*************************************************************
GOTHAM
WEEKLY NEWS #99
Friday 1st
October1999
*************************************************************
WELCOME
==========
BATMAN OUTSELLS STAR WARS
--------------------------
According to figures just released by NPD Group Inc.(A
market research organization that monitors retail sales figures of toys in its
monthly Toy Retail Sales Tracking System) the various Batman lines are the
second best selling line of Action Figures for the last decade ahead of the
third place Star Wars line.
OK What's #1? I
hear you ask - The Power Rangers !!!
Here's the top 5 action figure lines of the 1990s:
1) Power Rangers
2) Batman
3) Star Wars
4) Ninja Turtles
5) GI Joe
THANKS TONY
-------------
A special vote of thanks this week to comics writer /
columnist Tony Isabella for giving us two plugs this last week in his daily
"Tony's Online Tips" web column. TOT is one of my daily reads and I
recommend you check it out at http://www.wfcomics.com/tony/
REMINDER
---------
Next week's GWN will be the last sent from this server.
In order to keep receiving GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS, you MUST REREGISTER by sending
an e-mail with the subject heading "Subscribe GWN" to our new e-mail
address
Sorry about any inconvenience this may cause.
Have a great week.
Alan J. Porter
PO Box 527
Millersville
MD 21108
USA
New e-mail: [email protected]
IN THIS ISSUE OF GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS:
=====================================
Comics Shipping Next Week
Comics News
Comics Sales Charts
TV Show Schedules
TV News
Movie News
On-Line Happenings
Batman Fanzines
Meet The Bat-Team
On The Newsstands
================================================================
COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK (October 6th)
***************************************
ANARKY #8
Written by Alan Grant; art and cover by Norm Breyfogle
and Joe Rubinstein.
Final issue. Anarky returns to Gotham City to find his
father as the offbeat series concludes. Still reeling from discovering that he
was adopted, Anarky has learned his birth father's whereabouts: He's an inmate
at Arkham Asylum. Anarky encounters a veritable plethora of Batman's deadliest
foes in Arkham -- such as Two-Face, Joker and Scar Face -- but which one is his
dad? (Note: This issue does not take place during "No Man's Land." 32
pages, $2.50)
BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #19
Written by Scott Peterson; art by Tim Levins and Terry
Beatty; cover by Bob Smith and Beatty.
A new cereal called "Eden's Own" has taken
Gotham City by storm, but there's a serpent hiding behind the all-natural
breakfast choice of millions...and her name is Poison Ivy. Now Batman has to
find out if there's more going on here than meets the eye -- or tongue. (32
pages, $1.99)
BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #124
Written by Chuck Dixon; art by Rafael Kayanan and Marl
McKenna; cover by Jordan Raskin.
There's a radical change to the power structure of
"No Man's Land." As Batman and the new Batgirl try to learn the truth
behind a pipeline out of Gotham City, a simple man selling food and secrets
might be on his way to becoming one of the most powerful men in the city. (32
pages, $1.99).
BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND Secret Files #1
Written by Chuck Dixon, Scott Peterson, Alisa Kwitney,
and various; art by Sal Velluto, Craig Rousseau, Terry Beatty, Bob Almond,
Michael Zulli, and various; cover by Alex Maleev.
Gothamite answers the desperate city's call to protect
Gotham from becoming a "No Man's Land." Huntress and many of the
major players in No Man's Land cross paths with our protagonist making the
mission harder every step of the way. Included: schematics of the new Batcaves;
and a "day in the life" segment focusing on the search for the missing
Bruce Wayne (written by Chuck Dixon, with art by Sal Velluto and Bob Almond).
Plus: "lost pages" revealing "No Man's Land: The Animated
Series" (written by Scott Peterson, with art by Craig Rousseau and Terry
Beatty); transcripts of the U.S. Senate debate that resulted in Gotham's
"No Man's Land" status (written by Chuck Dixon); profile pages, and
more. (64 pages, $4.95).
BIRDS OF PREY #12
Written by Chuck Dixon; art by Dick Giordano and Jordi
Ensign; cover by Greg Land and Brian Stelfreeze.
Guest-starring Catwoman. A not-so-simple mission goes out
of control when Black Canary hops aboard a speeding prison train full of
supervillains to prevent a breakout. Unfortunately, Catwoman's on the train --
with plans of her own -- as things race toward a very unexpected ending. (32
pages, $1.99)
CATWOMAN #74
Written by John Ostrander; art by Jim Balent and Marlo
Alquiza; cover by Balent.
