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GOTHAM
WEEKLY NEWS #73
Friday 19th
March 1999
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WELCOME
==========
Welcome to GWN for the 30+ new subscribers we had over
the last week. It's good to have you on board and I hope you'll find the
newsletter fun and informative.
DC UNVEIL 99 PLANS
===================
Over the last week DC has announced plans for a number of
its titles for the rest of 1999. Highlights for the Batman titles are the
return of Joeph Loeb & Tim Sale for another year long maxi-series, and Alex
Ross/ Paul Dini Batman special and the next story arc for No Man's Land. For
more on these see the Comics News section.
BOOK NEWS
===========
Thanks to those GWN subscribers who have already
pre-ordered a copy of "The Unauthorized BATMAN Collectors Guide" due
for publication next month. As a special offer to GWN subscribers you can
pre-order a signed copy by sending a check for $30.00 (free postage in the US,
add $5 for foreign orders) to the address below. For those who prefer to pay by
credit card you can now order an unsigned copy direct from the publishers web
site at http://www.schifferbooks.com/antiques/stage,screen,andtv/0764306839.html
As always have a good week, and all the best.
Alan J. Porter
PO Box 527
Millersville
MD 21108
USA
[email protected] / [email protected]
IN THIS ISSUE OF GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS:
=====================================
Comics Shipping Next Week
Comics News
TV Show Schedules
TV News
On-Line Happenings
On The Newsstands
Meet The Bat-Team
================================================================
COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK (March 24th)
***************************************
No regular BATMAN titles are scheduled to ship next week.
It's DC "Return Of The JSA" event week.
COMICS NEWS
************
NO MAN'S LAND IN '99
---------
As No Man's Land nears the end of its first story arc,
the question remains, what's next? "The middle third of the story focuses
on the Batsquad, and Batman's change of tactics to take back No Man's
Land," editors Jordan Gorfinkel and Darren Vincenzo, told the Newsrama web
site "In the first third of the story, he was the lone vigilante. In the second
third, he buries the hatchet with his partners, Robin and Nightwing, and along
with Azrael, Oracle and Batgirl forms an organization of superhero operatives
to systematically retake and hold sectors of Gotham.
"Azrael goes after everything north of the Sprang
River; Batman and Robin infiltrate Robinson Park and battle Poison Ivy and
Clayface Nightwing is charged with regaining rulership of Blackgate, now
teeming with the criminal element Batman has put away so far, and Huntress goes
rogue along with Billy Petit, who splits from Commissioner Gordon and takes
most of the cops with him. Then throw in thae fact that there is major intrigue
going on between Penguin and Two-Face. Finally, the Joker enters the
fray!"
And in a case of "let's throw everything at it in
the hope that something will stick" style storytelling - July's Detective
Comics #736, sees Bane re-enter Gotham
August opens with a 2-part Asian mob story by Larry Hama.
In the second week, there's the long awaited 48-page prestige one-shot, Batman:
Harley Quinn by Dini, Guichet and Sowd, with a cover by Alex Ross, which
features the introduction of Harley Quinn into mainstream DC continuity, and
co-stars the Joker and Poison Ivy.
Superman makes a return visit to Gotham in October. Plus
Batman Chronicles has an issue-length (38 pages) story by Devin Grayson and
Dale Eaglesham."
The editorial team also hinted at a mysterious outsider
who is revealed as having been responsible for Gotham's fall, but the question
is, will Batman allow him to raise the city out of its despair?
But, what about the new Batgirl? The Bat-editors say
"Don't miss 'Claim Jumping', the unofficial close of NML, Act 1, that
starts in Legends Of The Dark Knight #119 and LOTDK #12O, entitled 'Assembly''.
Those issues and all in between will define the future of the new
Batgirl."
If you think you figured out who the new Batgirl is you
may have to think again. According to information provided by DC, she has her
first solo adventure, and the masked heroine's identity is revealed as Batman
unmasks her and replaces her with another mysterious heroine.
"LONG HALLOWEEN" TEAM RETURN TO GOTHAM
-----------------------------------
Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale reunite for Batman: Dark Victory,
a 13-part sequel to that award-winning maxi-series. The new maxi-series
continues themes from The Long Halloween, as well as showcases Sale's
interpretations of familiar and brand-new Batman characters, including Robin
and a never-before-seen villain.
