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Batman The Animated Newsletter #82

Batman The Animated Newsletter #82

Batman: The Animated Newsletter
Weeks of December 18 – December 24, 2000
Volume 3,
Rated: PG for some “low-key coarse language and occasional griping”

THIS ISSUE’S SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: “ONE FACE, TWO-FACE, RED FACE, BLUE FACE.”
(Long live Dr. Seuss!)
________________________________________________________
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BATMAN STYLE!
(by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton

Scarecrow: “Twas the fright before Christmas.”
Riddler: “And that was a fact.”
Creeper: “Not a Creeper was stirring.”
Penguin: “‘Cept that Flyin’ Rat.”

Lock-Up: “The lockdown in place, Gotham won’t recieve a scare.”
Joker: “Hoping I don’t return this Christmas to catch them unaware.”

Scarface: “Us inmates were nestled all snug in their cells.”
Mr. Freeze: “Visions of tragedy and heartbreak making our dreams hells.”

Catwoman: “With I, in my lyrca, I take a long nap.”
Mad Hatter: “And I cannot rest, for I’ve lost my cap.”

Clayface: “I rolled out of bed and caused such a splatter.”
Scarface: “I giggled in glee, amused gy the matter.”

Harley Quinn: “I’m starving in here. Got any Who-Hash?”
Poison Ivy: “Oh shut up, Harley, or I’ll give you a rash.”

Killer Croc: “The moon, it seeped through my jail-cell bars.”
Maxie Zeus: “I’m picking up something…do I hear a…car?”

Two-Face: “Then out of the blue, lo and behold, appear.”
Joker: “The Bat and his farm-team, and at us they sneer.”

Baby-Doll: “Keeping us in check, and they did it so quick.”
Bane: “I knew right away it was Bruce, Tim, and Dick.”

Phantasm: “They gusted in here like a puff of smoke.”
Rupert Thorne: “And sickly, the leader named each, ev’ry bloke:”

Batman: “Now Richard! now Timmy! now Barb’ra and Clark!
On Jimmy and Alfred, advance ‘to the dark!
To the top of the hill, soar over the wall!
Now, dash away, dash away, dash away, all!”

Penguin: “Oh God, he brought that boy scout from Metropolis, too?”
Firefly: “Quick, set a fire in the fire-place, flew!”

Two-Face: “Gawking out my window, I saw them arrive.”
Mr. Freeze: “They come down on us like there’s no snow in July.”

Riddler: “I questioned the noises I heard on the roof.”
Penguin: “We’re speaking in rhyme – this poetry’s a spoof.”

Bane: “With each little footprint, my anger arose.”
Mr. Freeze: “Gulping in horror, I sat up and froze.”

Scarecrow: “Swivelling in my rocking chair, I turned around.”
Poison Ivy: “Sitting tightly and silent, rustling leaves th’only sound.”

Clayface: “He was dressed up as Santa – the cowl still in tact.”
Joker: “Harvey Bullock’s the only man that I know is that fat.”

Harley Quinn: “A bundle of toys he had tucked in his belt.”
Catwoman: “You wouldn’t believe how wonderful both his pecs felt.”

Maxie Zeus: “His eyes, they both narrowed, with the likeness of Hades.”
Creeper: “Oh, I wonder if he got me a Mercedes.”

Two-Face: “The face – that chin – looked familiar somehow.”
Rupert Thorne: “His presence causes sweat to soak through my brow.”

Ra’s Al Ghul: “The cape that he wore was black like the night.”
Scarecrow: “Ensuring all evildoers be faced with a fright.”

Penguin: “As he wandered down the hall, we all returned the sneer.”
Killer Croc: “I’d throw a rock at him if I had one in my cell, here.”

Catwoman: “He was rippling with muscles, broad shoulders, how sweet!”
Scarface: “Oh quiet down, Kyle, you sound like a dog in heat.”

Harley Quinn: “Monolithic in size, not a jolly old elf.”
Joker: “I laughed when I saw him, cuz he wouldn’t, himself.”

Riddler: “With the glare of his eye, and the twist of his head.”
Lock-Up: “He’s coming for ME, all the inmates did dread.”

Ra’s Al Ghul: “He spoke not a word, the Detective while at work.”
Two-Face: “And put things in our stockings – maybe he wasn’t a jerk.”

Poison Ivy: “And leaving the cellblock as quick as he came.”
Firefly: “He removed himself pronto – geez, that was lame.”

Harley Quinn: “And we all had at look at the presents he brought.”
Joker: “I seem to be the only one for whom he did not.”

Mad Hatter: “I got some mouse ears.”
Penguin: “I got a singing ‘Billy Bass’.”
Scarecrow: “I got BLAIR WITCH 2 – damn, this movie sucks a**.”

Two-Face: “I’m not the proud owner of Playstation TWO.”
Riddler: “I have a copy of RIDDLE OF THE MINOTAUR just for you.”

Poison Ivy: “I got a dancing flower – that is sooo ‘nineties’.”
Harley Quinn: “Oy to the world! I got a harmonica! I’ll sing for ya, Red, alrighty?”

Maxie Zeus: “Disney’s HERCULES? I absolutely ABHOR this version!”
Talia: “What is this, a joke? I got the single for Madonna’s ‘LIKE A VIRGIN’.”

Scarface: “I got a Muppet.”
Killer Croc: “I got a pet rock. Lame.”
Bane: “I got an autographed photo of the wrestler of the same name.”

Catwoman: “A saucer of milk? But this has expired!”
Baby-Doll: “Please quiet down, Baby-Doll is soooo tired.”

Creeper: “No Mercedes for me, I just got some candy.”
Clayface: “Ahhh, sucks to that! He got me some brandy!”

Mr. Freeze: “He delivered to me, the necklace of my wife.”
Joker: “Oh, shut up all of you, and just get a life!”

Harley Quinn: “Mistah J, you can play with my harmonica, too.”
Two-Face: “Just don’t think I’ll be so kind with sharing my PS2.”

The Mad Hatter: “With our presents distributed, he sprang to his car.”
Riddler: “And drove to his cave located afar.”

Penguin: “But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight.”
Two-Face: “Merry Christmas TWO all, and TWO all a good night!”
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

-BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR ‘RETURN OF THE JOKER’ GIVEAWAY! SCROLL DOWN TO JUST BELOW OUR EPISODE REVIEW FOR DETAILS!

-WE HAVE ALSO INCLUDED OUR FORM FOR THE “GOLDEN OVAL AWARDS”, OUR VERSION OF THE “BEST/WORST OF 2000” POLLS THAT ARE RUNNING RAMPANT ACROSS THE NET RIGHT ABOUT NOW. BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN AND VOTE – THERE JUST MIGHT BE A CERTAIN UNEDITED VIDEO IN IT FOR YA!

-NOTE: Even though this newsletter is set to cover the dates of December 18-24, it is unlikely there will be a delivery on the 25th. That said, expect of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER to be delivered on either December 26th or 27th.

Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
-editor extraordinaire
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EAGERLY ANTICIPATING…
New episodes are on the horizon! Here’s what we can expect in the near future…

UNMASKED
Batman Beyond #??
Air date: ???
Synopsis: A little kid gets a glimpse of the face under the Batman mask.

COUNTDOWN
Batman Beyond #??
Air date: ???
Synopsis: Zeta and Mad Stan return.

