*************************************************************
*************************************************************
BATMAN’S GOT MILK ?
--------------------
In a press release this week DC Comics announced that “The
Dark Knight has joined forces with America’s Dairy Farmers and Milk Processors
and will wear Milk Mustaches for a multi-faceted, year-long promotional
alliance that includes a consumer-targeted promotion, sweepstakes program,
custom comic book publishing program and an in-school campaign, through a
promotional licensing agreement with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Consumer
Products.”
Print ads featuring Batman with a chocolate milk mustache
will begin in late March. Ads will run in issues of Sports Illustrated for
Kids, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Skateboard Magazine, Surfing, and DC comic
books including BATMAN, SUPERMAN, SCOOBY-DOO and LOONEY TUNES.
In early May 2000, consumers will be able to instantly receive a specially-created Adventures with the DC Super Heroes Magazine free with the purchase of two gallons of milk. The Adventures with the DC Super Heroes Magazine will feature valuable coupons and discount offers from Warner Home Video, Warner Bros. Studio Stores, Best Western Hotels, Fruit of the Loom, Hasbro and Best Personalized Books. Editorial content includes articles on the Kids’ WB! hit animated series Batman Beyond.
Batman will be featured on more than two million book-covers
distributed in schools nationwide along with other milk-mustached celebrities
starting February 2000. Additionally, March 2000 is Batman Month in
approximately 20,000 elementary schools nationwide. Batman, Robin and Batgirl
will encourage kids to drink chocolate milk as part of a healthy diet on
in-cafeteria signs, posters and meal planners.
You can preview the print ads at http://comicscontinuum.com/stories/0002/16/milk.jpg
WB GO ON DOMAIN PURCHASING STREAK
---------------------------------
Over the last few weeks Warner Bros have been registering
and purchasing virtually every conceivable domain name that could be used for
the next Batman movie. Interestingly they have purchased names that cover both
a Batman Beyond Movie and a Batman: Year One movie. This adds weight to the
rumors that these are both being seriously considered as possible settings for
the next step in the movie franchise. See “On-Line Happenings” below for a full
list of the domain names.
FROM TOY FAIR
----------------
Hasbro announced at this week’s Toy Fair in
Have a good week.
Alan J. Porter
Millersville
MD 21108
E-mail: [email protected]
IN THIS ISSUE OF
=====================================
This Week In Bat-History
Comics Shipping Next Week
Comics News
TV Show Schedules
TV News
Movie News
On-Line Happenings
Fanzines & Fan-Clubs
Meet The Bat-Team
================================================================
THIS WEEK IN BAT-HISTORY
************************
Prolific Batman comics writer Doug Moench celebrates his
birthday on February 23rd. You can find his website at
http://members.xoom.com/behindbatman/
================================================================
COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK (February 23rd)
***************************************
BATMAN #576
Written
by Larry Hama, art by Scott McDaniel and Karl Story, cover by McDaniel.
Batman races against time to save a kidnapped young prince
from a group of terrorists led by the Cipher. But will the truths behind the
kidnapping hit Batman too close to home? (32 pages, $1.99)
BATMAN BEYOND #6
Written by Hilary J. Bader, art by Craig Rousseau and Rob
Leight; cover by Bob Smith and Terry Beatty.
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. (32 pages, $1.99)
BATMAN: DARK VICTORY #5
Written by Jeph Loeb, art and cover by Tim Sale.
It's Valentine's Day in Gotham City and murder can't be far
behind. Secrets are revealed and decisions are made that will affect Batman,
Catwoman, Jim Gordon and Janice Porter for the rest of their lives. (32 pages,
$2.95)
BATMAN: HAUNTED GOTHAM #3
Written by Doug Moench, art and cover by Kelley Jones and
John Beatty.
Elseworlds. The conclusion of the mini-series. Gotham is
overrun by serpents and zombie-like snake worshippers under the control of
Ophidus. But who controls Ophidus himself? If Batman can't learn the answer in
time, thousands of innocent lives will be lost to a fate much worse than death.
(48 pages, $4.95)
CATWOMAN #79
Written by Bronwyn Carlton, art by Staz Johnson and Wayne
Faucher, cover by Peter Doherty.
Batman guest-stars. After what went down last issue, a very
reluctant Bruce Wayne helps Commissioner Gordon set up a trap designed to
succeed where all others have failed and capture the Feline Fatale. But
Catwoman knows it's a trap, and she's never, ever been caught, so why should
this time be any different? A Catwoman like you've never seen before. (32
pages, $1.99)
LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE #27
Written by Steve Englehart, art by Trevor Von Eeden and Joe
Rubinstein, cover by Tony Harris.