And although DC are referring to it as a sequel, Sale
sees things another way. "From the very beginning we agreed that in no
uncertain terms is Dark Victory to be referred to as a sequel, but rather as a
continuation of the Batman mythos," Sale said. "Like in life,
characters move on, some live, some die, and how that affects our hero is
what's really important."
"It will still have all the twists and turns of The
Long Halloween, but it is headed in a very different direction. You won't have
to have read The Long Halloween to appreciate Dark Victory, but there will
certainly be some of the same elements, including what remains of the Falcone
and Maroni families, the next step in the evolution of Two-Face, and Batman
having to come to terms with the awful loss of his friendship with Harvey
Dent."
"The greatest difference, however, will be that
ultimately while TLH had the through line of the Holiday killings, we were
telling a story about how Harvey Dent became Two Face and how that affected
Batman. Now, in Dark Victory, we want to explore how Batman/Bruce - who are now
REALLY cut off from any kind of personal relationships (first his parents and
now Harvey) - goes from being totally alone in his world to accepting a 10-year
boy into his life," said Loeb.
"On TLH, we got a lot of mail asking when Harvey was
going to turn into Two Face (or if Two Face was actually ever going to appear)
and we're hoping to build the same kind of...eagerness, to pick a word...about
Dick Grayson."
Dark Victory's first and last issues will be in prestige
format, with the middle chapters featuring heavy cover stock covers.
OTHER BAT PLANS FOR 99
---------------------
- This year's
Batman Annual by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan & Mark Pennington. will tie in
to the JLA "Gorrilla Warfare" storyline.
- This fall's DC
"event" shines the spotlight on the DCU magic-based characters, in
Day of Judgment, a five issue weekly mini-series that will host the rebirth of
one of DCU's greatest heroes and spill over into most of the DCU monthly titles
ala One Million or The Final Night (Superman and Batman will have Day Of
Judgment specials to keep their regular monthly storylines going).
- DC Comics has
announced that an ongoing Batman Beyond monthly will begin this fall, following
up the current mini- series. Hilary Bader, writer of the mini-series, and a
contributor to the television series, will write the ongoing book, according to
editor Darren Vincenzo.
- Alex Ross has confirmed he is working on a Batman book
with Paul Dini that will follow last year's Superman: Peace on Earth special.
- Mark Waid has
been announced as the new writer on the JLA following Grant Morrison's
departure.
WORLDS FUNNEST
------------------
Writer Evan Dorkin has confirmed that he is working on a
"World's Finest" style tale featuring Bat-Mite and Mr Mxyzptlk!
Dorkin reports that because of "the overly-complicated nature of this
funnybook", the plot for "World's Funnest" currently requires
the services of 18 artists for the separate sequences that make up the book's
continuity. Dorkin goes on to say that the first seven artists "we've
asked have verbally agreed to work on the book" are Scott Shaw, Phil
Jiminez, Alex Ross, Dave Gibbons, Frank Miller, Jaime Hernandez and David
Mazzucchelli !!
MORE CHANGES IN THE BAT-OFFICE?
------------------------------
Last week Newsrama reported that "DC has confirmed
that Jordan Gorfinkel, credited with creating the initial outline for the
current No Man's Land story-event, submitted his resignation to the publisher
several weeks ago. There is no word yet on when Gorfinkel will be exiting or
the reasons for his resignation."
Within days the "Four Color Review" web site
posted a "press release" that said. "Bat Editor Jordan Gorfinkel
has NOT resigned his position. Rather, Gorfinkel is on a 6 month break from
editing the Bat-Books in order to work on writing what is described as a
mega-huge project for DC, to be released in 2000. At this point, the only
information given was that it's an incredibly big project, and whoever does the
art will most likely be painting it."
GWN hopes to get some clarification on this over the
coming week.
TV SHOW SCHEDULES
********************
BATMAN MOVIES ON TV
----------------------
BATMAN RETURNS - Currently running on HBO - check local
listings for show times.
BATMAN FOREVER - NBC will air Batman Forever on Sunday,
April 4 from 8:30-11 p.m. (ET)
BATMAN & ROBIN - Currently running on HBO - check
local listings for show times.