THE CURSE OF KOBRA (Pt. 1, 2)
Batman Beyond #??, ??
Air date: ???
Synopsis: This two-part episode features a villain named Kobra.
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KIDS WB ANIMATION SCHEDULES:
(courtesy of Brian Cruz and/or the official BTAS/STAS site)

Kids’WB! currently airs BATMAN BEYOND five or six times a week. Batman airs on weekday afternoons Monday-Friday, as well occasionally Friday morning before Pokemon. Remember, Kids’WB! is notorious for switching schedules around at the very last minutes. Batman Beyond currently airs at 11am (ET) on Saturdays and 4:30pm (ET) on weekdays.
Check out these links if our schedule is not 100% updated:

http://www.ktla.com/backstage/programming/KIDSWB.htm
http://www.geocities.com/worldsfinestpage/airdate.htm
http://www.toonzone.net/shows

NOTE:
If our schedule is not updated, then go to the following URL. It will ALWAYS contain the most up-to-date schedule possible.
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Taping/2928/airdate.htm

THIS WEEK:
Mon 12-18-00: NONE

Tue 12-19-00: B-BEYOND #20 Once Burned

Wed 12-20-00: B-BEYOND #25 Babel

Thu 12-21-00: B-BEYOND #09 Spellbound

Fri 12-22-00: B-BEYOND #19 Hidden Agenda

Sat 12-23-00: B-BEYOND #46 The Call (Pt. 1)

All episodes #86 and onward of BATMAN are considered THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES while the original 85 are considered BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS) episodes.
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CANADIAN EPISODE SCHEDULE
(BATMAN and BEYOND on YTV)
(courtesy of our friends at YTV)

YTV currently has the rights to air all 109 episodes of Batman, as well as the current 52 episodes of Batman Beyond. YTV usually airs these episodes in either chronological order, or in the original order they aired on Kids’WB! and FOX. Batman now airs at 3:30am Monday – Friday. (Actually, more correctly, they seem to be airing them at 3:40 am – go figure.)
If our schedules are not updated or are inaccurate, please use these links:

http://www.geocities.com/worldsfinestpage/epsched.htm
http://www.ytv.com/ytvguide

WANNA GET BTAS ON AT A BETTER TIMESLOT ON CANADIAN TELEVISION?
(courtesy of subscriber “Carlos O”)

“The current BTAS timeslot is too late for me and I’m sure it is for many others. I tried e-maling them asking if that timeslot was going to change and they said they can’t change it for now. However, if they recieved enough demand to move the show to an earlier timeslot, they would definitely consider it – that’s what they said. It’s kind of hard for me to let this oportunity go by since this is the only way many of us can catch this show (as most Canadians don’t receive the CARTOON NETWORK).”

That’s a very good point, Carlos. If there are any Canadian Bat-fans reading this that want BTAS to be back on at a more reasonable timeslot (it used to be on at 7:30 am and then it was moved to Noon), go to http://www.ytv.com, then to the HELP section, and then to the CONTACT US section. E-mail them (politely but in a demanding manner) and hopefully something will be done!

Anyhow, the original BTAS series is still airing, and it will be shown as follows:

NEXT WEEK:
Mon 12-18-00: BTAS #86 Holiday Knights

Tue 12-19-00: BTAS #09 Be a Clown

Wed 12-20-00: BTAS #26 Appointment in Crime Alley

Thu 12-21-00: BTAS #07 P.O.V.

Fri 12-22-00: BTAS #02 Christmas with the Joker
_____________________________________________________________________
THE CARTOON NETWORK

Cartoon Network has the right to air all 109 Batman episodes, as well as all 54 Superman episiodes. Come September, Cartoon Network will begin airing these. Shows. Batman currently airs during the weekday Toonami block at 6:30pm (ET). Superman will soon have a set airdate as well. Since Cartoon Network is unpredictable with their schedules, we are unable to keep up with them. Please, use these links to find out the schedule information you need:

Here is where you can find an air date schedule:

http://alt.cartoonnetwork.com/Schedule/1,2989,CTN|0|306587|Eastern,00.html

Or, if that doesn’t work, go here:
http://www.geocities.com/worldsfinestpage/airdate.htm
_____________________________________________________________________
EPISODE REVIEW: (SPOILERS!)
(by Justin Chen and/or Zanna)

All of Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton’s reviews of the new-style BTAS episodes and BATMAN BEYOND can be found via these links, which link to “Two-Face’s Tower of Tranquility and Terror”:

MAIN PAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFace/index.html
BTAS PAGE: http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFaceText/bats.html

The creative team for this column alternates between Zanna and Justin Chen, two loyal subscribers and great friends of ours here. Any other reviews printed here are written by editor Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton. Enjoy!

Just as in , we are providing a review of BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER. However, this time it is co-editor Dick Grayson doing the honours, and it is of the unedited version. Enjoy!

DA REVIEW:

BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER is one of those movies that make it great to be a Batfan. Batman is one of the few characters who is actually perceived best in the cartoon format (excluding the comic) than any other of the huge media formats that have tried their hand at him. Movies? As we got to BATMAN & ROBIN, you can just tell they didn’t care about the property one bit, especially with that nipple fetish. The Cartoons got him dead on. First Batman. Then Superman. The the futuristic animated Spin-off, Batman Beyond. This movie can count as either the first Batman Beyond movie, or the third animated Batman movie, after BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM and BATMAN & MR. FREEZE: SUB-ZERO. I like to count it as a movie all on it’s own, foregoing and comparisons to the two other animated movies starring the original Dark Knight. But since they threw in the flashback seqeunce, I just gotta.

The movie starts out with Batman foiling a Jokerz heist, but it’s a new gang who have been stealing big pieces of technological equipment, not the usual cashcards and jewelry – but why? Batman is able to foil them in a spectuacular fight scene in which Batman just takes down the thugs that keep on coming. I like the fact that these Jokerz didn’t fall after one punch, but kept on coming back, as well as double teaming him. One the TV show usually they fall one by one, but these guys just kept on comin’, and they get away, too – but without their machines and whatnot.

We have a couple brief scenes in between the next action peice. There is a brief scene in the cave where it’s revealed that Bruce is back as the head of Wayne Powers, after Paxton’s departure in KING’S RANSOM; series newcomer Jordan Pryce isn’t too happy about that either, since he was next in line. Terry then heads out to the clubs with Dana where he promptly falls asleep. When then cut back to the Jokerz gang’s hideout and meet their new leader – none other than the Joker himself! It seems he’s back (and tanned, rested, and ready to give this town a wedgie again) and he means business. After some resistance from Bonk (which he pays for), he is ready to head out and attempt to get that equipment he needs, and after reading a computer readout on the places that have it, he knows exactly where he wants to get it.

The Joker attacks the party help for Mr. Wayne by WaynePowers, but it serves only as a distraction for part of the Jokerz gang to successfully steal the peice of equipment they need. Bruce Wayne is stunned seeing the Joker alive and they meet face to face. Batman arrives on the scene to scare off the Joker and his crew.

What follows next is the most intense fifty minutes of just about any movie I’ve seen. Everything, save the fate of Nightwing, is revealed. What happened to Tim, Joker, Batman, all of them. It’s nice that the flashback is done in the newest animated style; TMS animated it beautifully. Even the Joker/Robin seqeunces are done to near perfection. Another thing that is absolutely astounding about this movie is its musical score. Kristopher Carter is able to provide us with a mix of techno and classical music, so deftly intertwines that in some moments, they blend togethor with the best of ease.

Paul Dini has written a killer script for the movie, and the script hits every mark exactly how it should. It impacts on emotion, on action and suspense, and on drama. He also got the Terry/Dana relationship just right, I think. I think they interacted perfectly in the club scenes, and you can get a sense that they have a beautiful relationship, but it’s just holding on by a thread. That one small thing can break the relationship. Throughout the series the relationship has been strained constantly, and they even split once, and inexplicably got back together.

The Jokerz gang is the first one that’s actually scary and intimidating. Every Joker in this group have their own unique attribute which they use deaftly, and they are able to use each other’s strenghts as well. The opening battle betwen Batman and the gang reflects this, although I was dissapointed how they handled themselves in the last battle. And, my god, the show off between Joker and Batman (both of them) just have to be seen to be believed. Dini made this so perfectly tense and they just keep going, never losing a step.