Catwoman works her way back into "No Man's
Land" carrying a pair of incredibly valuable computer discs. Treachery and
danger dog her every step, and in a land where chaos reigns and laws no longer
apply, the chances of success are dismal. When Catwoman agrees to trade the
discs to someone very deadly, she finds that she's more than met her match. (32
pages, $1.99)
JLA/THE TITANS: THE TECHNIS IMPERATIVE TP
Written by Devin Grayson and Phil Jimenez; art by
Jimenez, Paul Pelletier, Andy Lanning, and Dexter Vines; cover by Jimenez.
The story that pitted the JLA against an army of Titans
is collected. Featuring a new cover by Phil Jimenez, The Technis Imperative
reprints the JLA/The Titans mini-series as well as the lead story from The
Titans Secret Files #1. When a mysterious alien being menaces the Earth, the
JLA's defensive efforts are hindered as heroes around the world -- all of them
former members of the Teen Titans -- vanish without a trace. Once the missing
heroes' wherabouts are discovered, the two teams race to battle the enigmatic
entity, but the groups' very different approaches to the situation result in
the ultimate battle: the JLA versus the Titans. (144 pages, $12.95)
COMICS NEWS
*************
ARTISTS BEHIND THE NEW LOOK BATMAN COMICS
------------------------------------------
DC's Art Director Mark Chiarello recently filled
Newsarama in on the artists and designers that have been brought to give Batman
and Gotham City their visual overhaul come January 2000. According to
Chiarello, Chip Kidd is designing the new cover designs (logo, trade dress) for
the three core Batbooks, and the rest of the contributors break down as follows
- Batman Costume, Street Police Uniform, SSWAT Police Uniform, Batmobile - Dave
Johnson. Gotham City - Scott McDaniel (including the Batcave) and Shawn
Martinbrough, Dale Eaglesham (including Wayne Manor). BatGadgets - Eliot Brown,
Dave Johnson.
WARREN ELLIS / JIM LEE ON BATMAN!
-----------------------------------
The first 8 page Black & White backup story in the
upcoming Batman: Gotham Knights title will be written by Warren Ellis and
pencilled by Jim Lee.
The story is called "To Become The Bat."
There are also rumors that these black & white back
ups will eventually be collected into a hardcover collection as was previously
done with the Batman: Black & White mini-series.
COMICS SALES CHARTS
*************************
BATMAN related titles achieved the following positions in
the Direct Market sales charts for issues cover dated OCTOBER 1999.
(Source: Wizard #99 & Comics
International #111)
5 - JLA #34 (up 2)
82,300 copies ordered.
Less than 65,000 copies ordered
19 - Batman #570 (up 10)
21 - Batman: Harley Quinn (New)
23 - Detective #737 (up 10)
Less than 50,000 copies ordered
37 - Legends Of The Dark Knight #122 (up 10)
40 - Shadow Of The Bat #90 (up 9)
45 - Nightwing #36 (=)
50 - JLA: Foreign Bodies (New)
Less than 40,000 copies ordered.
66 - Batman & Superman: World's Finest #7 (up 3)
78 - Robin #69 (=)
78 - Young Justice #13 (down 3)
81 - Batman Chronicles #18 (down 11)
89 - Catwoman #73 (down 5)
94 - Nightwing Secret Files #1 (New)
95 - Batman 80-Page Giant #2 (down 30)
Below 100 (Less than 30,000 copies ordered)
Azrael #57
Birds Of Prey #10
Batman: Gotham Adventures #17
The average chart position for the 9 regular Batman
titles in October 1999 was 48.
The ACP for the Bat titles so far this year are Jan: 61,
Feb: 68, Mar 54, Apr 54, May 56, June 50, July 55, August 48, September 51.
The Harley Quinn factor helped the Bat books this month,
with both Batman and Detective reaching their highest positions since I started
tracking the sales charts three years ago. According to Wizard, Harley helped
push the sales of the Bat group books up by more than 65,000 over last month's
total figure.
TV SHOW SCHEDULES
********************
BATMAN BEYOND
---------------
The second season of the new futuristic look at the world
of the new Dark Knight premiers soon at 9.00am (ET) Saturdays on the KidsWB!
Fri 10/1/99 (4:30pm) -- "Shriek"
Sat 10/2/99 (9:00am) #14
-- "Joyride" - NEW EPISODE
Here's WB's description of the new episode.
"A gang of Jokerz hijack an experimental,
state-of-the-art, military vehicle. Batman must stop the Jokerz rampage and
recover the stolen weapon before the "experimental vehicle" overheats
and blows up half of Gotham."