BATMAN appears in the conclusion to a two-part story
starring Aquaman and the Joker. As the Joker secures the throne of Atlantis as
his own, the dejected former Lord of the Seas risks the dry land of Gotham City
to discover his new foe's Achilles' heel and runs smack-dab into the Dark
Knight, the one person who knows all the Joker's little secrets. (32 pages,
$1.99)
===========================================================
COMICS NEWS
*************
NIGHTWING / BoP X-OVER RENAMED
-----------------------------
Chuck Dixon recently told The Comics Continuum that the
four-issue crossover between DC Comics' Nightwing and Birds of Prey has a new
name. "Siege has been re-named ‘Hunt For Oracle’ because DC has another
project coming out the same month called Siege," Dixon said.
GRAHAM NOLAN UPDATE
---------------------
One time Detective artist and Alfred Award winner Graham
Nolan will be drawing a 10-page installment May's Batman 80-Page Giant, which
he said involves the Calendar Man.
HARLEY IN SEPTEMBER
-------------------
DC Comics have announced that The Harley Quinn ongoing
series will probably begin in September.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER LOOKS BACK AT DCU HISTORY
--------------------------------------------
Martian Manhunter
writer John Ostrander is going to spend the summer and early fall detailing
J'onn J'onzz’s secret history in the DCU. Beginning in May, Ostrander is starting
a 5-part run they’re calling Revelations.
Each issue will be self-contained and each will detail a period of J'onn's
history in the DCU after he arrived on Earth
MM #21 has J’onn pursuing a mystery in Gotham City to
discover “What is the connection with the mysterious new figure that haunts the
city - a figure people are calling the Batman? “
LATE SHIPPING
-------------
DC has announced the following changes to the shipping
schedules:
-
BATMAN: DARK VICTORY #5 will now be in
stores next week 2/23/00
-
LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE #27 will
also ship next week 2/23/00
-
THE BATMAN CHRONICLES #20 will now be
in stores on 3/1/00 instead of 2/23/00
======================================================================
TV SHOW SCHEDULES
********************
BATMAN BEYOND
---------------
The second season of the new futuristic look at the world of
the new Dark Knight is underway at 9.00am (ET) Saturdays on the KidsWB!
2/18/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Babel"
2/19/00 (9:00 am) -- "Splicers"
2/26/00 (10:30 am) -- "Rebirth – Part 1"
2/26/00 (11:30 am) -- "Rebirth – Part 2"
From Brian Davis comes news that Batman Beyond is airing in
the UK on ITV every Sunday at 9.25am (starting January 2nd). In the UK the show
has been renamed 'Batman of the Future'.
In Canada Batman Beyond can be found on YTV airing at 2.30pm
Saturdays and Sundays.
In Belgium Batman Beyond shown on Sunday mornings on the
cable channel VT4
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, and 8:30am Eastern
and Pacific Time on the Kids' WB! ... But DON'T FORGET TO CHECK YOUR LOCAL
LISTINGS FOR EXACT TIMES IN YOUR AREA
2/17/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Double Talk"
2/23/00 (3:00 pm) -- "Beware the Creeper"
2/24/00 (3:30 pm) -- "Robin's Reckoning – Part 1"
2/24/00 (4:30 pm) -- "Robin's Reckoning – Part 2"
2/26/00 (8:00 am) -- "Sins of the Father"
NOTE: Shows #1 - 85 are the classic "Batman: The
Animated Series" style. Shows #86 onwards are the "New
Adventures" style.
In Canada The New Batman Adventures can be found on YTV at
12 noon ( all time zones). For a weekly schedule check out http://www.ytv.com
The Irish TV station RTE2 broadcasts The New Batman
Adventures on Tuesdays around 5pm and on Fridays at 5.30pm
In Belgium The New Batman Adventures is shown on Saturday
mornings on the cable channel VT4
In Italy The New Batman Adventures are now on Canale 5 every
Saturday and Sunday at 11.00am
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
----------------------------
The Cartoon Network is running selected episodes airing
Monday through Friday at 6.00 pm Eastern & Pacific time.
Carl Pickles wrote to say that Batman is now on the Cartoon
Network, Europe every day at the new time of 8.30pm UK Time.
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 1.30pm (EDT) Monday thru
Friday.