This movie is the things that dreams are made of, and you can’t miss it. I’m rarely excted so much about a simple movie, but this movie is just superb. Don’t miss it.
___________________________________________________________________

EDITORIAL
(by…uh…we’ll get back to you on that)

No! Really! We promise we’ll have a new editorial for the next issue!
(Doesn’t anyone want to submit one! Anyone?)
___________________________________________________________________
‘RETURN OF THE JOKER’ GIVEAWAY

We have a contest, just in time for Christmas! We’re trying to get people both more involved with the newsletter AND want to help them out at the same time. That said, we’re offering anyone that participates in our NO MAN’S ISLAND column a chance to win unedited copies of RETURN OF THE JOKER.

The way it works is as follows: vote for the two characters you’d like to vote off the island. Of the characters that are being cast off or even nominated in that particular issue, we will randomly select one of these characters for our contest. Anyone who voted for this character will be entered into a draw, according to the e-mail address from which their ballot was recieved. Every issue, we will randomly select one e-mail address (from a hat, to make it fair) and that participant, if willing, wins a copy of the unedited movie!

It is only possible to win once; you may vote for NO MAN’S ISLAND as often as you like, but you will only be entered into our RETURN OF THE JOKER giveaway if you are a subscriber and have not already won a copy in a previous voting session.

If the selected winner for whatever reason declines, the will be another draw for that same week. Each e-mail address can only win once! The catch? The winner, if agreeing, must provide a tape and enough money to cover postage ($5 American) of the tape to and from their place of residence. There will be no extra profit for us at BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER (as that would be illegal) or anything. We just want to get this movie out to more people as it’s not going to be definately released on tape just yet.

NOTE: I am not promoting the act of bootlegging videos and making a profit from it, I am merely looking for the cost of the tape and postage, so fans will be able to view the movie as it was supposed to be.

That said, let’s get voting! (And make sure to read the NO MAN’S ISLAND section below.)
___________________________________________________________________
NO MAN’S ISLAND
ROUND EIGHT
(the SURVIVOR rip-off…erm…homage)
(by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)

Wow. We’ve been getting feeds from Gotham non-stop since we last met – they’re coming from nearly every contestant that’s remaining on the island. You’re in store for a lot this time. Hold on!

…A WALTZ DOWN MEMORY LANE…

A WORD FROM THE CAST-AWAYS:
ZATANNA: “I’m glad I’m gone. No one ever truly appreciated me on this island. I’m taking this act to Vegas; perhaps they’ll let me in act the opening act for Wayne Newton.”
THE HUNTRESS: “Ugh…I can’t believe I was voted off…this is because you’ve never actually SEEN me in the animated continuity, have you? Argh…such ignorance. B&RA#19, people! Don’t you ever read? You’re making this Professor Bertinelli very, very upset.”

* * * * * * * * * *

AND WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE:

“HARRRRRRRRRVEY! Get out here! Come on come on come on!!!” RAT TAT TAT TAT TAT TAT TAT TAT

The Joker has single-handedly taken over the “lightweight” group, led by Scarface, nearly killing Arnold Wesker in the process. He is currently being held in a cell at the GCPD Headquarters under surveillance by Commissioner Gordon and his crew; oddly, the Scarface puppet has gone missing. The Joker has acquired all of Scarface’s ammunition and has, apparently, waged a one-man war against former ally Two-Face, apparently as comeuppance for their brawls in the earlier rounds of the game.

“Come on, arent’cha gonna come out and face me man to man to man????”

Two-Face was out of the building; only the recent additions to the Supa-Freakz – the Riddler and the Mad Hatter – were at City Hall at the time. Who knows if they’ll be able to hold off the Insane Clown Posse or not…

“So…” the Penguin said directly to us on the outside, “you have the inkling that I haven’t done anything of note yet in this game? That’s far from the truth. Don’t you remember when I got SHOT right off the bat? But I digress.” And he chewed on his cigarette holder a wee bit more. “Come here. I have a secret. Don’t be telling anyone this.” Duh – of course we’re interested. Come on, tell us you waddling fool. “It’s all going to hit the fan in matter of minutes.”

Oh really, Oswald? Is that so? I haven’t seen Catwoman out and about – and we all know she’s connected to you somehow. Come on, at least give that one to us.

In unrelated news, the Ventriloquist, Arnold Wesker, has been reported to be behaving well in his cell. “He’s been very well behaved, with the exception of a few times when he’s pined away for that puppet of his,” Commissioner Gordon said. “Montoya’s in charge of taking care of him, and Anne’s been more than helpful in calming him down. He seems to be really taken by her – almost speechless.” I asked if I could get Anne to comment on the scenario, but she declined. “Oh, she’s complaining about a frog in her throat – she doesn’t sound herself today, so I doubt she’ll be doing any interviews. You know women.” And Montoya quickly jabbed him in the ribs. And Bullock just laughed.

“How are we coming along, father? I do not see any reason for this procrastination. Why don’t we just start the process now?”

“Talia, my dear daughter, we must be patient,” Ra’s Al Ghul cooed in a slithery voice. “The Detective would catch on too quickly. Besides, Isley hasn’t completed her forumla yet.” He looked across the cavernous room at her. “Any success?”

“Nearly there, Ra’s…this is amazing stuff we have here.” With the flick of her gloved fingers, Ivy sent a tiny spray of liquid towards a table about ten feet away from her; as it hit the wood, it collapsed in two and immediately deteriorated. “Whoa.”

“Excellent,” Ra’s cackled gleefully.

“Looks ready enough to me, father.”

“It does. It is. But we have one loose end to tie up first, and that will take some more of our time.” Talia sighed as her father proved her wrong; she was anxious to get this ball rolling. A low rumble then rolled through the chamber. “Ahhh, Bane, you’ve returned. Any success?”

“I have managed to get the waddling buffoon to confide everything in me. What is his will be ours within a mere matter of days.”

Killer Croc has been spotted moping about in the northern regions of Gotham island. Apparently upset that his co-hort Man-Bat has been killed (actually, more correctly, eaten), Croc claims that he no longer has a reason to live. He’s not suicidal it would seem, but he does not care what happens to him from herein; he ran into Alfred at the MASH unit and was actually somewhat calm. Pennyworth told repeated these words of Croc to ours. “Look, I know you’re connected to the Bat somehow. I’m not as stupid as I pretend to be. Level with me on this – am I right? I need to talk to him.”

Of course, Pennyworth didn’t outright deny Croc’s allegations, but he was not going to share any secrets with him. Croc eventually gave up and left; Pennyworth promptly left and headed back up to where the Batsquad’s secret headquarters is. Croc, who was hidden about two blocks away, stealthly followed him.

As soon as he was out of sight, a body was depositted on one of the cots there. The one that brought the body was unavailable for comment, though we do have a pretty good idea who that was.

* * * * * * * * * *

AND AFTER AN EIGHTH ROUND OF VOTING…

Jervis Tetch, the Mad Hatter, crept up behind the gun-toting Joker, slipping a mind-control chip out of his sleave. “I’M GETTIN’ BORED, MAN!!!!” the Joker hollered between blasts. “OLLY OLLY OX ‘N FREE!!!” The Mad Hatter jumped at the Joker, grabbed him by the shoulders, and tried to balance one of his chips between his ear and his head. The Joker screamed in surprise and threw the tiny man to the ground. “Ohhhh, it’s nervous Jervis. How nice for you to drop in.”

Tetch tried to run for it, but Mistah J grabbed him by the lapels and threw him down on the ground, resting his foot upon his chest. “I’m insulted. I’m dismissed from this group – my own girl casts me away – and I’m replaced by the likes of YOU? How do you think MY ego feels?”

A shade of green shifted in the corner of his eye. “Oh, come on, say it isn’t so.” The Joker got up off the ground, the Mad Hatter still under his foot. “It just gets worse and worse,” he said in mock humility, shaking his head. “Edward, that isn’t you over there, is it?” The Riddler knew that he’d been spotted. As the crazy clown had dropped his guns on the ground, the Riddler felt it was relatively safe to creep out of his hiding place within the shattered foyer of City Hall.

