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GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS #157
Friday July 13th 2001
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Hi folks –
It’s been a busy week news wise this week, especially on the movie and TV fronts, so I won’t keep you here.
Read on and enjoy the news.
Next Friday we’ll be right in the middle of the San Diego Comic-Con so the next issue of GWN may be a few days late as we round up all the Bat news from the con.
As always have a great week.
Alan J. Porter
PO Box 3523
Ramona
CA 92065
USA
E-mail: gothamajp@home.com
http://www.gothamweeklynews.com
Don’t forget to check out our ongoing eBay auctions under UserID – forestcomics.
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IN THIS ISSUE OF GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS:
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Comics Shipping This Week – In stores July18th
Comics News – .Batman Gets Tense
TV Show Schedules - Batman Beyond for next 2 weeks
TV News – Justice League premiere date
Movie News – Batmobile back on silver screen this year !
In The Stores – WB Stores closed by October
Meet The Bat-Team - SDCC panels.
On-Line Happenings -
Fanzines & Fan-Clubs
Order The BATMAN Collectors Guide (Back in Stock)
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COMICS SHIPPING THIS WEEK ( July 18th )
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BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #19
Written by Chuck Dixon and Mark Schultz; art by Dick Girodano and Claudio Castellini; cover by Brian Bolland
What's it like to be a small-time hood in Gotham City, with the spectre of the Batman haunting every street corner, alleyway and rooftop in the city? Follow a mook named Titus as his truck-jacking scheme is unhinged by "The Factor of Fear" — by guest writer Chuck Dixon (NIGHTWING, ROBIN) and guest artist Dick Giordano (BATMAN: HOLLYWOOD KNIGHT). Plus, a black-and-white backup "The Call," written by Mark Schultz (SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL) and illustrated by Claudio Castellini (DC VS. MARVEL). (40 Pgs, $2.50)
JLA: TOWER OF BABEL TP
Written by Mark Waid, D. Curtis Johnson, Christopher Priest, and John Ostrander; art by Howard Porter, Steve Scott, Mark Pajarillo, Pablo Raimondi, Eric Battle, Ken Lashley, and various; cover by Porter and John Dell
After causing all language everywhere to read like meaningless babble, Ra's al Ghul begins picking off the JLA members one by one. The JLA unravels even further when the Leaguers discover a betrayal by one of their own. TOWER OF BABEL collects JLA #42-46, as well as stories from JLA Secret Files #3 and JLA 80-PAGE GIANT #1. (160 Pages, $12.95)
ROBIN #92
Written by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty; art by Manuel Garcia and Andrew Pepoy; cover by Pete Woods and Pepoy
Robin returns from the Himalayas and has his first run-in with Batman and Spoiler since the Dark Knight betrayed Robin's secret. Tim's long absence from school explodes in his face, prompting a visit from his father. Meanwhile, Spoiler faces her personal nightmare when…oh, read the book to find out! (32 pg, $2.25)
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COMICS NEWS
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BATMAN GETS TENSE
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Newsrama recently poster a movie style promotional image from writer Joe Casey and artist Cully Hamner's upcoming Batman mini-series Tenses.
A two-issue, 64pp, prestige-format limited series edited by Bob Schreck, Hamner and Casey and the rest of their creative team - Dexter Vines (i), Sean Konot (l) and Lee Loughridge (c) - are shooting for a mid-2002 release.
"Well, without giving too much away, Tenses is about two guys," explained Hamner in the accompanying Newsrama story "Bruce Wayne, who is trying to mold his past and present into something he can use, and Ted, an abject loser who's desperately trying to avoid a horrible future encroaching all around him.