Fri 2/18 – (season 1/show 08) “Rats Like Cheese” – Mr.
Freeze
Mon 2/21 – (1/09) “The Joker is Wild” - Joker
Tue 2/22 – (1/10) “Batman is Riled” - Joker
Wed 2/23 – (1/11) “Riddle..Keeps Riddler Away” - Riddler
Thu 2/24 – (1/12) “Rats Away-Mice Will Play” - Riddler
Fri 2/25 – (1/13) “True or False Face” – False Face
The European satellite channel "Trouble" also airs
the 1960's show at 7am and 11am every morning.
In Italy the classic series can be found on daily on
"Canal Jimmy" (a satellite network dedicated to cult films &
television) at 10.15 A.M.
======================================================================
TV NEWS
********
BAT COMMERCIAL DEBUTED
----------------------
The new Batman / OnStar commercial debuted on American TV
last night in the two most popular Thursday night shows, ABC’s “Who Want’s To
be A Millionaire” and NBC’s “ER”.
For those yet to see it, the commercial uses sets and
costumes in the style of the two Tim Burton movies, complete with a Movie style
Batmobile. Michael Gough reprises his role as Alfred, albeit via video screen.
The actor under the cowl wasn’t familiar. Some of the moves used would be
familiar to anyone who has seen any of the live action “Batman Stunt Shows” at
one of the Six Flags parks.
POSSIBLE BEYOND SPIN-OFF
-------------------------
The Comics Continuum website is reporting upcoming shows on
Kids' WB! may include one called Zeta, that will spin out of Batman Beyond.
Zeta is a reformed robotic assassin that is featured in an upcoming episode of
BB.
=======================
MOVIE NEWS
*************
FANS PUSH JEPH LOEB AS SCREENWRITER
------------------------------------
The excellent Batcave
web site have launched a campaign to get screen and comic writer Jeph
Loeb hired as the writer for the Batman sequel.
"Jeph Loeb, himself, is personally supporting our
campaign, and we are looking for support from everyone who is interested in
seeing a good Batman movie! The petition's URL is: http://homepages.go.com/~fabio2_batcave/campaign.html
RETURN OF THE JOKER RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED
-----------------------------------------
The feature-length, animated Batman Beyond video has been
give an new release date according to a recent press release from Warner Home
Video. Batman Beyond: The Return of the Joker is now slated to be in stores on
October 31. WB provides this description for the movie, "In this thrilling
action-packed adventure, the sleeker, more dangerous and seemingly immortal
Clown Prince of Crime is back to terrorize Gotham, Batman and the aging Bruce
Wayne. While trying to uncover the Joker's secrets, Terry McGinnis, the new
Batman, discovers the greatest mystery in the career of the original Batman --
the true story of the night Batman fought the Joker for the last time. When
Bruce Wayne is almost killed in one of the Joker's new attacks, it's up to
Batman Beyond to avenge his mentor and put the Joker to rest forever."
(reproduced from Comics2Film)
=============================================
ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
*******************
DEVIN GRAYSON ON CNN
-----------------------
Devin Grayson’s recent on-line interview about her career
and the new Batman: Gotham Knights title has been picked up by CNN and is now
available at www.cnn.com/2000/books/news/02/15/comics.writer.batman/index.html
WB’s NEW DOMAINS
------------------
As mentioned in the introduction, Warner Bros has been busy
registering a whole string of Batman related domain names over the few weeks.
Here’s the full list of domain names registered
batman5.net
batmanbeyondmovie.com
batmanbeyondmovie.net
batmanbeyondthefilm.com
batmanbeyondthefilm.net
batmanbeyondthemovie.com
batmanbeyondthemovie.net
batmanfive.com
batmanfive.net
batmanv.com
batmanv.net
batman-yearone.com
batman-yearone.net
batmanyearone.net
batman-year1.com
batmanyear1.net
(thanks to Comics2Film for the information.)
NEW BATMAN DISCUSSION LIST
----------------------------
BATSIGNAL a new Batman on-line discussion group has been launched at http://www.onelist.com/community/BatSignal
BATMAN RELATED E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS
---------------------------
Batman Animated Newsletter - Tim Leighton ([email protected])
Claw Marks: The Catwoman Fan Club Newsletter - Lynx Delirium
Batman UK - Monthly Newsletter - Brian Davis
(http://members.aol.com/BDavis2613/mailer.html)
======================================================================
BATMAN FANZINES & FAN-CLUBS
*******************************
(Know of any Batman related Fan-clubs that aren't listed ?
