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GOTHAM
WEEKLY NEWS #61
Friday 27th November 1998
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BOB KANE TRIBUTE BOOK
--------------------------------------------
Thanks to all those readers who sent contributions to the
Bob Kane "tribute book". The book was completed this week and sent to
DC Comics for forwarding to Mr. Kane's family.
This week's issue of GWN is packed with news so enjoy and
as always, have a great week.
Alan J. Porter
[email protected] / [email protected]
IN THIS ISSUE OF GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS:
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- Comics Shipping
Next Week
- Comics News
- Comics Sales
Charts
- TV Show
Schedules
- TV News
- On-Line
Happenings
- On The
Newsstands
- In The Stores
================================================================
COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK (12/2)
************************************************
BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #9
By Templeton & Burchett
Continuing their pursuit of the League Of Assassins,
Batman and Batgirl trek to Nepal to assault the League's stronghold. There a
number of surprises await the Batman, the least of which is Batgirl's gun !
($1.99)
BATMAN: REIGN OF TERROR
By Barr & Garcia-Lopez
ELSEWORLDS: In revolutionary France returning soldier
Bruce Wayne must choose between the brutal revolution supported by his father
and his own conscience. ($4.95)
BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #82
By Grant & Buckingham
ROAD TO NO MANS LAND. Jeramiah Arkham faces a tough
decision, let the madmen in the Asylum starve to death in their cells or
release them on the shattered city streets. ($1.99)
BATMAN/SPAWN: WAR DEVIL
By Moench, Dixon , Grant & Janson
Available once again is DC's contribution to the meeting
of the capes - Batman and Spawn. ($4.95)
BIRDS OF PREY #2
By Dixon & Land
Black Canary is captured and sentenced to a life of
slavery under the watchful eye of Hellhound. ($1.99)
THE KINGDOM: DIRECT CURRENTS SPECIAL
A special one-shot promotional paper that sets the ground
work for the upcoming KINGDOM EVENT and reveals a few of the ways that the DC
Universe will be affected.
YOUNG JUSTICE #5
By David & Nauck
Now the team is complete it encounters new villain known
as the Harm, but it's ROBIN who must face him alone. ($2.50)
COMICS NEWS
*******************
TY TEMPLETON LEAVES GOTHAM
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TY TEMPLETON writer of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES will be
departing the title with May's issue #14 due to
'editorial differences.' Ty has always been a supporter of GWN and we
wish him well in his new projects.
JLA/TITANS DELAY
--------------------------------
JLA/TITANS #2, originally scheduled to be on sale
November 18th has been delayed till December 2nd.
LOBO/BATMAN
---------------------------
A Lobo/Batman 48 page specila is scheduled for March 99
written by Alan Grant and illuistrated by Simon Bisley. The premise of this
Elseworlds project has The Joker hiring "the main man" to capture and
unmask the Dark Knight before the whole of Gotham.
BATMAN COMICS FOR FEB '99
========================
Here's a quick rundown of the various Batman related
comics scheduled for release in February 1999.
NO MAN'S LAND
--------------------------
LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #116 - Written by Ian
Edginton; art and cover by D'Israeli. - "No Man's Land" continues
with part one of the two-part "Bread and Circuses." Batman takes the
battle for Gotham City to the Penguin's Iceberg Lounge. Meanwhile, Gordon and
the Blue Boys suffer casualties in their latest gang turf war, and the new
Batgirl makes a cameo appearance. ($1.99
ships on Feb. 3.)
BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #84 - Written by Ian Edginton; art by D'Israeli;
cover by Ted McKeever. - "Bread and
Circuses" conclude. Batman battles a succession of particularly nasty
heavies in Penguin's Roman-style arena ($1.99 ships on Feb. 10).
BATMAN #564 - Written by Greg Rucka; art by Frank Teran;
cover by Teran and Klaus Janson. - Part
one of the two-part "Mosaic," starring the all-new Batgirl! Black
Mask, a major player in Gotham City's underworld, has gone over the edge and
altered his M.O. with the events of "No Man's Land." Now leading a
cult of self-mutilated crazies and trying to take over the city, Batman and
Batgirl -- with a little help from Oracle -- are all that stand in his way. But
Oracle has definite issues with anyone who's going to put on a costume and call
herself Batgirl. ($1.99 ships on Feb. 17.)
DETECTIVE COMICS #731
- Written by Greg Rucka; art by Frank Teran; cover by Teran and Klaus
Janson. - Batman, Oracle and the new
Batgirl struggle to stop Black Mask in the conclusion to "Mosaic."
How much blood will be spilled before Batman can take down Black Mask's cult?
