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GOTHAM
WEEKLY NEWS #85
Friday 18th
June 1999
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WELCOME
==========
Welcome -
This week's GWN is back to its normal size and range of
coverage. There's a lot packed in to this week's issue.
PAUL DINI IS "IT"
------------------
Congratulations to Paul Dini who was listed in
Entertainment Weekly's "It List" of 100 Most Creative People In
Entertainment. Paul is listed as the "It Bat Revivalist".
BATMAN WINS THOMPSON AWARDS
----------------------------
The Don Thompson Awards ( named for the late Editor of
Comic Buyers Guide) were recently announced. Voted for by the members and
visitors of the Compuserve Comics/Animation forum the results included.
Favorite Animated TV Series: The New Batman/Superman Adventures
(A Thompson has gone to some form of Warner Bros.'
animated Batman series for four out of seven years.)
Favorite Publisher:
DC Comics
Favorite Short Story (less than one standard issue in
length): "Desire",
Batman 80-Page Giant #1 (Devin Grayson & Brian
Stelfreeze's wordless short story from DC's Batman 80-Page Giant #1 led a pack that also
included Tony Isabella & Eddy Newell's "'Twas the Night before
Kwanzaa" from DC's DCU Holiday Bash #2)
Favorite Comic-Book Work for All Ages: Batman: Gotham Adventures
Congratulations to all the winners.
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:
=====================================
Comics Shipping Next Week
Comics News
Book Of The Week - Review
TV Show Schedules
Movie News
On-Line Happenings
Batman Fanzines
Meet The Bat-Team
On The Newsstands
In The Stores
================================================================
COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK (June 23rd)
***************************************
BATMAN: BULLOCK'S LAW
Written by Chuck Dixon; art by Flint Henry and Tom
Palmer; cover by Palmer.
Gotham's toughest cop this side of Commissioner Gordon
faces a mysterious serial killer in an extra-length one-shot. Set after the
"Cataclysm" that put Gotham on the course that turned it into a
"No Man's Land," Bullock and the rest of Gotham's Finest must foil
the strange new killer called the Widow- Whacker. When the crimelord Black Mask
offers Bullock the killer's true identity in return for the cop's helping to
eliminate Black Mask's underworld competition, Harvey plays both ends against
the middle, leading even Batman to question his innocence and putting Harvey in
deadly danger from both Black Mask and the Widow-Whacker. ($4.95)
BATMAN: NIGHT CRIES
By Archie Goodwin & Scott Hampton
DC re-offers the softcover version of this gripping
graphic novel. ($12.95)
CATWOMAN #71
Written by Devin Grayson; art by Jim Balent and Marlo
Alquiza; cover by Balent.
"I'll Take Manhattan" concludes as Catwoman
faces the Trickster! The classic Flash foe has put the Feline Fatale in an
awful bind, manipulating events so that she'll lose every ill-gotten dollar
she's made during her career unless she abandons her Catwoman identity forever.
($1.99)
DETECTIVE COMICS #735
Written by Greg Rucka; art by Dan Jurgens and Bill
Sienkiewicz; painted cover by Glen Orbik and Laurel Blechman.
"Fruit of the Earth" concludes as Batman and
Robin battle Clayface for the life of Poison Ivy. Gotham's future hinges on the
outcome of this final showdown... an outcome that does not leave all the
participants in one piece. Will Batman be able to claim the key to ending the
state of No Man's Land in Gotham? ($1.99)
THE FLASH #151
Written by Joe Casey, Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn; art
by Duncan Rouleau, Aaron Sowd and Paul Pelletier; cover by Steve Lightle.
ROBIN and Aqualad guest-star in a flashback issue written
by Joe Casey, with art by Duncan Rouleau and Aaron Sowd.($1.99)
ROBIN #67
Written by Chuck Dixon; art by Staz Johnson and Stan
Woch; cover by Jason Pearson.
Robin and Nightwing team up to answer Batman's call to
arms and rescue Gotham from its state as a "No Man's Land." Using a
treacherous, long- abandoned subterranean pathway to enter Gotham, Tim and Dick
must defeat the tag-team of Gearhead and Tommy Mangles if they want to make it
through. Meanwhile, a certain Ratcatcher is waiting in the wings. ($1.99)
SUPERMAN #147
Written by Ron Marz; art by Tom Grindberg and Bill
Anderson; cover by Walter Simonson.
The JLA guests in a four-part story drawn by artist Tom
Grindberg, featuring covers by Walter Simonson. In part one, we learn what
would have happened if the infant Superman's rocket had landed on the planet Oa
instead of Earth. Would he have become the greatest Green Lantern of them all?
Has it already happened? It's not an Elseworlds...it's not a hoax...and it's up
to the JLA to figure it all out. This story continues in Adventures of Superman
#570. ($1.99)
YOUNG JUSTICE #11
Written by Peter David; art by Angel Unzueta, Jaime
Mendoza and Lary Stucker; cover by Todd Nauck and Stucker.