Send me an e-mail at [email protected] with details. When contacting any of these
clubs please mention GWN.)
BATMAN TOY & COLLECTORS PRICE GUIDE
---------------------------------
Editor John Mack has announced that he has suspended
publication of the BATMAN TOY & COLLECTORS GUIDE. .
GREEN HORNET & BATMAN FAN & COLLECTORS CLUB
--------------------------------------------
$10 a year for a bi-monthly newsletter. Contact J.
Washington III, 321 Gracie Road . Chesapeake VA 23325
HARLEY QUINN FAN CLUB
----------------------
Based in San Diego. For more info contact Mike at 4574
Mercurio St. San Diego CA 92130
LOYAL ORDER OF THE BAT
------------------------
Batman fan-club by mail discusses all versions of The
Batman. $14 per year for a bi-monthly newsletter. Contact T.J. Jones. 1401 St
Edwards Dr #157. Austin TX 78704
UNOFFICIAL BATMAN ANIMATED FAN-CLUB
-------------------------------------
This club began in September and consists of a quartery 30
page newsletter which is mailed out - 'a fan made magazine' with news, reviews,
guides, artwork and basically all that we can stuff in related to Batman,
Batman Beyond and Bruce Timm's amazing artwork. The club is non-profit making
(i.e. - you only pay for paper and printing costs) and it's made by fans for
fans. Based in the UK but USA and other members are always welcome. If you would
like more information on how to join please e-mail -
[email protected] or for more info see website at
http://www.batmanuk.freeserve.co.uk/club/
======================================================================
MEET THE BAT-TEAM
********************
ORLANDO FL - March 31st-April 2nd
---------------------------------
MEGA-CON 2000 (www.megaconvention.com) will be held at the
Orlando Expo Center between March 31st and April 2nd. Featured guests so far
include DICK AYERS, DICK GIORDANO and SHELDON MOLDOFF. Also attending will be
Batman Licensed products artist AL BIGLEY.
OAKLAND CA – April 7-9 2000
--------------------------
WONDERCON (www.wondercon.com) will be
held at the Oakland Convention Center at 1001 Broadway in Oakland CA between
April 7th and 9th. Guests include FRANK MILLER and MARK
WAID.
NEW YORK NY – June 9-11 2000
-----------------------------
The “All Time Classic NY Comic Book Convention” (www.diamondcollectiblesny.com/atc)
will be held at the Westchester County Center between June 9th and
11th. Guests include CARMINE INFANTINO, JULIE SCHWARTZ and SHELDON
MOLDOFF.
====================================================================
HOW TO ORDER OUR OWN BATMAN BOOK
********************************
"THE UNAUTHORIZED BATMAN COLLECTORS GUIDE" by Alan J. Porter
The most comprehensive guide to Batman comics and
collectibles ever collected between
two covers.
160 Pages
294 Photographs
6000 Items Listed
8 1/2" x 11" - Soft Cover.
ISBN 0-7643-0683-9
$30.00
With over 6000 items listed, this is the most comprehensive
guide to Batman comics and collectibles ever assembled between two covers.
Nearly 300 photographs accompany the informative articles and price guide
listings. Highlights include a comics section which lists every comic book in
which Batman has appeared from his debut in 1939 to the end of 1997, plus a
figures section which lists all of the various Batman action figures. Covering
everything from Artwork to Videos, and price ranges from 15c to $150,000, this
book is a must for any Batfan.
As a special offer to GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS subscribers, you
can order a signed copy from the author.
Send a check / money order for $30.00* (US Dollars), along
with your mailing address to:
Alan J. Porter
Batman Guide
PO Box 527
Millersville
MD 21108
* US orders postage free.
* MD residents please add 5% sales tax.
* Overseas orders add $5.00
Unsigned copies can be ordered via Credit Card from either
http://www.BarnesAndNoble.com or http://www.Borders.com
=============================================================================
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/ )
- Comics Continuum
(http://comicscontinuum.com/index.htm)
- Newsrama
(http://www.anotheruniverse.com/newsarama/index.html)
- 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 - 2000)
"GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS", "GOTHAM GAZETTE - The
BATMAN Magazine On the Web" and "THE UNAUTHORIZED BATMAN COLLECTORS
GUIDE" are not affiliated 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 & Bill Finger
If you no longer wish to receive GWN or have been sent a
copy in error just send an e-mail to [email protected] with the words
"unsubscribe GWN" in the subject line.