“What do you want, Napier?”

“Shhhh! That’s a secret, no one’s supposed to know that!” the Joker said, almost as a mockery of himself. “So kids,” he said, looking at his prey, “where’s Harvey? He and I have a date and I would JUST DIE if he cancelled again.”

“He’s not here right now,” the Riddler said matter-of-factly, clutching his question-mark cane like a bat. “Remove yourself immediately or else…”

“Or else what?”

The Riddler swung his cane and hit the Joker across the back; he doubled over in pain and fell on the ground. The Mad Hatter jumped up to his feet and cautiously went in for the kill, mind control at the ready. The Joker suddenly arose and kicked the miniscule little man in the gut, tossing him across the street. “Too easy. Now Eddie, I need you to deliver a message to your boss…” He pulled a handgun out of his jacket and shot him in the gut; the Riddler collapsed, and the Joker grabbed his cane and beat him unconscious. Pulling out a stick of lipstick, he leaned in over his victim. “Smylex is soooo much easier to use. I’ve taken that stuff for granted all this time,” he said to himself. “But I need you alive for the time being, son – so make daddy proud. We two all come from the same genepool anyway, don’t we?” He pushed Edward’s lips together to make them pucker, and slathered them with the lipstick.

“And you, Jervis…” the Joker said, retrieving a hat-box he had left around the corner. He pulled out the Scarface doll he had stolen from Wesker and threw it into City Hall, as if to create a diversion. “Welcome to your new home.” He stuffed the petite rodentesque body of the Mad Hatter into the hat box and smiled to inwardly. “Couldn’t have planned it better myself.”

As the Joker left the scene to whatever abandoned candy factory, toy store, aquarium or comedy club he was currently using as a hideout, clouds of smoke quickly engulfed him; an uneasy silence followed.

Killer Croc followed Alfred back to…Arkham Asylum? Intrigued, the wily crocodile followed the gentleman’s gentleman into the cavernous facility; after an hour of stumbling about in the underground labrynth, he discovered, lo and behold – a cave. A cave filled with chasms and craggily rocks and…computers? Curiousity getting the better of him, Croc ambled over to the computer and started typing away at it; the words “Access Denied” flashed on the screen. “Damn screen saver.”

Batman crashed down on his head, the force of his bodycheck forcing the giant foe into the side wall of the cave. “BATMAN!” Batman jumped at him again before he could attack, going straight for the face. “No…” Croc said, taking all of Batman’s blows, not fighting back. “No. NO!” He kicked Batman out of the way and growled. “I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.”

“GET,” Batman growled, spitting as he did. “OUT.”

Croc reverted back to barbarian mode and attacked Batman with all his might, punching, kicking, slamming, throwing, spinning, and whatnot; Batman managed to kick him away, and Croc fell over the edge of one of the many chasms. The Bat quickly ran over to the edge of the precipice and looked down at Croc, hanging onto an outcropping with one hand. “Give me your hand.”

“Like hell. I don’t need you. I just wanted to talk.”

“So talk.”

“Well…ahhh…” he groaned as his grip on the rock slipped, “I picked something up on the
street the other day…about your little bird boy there…hoped to cut you a deal, but…” His
voice was quickly cut off.

“Croc. Tell me,” Batman said, leaning even further over the chasm wall for Croc’s massive hand. Then, without warning, a large rock casaded down from above, hit Croc’s hand, breaking it instantly, not to mention the outcropping to which he was holding, and sent the massive body to the depths below with a low howl. Batman quickly whipped around and looked up behind him; Mr. Freeze stood at a higher level of the cave, arms outstretched.

“We had to rid ourselves of him. He would have only caused problems.”

Batman scowled at the emotionless Freeze as he walked off to the chamber where his wife was kept; he began to regret bringing him into the Batsquad.

Anne suavely looked down at her watch, humming to herself. Walking up to Rene Montoya, she said, “Hey R’nee, it’s lunch time. I’ll watch Wesker here while you and the Commish take a break.” Rene knows this is against policy, but decided to let it slide, as Anne had proved herself to be a respectable, though slightly odourous, character; when she left for lunch, Anne peered through the bars and pestered the sleeping body of Arnold Wesker.

“Hey…yo, dummy. Wake up!” she said, trying to imitate Scarface’s voice. Wesker jolted in his sleep, then slowly turned about, putting on his foggy glasses with a yawn. “Com’ere, I’ve got something to show ya,” she said in a seductive voice while licking her pouty lips.

Wesker sat still at the side of his cot, shuddering as he warmed up to the temperature of the room. “What’s that?” he stuttered.

“It’s a surprise. Come on, I’m not gonna bite ya, get over here.”

Wesker shifted his glance left and right; no cops were in sight. He sighed and shuffled forward, approaching the bars. “OK, what is it?”

Anne grinned and – to Wesker’s disgust – seeped through the bars. As she spoke, her voice quickly deepened and her pale trim physique exploded into a hulking, mucky mess. “This is it. Surprise.” Clayface’s likeness emerged out of Anne’s body and, before Wesker could scream for help, encases his tiny frail body within his. “Mmmmm…I couldn’t keep up that charade for much longer.”

BURP.

Clayface stood within the Ventriloquist’s cell and grinned; he seeped into the cracks of masonry in the wall and slithered through the walls of the Gotham City Police Department to the luncheon room down the hall; he couldn’t wait for another meal.

“Yeeeeesssssss,” the Penguin said within his penthouse office at the Iceburg Lounge, his hands folded while clucking his tongue. “It’s all falling into place.”

* * * * * * * * * *

ROUND EIGHT

Kicked Off:
KILLER CROC (21.1%)
THE VENTRILOQUIST/SCARFACE (19.7%)

Those whom you DID vote for, but they’re still hanging around:
THE PHANTASM (17.1%)
THE MAD HATTER (10.5%)
TALIA (6.6%)
RENE MONTOYA (3.9%)
THE PENGUIN (3.9%)
CLAYFACE (3.9%)
BATMAN (2.6%)
HARVEY BULLOCK (2.6%)
BANE (1.3%)
NIGHTWING (1.3%)
HARLEY QUINN (1.3%)
THE JOKER (1.3%)
RA’S AL GHUL (1.3%)
BATGIRL (1.3%)

And now, here’s our up-to-date list of contenders.

BATMAN
ROBIN
BATGIRL
NIGHTWING
ALFRED
COMMISSIONER GORDON
DET. HARVEY BULLOCK
RENE MONTOYA
THE JOKER
THE PENGUIN
CATWOMAN
THE RIDDLER
TWO-FACE
POISON IVY
THE SCARECROW
MR. FREEZE
THE MAD HATTER
BANE
HARLEY QUINN
CLAYFACE
RA’S AL GHUL
TALIA
THE PHANTASM

* * * * * *

Congratulations to our subscriber at karl.nyce@sanchez.com for winning a copy of RETURN OF THE JOKER! Now don’t forget to vote, the rest of you!

E-mail juno@dccnet.com with your votes of the TWO you’d like to see cast off. Remember, we need TWO choices! (I stress that again. TWO!)

PS – Voting for this issue closes at midnight (PST) on December 24, 2000.
___________________________________________________________________
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED TRIVIA
(by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)

This is one of my favourite sections, where I get to boggle the minds of all our readers!
(Mwuhahaha!) This trivia is all animated-related in some form, and can deal with ANY aspect of the show or comics based on the show. Remember, answer the questions WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ANIMATED CONTINUITY. Now have fun – let’s see how well you do! Answers are provided below.