"It's basically a 'Year Two' story, in which Wayne (who's only been back in town for about a year, after traveling the world) is causing a big stir among the Gotham elite with some unusual business practices. Nobody seems to know why he's doing the things he's doing (selling major assets, laying off workers, closing businesses). We can assume, of course, that he's getting all his ducks in a row, in order to finance his just-beginning 'war on crime'. But he's doing all this without considering that he might be creating the kinds of conditions that actually cause more crime." Enter Ted. "Ted is the kind of guy that you feel sorry for in your heart, but you can't help tripping every now and then," continued the artist. "Born loser. Nothing about this says that he will ever be successful in anything. His father left and started a new family when he a little kid; all he had left was his mother, who has recently died, and his job at a department store. And he has visions. Visions of the future. Did I mention that? Anyway, these visions start to drive him off the deep end. He loses his job (apparently due to drastic layoffs mandated by the store's corporate owner, Wayne Industries), and eventually ends up on the street to be used by unsavory types for unsavory ends.
"Enter Batman. And that's all I'm saying,"
concluded Hamner with a chuckle.
BATMAN’S DIME ADVENTURE
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The latest Newsrama also has an extensive article on the upcoming BATMAN: 10 CENT ADVENTURE event. The article covers this innovative DC idea from three angles:
- The creative team
- The business angle
- The retailers view
Check it out at http://www.comicon.com/newsarama/
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TV SHOW SCHEDULES
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BATMAN 1960s SHOW
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The Sci-Fi Channel is once again running special days with continuous blocks of the classic 1960s Batman TV show staring Adam West.
Next block will be shown on Monday July 23rd.
Featured episodes will be:
11:00 am The Thirteenth Hat -pt 1
11:30 am Batman Stands Pat -pt 2
12:00 pm The Minstrel's Shakedown -pt 1
12:30 pm Barbecued Batman -pt 2
1:00 pm I'll Be A Mummy's Uncle
1:30 pm Minerva, Mayhem And Millionaires
2:00 pm An Egg Grows In Gotham -pt1
2:30 pm The Yeogg Foes In Gotham -pt 2
3:00 pm The Great Escape -pt 1
3:30 pm The Great Train Robbery -pt2
(Thanks to Terry Stead for the information).
BATMAN BEYOND
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Kids' WB! Has changed
it’s schedules for the summer and the good news is the return of BATMAN BEYOND
to 2 episodes per day Monday through Thursday at 3:00pm and 4:30pm
Episodes for next two
weeks are
Monday July 16th -
Rebirth, Pt. 1" and "Rebirth, Pt. 2"
Tuesday Juky 17 -
"Golem" and "Untouchable"
Wednesday July 18 - "Sentries
of the Last Cosmos" and "Meltdown".
Thursday July 19 - "Speak No
Evil" and "Countdown"
Saturday 21st – Zeta
Project “Shadows” – Batman guest stars (11:30am)
Monday July 23 - "April Moon" and
"Heroes"
Tuesday July 24 -
"Disappearing Inque" and "Splicers"
Wednesday July 25 -
"Payback" and "Earth Mover”
Thursday July 26 - "Eyewitness" and "The Eggbaby"
NEW BATMAN / SUPERMAN ADVENTURES
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While Cartoon Network continues to run the Superman episodes at 6:30pm Tuesday through Friday, the BATMAN episodes are currently on hold. Current rumors are that it may return as part of the fall schedule.
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
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In Canada, YTV airs Batman: The Animated Series at 3:30 AM EDT, Monday
through Friday. Check out schedules on http://www.ytv.ca (Patrick Furlong)
UPDATES NEEDED
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Are any of the BATMAN TV SHOWS running in your area / country.
BATMAN BEYOND, NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES, BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, SUPER-FRIENDS or the classic BATMAN - 1960s TV SHOW.
If so send me an e-mail (gothamajp@home.com) with the show times and I’ll list them here for all your fellow batfans.
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TV NEWS
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JUSTICE LEAGUE DEBUT DATE?
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Worlds Finest News reports that the Justice League animated show has been assigned a premiere date on the Cartoon Network. The show is slated to debut on November 17th, 2001. Following the premiere new episodes of JL will debut Mondays at 8:30 PM EST/PST. The tentative plan is to premiere new episodes on Mondays and then repeat airings on Fridays and Sundays.
