GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS #80

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Friday 14th May 1999

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WELCOME

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It's been a quite week on the Bat news front this week, so a slightly shorter newsletter than usual. Still I hope you find lots to entertain and inform you.

As always, have a great week.

Alan J. Porter

PO Box 527

Millersville

MD 21108

USA

[email protected] / [email protected]

IN THIS ISSUE OF GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS:

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Comics Shipping Next Week

Comics News

Book Of The Week - Review

TV Show Schedules

On-Line Happenings

Meet The Bat-Team

On The Newsstands

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COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK (May 19th)

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BATMAN #567

By Puckett & Scott.

On of the world's deadliest assassins has been dispatched to Gotham, and the only person who stands in his way is a mysterious, seemingly mute, young female agent of Oracle. ($1.99)

BATMAN BEYOND #5

By Bader & Staton

On a field trip to Gotham Museum Of Natural History, Terry and his classmates ate menaced by what appears to be a re-animated Egyptian mummy. ($1.99, in stores May 19)

BATMAN & SUPERMAN: WORLD'S FINEST #4

By Kesel & Taylor

Batman visits shining Metropolis on the trail of someone who is using US military satellites to spy on the Man Of Steel. ($1.99)

FANBOY #5

By Evanier, & Aragones with Adams, Kane, Miller, Sprang, Timm et al.

An all Batman issue has ultimate Fanboy, Finster meeting the Dark Knight. His runaay imagination teams him with Batman in every decade of his career. The 40's (art by Dick Sprang), the 50s (Jim Mooney), the 60s (Joe Giella), the 70s (Neal Adams) the 80s (Frank Miller) and the 90s (Bruce Timm) all behind a Bob Kane cover ! ($2.50).

TITANS #5

By Grayson & Buckingham

A small fishing town has suddenly become terrified of the water its economy depends on. And the only way The Titans can save the townspeople is by destroying their town. ($2.50)

COMICS NEWS

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JLA SWITCHEROO ON THE WAY

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A new JLA villain pulls the old switcharoo on the JLA this August in JLA: Foreign Bodies, a prestige format one-shot by writer Len Kaminski and the art team of penciler Val Semeiks and inker Prentis Rollins (DC One Million). According to information provided by the publisher, "When the members of the JLA face a new super-villainess known as Psikosis, it's the beginning of a battle that will pit them against the ultimate obstacle: themselves. Switched into one another's bodies, the World's Greatest Super-Heroes must master powers they've never used before, from perspectives they've never experienced. And they'll have to do it while saving the world from an array of terrorist activities masterminded by Kobra."

"Foreign Bodies finds the core members of the League incredibly disoriented by the sudden shift of minds and bodies. What does the Dark Knight - now in Superman's body - try to accomplish now that he has the power of Krypton's last son? How does Wonder Woman - in Green Lantern's body - come to terms with her changed gender and not being able to use a power ring that only works for Kyle Rayner? As the Leaguers struggle through these and other traumas as they face Kobra's terrorist hordes, they face an even greater challenge: an outsider personality is controlling one of the JLA's own...but which hero has been taken over? And by whom?"

NEW TONY HARRIS ESLEWORLDS

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Tony Harris and his studio partner Ray Snyder are working on an Elseworlds concept - Batman, Hourman, Dr. Mid-Nite and Mr. Terrific as covert agents in WWII, facing analogs of the Joker and the Scarecrow. Originally called Batman: The Liberty File, but that eventually became JSA: The Liberty File.

BOOK OF THE WEEK - REVIEW

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CATWOMAN #69

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"To Catch A Thief"

Writer: Devin Grayson. Pencils: Jim Balent. Inks: Mike Alquiza

Colors: Roberta Tewes. Letters: Albert Deguzman. Editor: Ediie Berganza

For me Selina Kyle is a creature of Gotham as much as Batman is. Take her put of that scenario and her character comes across as misplaced, almost lost. So the current "I'll Take Manhattan" storyline isn't one of my favorites. Also when comics characters have major impacts on the political structure of real cities I find it had to suspend my disbelief that far - so Catwoman running for Mayor of NYC doesn't work for me either. Opening this issue it was already down two strokes, but this is a Devin Grayson story so it's got to pull itself together - right? If this issue is anything to go by then the answer is a resounding No!

This issue tanked ! First off we have the fact that Catwoman can see Gotham across the river from the top of a New York skyscraper! Since when was it established that Gotham was only a few miles away from downtown Manhattan? Why the sudden change in Catwoman's costume ? Where did those whiskers come from ? Then we have the story itself, with plotholes you could drive a Batmobile through. Catwoman encounters the Trickster (who doesn't wear a mask) on a rooftop above her apartment and enters into a temporary partnership with him. Later the Trickster in his James Jesse persona enters Selina Kyle's office and she doesn't appear to recognize him. A few pages later Catwoman confronts the Trickster in a bar and implicitly admits that she and Selina Kyle are the same person !! OK did I miss something?