456. In order of debut date, what was the first episode to feature a character’s full name in the title?

A: THE CAT AND THE CLAW (Pt. 1)
B: THE MAN WHO KILELD BATMAN
C: JOKER’S FAVOR
D: TWO-FACE (Pt. 1)
E: ZATANNA

457. In order of debut date, the first BATMAN BEYOND character’s name to be featured in an episode title was:

A: Inque
B: Blight
C: Batman
D: The Stalker
E: Ace

458. Which of the following characters has NOT appeared in a Batman/Superman crossover in the animated continuity?

A: Lex Luthor
B: Nightwing
C: The Penguin
D: Maxie Zeus
E: Ubu

459. What was the title of the story that can be found in the pages of “BATGIRL ADVENTURES #1”?

A: “Breaking Out on her Own”
B: “Shadow of the Bat”
C: “Girl Power!”
D: “Oy to the World”
E: “Green with Envy”

460. In what BTAS episode do we first see any sign of the existance of Arkham Asylum?

A: TRIAL
B: HEART OF ICE
C: FEAR OF VICTORY
D: RIDDLER’S REFORM
E: MAD AS A HATTER

461. Presently, where does the Penguin call home?

A: Arkham Asylum
B: Blackgate Prison
C: Waddlesworth Mews Retirement Facility
D: Mr. Freeze’s latest hideout, on loan of course
E: The Iceburg Lounge

462. Which of the following BATMAN BEYOND villains have NOT appeared in the mainstream Batman comics continuity in some format in the past 61 years?

A: The Stalker
B: Blight
C: Spellbinder
D: The Royal Flush Gang
E: Inque (calling her a Clayface knock-off doesn’t count!)

463. In which BTAS episode can Goofy’s (the Disney character, y’know?) famous “YAH-HOO-HWEE” scream be heard?

A: THE LAUGHING FISH
B: HARLEY’S HOLIDAY
C: THE STRANGE SECRET OF BRUCE WAYNE
D: SECOND CHANCE
E: WORLD’S FINEST (Pt. 3)

464. Which of the following characters that debuted during BTAS’ second season (the “Adventures of Batman & Robin” phase in 1994/95) have NOT appeared more than once since?

A: Boxy Bennett
B: Charles Baxter
C: Grant Walker
D: Any members of Baby-Doll’s on-screen family
E: Vinny “the Shark”
F: Lock-Up

465. Who is Nora Crest?

A: One of Summer Gleason’s scoopers
B: A student at Hamilton Hill High School
C: Nora Fries, after she was healed and remarried
D: Two-Face’s plastic surgeon
E: A character Paige Monroe played on screen
_____________________________________________________________________
AND THESE ARE OUR FINAL ANSWERS (to the trivia)

Answer to #456: C
Answer to #457: A
Answer to #458: B
Answer to #459: D
Answer to #460: B
Answer to #461: E
Answer to #462: A, E
Answer to #463: C
Answer to #464: E
Answer to #465: D
_____________________________________________________________________

LITTLE FACTS AND BLOOPERS
(by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)

Here is a section that just points out various little facts and bloopers that we have noticed while watching BTAS, STAS and BEYOND countless times. If you have anything to contribute, feel free to do so! Enjoy!

CONTRIBUTED BY STAFF:
We got nuthin’.

CONTRIBUTED BY OTHERS:
You are also lacking something, therefore having nothing. As far as bloopers go, anyway.
____________________________________________________________________
MERCHANDISING: WHERE THE REAL BAT-CASH IS MADE
(by anyone willing to contribute)

Oh come on, it’s Christmas! Isn’t there ANYTHING Bat-related out there that we haven’t reviewed yet?
____________________________________________________________________
COMIC REVIEWS
(BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)
(BATMAN BEYOND by Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton)
(SUPERMAN ADVENTURES by Dick Grayson)

BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES
ISSUE: “World Without Batman” (#33)
WRITTEN BY: Ed Brubaker
PENCILS: Brad Rader
INKS: John Lowe
ISSUED: December 1 3, 2000 (Cover date Feb 2001)
RATING: ***** (out of 5 stars)

I can’t believe what a delightful surprise , “World Without Batman” was. I had nearly no knowledge of the storyline before it came out, and what I read was amazing!

Though I thought the ironic meeting of Bruce and Selina was great – it shows that they were destined to cross paths regardless where their lives took them – as well as an adult Bruce’s interactions with his living parents (that was very touching), what I enjoyed the most was when the Phantom Stranger gave Batman a look at what Gotham would be like if Batman never existed.

Everyone that Batman has touched personally has changed, and a number of characters remain very similar. Brubaker did a terrific job in taking on these characters in a completely new light.

Dick, unable to be taken in as Bruce’s ward, grows up to be a shifty carny running jobs for Tony Zucco in his spare time.

Tim, unable to be saved from the mob that wiped out his father, is taken in by not Batman but his arch nemesis the Joker of all people and becomes his right-hand man. (Considering their “relationship” in “RETURN OF THE JOKER”, I found this to be quite ironic, but very saddening at the same time.)

The Joker himself is still an evil clown that loves mayhem (Batman would never be able to prevent that), but he doesn’t have the same obsession over killing just one man any more.

Selina Kyle? Completely reformed? It would appear so.

Two-Face, though still looking normal, is a shifty DA that works on the wrong side of the law. I was looking forward to see how Comissioner Gordon and Barbara were going to be treated, and it was nice to see that they were the only two good cops left in town.

The finale was terrific. I didn’t read into it that much to begin with, but Dick, Tim, Babs, Jim, Harvey and the Joker all come to a head (particularly where Dick and Tim are THIS close to blowing each other away) in the climax of the story; I never saw that coming! And Bruce just casually says “Good heavens, what a mess.” Oh Bruce, you airhead playboy, you.

Brubaker knows just what to keep as is, and what to spin on its ear in this story – I can’t finish praising what a delightful little read this issue was!

;-Y
______________________________________________________________
COMIC SCHEDULES & COVERING THE BASICS

This section gives a little bit more in-depth look into each monthly issue of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES and BATMAN BEYOND. Below each comic listing is a link to the cover of that comic. TALK ABOUT SERVICE!

The price for any of these issues, unless otherwise posted, is $1.99 in the US and…grrrrr…a whopping $3.25 (or higher) in Canada. (Both our editors and many subscribers are Canadian, hence the “grrr”.)

If we are unsure of the exact date of when an issue is being released, just check out “DIRECT CURRENTS” at http://www.dccomics.com for details.

-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #34
January 3rd
Synopsis: After several citizens of Gotham City mysteriously disappear, Batman’s search leads to the maniacal Maxie Zeus! But what would Maxie want with carpenters and stonecutters? Why, to rebuild Rome, of course.
Cover: Unavailable

FOLLOWING MONTH:
Synopsis: Bruce Wayne finds himself on the jury of a man he helped capture, and worse yet, the perpetrator is about to go free! What can Bruce possibly do that Batman can’t?
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0011/14/BGothAd35.jpg

BATMAN BEYOND #16
December 27th
Synopsis: Homeless men have been mysteriously disappearing from Gotham’s streets, thanks to the international terrorist group known as Kobra. But as Batman investigates, he quickly goes from hunter to hunted – and Bruce must somehow infiltrate Kobra to free the captured hero.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0009/19/BB16.jpg

FOLLOWING MONTH:
Synopsis: A former classmate comes back looking for revenge after being brushed off by Dana. But Batman Terry McGinnis won’t let one hair of Dana’s head be harmed, even if it means being swamped by rats.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0010/17/BB17.jpg
_____________________________________________________________________
NEWS AND RUMORS

ALL-ENCOMPASSING/OTHER
-An interview with Jeph Loeb regarding DARK VICTORY can be found here:
http://www.fandom.com/master_site/Editorial.asp?obj_id=247008&aff_id=0
-An interview with Mark Hamill regarding RETURN OF THE JOKER can be found here:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0012/14/hamill.htm
-Keep watching MuchMusic and MTV, Bat-fans! Mephisto Odyssey’s music video for “Crash” is now airing, and it features a number of shots from RETURN OF THE JOKER within the video.
-The following artists are selling artwork on eBay. The following are their names and Seller ID’s:
Terry Beatty: beatty@machlink.com
Craig Rousseau: cerousseau
Tim Levins: tlevins
Min S. Ku: min3000gt

ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS, STAS, BEYOND)
-BATMAN BEYOND has not been cancelled for next season (2001-2002), though it is still unconfirmed if new episodes will be produced or not; if not, expect a number of the current season three episodes to be held over. Either way, BEYOND will be on the programming block next season.
-In related news, THE ZETA PROJECT may be debuting in January. (I doubt it.)
-Regarding the forthcoming JLA series, CINESCAPE and COMICS2FILM had this to say:
Long rumored, now details of the developing series have turned up on Comics 2 Film. One of the site’s sources close to the production revealed what the line-up of the DC Comics super hero team supreme will be. Here’s what C2F reports the roster will be:
SUPERMAN: Portrayed as a natural leader. He’s a bit of a boy scout, but without being cheesy about it.
BATMAN: The show will play up the Dark Knight’s detective skills as opposed to the brooding, somber creature-of-the night take that’s been used in the other animated shows.
WONDER WOMAN: The Amazon princess angle will be emphasized. Wonder Woman is new to man’s world. She sometimes displays a condescending attitude towards others.
THE FLASH: The Flash is Wally West under the mask. The character is more a mix of West and Bart Allen/Impulse. The Flash is seen as a fun-loving, impulsive guy.
GREEN LANTERN: This Green Lantern is John Stewart. He’s been hand-picked by the Guardians to be the Green Lantern for this sector. Stewart has spent a number of years in space and only recently returned to Earth. He sees himself as a very experienced cop and tends to look down on the rest of the JLA as amateurs. He has little understanding or tolerance for earthly prejudices and petty injustices.
MARTIAN MANHUNTER: The last survivor of an underground Martian race. Martian Manhunter is the only one who lives in the JLA watchtower full time.
HAWKGIRL: A member of the Thanagarian police. Hawkgirl is transported to Earth by a mysterious beam (we’re told it’s not called a zeta-beam in the show, but it’s basically the same concept).
She has deductive skills that even Batman is impressed by, but also has that warrior woman side to her.
In addition, C2F reports that the team will operate out of a satellite orbiting the Earth. Aquaman will make an appearance, though he will not be a part of the program’s regular team. Expected villains include the Manhunters, Despero and Vandal Savage.

ANIMATED COMICS
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #35
Bruce Wayne finds himself on the jury of a man he helped capture, and worse yet, the perpetrator is about to go free! What can Bruce possibly do that Batman can’t?
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0011/14/BGothAd35.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #36
Written by Scott Peterson; art by Tim Levins and Terry Beatty; cover by Bob Smith and Beatty Guest-starring Superman! The Man of Steel is tracking down a Metropolis mobster who`s hiding out in Gotham, but he needs the help of Gotham`s hometown hero on his search! Besides, only Batman knows where to get the best Italian food in Gotham at 4 a.m.!
Ships March 7, 2001.
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages249711.jpg
-BATMAN BEYOND #17
Written by Hilary Bader, art by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh, cover by Brian Stelfreeze.
A former classmate comes back looking for revenge after being brushed off by Dana. But Batman Terry McGinnis won’t let one hair of Dana’s head be harmed, even if it means being swamped by rats. Ships January 31, 2001.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0010/17/BB17.jpg
-BATMAN BEYOND #18
Written by Hilary Bader, art by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh, cover by Brian Stelfreeze.
With the Stalker’s help, Blight returns to terrorize Future Gotham.
Ships February 28, 2001.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0011/14/BB18.jpg
-BATMAN BEYOND #19
Written by Hilary Bader; art by Craig Rousseau and Rob Leigh; cover by Brian Stelfreeze Ma Mayhem`s boys, Carl and Slim, have just busted their dear old Ma out of jail so they can spend some time with her – oh, and perhaps plan a kidnapping or two! This dysfunctional family is up to no good, and it`s up to Batman to put an end to their family reunion!
Ships March 28, 2001.

OTHER COMICS
-Canadian comic prices are going up, which is odd considering the exchange rate and the American prices haven’t changed. Apparently, this could happen as soon as this coming Wednesday. Anyhow, here’s a list of what the prices WERE and what they WILL be:
$3.50 now $3.75
$3.95 now $4.25
$4.50 now $4.85
*-The following 7 issues are all a part of DC’s ” This Issue: BATMAN DIES!” promotion this December. (That’s right! Batman dies in every one of the following issues in some way.)
-Bane appears in BIRDS OF PREY #26
-Two-Face and Montoya are again the focus of DETECTIVE COMICS #753.
-The Joker appears in ROBIN #85.
-Mr. Zsasz appears in GOTHAM KNIGHTS #12.
-Catwoman appears in NIGHTWING #52.
-The Penguin in BATMAN #586.
-Cain re-appears in BATGIRL #11.
-The Rucka/Loeb Detective Comics/Superman crossover is described as this:
Batman returns to terrorize President Lex Luthor, demanding he hand over the Kryptonite Ring in SUPERMAN #168 (due out March 7). In DETECTIVE COMICS #756 (due out March 21), Lois Lane enlists in Batman’s help to continue with his quest, but Superman stands in his way.
Cover for SUPERMAN #168: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages249720.jpg
Cover for ‘TEC #765: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages249707.jpg
-Batman/Matches Malone’s hunt for the Ventriloquist/Scarface continues in part two of the three part “Close Before Striking” in BATMAN #589.
-LOTDK #141: The conclusion of the 5-part “Terror.” The Scarecrow unleashes the ultimate deathtrap for Batman, in the Horror House redesigned with only one purpose – to destroy the Dark Knight! But the Scarecrow hasn`t counted on Hugo Strange who rises from the dead yet again to kill both Batman and Scarecrow.
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages249706.jpg
-BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #15: Poison Ivy escapes Arkham and heads for a “Save the Rainforest” benefit where she decides to take a few hostages — including Robin`s father, Jack Drake! When Batman and Robin arrive, they find the hostages now under Ivy`s control — and ordered by Ivy to attack!
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages249708.jpg
-The fifth and final tradepaperback reprinting the NO MAN’S LAND saga (featuring the return of Lex Luthor and rampage of the Joker in SHELLGAME and ENDGAME) will be available in March 2001.
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages249715.jpg
-DETECTIVE COMICS #755: All the GCPD says farewell to one of Gotham’s Finest – including Two-Face – but it can’t be long before he causes problems again. Oh, Bruce and his bodyguard are there, too!
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0011/14/Det755.jpg
-Double Dare, the Penguin, and Nightwing all appear in GOTHAM KNIGHTS #14. Oh, and look – Paul Dini is writing the back-up story!
-HARLEY QUINN #6: Harley attempts to rob Bruce Wayne. (The cover makes it look like a Riddler issue, though. Hmm.)
Cover: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages249717.jpg
-Be on the lookout for ROBIN #87 – Batman and Robin have a tiff!
-ROBIN: YEAR ONE #4
The final chapter in the saga of young Dick Grayson. Robin’s healed, but Two-Face remains at large, and a city-wide manhunt is falling woefully short. While Harvey Dent is on the loose, Robin must prepare himself to face the man who nearly killed him during their first encounter. But when Robin takes things too far, a life hangs in the balance and Robin must question the sanctity of his actions.
Cover: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0010/17/RobinYO4.jpg