There is also rumors that a Justice League preview shoot is included on a new Toonami cinema ad reel. Keep an eye out for it at a theater near you.
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MOVIE NEWS****************BATMOBILE BACK ON THE SILVER SCREEN – THIS YEAR----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The legendary BATMOBILE from the 1960’s TV show and movie will once again be on a cinema screen near you later this year. It gets a role in the new Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston movie ROCKSTAR! The basic story line has Wahlberg starting his own cover band and then ending up as front man for the famous rock-band he started out imitating. It typical indulgent fashion he blows some of his new found wealth on a unique car – in this case the BATMOBILE, which at one point in the movie ends up in a side by side race with a Ferrari. You can catch glimpses of the car in action in the trailer available for download at http://www.darkhorizons.com/ - The movie itself is scheduled for release in the US on September 14th 2001
BB AS FRANCHISE SEQUEL-----------------------------------
In last week’s GWN we mentioned that a source close to Warner Bros claimed that the upcoming live-action BATMAN BETOND movie will "be a sequel or sorts" to the last 4 movies. So how do WB expect to do this? In much the same way that the BB animated show was “linked” to the classic animated show. Apparently, according to the same source "It (The BB movie) will acknowledge events in the Batman series, but only briefly. WB want this to be an independent franchise, but also want to keep people aware of the past movies.”
The continuity link between the two franchises on TV was casting the same actor in the Bruce Wayne role. So we have to ask, who will be cast in the role of the aging Bruce Wayne in the BB movie? Do WB intend to cast someone who has already worn the cape & cowl ? And would Keaton, Kilmer or Clooney be happy playing an 80 year-old ?
CATWOMAN SCRIPT UPDATE---------------------------------------------
Ain’t-It-Cool News reports that John Rogers the writer currently working on the script for the CATWOMAN movie “just turned in a draft of the script last week, and by all accounts, he's made major progress in turning this into a film worth putting in front of the cameras. Word is the set pieces really crackle now, and the script has a much stronger sense of character and action overall.”
SPECIAL EDITION DVD UPDATE-----------------------------------------------
According to the latest report on both the Digital Bits and World’s Finest web-sites Warner Bros. Are showing interest in releasing both the 1989 Batman movie and 1992’s Batman Returns as Special Editions DVDs. The downside is that according to the reports WB wants to start production on them quickly and they want director Tim Burton’s participation for either a commentary track or a “behind the scenes” style video. Burton’s schedule at the moment is of course full promoting his upcoming “reinterpretation” of Planet Of The Apes.
=============== IN THE STORES************** WB STORES CLOSING BY OCTOBER – IT’S OFFICIAL------------------------------------------------------------------------------In a news item posted by the Reuters agency on Monday Warner Brothers has at long last officially announced that it is closing all of the US based WB Stores.
The report quoted an unnamed WB spokeswoman as saying that the stores will be closed by the end of October, shedding another 3,800 jobs, after failing to find a buyer for the languishing chain.
``We're in a wind-down process,'' the Warner Brothers spokeswoman said. ``Management decided to get out of the owned and operated retail business.''
In January, weeks after completing the $106.2 billion deal combining America Online and Time Warner Inc., AOL Time Warner said it would look for a buyer for the retail unit. It warned that if that hunt proved unsuccessful it would shut down the stores.
The company spokeswoman would not discuss attempts to sell the stores in detail but said the effort was effectively abandoned in February. The decision to close the stores has been an open secret for many months although AOL Time Warner has kept a low profile over the issue and has released no formal statement on the job losses.
Time Warner opened its first retail store in 1991. The number of locations peaked at about 130 worldwide.
A number of its high-profile locations have already closed, such as its marquee Fifth Avenue store in New York, as well as shops in Los Angeles and Palo Alto, California.