The team goes undercover to rescue Red Tornado and his
adopted daughter, but who are the bad guys they're trying to stop? It's Young
Justice versus the government. ($2.50)
COMICS NEWS
**************
LATE SHIPPING
----------------
DC has announced the following shipping delays:
- BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS MINI STATUE will now
arrive in stores on 6/30/99 instead of the originally scheduled 6/23/99.
- MANHUNTER THE SPECIAL EDITION tpb which also now ship
on 6/30/99 instead of 6/23/99
DARKNESS/BATMAN UPDATE
----------------------
Matt Hawkins of Top Cow Productions has indicated that
the Darkness/Batman crossover is now scheduled to ship in early July. "The
book is complete," Hawkins said.
Darkness/Batman is a 48-page one-shot written by Scott
Lobdell and Jeph Loeb, with art by Darkness creator Marc Silvestri and David
Finch.
EARLY NEWS OF A FEW SEPTEMBER RELEASES
--------------------------------------
- ROBIN #70 Gordon Purcell is the guest-artist for Robin
#70, scheduled for a September release from DC Comics. "It's the
conclusion of a three-part storyline involving Mr. Freeze, Ratcatcher, school
kids and a hidden treasure trove of supplies underground in Gotham's No Man's
Land," Purcell said. "Very cool!"
- BATMAN/TARZAN:
CLAWS OF CATWOMAN #1 will be ship Sept 22nd as a joint DC Comics/Dark Horse
publication. Price will be $2.95 for the 32 page cross-over special that takes
Tarzan into a new "jungle" - Gotham City.
- MORE SECRET
ORIGINS 80-PAGE GIANT REPLICA EDITION, reprints the 1965 classic that featured
Silver Age tales of the JLA, Robin and more.
BOOK OF THE WEEK - REVIEW
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LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #120
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No Mans Land - "Assembly"
Writer: Greg Rucka. Pencils: Mike Deodato. Inks: Sean
Parsons
Color: Pam Rambo. Letters: Willie Schubert.
Editors: Joe Illidge & Jordan Gorfinkel
At long last the "gang" is all together in
Gotham as the Dark Knight finally admits that he can't contain No Mans Land on
his own. This story opens the second major story-arc of NML by revealing the
"secret" behind the new Batgirl. Even if you hadn't figured it out by
now - a single panel at the top of page 10 gives the answer away before the
great unmasking. On a personal level I found the revelation to be totally
anti-climatic as it just confirmed the suspicion I've had all along. As for the
latest lady to don the Batgirl costume - I have a tendency to dislike new
characters who are introduced just to fill a particular part ( a la Azrael
& Bane) when the Batman mythos is full of strong supporting characters who
could have been "promoted" into a more central role.
This issue will undoubtedly be remembered for the Batgirl
revelations and costume handover. But the part that had the most impact on me
was the confrontation between Batman & Jim Gordon. Seeing the Dark Knight
slink away with his shoulder slumped and his eyes downcast - Brrrr !!
Greg Rucka is certainly the "find" of No Man's
Land. His stories have all been strong and his dialog and characterization is
redefining the Bat family dynamics, in often new and surprising ways.
This issue is also the last with Jordan Gorfinkels' name
as Editor - a more fitting swan song for the architect of "No Mans
Land" would be difficult to imagine. Thanks "Gorf" - it was a
great ride.
TV SHOW SCHEDULES
********************
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!
6/19/99 (9:30am) -- #09 "Spellbound"
6/26/99 (9.30am) -- #11 "A Touch of Curare"
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 6/19/99 (8.30am) - #107 "Chemistry"
Mon 6/21/99 (4.00pm) - #066 "Sideshow"
Tue 6/22/99 (4.00pm) - #069 "Avatar"
Wed 6/23/99 (4.30pm) - #087 "Sins of the
Father"
Thu 6/24/99 (4.00pm) - #098 "Mean Seasons"
Fri 6/25/99 - NO BATMAN
Sat 6/26/99 (8.30am) #102 "Old Wounds"
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 6/21 - (season 2/show 40) "Penguins A Girls
Friend" - Penguin & Marsha
Tue 6/22 - (2/41) "Penguin Sets a Trend"
-Penguin & Marsha
Wed 6/23 - (2/42) "Penguin's Disastrous End" -
Penguin & Marsha
Thu 6/24 - (2/43) "That Darned Catwoman" -
Catwoman
Fri 6/25 - (2/44) "Scat, Darn Cat Woman" -
Catwoman
The European satellite channel "Trouble" also
airs the 1960's show at 7am and 11am every morning.
MOVIE NEWS
**********
WORLDS FINEST - NOT HAPPENING
------------------------------
Comics2Film followed up last week's rumors of a Batman vs
Superman "World's Finest" by checking with Batfilms Productions. BP
have been producers on all the recent Batman movies and hold the option to make
future films with the character. According to Comics2Film "Our source told
us the stories were false and the project is "not happening." "
ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
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ANOTHER UNIVERSE.COM INTERVIEWS
----------------------------
The AnotherUniverse.com web site currently ahs new
interviews with
- Batman Beyond producer and writer PAUL DINI
(http://www.anotheruniverse.com/columns/animated/animated061899.html ) in which
he hints at a possible "super" visitor to Gotham in upcominf episodes
of Batman Beyond.