And perhaps a bigger question must be answered: Where does Batman deposit the
criminals he stops, now that Gotham City's infrastructure -- including its
prisons -- is no more? ( $1.99 ships on Feb. 24.)
THE BATMAN CHRONICLES #16
- Written by Greg Rucka, Scott Beatty and various; art by Jason Pearson,
Damian Scott and various; cover by Pearson.
-
A "No Man's Land" tie-in issue guest-starring
the new Batgirl! In "Two Down," GCPD detective Renee Montoya finds
her brother alive and well in the aftermath of the earthquake, keeping company
with the neighborhood Good Samaritan -- Two Face! Plus, a young couple tries to
survive in an apartment that was once the Joker's hideout. Can even the all-new
Batgirl save them? ($2.95, ships on Feb. 24.)
OTHER BATMAN TITLES
------------------------------------
BATMAN BEYOND #2 -
Written by Hilary J. Bader; art by Rick Burchett and Terry Beatty; cover by
Bruce Timm. -The two-part story
revealing the destiny of the Dark Knight and the origin of his successor
concludes. Learn what led Bruce Wayne to hang up his cape and cowl and how,
many years later, a youngster named Terry McGinnis will inherit the mantle of
the Bat in the conclusion of the series' debut, "Rebirth." ( $1.99,
ships on Feb. 17).
BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #11 - Written by Ty Templeton; art by Rick
Burchett and Terry Beatty. -The Riddler
is out and at it again, with a twist. This time, he's leaving clues for Batman
that solve other criminals' crimes. What's the Riddler up to? ($1.99 ships on Feb. 3.)
BATMAN & SUPERMAN: WORLD'S FINEST #1 - Written by Karl Kesel; art and cover by
Dave Taylor and Robert Campanella. -A
10-issue maxi-series tracing the partnership of the Dark Knight and the Man of
Steel. In the extra-sized, Prestige Format first issue, a case bringing the Man
of Steel and the Dark Knight together in the first year of their careers ends
tragically, with the heroes pledging to meet at the victim's gravesite on the
same date each year. As the maxi-series runs its course, the heroes learn more
about that fateful case, teaming up during some of the oddest turns in their
careers. ($4.95 ships on Feb. 17.)
BATMAN FAMILY
----------------------------
AZRAEL: AGENT OF THE BAT #51 - Written by Dennis O'Neil;
art and cover by Roger Robinson and James Pascoe. - Hot on Nick Scratch's
trail, John Paul is struck by the limitations left after years of relying on
his old suit's "gifts." So, while facing Nicholas Scratch's Demonic
Trio in his new costume, lightning may have to strike twice for John Paul to
ever truly be Azrael again. ($2.25 ships on Feb. 10.)
BIRDS OF PREY #4 -
Written by Chuck Dixon; art by Greg Land and Drew Geraci; cover by Land and
Brian Stelfreeze. - Last seen in the
Birds of Prey: The Ravens one-shot, the criminals known as the Ravens return.
This issue's got it all: a Kobra secret lair in the desert; the lethal Ravens;
a rampaging dinosaur; and Canary on vacation in Minnesota -- and they're all
related. ( $1.99, ships on Feb. 3.)
CATWOMAN #67 -
Written by Devin K. Grayson; art by Jim Balent and John Stanisci; cover by
Balent. - Catwoman tries to steal the
Big Apple's heart (and that's not all!) in part two of the six-part "I'll
Take Manhattan!" How do you steal a city, anyway? Find out as Catwoman
goes after the Big Apple itself: locks, stocks, and (shot-gun) barrels.
Needless to say, she attracts all the wrong kinds of attention, and Wall Street
will never be the same. Plus, Selina celebrates her new home town by getting...
a makeover? ($1.99, ships on Feb. 24.)
JLA #28 - Written
by Grant Morrison; art and cover by Howard Porter and John Dell. - Captain Marvel guests in part two of the
three-part "Crisis Times Five", the first teaming of the current JLA with
the JSA. The truth about the strange, magical calamity sweeping the world is
finally revealed: A terrible war among the seemingly omnipotent denizens of the
5th Dimension is spilling over into our world, threatening to forever shatter
the fabric of the DC Universe. While Captain Marvel and the JLA travel to this
higher realm to try to put an end to the 5th-Dimensional conflict, one of our
other heroes has fallen under the control of the most villainous
"genie," and only an untested young champion holds the key to
stopping him. ($1.99, ships on Feb. 24)
NIGHTWING #30 -
Written by Chuck Dixon; art and cover by Scott McDaniel and Karl Story. - Guest-starring Superman. Since the quake in
Gotham City, many of Gotham City's undesirables have moved to Bludhaven, so
many that Nightwing has his hands full, even when Superman drops by to help
tidy up. And with the huge influx of people, Blockbuster launches new and
deadlier schemes. ($1.99, ships on Feb.