BATMAN & MR. FREEZE: SUB-ZERO - will be airing on CARTOON
NETWORK on May 22nd at 8pm (ET) as apart of their CARTOON THEATRE
BATMAN BEYOND
---------------
The new futuristic look at the world of the new Dark
Knight starts its first season at 9.30am (ET) Saturdays on the KidsWB!
Sat 3-20-99: (#06) "Dead Man's Hand" - NEW
EPISODE
(The Royal Flush Gang is expected to appear in "Dead
Man's Hand". "The Royal Flush Gang are characters we wanted to use in
Batman for a long time," producer Bruce Timm said. "We kind of felt
this was a good place to use them." We've always like their motifs and
that flying cards could fit in a futuristic Batman," added producer Paul
Dini. "Not everyone will be flying around like The Jetsons, but we'll have
a few extreme cases." Voices for the Royal Flush Gang include George (James
Bond) Lazenby as King, Amanda Donohoe as Queen and Olivia D'Abo as their
daughter, 10.)
Sat 3-27-99: #03 Black Out
An episode guide to Batman Beyond is now available on The
GOTHAM GAZETTE web site.(http://members.aol.com/gothamajp )
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
Sat 3-20-99 (8.00am) - #104 "Legends of the Dark
Knight"
Mon 3-22-99 (4.00pm) - #073 "Time Out of Joint"
Tue 3-23-99 (4.30pm) - #077 "The Lion & The
Unicorn"
Wed 3-24-99 (4.00pm) - #052 "Mudslide"
Thu 3-25-99: NO BATMAN
Fri 3-26-99: (4.30pm) - #079 "Riddler's Reform"
Sat 3-27-99: (8.00am) - #109 "Judgment Day"
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. WGN also shows episodes every weekday morning @ 10:00
for one hour.
- 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 and on Fridays at 5.30pm
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
----------------------------
The Cartoon Network is running selected episodes airing
Monday through Friday at 6.00 pm Eastern
& Pacific time.
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 1.30pm (EDT) Monday thru Friday.
Mon 3/22 - (season 1/show 15) "Joker Goes to
School" - Joker
Tue 3/23 - (1/16) "Match, Grisly Ghoul" - The
Joker
Wed 3/24 - (1/17) "The Bookworm Turns" - The
Bookworm
Thu 3/25 - (1/18) "While Gotham City Burns" -
Bookworm
Fri 3/26 - (1/19) "The Thirteenth Hat" - Mad
Hatter
The European satellite channel "Trouble" also
airs the 1960's show at 7am and 11am every morning.
TV NEWS
*********
NO NEW BATMAN !
---------------
WB says there will not be any new episodes of 'The New
Batman/Superman Adventures" next season, unless they decide to save some
of the remaining Superman episodes from this season (which includes one that
guest stars Batman). Only Batman Beyond is currently in production.
Batman/Superman may return for the 2000-2001 season
NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES NOMINATED FOR EMMYS
------------------------------------------
The New Batman Adventures has been nominated for a
"Daytime" Emmy Award (The US TV Version of the Oscars) in the
following categories.
- SPECIAL CLASS - ANIMATED PROGRAM
- SOUND MIXING - SPECIAL CLASS
- MUSIC DIRECTION & COMPOSITION for "LEGEND OF
THE DARK NIGHT" - SHIRLEY WALKER, COMPOSER.
MOVIE NEWS
**********
SILVERSTONE'S DIG
-----------------
In a side bar item in the latest issue of Hollywood
Video's "Insider" magazine, movie Batgirl, Alicia Silverstone, takes a cheap shot at Batman & Robin
director Joel Schumacher. When asked if she'd ever don the Bat costume again
she replied "No, I think Joel Schumacher would want to play Batgirl if
they ever did another one!"
CATWOMAN CASTING RUMOR
----------------------
GWN reader Jamie Fox reports that "that it is
rumored that Gweneth Paltrow will be playing Catwoman in the hoped for Catwoman
movie."
ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
*******************
BATMAN RELATED E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS
---------------------------
Batman Animated Newsletter - Tim Leighton
([email protected])
"Claw Marks" the Catwoman Newsletter - William
Tyler ([email protected])
Batman UK - Monthly Newsletter - Brian Davis
(http://members.aol.com/BDavis2613/mailer.html)
MEET THE BAT-TEAM
********************
KANSAS CITY KS - March 27-28
-------------------------------
The PLANET COMICON (http://www.planetcomics.com ) at the
Overland International Trade Center, 115th & Metcalf, Overland Park, KS.
Features DEVIN GRAYSON and MARK WAID among the listed guests.
OAKLAND CA - April 16-18
------------------------
WONDER-CON (http://www.wondercon.com )at the Oakland
Convention center, 1001 Broadway at 10th Street in Oakland CA bills itself as
Northern California's largest convention. Guests this year include DAN
BRERETON, PAUL DINI, DEVIN GRAYSON, BRUCE TIMM, TIM SALE, and MARK WAID.
PITTSBURGH PA - April 23-25
--------------------------
The PITTSBURGH COMICON (http://www.pittsburghcomicon.com
)takes place this year at the Pittsburgh Expomart, Monroeville PA. Guests include
SCOTT MCDANIEL and MARK WAID.
NOVI MI - May 14-16
----------------------
This year's MOTOR CITY COMIC CON
(http://motorcityconventions.com) is at the Novie Expo Center, 43700 Expo
Center Drive in Novi Michigan. Guests include SHELDON MOLDOFF and MARK WAID.
NEW ORLEANS May 28-30
----------------------
The BIG EASY COMIC CON ( http://www.bigeasycon.com ) at
the Hilton Riverside Hotel in downtown New Orleans features special guest ADAM
WEST.
NASHVILLE TN - June 5-6
-----------------------
CELEBRITY CON'99 in Smyrna, Tennessee (near Nashville)
includes many guests with BATMAN connections including: JULIUS SCHWARTZ, TERRY
AUSTIN, WALT AND LOUISE SIMONSON, SHELDON MOLDOFF, AND JIM STARLIN, &
YVONNE (BATGIRL) CRAIG
ATLANTA GA - July 1-4
---------------------
Already confirmed as a guest for this year's DRAGON*CON
at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta is New Batman Adventures producer and writer
PAUL DINI
IN THE STORES
**************
BATMAN BEYOND SNEAKS OUT
-----------------------
Word has reached GWN that the Batman Beyond figures have
started to appear in certain Wal*Mart stores over the last week or so. Figures
released are:
Basic Assortment
-Laser Batman with Hyper-Flight Gear and Pulse Missle
-Aqua Racer Batman with Submarine Attack Skiff
-Covert Batman with Shield Cape and Grappling Launcher
-The Jokerz with Assault Hover-Cycle
-Future Knight Batman with Cipher Wings and Magna-Blades
-Lightning Storm Batman with Forcefield Wings and Spark
Weapons
Deluxe Assortment
-Stealth Team (Batman with Ace the dog)
-Strato Defense Batman
Vehicles
-Batmobile
-Mega-Armor Batman
(Thanks to Charley Silvio for the list)
NEW BATMAN FIGURES
----------------------
- A new BATMAN figure has been added to the Kay-Bee toys
exclusive JLA line. The "Dark Knight Batman" figure has the figure in
a Black costume close to the current comics version.
- DC and Hasbro announced at the Toy Fare a line of new 7
inch figures which includes BATMAN, THE JOKER and the "AZ-BATS"
Knightfall Batman. No release date has been announced.
=============================================================================
THE LATEST ISSUE OF GOTHAM GAZETTE is now available.
Issue #31 can be found at
http://members.aol.com/gothamajp (Note the new URL)
This month:
Art Gallery - Readers Art
Alfred Awards for 1998 - The full results
Comics - More No Man's Land info ,"Realworlds"
projects and Gaiman/Bisley to do a Batman story.
Comics Shipping In February & March
Classic Comic Revisited - Brave & Bold #197
Fan Fiction - Alfred Remembers "The Night".
Movies - The Cat
Prowls again ?
Quiz Page - Alfred Award Winners .
Trivia Page - Elseworlds listings plus Who Knows ?
TV - "Batman Beyond
- Episode Guide" .
Plus a new Archive section containing the best Fan-Fiction
from past issues.
- 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/comicbooks )
- 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 - 1999)
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.
If you no longer wish to recieve GWN or have been sent a
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