An episode guide to Batman Beyond is now available on The
GOTHAM GAZETTE web site.(http://members.aol.com/gothamajp )
In Canada Batman Beyond can be found on YTV airing at
2.30pm Saturdays and Sundays.
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
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 / Superman Adventures can be
found on YTV at 7.30 am ( 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
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.
In Italy Batman: The Animated Series shows on Italia Uno
at 2.00pm (Alternating with The Simpsons !)
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 10/4 - (Season 1/ show 29) "The Curse of
Tut" - King Tut
Tue 10/5 - (1/30) "Pharoah's in a Rut" - King
Tut
Wed 10/6 - (1/31) "Death in Slow Motion" - The
Riddler
Thu 10/7 - (1/32) "Riddler's False Notion" -
The Riddler
Fri 10/8 - (1/33) "Fine Finny Fiends" - Penguin
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 &
tlevision) at 10.15 A.M.
TV NEWS
*********
BATMAN BEYOND EPISODE LIST
----------------------------
The excellent Comics Continuum web site has obtained a
rundown of shows No. 14-36 of Kids' WB!'s Batman Beyond episodes. Most, if not all of these episodes, will air
during the second season of Batman Beyond. "Joyride" is scheduled for
this Saturday, "Earth Mover" and "Splicers" have already
aired.
SHOW #14 -- "Joyride"
A gang of Jokerz hijack an experimental, state-of-the-art,
military vehicle. Batman must stop the Jokerz rampage and recover the stolen
weapon before the "experimental vehicle" overheats and blows up half
of Gotham.
SHOW #15 -- "Earth Mover"
A monster - capable of manipulating earth - appears in
Gotham to reclaim his human daughter from the man who is responsible for
turning him into a mud-creature.
SHOW #16 --"Splicers"
Terry goes undercover to expose a scientist who is using
advanced gene manipulation - splicing - to give animal traits to humans in
order to create the perfect gang of teenage henchmen.
SHOW #17--"Lost Soul"
The "virtual" soul of a deceased communications
mogul takes control of Terry's Batsuit. When the villain plans to download his
virtual brain into the brain of his own grandchild, a powerless Terry has to
fight his own suit to save the boy.
SHOW #18 - "Bood Sport"
The Stalker - a cybernetically enhanced wild animal
hunter - grows bored with Big Game and goes after the only challenge left in
the world: Batman.
SHOW #19 -- "Hidden Agenda"
Fellow high school student "Max" (Maxine)
learns that Terry is Batman, when he saves her from the threat of a vengeful
Joker.
SHOW #20 -- "Once Burned"
Batman/Terry's emotional resolve is put to the test when
an old girlfriend, who also happens to be the notorious Ten of the Royal Flush
Gang, reverts back to a life of crime. The situation becomes further
complicated when he learns that she's being forced to steal to save her family
from kidnappers.
SHOW #21 -- "Hooked Up"
Batman has to come to Max's rescue when she becomes
addicted to a virtual reality world that is controlled by Spellbinder.
SHOW #22 -- "Rats!"
Batman must protect Dana from a dangerous secret
admirer... a lonely teenage outcast who lives underground with giant mutant
rats as his only companions.
SHOW #23 -- "Mindgames"
A young girl with eerie psychic powers mentally contacts
Batman and begs him to save her from the nefarious clutches of a secret
organization known as "The Brain Trust."
SHOW #24 -- "Revenant"
After a series of unexplainable events, all the kids in
Terry's class think that the ghost of a dead student is haunting their high
school. But Terry is skeptical, and he eventually proves that Willie Watt, a
former classmate who has developed psychokinetic powers, is causing the eerie
occurrences.
SHOW #25 -- "Babel"
Shriek returns, throwing Gotham into chaos with a device
that distorts all sound waves, making communication impossible. In exchange for
normalcy, Shriek demands a ransom of Batman's life.
SHOW #26 -- "Terry's Friend Dates A Robot"
One of Terry's friends - Howard Groote - tries to impress
the in crowd by dating a beautiful girl who is actually an extremely advanced
robot. Things get out of hand when her programming goes haywire and she trashes
his house before Batman can finally shut her down.
SHOW #27 -- "Eyewitness"
Because Commissioner Gordon thinks she sees Batman
involved with the untimely death of Mad Stan, Batman must run from the law.
Fortunately, Bruce uncovers the truth and proves Batman to be innocent: the
murder was a hallucination, engineered by Spellbinder.
SHOW #28 -- "Zeta"
Batman joins forces with the military to recover a
robotic assassin, until he discovers that the robot has escaped the
government's clutches because it no longer wants to be a killing machine.
Batman jumps sides and helps the robot escape.