MOVIES
-THE UNCUT VERSION OF RETURN OF THE JOKER MAY BE APPEARING ON VIDEO SHELVES AFTER ALL! (taken from DARK HORIZONS):
Well the official word has come down from the head of WB Animation to Aint it Cool about the chance of the uncut version popping up sometime on DVD next year: “Definitely STILL a chance, we won’t have an answer till after the first of the year. We already have meetings scheduled to discuss this issue with Warner Home Video and that hope is still very much alive. I really hope we can do something with the original version and we should know right after the first of the year one way or another”.
-The Batman Beyond website, now up and running, (www.batmanbeyond.com) will be adding interactive features that include a 10-minute “Return of the Joker” preview Webcast, a soundtrack sampler, a clip from the music video, interactive arcade games, character biographies, weekly contests and sweepstakes for chances to win great prizes, questions for the creators, chat events and much more. (All the previous movie info was taken from Alan J. Porter’s “Gotham Weekly News” newsletter)
-For a list of all the cuts made to the edited version of RETURN OF THE JOKER, go here:
http://www.geocities.com/bbeyond/rotjcuts.html
-And for pics of three very important cut out scenes (I won’t spoil what they are), go here:
http://www.geocities.com/wfnewspage/bbrotjc1.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/wfnewspage/bbrotjc2.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/wfnewspage/bbrotjc3.jpg
-For an article on the history of this travesty, go here (there are lots more pics there, too!)
http://filmforce.ign.com/news/1716.html
-In other related news, Paul Dini has begun writing a preliminary screenplay for a second direct-to-video BATMAN BEYOND movie (therefore being the fourth animated Bat-movie.) EON MAGAZINE spilled the beans: “Dini, who wrote the troubled Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, revealed, ‘I’m in the middle of writing up an outline for another Batman Beyond that we are going to look at. I don’t know if we are going to put it into production, but I know [Warner Bros.] Home Video is really interested in at least looking at the story and a screenplay for another one. As far as release date, there’s nothing set. But you never say never.'” Perhaps this will feature Dick Grayson, as many fans are anticipating?

*BATMAN BEYOND: LIVE ACTION NEWS:
-No new news here.

*BATMAN: YEAR ONE (BATMAN 5) NEWS:
-Read a new interview with Darren Aronofsky here:
http://www.fandom.com/batman/editorial.asp?action=page&obj_id=248753

LIVE ACTION TELEVISION
-No new news here.

EXCLUSIVE INTERNET ENDEAVOURS:
-The eighth GOTHAM GIRLS webisode entitled “Three Babes” (it’s a Goldilocks parody) can be found at http://www.gothamgirls.com
-The ninth GOTHAM GIRLS webisode entitled “Lady X” can also be seen. It features…get this…all the gals in the sauna. Yeah. Might as well go take a look, huh?

TOYS, BOOKS, AND OTHER MERCHANDISE
-Two prints by ALEX ROSS will be out for sale by DC Direct on March 7, 2001. One will be the picture seen on the cover of BATMAN: HARLEY QUINN (from Aug 99), and the other will be the one used by WIZARD magazine, featuring Batman being surrounded by 10 of Arkham’s worst inmates. Both are 10″ x 13″.
-A Batman poster by Alex Ross will be available on April 25, 2001, for only $7.95.
Here’s a picture: http://www.fandom.com/multimedia/Batman/Images/BatmanImages249721.jpg
-A statue of The Demon is due out on June 20, 2001. Here’s a picture:
http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0011/14/DemonFig.htm
-BATMAN: OVERDRIVE, the new BTAS-based game for PSX and N64, puts you in the driver’s seat of the Batmobile, Batcycle, and many other Bat-vehicles. You even get to play as any of the villains, should you desire to do so! It features (in no particular order), the Joker, Harley Quinn, Mr. Freeze, Two-Face, Clayface, Poison Ivy, the Scarecrow, Killer Croc, the Penguin, the Mad Hatter, the Ventriloquist/Scarface, Calendar Girl, Roxie Rockett, Firefly, Catwoman, and Bane. Go to the following link to see some shots of the villain lineup, some shots of Batman persuing the Joker, and the exit to the Batcave.
http://www.gamespot.co.uk/pc.gamespot/driving/batov_uk/preview.html
-BATMAN: TOTAL CHAOS will be available for Game Boy Colour on January 18, 2001. It is based on the NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES style (BTAS), and allows you to play as either Batman or Batgirl vs. Two-Face, Bane, Poison Ivy, and the Joker (among others) over 18 levels. (Judging by the pics I’ve seen, you’ll also encounter Mr. Freeze, the Penguin, and maybe even Killer Croc.)

SPECIAL NOTE
For more BATMAN, SUPERMAN, AND BEYOND news throughout the week, check out the WORLD’S FINEST NEWS PAGE at:
http://www.geocities.com/bbeyond/news.html
____________________________________________________________________
FEATURED BAT-SITE FOR THIS ISSUE
(feel free to submit your own for our consideration)

???
____________________________________________________________________
ANIMATED BATMAN/SUPERMAN SITES:

* – indicates a shameless plug for a site a certain double-faced editor created with his bare hands – in other words, a cheap advertising technique.

OFFICIAL SITES
—–
THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES
http://www.batman-superman.com
BATMAN:THE ANIMATED SERIES
http://www.batmantas.com
BATMAN BEYOND
http://www.batmanbeyond.com
BATMAN BEYOND VIDEO SITE
http://www.batmanbeyondvideo.com
YTV’S BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES PAGE
http://www.ytv.com/shows/batman_animated/
YTV’s BATMAN BEYOND Page
http://www.ytv.com/shows/batman_beyond/
GOTHAM GIRLS
http://www.gothamgirls.com
SUB-ZERO: THE DEFINTIVE GUIDE
http://www.batman-subzero.com
KID’S WB
http://www.kidswb.com
DC COMICS
http://www.dccomics.com
BATMAN: DEFENDER OF GOTHAM
http://www.fandom.com/batman
KTLA KIDS WB SCHEDULES
http://www.ktla.com/backstage/programming/KIDSWB.htm
TOON ZONE
http://www.toonzone.net
PSYCOMICS
http://www.psycomics.com
RAVING TOY MANIAC
http://www.toymania.com
VOICE CHASERS
http://www.voicechasers.org

UNOFFICIAL SITES
—–
*TWO-FACE’S TOWER OF TRANQUILITY AND TERROR
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/TimTwoFace/index.html
BATMAN, SUPERMAN, & BEYOND: THE WORLD’S FINEST DISCUSSION CENTER
http://welcome.to/worldsfinest
THE DISCUSSION CENTER (same as above)
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Taping/2928/boards.htm
BRIAN CRUZ’ WB CARTOON PAGE
http://www.toonzone.net/brian/index.html
BATMAN UK (BRIAN’S BATMAN PAGE)
http://www.batmanuk.freeserve.co.uk
RA’S AL GHUL’S THE LAZARUS PIT
http://zap.to/lazaruspit
THE DARK KNIGHT
http://www.darkknight.ca
BATMAN BEYOND: WELCOME TO THE FUTURE
http://www.batmanbeyond.net
TIM WAN’S BATMAN BEYOND
http://come.to/batmanbeyond
DCU ANIMATED
http://www.DCUAnimated.zzn.com
BRUCE TIMM ARCHIVE SITE
http://www.eurocompton.net/brucetimm
BATMAN ANIMATED: THE UNOFFICIAL FAN CLUB & FANZINE
http://www.batmanuk.freeserve.co.uk/club/
HARLEY’S HAVEN OF HEDONISM
http://www.harley-quinn.com
GOTHAM CITY LIMITS
http://www.batman.gexner.net
THE RIDDLER – EDWARD NYGMA’S PUZZLE WEBSITE
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/prospero.milan/nygma
THE BATMAN ACTION FIGURE PAGE
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Boulevard/7659/
CHARACTERS ON THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN & ROBIN
http://www.xse.com/leres/batman.html
ARKHAM ASYLUM
http://animation.acmecity.com/saturday/352
JOKERZ TERRITORY
http://members.xoom.com/Jokerz84/index.htm
THE BATZONE
http://www.batzone.cjb.net/
JLA: THE ANIMATED SERIES
http://animation.acmecity.com/character/375
ANIMATED TALES
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dunes/2294/at
A TRIBUTE TO BATMAN
http://www.angelfire.com/ny2/russkafin/batman.html
ANIMATED STYLE ARTWORK ARCHIVE
http://hjem.get2net.dk/twt/asaa/home.html
BATMAN CEL SITE
http://animation.acmecity.com/carbon/111
DARK JUSTICE
http://www.mania.com.au/~grahark/darkjustice/
ROGUE AVENUE, GOTHAM
http://www.ultros.com/rogue_avenue
THE BATMAN BEYOND INFO PAGE
http://www.rogue-spear.com/BB
THE VAULT
http://dmoz.org/Arts/Animation/Voice_Actors