TV SHOW SCHEDULES

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BATMAN MOVIES ON TV

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BATMAN & ROBIN - Friday, May 7 at 9:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. on HBO.

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

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The new futuristic look at the world of the new Dark Knight starts its first season at 9.30am (ET) Saturdays on the KidsWB!

5/15/99 (9:30 am) --#11 "A Touch of Curare" - NEW EPISODE

5/22/99 (9.30 am) --# 13 "Ascension" - NEW EPISODE (Last new episode of this first season)

An episode guide to Batman Beyond is now available on The GOTHAM GAZETTE web site.(http://members.aol.com/gothamajp )

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, 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 5/15/99 (8:00 am) #106 - "Mad Love"

Mon 5/17/99 (4:30 pm) 105 - "Girls' Nite Out"

Tue 5/18/99 (4:00 pm) #73 - "Time Out of Joint"

Wed 5/19/99 (4:30 pm) #81 - "Harley's Holiday"

Thu 5/20/99 (4:00 pm) #78 - "Showdown"

Fri 5/21/99 (4:30 pm) #77 - "The Lion & the Unicorn"

Sat 5/22/99 (8:30 am) #108 - "Beware the Creeper"

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

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The Cartoon Network is running selected episodes airing Monday through Friday at 6.00 pm Eastern & Pacific time.

Mon 5-17-99: #27 "Mad as a Hatter"

Tue 5-18-99: #28 "Dreams in Darkness"

Wed 5-19-99: #29 "Eternal Youth"

Thu 5-20-99: #31 "The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy"

Fri 5-21-99: #34 "Night of the Ninja"

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

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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 1.30pm (EDT) Monday thru Friday.

Mon 5/17/99 - (season 2/show 15) "The Sandman Cometh" - Catwoman & Sandman

Tue 5/18/99 - (2/16) "The Catwoman Goeth" - Catwoman & Sandman

Wed 5/19/99 - (2/17) "The Yegg Foes in Gotham" - Egghead

Thu 5/20/99 - (2/18) "An Egg Grows in Gotham" - Egghead

Fri 5/21/99 - (2/19) "Hizzoner the Penguin" - Penguin

The European satellite channel "Trouble" also airs the 1960's show at 7am and 11am every morning.

ON-LINE HAPPENINGS

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NEW BAT WEB-SITES

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Dark Justice Batman News. - http://www.mania.com.au/~grahark/darkjustice/batman/news.htm

BATMAN RELATED E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS

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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

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NOVI MI - May 14-16

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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, MARK WAID, TV's Riddler FRANK GORSHIN and the movie's first Harvey Dent BILLY DEE WILLIAMS

NEW ORLEANS May 28-30

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The BIG EASY COMIC CON ( http://www.bigeasycon.com ) at the Hilton Riverside Hotel in downtown New Orleans features special guest ADAM WEST plus SHELDON MOLDOFF.

NASHVILLE TN - June 5-6

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CELEBRITY CON'99 has been cancelled.

ATLANTA GA - July 1-4

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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. Also just announced, ADAM WEST and FRANK GORSHIN.

SAN DIEGO CA - August 12th-15th

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The COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL (www.comic-con.org) has its 30th event at the San Diego convention center. Among the guest already announced is Golden Age great JERRY ROBINSON (Bob Kane's first assistant and "creator" of The Joker).

Plus, your humble GWN editor will be in attendance.

ON THE NEWSSTANDS

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New Music Monthly - June

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The June issue of CMJ New Music Monthly includes a "Light Reading" review dedicated to BATMAN IN THE SIXTIES and the HarperCollins coffee-table book Batman Animated, as well as a paragraph on the current "No Man's Land" storyline.

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HOW TO ORDER OUR NEW BATMAN BOOK

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"THE UNAUTHORIZED BATMAN COLLECTORS GUIDE" by Alan J. Porter

The most comprehensive guide to Batman 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 collectibles ever assembled between two covers. Nearly 300 photographs accompany the informative articles and detailed 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

Sample pages can be found on the web at

http://members.aol.com/gothamajp/book.htm

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THE LATEST ISSUE OF GOTHAM GAZETTE is now available.

Issue #32 can be found at http://members.aol.com/gothamajp

This month:

* Art Gallery - Readers Art

* Alfred Awards for 1998

* Comics - News of over 10 new Batman projects plus a NML update.

* Comics Shipping In May & June.

* Classic Comic Revisited - Brave & Bold #184.

* Fan Fiction - The start of a Highlander / Batman cross-over.

* Movies - Next Animated Batman Movie Announced

* Quiz Page - How much do you know about The Huntress ?

* Trivia Page - Who did Robin impersonate in Batman #302 ?

* TV - 1st Batman Beyond video release .

Plus an 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

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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 Heroes (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", "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.

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.