10.)
ROBIN #63 -
Written by Chuck Dixon; art by Staz Johnson and Stan Woch; cover by David A.
Williams and Karl Story. - The Flash
guest-stars in part two of a two-part story featuring a cameo appearance by
Superman. At home, Robin is trying to adjust to his new life in Keystone City.
In the streets, he and the Flash try to halt the crime spree of the Riddler and
Captain Boomerang. And of course, there's the granddaddy of all super-heroes
dropping by... ($1.99, ships on Feb. 24.)
TITANS #2 -
Written by Devin K. Grayson; art and covers by Mark Buckingham and Wade Von
Grawbadger. - With guest-star Superman
around, is anything a job for the Titans? Continuing the saga of the full-time
Superman: The newly formed team has a meddling Kryptonian who won't allow them
the chance to shine against the deadly new H.I.V.E. After all, you can't really
tell the Man of Steel to beat it (although Nightwing makes a sacrifice to do
it). ( $2.50, ships on Feb. 10.)
YOUNG JUSTICE #7 -
Written by Peter David; art and cover by Todd Nauck and Lary Stucker. - Guest-starring Nightwing, Max Mercury and
more. What could be worse than being judged by the JLA in Young Justice #6?
Why, having your parental guardians sitting with Red Tornado for a
parent-teacher discussion about your behavior as a member of YJ. You don't want
to miss the battle of all battles as the mothers of Wonder Girl and Arrowette
throw down. Plus, uncover more secrets about the Secret.
($2.50, ships on Feb. 3.)
BOOKS
-------------
WORLD'S FINEST COMICS ARCHIVES Volume 1 - Written and drawn by various; cover by Dick
Sprang. -Timed to coincide with the
debut of Batman & Superman: World's Finest, DC releases a hardcover
collection of the first Superman-Batman team-ups, featuring a new cover by
Sprang. Reprinting Superman (1st series) #76, as well as the team-ups from the
pages of World's Finest Comics #71-85, these stories include the first time
Superman and Batman revealed their secret idenities to each other (in a classic
adventure on a cruise ship), the first time the two heroes traded identities,
and the memorable tale in which Superman loses his powers and Batman gained
them ($49.95, ships on Feb. 24.)
BATMAN IN THE '60s TP
- Written and drawn by various; cover by Murphy Anderson - Some of the most exciting and offbeat
Batman stories of the 1960s are collected in a remarkable trade paperback,
featuring an introduction by Adam West. Running the gamut from the sublimely
silly to the late-'60s style of realism, more than 16 stories from Batman and
Detective Comics highlight the classic Batman Family (Batman, Robin, Batgirl,
Bat-Girl, Bat-Mite, and more) and villains from the period, including the
Joker, Clayface, Poison Ivy, Blockbuster, and more. This ecollection includes
text pages featuring secrets of the Batman mythos of the decade, a gatefold
featuring the 1960s Batcave and a 6" cover flap featuring standees of
Batman & Robin. ($19.95, ships on Feb. 10.)
COMICS SALES CHARTS
********************************
BATMAN related titles achieved the following positions in
the Direct Market sales charts for issues cover dated December 1998.
(Source: Wizard #89)
11 - JLA #24 (down 2)
16 - JLA/Titans #1 (NEW)
45 - Young Justice #3 (up 6)
48 - Batman #560 (down 3)
50 - Detective #727 (down 1)
52 - Nightwing #26 (down 2)
57 - Shadow Of The Bat #80 (up 3)/Azrael #47 (up 31)
74 - Catwoman #63 (down 7)
75 - Robin #59 (down 9)
79 - Legends Of The Dark Knight #113 (up 4)
85 - Legends Of The DC Universe #11 - Batgirl (down 4)
94 - Batman/Judge Dredd: Die Laughing #1 (NEW)
96 - Batman: dark Knight Of The Round Table #1 (NEW)
Titles Below #100:
- Batman/Toyman #2
- Gotham
Adventures #7
The average chart
position for the 9 regular Batman titles in 1998 was
Jan - 53, Feb - 59, Mar - 50, Apr - 39, May - 45, Jun -
47,
Jul - 51, Aug - 56, Sep - 60, Oct - 59, Nov - 57, Dec -
56
1998 Average Chart Position was 53 (up 1 from 1997)
TV SHOW SCHEDULES
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NEW BATMAN / SUPERMAN ADVENTURES
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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 11-28-98 @ 8.00am #073 "Time Out of Joint"
Mon 11-30-98 @ 4.30pm #081 "Harley's Holiday"
Tue 12-01-98 @ 4.00pm #082 "Lock-Up"
Wed 12-02-98 @ 4.30pm #077 "The Lion & The
Unicorn"
Thu 12-03-98 @ 4.00pm #087 "Sins of the Father"
Fri 12-04-98 @ 4.00pm #105 "Girl's Night Out"
Sat 12-05-98 @ 9.00am #104 "Legends of the Dark Knight"
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 11-30-98 #04 "The Last Laugh" & #05 "Pretty Poison"
Tue 12-01-98 #06 "The Underdwellers" & #07 "P.O.V."