NEWSGROUPS
—–
news:alt.comics.batman
news:alt.animation.batman
news:alt.comics.superman
news:rec.arts.sf.superman
news:alt.tv.cartoon-network
news:rec.arts.animation
news:alt.animation.warner-bros
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QUESTIONS, SUBMISSIONS, AND FAN-MAIL

If you have any questions, problems, links do not work, or anything else, then please e-mail this address with your problems and we’ll try to fix them as soon as possible. Also if you’d like to send any fan-mail then please send it to this address:

juno@dccnet.com

As for submissions, feel free to submit an article or opinion on anything pertaining to BTAS. Keep in mind that as the editors, we have the right to edit your submissions if we deem it necessary. Such instances would include problems with length, grammar, and language. If we do feel we must edit something, however, we will do our utmost to ensure that the opinion and the basic message of the submission does not change, as that is the most important part of any article, and everyone is entitled to it. And if you do submit something, please don’t just submit a basic review of an episode or a comic or something (because we have people writing for those purposes already) – write about an issue you’d like to discuss.
____________________________________________________________________
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED ARCHIVES

The very kind people at TOONZONE were nice enough to give us our own little section of their huge and diverse website. The archive contains past newsletters and is semi-regularly updated with the latest one. To check it out go here:

TOONZONE’s BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
http://www.toonzone.net/wbc/newsletters/btan
____________________________________________________________________
LIKE WHAT YA SEE? WANNA SUBSCRIBE? HERE’S HOW!!!

For those of you who are seeing this at the WBC HOMEPAGE BTAN ARCHIVES section and want to subscribe, just follow these simple instructions:

To subscribe email juno@dccnet.com, put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line, and put the e-mail address you’d like the newsletter to be sent to in the body of the message.

For more information about the newsletter just email juno@dccnet.com Thank you for your time, and thanks for reading! Tell your friends!

-Tim TWO-FACE Leighton and Dick Grayson, editors
____________________________________________________________________
TO ALL GOOD THINGS…
…there must be an end. We would like to thank the endless amount of contributors for contributing their editorials, columns, news, jokes, reviews and other articles. We hope you’ve all enjoyed it as much as we’ve enjoyed making it! Thank you for reading! See ya next time!

CREDITS FOR BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER

EDITOR AT COLLEGE, NOT IN A DORM: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
EDITOR AT COLLEGE, BUT IN A DORM: “Dick Grayson”
AIR DATE SCHEDULES: Brian Cruz, RiddlerWB (at the official BTAS/STAS site), and YTV.com
EPISODE REVIEWS: Zanna/Justin Chen, and occasionally Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
EDITORIAL: Help Wanted
COMIC REVIEWS: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton, Dick Grayson
NO MAN’S ISLAND: SURVIVAL IN GOTHAM: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
‘RETURN OF THE JOKER’ GIVEAWAY: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
MERCHANDISE REVIEW: Various
“BTAN ARCHIVES” MODERATOR: Eileen Delgadillo
TRIVIA: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
PROMOTIONS AND JUST GETTIN’ THE WORD AROUND: Dick Grayson, Eileen Delgadillo, Brian Cruz, Brian Davis
THOSE WHO FILL IN FOR OTHERS WHEN THEY FOUL UP:-Y Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
DELIVERY: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
E-MAIL RECEPTION HANDLING: Tim “TWO-FACE” Leighton
THE CREATION OF THIS NEWSLETTER INSPIRED BY: Alan J. Porter
BATMAN CREATED BY: Bob Kane & Bill Finger (who else?)

Batman and all related indicia are trademarks of DC Comics, Copyright c 2000.
___________________________________________________________________

2000 “GOLDEN OVAL AWARDS” POLL FORM

Alright! Fill this out and e-mail it right back to juno@dccnet.com if you’d like to be included in our poll for the best and worst of 2000! We must recieve entries by January 6, 2001, as results will be posted in , delivered on January 8, 2001. And, why not, we’ll select one of our voters to win a copy of RETURN OF THE JOKER here, too.

BUUUUT you can only vote once!

NOTE: No episodes of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES are eligible, and only BATMAN BEYOND episodes that came out in 2000 (BABEL was the first (Episode #25), and they continued on from there) will be considered. Do NOT include RETURN OF THE JOKER in this section; ROTJ has its own section of the form later on.

As for the comic series’, all issues of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES from #22-33 are eligible, and all issues of BATMAN BEYOND from #4-15 are eligible. For the BTAN section, Issues #51-83 are eligible. (Long live the archives!)

THE REALMS OF THE ANIMATED UNIVERSE
#1. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” EPISODE
#2. WORST “BATMAN BEYOND” EPISODE
#3. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” DESIGN
#4. WORST “BATMAN BEYOND” DESIGN
#5. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” VOICE
#6. WORST “BATMAN BEYOND” VOICE
#7. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” MUSIC SEQUENCE
#8. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” VISUAL EFFECTS
#9. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” ‘GOOD GUY’
#10. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” VILLAIN
#11. WORST “BATMAN BEYOND” ‘GOOD GUY’
#12. WORST “BATMAN BEYOND” VILLAIN
#13. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” WRITER
#14. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” DIRECTER
#15. BEST “GOTHAM ADVENTURES” COMIC
#16. WORST “GOTHAM ADVENTURES” COMIC
#17. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” COMIC
#18. WORST “BATMAN BEYOND” COMIC
#19. BEST “GOTHAM AVENTURES” COMIC COVER
#20. BEST “BATMAN BEYOND” COMIC COVER
#21. BEST “BTAS/BEYOND” ACTION FIGURE OR OTHER PIECE OF MERCHANDISE

RETURN OF THE JOKER
#22. BEST ACTION SEQUENCE
#23. BEST SCENE
#24. BEST CHARACTER DESIGN
#25. BEST PLOT TWIST/REVELATION
#26. BEST VOICE ACTOR
#27. BEST MUSICAL SEQUENCE
#28. THE CUT MADE TO THE FILM THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITH
#29. THE CUT MADE TO THE FILM THAT DROVE YOU CRAZY
#30. SHOULD THE FILM HAVE BEEN CUT TO BEGIN WITH?
#31. WAS ROTJ A GOOD MOVIE, IN YOUR OPINION?
#32. NOW THAT TERRY HAS DEFEATED THE JOKER, DO YOU SEE HIM AS A WORTHY SUCCESSOR TO BRUCE WAYNE AS BATMAN?

THE MAINSTREAM COMIC BOOKS
#33. BEST OVERALL CHARACTER
#34. BEST HERO
#35. BEST VILLAIN
#36. WORST HERO
#37. WORST VILLAIN
#38. BEST STORY-ARC
#39. WORST STORY-ARC
#40. BEST SINGLE-ISSUE STORY
#41. WORST SINGLE-ISSUE STORY
#42. BEST MINI/MAXI-SERIES
#43. BEST WRITER
#44. WORST WRITER
#45. BEST ARTIST
#46. WORST ARTIST
#47. FAVOURITE MOMENT OF 2000

BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER
#48. BEST ONGOING ARTICLE/SECTION
#49. WORST ONGOING ARTICLE/SECTION
#50. WHAT YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE MOST IN EACH ISSUE
#51. WHAT YOU LOATHE THE MOST IN EACH ISSUE
#52. WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST HELPFUL?
#53. WHAT STILL NEEDS SOME TWEAKING?
#54. ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ISSUES?
#55. SHOULD WE HAVE MORE CONTESTS?
#56. BEST “BTAN” ISSUE

Batman The Animated Newsletter #82

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