchance to
Dream"
Wed 11-11-98 @ 4.30pm
#078 "Showdown"
Thu 11-12-98 @ 4.00pm #068 "The Trial"
Fri 11-13-98 @ 4.00pm #101 "Animal Act"
Sat 11-14-98 @ 8.00am
#032 "Robin's Reckoning" Part One
and @ 8.30am #037 "Robin's
Reckoning" Part Two
NOTE: Shows #1 - 85 are the classic "Batman: The
Animated Series" style. Shows #86 onwards are the "New
Adventures" style.
For those of you without a WB affiliate you may find the
new shows on:
- WGN on Sunday mornings at 8.00 central/ 9:00
eastern standard time.
- Some UPN
stations are also running the shows on Sunday at 10.30 ET
A listing of US TV stations carrying the KidsWB! shows
can be found at http://www.toonzone.net/brian/stations/index.html
The Irish TV
station RTE2 broadcasts The New Batman Adventures on Tuesdays around 5pm. These
are the new episodes and sometimes they air ahead of the USA.
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
-------------------------------------------------------
The Cartoon Network is running selected episodes airing
Monday through Friday at 6.00 pm &
11.30pm Eastern & Pacific time, Saturday at 9.00pm and Sunday at
7.00pm.
Mon 11-09-98 #24 "Fear of Victory" & #25 "The Clock King"
Tue 11-10-98 #26 "Appointment in Crime Alley"
& #27 "Mad as a Hatter"
Wed 11-11-98 #28 "Dreams in Darkness"
& #29 "Eternal Youth"
Thu 11-12-98: #31 "The Cape and Cowl
Conspiracy" & #34 "Night of the Ninja"
Fri 11-13-98: #35 "Cat Scratch Fever"
& #36 "The Strange Secret of
Bruce Wayne"
(Thanks to Brian Cruz for the schedule)
From Brian Davis comes news that Batman is back on the
Cartoon Network, Europe every day at 7pm UK Time.
Sean Wilson reports that
Global TV is showing Batman: The Animated Series at 7:00 am (PST).
SUPER-FRIENDS
-----------------------------
On the Cartoon Network (USA)
SUNDAY 1:00-2:00 am
& 1:00-2:00 pm
Several GWN readers have also reported that showing at
4.30pm (EST) weekdays are a variety of Super-Hero related cartoons including episodes
of SUPERFRIENDS and the old 1970's vintage BATMAN shows.
BATMAN - 1960s TV SHOW
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The Canadian cable channel Space! is showing selected episodes from the
classic Adam West TV show. At a NEW TIME of
1.30pm (EDT) Monday thru Friday.
Mon 11/9/98 - (season 2/ show 07) "Greatest Mother
of All" - Ma Parker
Tue 11/10/98 - (2/08) "Ma Parker" - Ma Parker
Wed 11/11/98 - (2/09) "The Spell of Tut" - King Tut
Thur 11/12/98 - (2/10) "Tut's Case is
Shut" - King Tut
Fri 11/13/98 - (2/11) "Clock King's Crazy
Crime" - Clock King
The European satellite channel "Trouble" also
airs the 1960's show at 7am and 11am every morning.
TV SHOW NEWS
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ANIMATED BOOK
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Paul Dini recently posted a note on the batman USENET
group announcing that the long awaited BATMAN: ANIMATED book co-authored by
himself and Chip Kidd will be available on December 1st.
BATMAN BEYOND DATE
----------------------------------------
Dini also revealed that WB plans to debut Batman Beyond
on 9th January 1999. The long awaited animated adaptation of "Mad
Love" will also air that day.