SHOW #29 - "The Last Resort"
A number of Terry's classmates are being sent off to a
new innovative "tough love" boarding school. When Chelsea becomes one
of them, Terry discovers the place is being run more like a medieval prison
than a school.
SHOW #30 - "Final Cut"
Bruce is out of town and incommunicado when Curaré - the
assassin - returns to Gotham. With Max's help, Batman is able to capture Curaré
and disarm the assassin's bomb just in time.
SHOW #31 - "Armory"
When the father of one of Terry's friends is laid off
from his lucrative research and development job, he develops a super-powered
suit in his backyard workshop and turns to a life of crime.
SHOW #32 - "Sneak Peek"
A gossip reporter acquires the technology to become
"incorporeal" and walk through walls. Becoming the ultimate peeping
Tom, he discovers Batman's identity and threatens to reveal it on national
television.
SHOW #33 -- "Plague"
Stalker returns, this time in the employ of the U.S.
government. Batman reluctantly joins forces with his former enemy, Stalker, to
hunt down a wily criminal named False Face, who has stolen a dangerous virus
for a criminal organization called KOBRA.
SHOW #34 - "Eggbaby"
Because of an assignment in Family Studies class, Batman
must chase down a gang of thieves - Ma Mayhem and her sons - while caring for a
computerized egg baby.
SHOW #35 - "April Moon"
Batman must battle a gang of criminals who have been
given bionic enhancements by a noted medical scientist.
SHOW #36 -- "Payback"
A new vigilante, who calls himself Payback, begins taking
revenge on the tormentors of troubled teenagers.
ANNIE AWARD NOMINATIONS
------------------------
This years "Annie," (The Animation equivalent
of the Oscars) nominations have been announced and include several for BATMAN
related shows:
- Outstanding
Achievement in Animation Television Program - Batman Beyond and New Batman/ Superman Adventures
- Outstanding
Achievement in Writing in Animation Television Program - Batman Beyond ("Rebirth")
- Outstanding
Achievement in Storyboarding in a Animated Television Program - Batman Beyond ("Blackout
- Outstanding
Individual Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Television
Program - New Batman/Superman Adventures
("Legends Of The Dark Knight")
MOVIE NEWS
***********
PHANTASM ON DVD ?
------------------
Rumor has it that WB is planning to release the only
animated Batman theatrical movie on DVD early next year. Apparently Batman:
Mask Of the Phantasm is scheduled for a January 2000 release date.
ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
*******************
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
****************
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 [email protected]. -AVAILABLE NOW the "All Batmobile" 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
********************
KANSAS CITY KS - October 2-3
------------------------------
Planet Comiccon II (http://www.planetcomiccon.com ) is
being held at the Overland Park International Trade Center and guests include
GENE HA and RICK BURCHETT.
NOVI MI - October 23-24
-----------------------
Guests for the Motor City Comic Con
(http://motorcityconventions.com )on Oct. 23-24 at the Novi Expo Center will
include DEVIN GRAYSON, JOHN OSTRANDER and MARK WAID.
COLUMBUS OH - November 27-28
----------------------------
The Mid-Ohio-Con (http://www.midohioncon.com )celebrates
its 20th Anniversary this year at the Adam's Mark Hotel. Guests include DAN
BRERETON, MARK WAID and TONY ISABELLA
ON THE NEWSSTANDS
*****************
WIZARD #99 - October 1999
-------------------------
This month's Wizard sports a terrific cover by Alex Ross
depicting Batman surrounded by his rogues gallery.
- "War
Journal" is a behind the scenes look at Alex Ross' work on the upcoming
Batman: War On Crime special.
- "Bring On
The Bad Guys" spotlights what's in store for comics top villains over the
next 12 months. Included are Catwoman, Joker, Ra's Al Ghul and Two-Face.
- "Basic
Training" is by ALFRED AWARD winning artist Scott McDaniel and includes a
sketch of Batman doing his grocery shopping !!
====================================================================
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 #33 can be found at
http://members.aol.com/gothamajp
This month:
* Art Gallery - Batgirl in the spotlight
* Alfred Awards for 1998
* Comics -NML The Missing Chapter.
* Comics Shipping In July & August.
* Classic Comic Revisited - BATMAN Movie Adaptations .
* Fan Fiction - Highlander / Batman cross-over continues.
* Movies - "Year One", "World's
Finest" or "The Joker" ?
* Quiz Page - BATMAN: The Movie
* Trivia Page -More Elseworlds Batmen discovered
* TV - Full Episode Guide to Batman Beyond Season 1 .
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/ )
- 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 - 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 & 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
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