About 85 U.S. stores remain to be closed, the spokeswoman said. She added that the closings will not affect about 30 non-U.S. stores, which operate under separate franchising agreements.
BAT ITEMS SHIPPING IN SEPTEMBER----------------------------------------------------- The following BATMAN merchandise is scheduled to ship to stores in September. Keep an eye out in your local stores for: Magazines------------------Comic Book Marketplace #86 – will feature an alternative cover featuring the Avengers and the JLA with BATMAN taking the center position. ($5.95) Books-------------From Ballet To The Batcave – a new printing of Yvonne Craig’s excellent autobiography. (Kudo Press – ISBN 0-9678075-6-5, $17.00)Batman Sticker Book – Features 60 full color stickers – (DK Publishing, ISBN 0-7894-7866-8, $6.95)Batman: The Ultimate Guide – hardcover coffee table book featuring 700 illustrations. (DK Publishing, ISBN 0-7894-7865-X, $19.95) Clothing-----------New Harley Quinn t-shirt, Graphitti Designs, $17.95Batman Logo camouflage t-shirt, $16.95 Statues-----------Golden Age style Joker - 7” resin statue - $35.00 Stationery-----------------Batman address book – Black with classic oval Bat logo - $12.95Catwoman address book – Purple with Catwoman comic logo - $12.95 In The Kitchen--------------------Batman stein – classic German style beer stein featuring embossed figures of Batman and Robin - $40.00DC Supergirls Fridge Magnet set – includes Catwoman, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy figure magnets - $9.50 =====================================
MEET THE BAT-TEAM
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SAN DIEGO – CA. July 19-22
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This year’s Comic Con International (www.comic-con.org) takes place at the San Diego Convention Center between July 19th and 22nd. The largest US convention features lots of guests and attending professionals. Among this year’s attendees are: NEAL ADAMS, JIM BALENT, DAN BRERETON, RICK BURCHETT, YVONNE CRAIG, EVAN DORKIN, MARK EVANIER, DAVE GIBBONS, DEVIN GRAYSON, PAUL GULACY, GENE HA, JOE LANSDALE,JEP LOEB, ROGER ROBINSON, GREG RUCKA, JULIUS SCHWARTZ, PAUL STORRIE, BRUCE TIMM, MARK WAID and BERNIE WRIGHTSON.
Just In – TV’s Riddler FRANK GORSHIN is now listed among the stars appearing in Autograph Alley.
Plus your humble GWN editor will be walking the floor, so stop me and say “Hi.” I’ll be at most of the panels listed below or you can also find me at the CBLDF booth at various times on Thursday and Friday mornings.
The full schedule for the upcoming Comic-Con International has now been released, and the following BATMAN related panels are scheduled:
Thursday 19th
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4:00 pm – DC Roleplaying Game demo – Room 19
4:30 pm – Just Imagine – A panel with Stan Lee on his redefining the DC heroes – Room 1A
Friday 20th
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10:30 am – DC presents the World’s Greatest Super-heroes (JLA/JSA) – Room 9
2:30 pm – Spotlight on Alvin Schwartz – writer of the Batman newspaper strip – Room 16B
4:00 pm – A chat with Irwin Donenfeld – Editorial Director of DC from 1952 to 1969 – Room 8
4:00 pm - DC Roleplaying Game demo – Room 19
5:30 pm – BATMAN: A Knight On The Edge with Bob Schreck and various Batman creators – Room 9
Saturday 21st
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10:30 am – Warner Bros 2001-2002 Preview – Room 6 (Theater area)
1:00 pm – DC Universe Editorial Presentation – Room 1A
3:30 pm – Cartoon Network presents: Justice League preview – Room 6 (Theater area)
5:00 pm – DC Comics: Non-Virtual chatroom – Room 18
5:00 pm - DC Roleplaying Game demo – Room 19
Sunday 22nd
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12:00 pm - DC Comics: Non-Virtual chatroom – Room 18
1:00 pm – DC Direct panel – Room 9
2:00 pm - Young DC heroes – inc Robin & Nightwing – Room 9
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ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
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GOTHAM GIRLS SECOND SEASON
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The hit official internet site Gotham Girls is gearing up for a new season of webisodes featuring Gotham's baddest (and best) girls around. The premiere episode of the second season is already up, written by Paul Dini himself. To check out the site and the new webisode, go to www.gothamgirls.com
BATMAN COMIC BOOK APPEARENCES
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The listing of all Batman Comic Book Appearances from 1939 to present is now available at http://www.magpage.com/~demes/batapps.htm. Any corrections / additions can be sent to Jim Demes at demes@magpage.com
CATCH UP ON THE GOTHAM GAZETTE FAN-FICS
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Since the GOTHAM GAZETTE web-site went into hiatus I’ve had several e-mails from GWN readers asking where they can find the excellent fanfic stories we used to run. Well writer Lee Barnett now has them posted on his own website at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/budgie so click on by and check them out.