BTAS VIDEO SERIES DETAILS
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As reported last week Columbia House, known for
"collector's series" videos of old TV shows, will be releasing a
Batman: The Animated Series collector's series. Each volume will contain four
episodes. The first video is $4.95, future volumes are $19.95. This
month's Columbia House music and video club catalogs included a speacial
flyer announcing the series. The initial run will be ten tapes each containing
four episodes that reflect a particular theme. The first ten tapes and the
included episodes are:
TAPE 1 - "THE TRIALS OF HARVEY DENT" includes
"Pretty Poison", "Two Face" Parts 1 & 2, "The
Trial"
TAPE 2 - "PARTNERS" includes "Robin's
Reckoning" Parts 1 & 2, "Shadow Of The Bat" Parts 1 & 2
TAPE 3 - "DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES" includes
"Perchance To Dream", "Strange Secret Of Bruce Wayne",
"Demon's Quest" Parts 1 & 2
TAPE 4 - "COPS AND ROBBERS" includes
"POV", "Vendetta", "Riddler's Reform",
"Bullet For Bullock"
TAPE 5 - "MONSTERS" includes "On Leather
Wings", "Feat Of Clay" Parts 1&2, "Moon Of The
Wolf"
TAPE 6 - "THE JOKER" includes "Be A
Clown", "The Last Laugh", "Almost Got 'Im", "The
Laughing Fish"
TAPE 7 - "HARLEY" includes "Joker's
Favor", "Harley And Ivy", "Harley's Holiday",
"Harleyquinade"
TAPE 8 - "MATTERS OF THE HEART" includes
"Heart Of Ice", "It's Never Too Late", "Zatanna",
"Showdown"
TAPE 9 - "VILLAINS" includes "Read My
Lips", "Fire From Olympus", "Bane",
"Catwalk"
TAPE 10 - "FRIENDS AND FOES" includes
"Beware The Grey Ghost", "The Mechanic", "The Man Who
Killed Batman", "Sideshow"
Note: this is Columbias original schedule and may be
subject to cahnge. A decsion on whether further tapes are released will depend
on the sales for these first ten.
ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
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AOL WEEKLY CHAT ROOM SCHEDULE
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Monday (11/9)
GOTHAM CITY HAPPY HOUR, 7 PM ET
With representatives from the Batman editorial office..
Wednesday (11/11)
WOMEN OF THE DCU, 7 PM ET
Fans gather informally to discuss DC's female characters,
past, present, and future from Catwoman to Duela Dent.
BATMAN'S PARTNERS, 9 PM ET
Fans gather informally to discuss Robin, Oracle,
Nightwing, the Huntress, Azrael, Catwoman, and Black Canary.
MEET THE BAT TEAM
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BUFFALO NY - November 8th
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Queen City Comic Con, Marriot Hotel, Buffalo. DEVIN
GRAYSON writer of Catwoman and the upcoming Titans series.
LOS ANGELES - November 14th
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To celebrate the release of the new BATMAN: ANIMATED
coffe-table book STORYOPOLIS in Los Angeles will hold a signing with the book's
co-authors, PAUL DINI and
CHIP KIDD. Also present will be director ERIC RADOMSKI
and designer/producer BRUCE TIMM.
COLUMBUS OHIO - November 28th & 29th
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The 19th annual Mid-Ohio-Con at the Adam's Mark Hotel in
Columbus OH presents featured guests ADAM WEST
and FRANK GORSHIN. (TV's classic Batman and
Riddler). Also attending will be TERRY BEATTY the inker of Batman Adventures.
MOVIE TRVIA
********************
ARKHAM GURAD ELECTED GOVERNER !
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Jesse Ventura, the former professional wrestler who was
elected governor of Minnesota this week appeared as a guard at Arkham Asylum in
1997's Batman & Robin.
****************************************************
A NEW ISSUE OF
GOTHAM GAZETTE is now available.
Issue #28 can be found at http://members.aol.com/gothamajp
(Note the new URL)
This month:
- A detailed look
at the upcoming new TV show "Batman Beyond"
- The long awaited
conclusion to "La Jolie Laide"
- An article on
The Lost Batman Radio Show
- A round up of
all the movie news, rumors and gossip
- A look at
upcoming Comics projects.
- An indepth look
a classic Batman comic from 1966
- Listings of
Comics shipping in October and November
Meanwhile the
"SUMMER SPECIAL" edition can still be found at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ajporter/gotham.htm
- THE COLLECTORS GUIDE updates can be found at
http://members.aol.com/gothamajp/guide.htm
===============================================
Sources used in compiling GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS
- DC Comics
On-Line Newsletter (http://www.dccomics.com/newsletter.html)
- Diamond Previews
(http://www.diamondcomics.com)
- WB Animation Web
Page (http://www.wbanimation.com)
- Space ! Weekly
Schedules Web Page (http://205.250.106.39/schedule/)
- Comic Book
Continuum (http://www.detnews.com/metro/hobbies/comix/)
- Newsrama
(http://www.AnotherUniverse.com/newsarama)
- Hollywood Heros
(http://www.Mania.com/Mania)
- WB Cartoon
Episode Schedules (http://www.toonzone.net/brian/index.html)
- Comics2Film
(http://www.comics2film.com)
- Dark Horizons
(http://www.darkhorizons.com/news.htm)
GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS is a FOREST COMICS Publication.
FOREST COMICS is (c) and TM - Alan J. Porter (1994 - 1998)
GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS is not affliated to, or endorsed by,
either Warner Bros. or DC Comics.
BATMAN and all related characters and indicia are
acknowledged as Trademark and copyright DC Comics Inc..
BATMAN created by Bob Kane.
====================
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