Wed 12-02-98 #08 "The Forgotten" & #09 "Be A Clown"
Thu 12-03-98 #11 "It's Never Too Late" &
#12 "I've Got Batman in My Basement"
Fri 12-04-98 #15 "See No Evil" & #19
"Prophecy of Doom"
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
---------------------------------------
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 11/30 - (Season 2/Show 22) "The Dead
Ringers" - Chandell
Tue 12/01 - (2/23) "The Impractical Joker" -
Joker
Wed 12/02 -(2/24) "The Joker's Provokers" -
Joker
Thu 12/03 - (2/25) "Green Ice" - Mr. Freeze
Fri 12/04 - (2/26) "Deep Freeze" - Mr. Freeze
The European satellite channel "Trouble" also
airs the 1960's show at 7am and 11am every morning.
TV NEWS
*************
CARTOON NETWORK SCHEDULE
--------------------------------------------------------
Starting Monday December 7th, the Cartoon Network will
only show one Batman episode on weekdays, at 6:00 PM Eastern/Pacific.
BATMAN BEATS SUPERMAN
-----------------------------------------------
In the recent Kids' WB!'s "Superhero Showdown"
poll, voters said Batman "kicked more booty" than Superman.
ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
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AOL WEEKLY CHAT ROOM SCHEDULE
------------------------------------------------------------
Monday (11/30)
GOTHAM CITY HAPPY HOUR, 7 PM ET
With representatives from the Batman editorial office..
Wednesday (12/2)
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.
ON THE NEWSSTANDS
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COMIC BUYERS GUIDE #1307 (December 4th 1998)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contains many tributes to Bob Kane from fans,
professionals and publishers.
WIZARD #89 - Januray 1999
-----------------------------------------
Variant BATMAN Cover by Jim Lee.
"Escape From No Man's Land" compares the
upcoming Batman comics saga with the Kurt Russell movie "Escape From New
York".
"Last Man Standing" pits Batman against
Wolverine/
"Risky Business" an in-depth 5 page article on
the upcoming "No Man's Land" event.
"Best Of The Best" names ROBIN as the Best
Comic Book Series Of 1998.
WIZARD: JLA SPECIAL
-----------------------------------
includes a 4 Page section on Batman - "Dark Nights
Ahead"
IN THE STORES
**********************
CANCELLED ITEMS
----------------------------------
DC Comics has cancelled the recently solicited Batman
epoxy pin and the Robin Young Justice magnet.
NEW STATUES IN MARCH 1999
-----------------------------------------------------
DC has announced two new limited edition Batman related
statues that will be available in the first half of 1999.
A new Batman statue is due in stores on May 26. Based on
designs by Simon Bisley, the cold-cast porcelian statue has Batman perched atop
a meticulously sculpted clock face. The statue measures 13 3/8" inches
tall with a 14 1/2" long cape; the base measures 5 3/4" x 3
1/2". The Batman statue will be limited to a maximum of 5,000 pieces. Cost
is $195.
A medium sized
Nightwing statue is due in stores on March 24. Based on designs by
Nightwing comics artist Scott McDaniel, the cold-cast porcelain statue captures
Dick Grayson springing into action on a Bludhaven rooftop. It measures 7
1/2" tall x 5" wide and features a sculpted name plate on the base.
The Nightwing statue will be limited to a maximum of 2,500 pieces. Cost is
$79.98.
****************************************************
A NEW ISSUE OF
GOTHAM GAZETTE is now available.
Issue #29 can be found at
http://members.aol.com/gothamajp (Note the new URL)
This month:
- A personal
appreciation of the late BOB KANE
- News about the
delay to the BATMAN BEYOND show
- A round up of
the last month's MOVIE NEWS and rumors.
- A look ahead to
what's happening in the BATMAN COMICS, with details on "No Mans Land"
and upcoming Elseworlds projects.
- A listing of
BATMAN COMICS shipping over the next two months.
- A look a back at
a CLASSIC COMIC - This month, Batman #393.
- A new
FAN-FICTION story featuring ALFRED.
- A look back at
the recent NASCAR "BATMAN vs JOKER" promotion race at Charlotte.
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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