BATMAN DISCUSSION LIST
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BATSIGNAL a new Batman on-line discussion group has been launched at
http://www.eGroups.com/group/BatSignal
Or subscribe direct by sending an e-mail to BatSignal-subscribe@egroups.com
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BATMAN FANZINES & FAN-CLUBS
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(Know of any Batman related Fan-clubs that aren't listed ? Send me an e-mail with details. When contacting any of these clubs please mention GWN.)
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED NEWSLETTER
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Started in 1998, this newsletter dedicated to the animated aspect of Batman, has been making and breaking news. The newsletter has a weekly/bi-weekly schedule, and contains news, schedules, links, editorials, and a lot more for the animated Batman-fan. To check out back issues of this newsletter, go to http://www.toonzone.net/news/btan and to subscribe, simple email juno@dccnet.com and put 'Subscribe' in the subject line.
KNIGHTHOOD OF THE BAT
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The Knighthood Of The Bat is an online ICQ based fan club which, through the use of ICQ members can contact each other and share in their common interest of Batman. Check it out at the excellent Batman: Defender Of Gotham website at www.fandom.com/batman
GREEN HORNET & BATMAN FAN & COLLECTORS CLUB
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$10 a year for a bi-monthly newsletter. Contact J. Washington III, 321 Gracie Road . Chesapeake VA 23325
HARLEY QUINN FAN CLUB
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Based in San Diego. For more info contact Mike at 4574 Mercurio St. San Diego CA 92130
UNOFFICIAL BATMAN ANIMATED FAN-CLUB
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This club began in September and consists of a quarterly 30 page newsletter which is mailed out - 'a fan made magazine' with news, reviews, guides, 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 (i.e. - you only pay for paper and printing costs) and it's made by fans for fans. Based in the UK but USA and other members are always welcome. If you would like more information on how to join please e-mail - brian@batmanuk.freeserve.co.uk or for more info see website at http://www.batmanuk.freeserve.co.uk/club
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HOW TO ORDER OUR OWN BATMAN BOOK
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"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 3523
Ramona
CA 92065
* US orders postage free.
* CA residents please add 7 1/2% 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
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Sources used in compiling GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS
Ain’t It Cool News (http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/ )
Bat Signal newsletter
Comics2Film (http://www.comics2film.com/ )
Comic Buyers Guide
Comics Continuum (http://comicscontinuum.com/index.htm )
Comics International
Comic Shop News
Dark Horizons (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news.htm )
Joker Inc Newsletter (http://jokerinc.action-figure.net )
Previews
Wizard: The Comics Magazine
World’s Finest News (http://wf.toonzone.net/wfnews/ )
GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS is a FOREST COMICS Publication.
FOREST COMICS and GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS are (c) and TM - Alan J. Porter (1994 - 2001)
"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 gothamajp@home.com with the words "unsubscribe GWN" in the subject line.