- Artist ALEX ROSS
(http://www.anotheruniverse.com/comics/interviews/alexross061899.html ) in
which he discusses his and Dini's upcoming BATMAN:WAR ON CRIME book.
- Plus a full length article
(http://www.anotheruniverse.com/comics/interviews/batmanbeyond.html )
discusses the BATMAN BEYOND TV show.
BAT WEB SITE UPDATES
----------------------
BATMAN: DEFENDER OF GOTHAM UPDATE - There is some more
news on the rumored "World's Finest" Batman/ Superman Movie, Also a
new Batman Script is here in the Fan Fiction section from a fine writer, Greg
Curry, The treatment is titled; Batman: Angel of Darkness. -
http://www.citynet.net/personal/batman/
DC COMICS ONLINE SCHEDULE
----------------------------
Chuck Dixon, writer of BATMAN: BULLOCK'S LAW: Monday,
June 28 at 7:00 pm EDT.
BATMAN RELATED E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS
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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
****************
BATMAN TOY & COLLECTORS PRICE GUIDE
---------------------------------
A must for any serious Batman collector. To find out more
either check out the web-site (http://www.btcpg.com ) or e-mail editor John
Mack at [email protected] . - Coming soon, the "All Action Figure"
issue.
UNOFFICIAL BATMAN ANIMATED FAN-CLUB
-------------------------------------
The club will consist of a fanzine - 'a fan made
magazine'
with news, reviews, 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 (ie - you only pay for paper and ink
costs) based in the UK but USA members are welcome too. If you would like more
information please send your name, address, phone number and e-mail to
[email protected]
MEET THE BAT-TEAM
********************
NORTHAMPTON MA - June 18
------------------------
The WORDS AND PICTURES MUSEUM lecture series draws to a
close with a lecture on "Mythology In Comics" by Batman Group Editor
- DENNIS O'NEIL at 7.00pm Friday June 18thh.
CHARLOTTE CA - June 18-20
------------------------
Celebrate Fathers Day weekend at this years HEROES
CONVENTION (www.heroesonline.com)at the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 South
College Street. Among the guests are, DICK GIORDANO, SHELDON MOLDOFF, JULIE
SCHWARTZ, DAN BRERETON, DEVIN GRAYSON, and MARK WAID.
ATLANTA GA - July 1-4
---------------------
Already confirmed as guests for this year's DRAGON*CON at
the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta is New Batman Adventures producer and writer PAUL
DINI, from the 1960's live action TV show ADAM WEST (Batman), YVONNE CRAIG
(Batgirl) and FRANK GORSHIN (Riddler) plus from the first Batman movie BILLY
DEE WILLIAMS (Harvey Dent).
CHICAGO IL - July 16-18
----------------------
This year's WIZARD WORLD show is being held at the
Rosemont Convention Center in Chicago. Among the guests announced are FRANK
MILLER and MARK WAID. A special edition of BATMAN: DARK VICTORY #0 will also be
available at the show.
SAN DIEGO CA - August 12th-15th
------------------------------
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), the creative team behind the Batman Animated
TV shows, PAUL DINI and BRUCE TIMM.
Plus, your humble GWN editor will also be in attendance.
ON THE NEWSSTANDS
****************
COMIC BUYERS GUIDE #1334 - June 11th 1999
------------------------------------------
This issue of CBG focuses on why Hollywood can't make a
good comic book movie, with numerous references to the fate of the BATMAN
franchise. Plus John Jackson Miller takes a look back to the opening of BATMAN
ten years ago.
IN THE STORES
**************
HARLEY QUINN POSTER
-------------------
On August 11 DC will be releasing a 22" x 34"
poster featuring the stunning Alex Ross
artwork from the upcoming BATMAN: HARLEY QUINN special. The poster is priced at
$6.95
NEW T-SHIRTS
--------------
Graphitti Designs has announced two new BATMAN releted
T-shirt designs. A BATMAN BEYOND logo design and an BATGIRL shirt featuring the
artwork from the cover of "Batgirl Adventures." Both are priced at
$18
BEYOND CAP
-----------
Look out for the new BATMAN BEYOND logo baseball cap. It
features the red stylized Batman Beyond "Bat" on a black background.
The cap retails for $15.95
BATMAN BEYOND WAVE II ACTION FIGURES
---------------------------------------
The second wave of BATMAN BEYOND action figures should
arrive in the stores around August and should include: Hydro-Force Batman,
Sonar Strike Batman, Power Armor Batman and bad-guy Blight.
====================================================================
HOW TO ORDER OUR NEW 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
Sample pages can be found on the web at
http://members.aol.com/gothamajp/book.htm
=============================================================================
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
===========================================================================
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/index.html)
- 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.