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GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS #160
Friday August 10th 2001
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Hi folks –
Well its been a busy week for movie news. If all the stories and rumors are tru it means we now have 5 different Batman movies in some stage of pre-production.
BATMAN: YEAR ONE
BATMAN BEYOND
“BATMAN ABROAD” ( my name for an unnamed Paul Dini project – see below)
CATWOMAN
WORLD’S FINEST
So what are the chances of at least one of these making it on to the big screen – we can only wait and hope.
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
GOTHAM GAZETTE – The BATMAN Magazine On The Web
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 August 15th
Comics News – Changes for Robin in-store
TV Show Schedules
TV News – BB on DVD
Movie News – Jude Law for Year One
On The Newsstands – Round up
Meet The Bat-Team - Bat-Con
On-Line Happenings - DC Direct On-Line
Fanzines & Fan-Clubs
Order The BATMAN Collectors Guide (Back in Stock)
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COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK ( August 15th )
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BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #20
Written by Devin Grayson, Julius Schwartz and Dan Raspler; art by Roger Robinson, Christian Alamy and John Floyd; cover by Brian Bolland
Bruce Wayne makes a trip to Metropolis for a meeting with Talia, the new CEO of LexCorp — but it doesn't turn out as planned, and Batman has a run-in with Superman! Meanwhile, Dick Grayson and Batman both have to deal with the possibility that all of Grayson's family isn't dead after all, when a man claiming to be Dick's grandfather comes to town. Plus, a Batman Black and White backup "Soldier King," cowritten by DC legend Julius Schwartz & JLA editor Dan Raspler and illustrated by Christian Alamy (ENEMY ACE: WAR IN HEAVEN). (40 pgs / $2.50)
BIRDS OF PREY #34
Written by Chuck Dixon; art by Butch Guice; cover by Phil Noto
Power Girl, Blue Beetle and Militia guest star as Barbara prepares for an all-out rescue mission to save Canary, who's in some really deep waters right about now! And speaking of deep waters, there's a pool of the stuff waiting for her, and three deadly enemies ready to give her the dunking of her life! The surprising conclusion to this story arc has consequences that will change Canary forever! And we do mean forever! (32 pgs / $2.50)
HARLEY QUINN: OUR WORLDS AT WAR #1
Written by Karl Kesel; art by Steve Leiber, Paul Chadwick, Amanda Conner, Paul Grist, and Aron Wiesenfeld; cover by Jae Lee
Featuring art by Steve Leiber, Paul Chadwick, Amanda Conner, Paul Grist, and Aron Wiesenfeld! The insanity of Harley Quinn's world collides with the metamorphic sanity of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen in an explosive way! Jimmy's returned to Earth with information vital to the war effort, but tragically, he's landed in Gotham, where no one believes him. Now he has to depend on Harley to get him to Metropolis in one piece. Poor guy. (48 pgs / $2.95)
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COMICS NEWS
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ROBIN CHANGES AFTER #100
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At the recent Sand Diego Comic-Con Robin editor Matt Idelson said that the upcoming Bruce Wayne: Fugitive storyline will "pretty dramatically" impact the Boy Wonder’s solo book after Robin #100.
"It's going to lead him making a pretty big decision," Idelson said. "It's still in the planning stages, but it's pretty radically different from what the book is now. Some of you will look like it and some of you won't like it. But, like everything else in comics, it's a chance to tell a story. You're going to see him in a pretty different light if we end up doing what we've talked about doing."
SILVER AGE BAT TEAM COMICS CGC GRADED COMICS
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The Comics Guaranty Corp (CGC) recently released its first “Population Report” of high graded (9.0 and above) Silver Age books. The following BRAVE & BOLD and WORLDS FINEST issues were listed:
BRAVE & BOLD: #28, 54 (5 copies), 59 (6 copies), 64, 67 ( 3 copies), 68 (6 copies), 69 (6 copies), 70 (2 copies), 71 ( 2 copies), 72 ( 3 copies), 75 ( 5 copies), 76, 78 ( 2 copies), 79 ( 2 copies), 80 ( 3 copies), 82, 83, 84 ( 3 copies), 85, 86 ( 3 copies), 87, 88, 90, 94, 96 (3 copies), 97, 98.
WORLDS FINEST: #80, 91, 99, 105, 112, 115, 120, 127, 129, 130, 150, 152, 154, 155, 157 ( 2 copies), 159, 161 (4 copies), 162, 163 ( 2 copies), 164 ( 2 copies), 165, 166, 170, 172 ( 2 copies), 173, 174, 176, 177, 179 ( 2 copies), 180 ( 3 copies), 181, 188, 190 ( 2 copies), 197, 198 ( 3 copies), 199 ( 2 copies), 200, 201, 206 ( 2 copies).
The most popular Silver Age Team book issues to get graded and “slabbed” were B&B # 59, 68, 69. The highest grade book was an issue of WF#206 with a 9.8 grade.
Next week – The CGC report on the Golden-Age Batman books.
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TV SHOW SCHEDULES
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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
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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BEYOND ON DVD ?
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There have been rumors circulating over the last few weeks about the possibility of BATMAN BEYOND being released on DVD. It seems that the source for these rumors is a slip of paper that was included in a recent shipping of VHS tape episodes of BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES from the Columbia House company. The paper slip mentioned a BB DVD along with a description of the show, but no details. And as of yet there’s been no confirmation from either WB or Columbia House.
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MOVIE NEWS****************
BATMAN YEAR ONE – DETAILS ?
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The excellent, and usually
accurate Batman On Film website posted an e-mail that is claimed to be from a
“very legit” source.
Extracts from the e-mail appear
below and offer some interesting views on the state of the Batman franchise and
Year One in particular.
“…(Director Darren Aronofsky )and (writer
Frank) Miller are having huge troubles making the script work. Warners (sic)
are still teetering on whether or not they made the right decision getting
involved with them on "Batman", which is why "Batman
Beyond" (which I know nothing about) is being mooted as an alternative.
But I can tell you this right now: It's going to be one or the other. If they can get "Year One"
working, and get a casting situation they're happy with, Warners will take "Year
One" over "Beyond" full stop. They see it as the smart option.
But …. (apparently)..the studio are not exactly thrilled with the results so
far (which includes, as far as I know, one completed first draft, and a revised
draft based on Warners notes)."
The e-mail goes on to talk about an abortive wish-list idea to make a screen version of Dark Knight Returns with Michael Keaton reprising his Batman role. However ( as the e-mail) points out) this is just wishful thinking. Batman Year One is the movie in current development. The e-mail then continues with casting hints about Year One.
“ Jude Law (is seriously being considered for the role of Batman), I can't reveal my sources on this, but it does come from deep inside Hollywood. … Kurt Russell was being considered for the Jim Gordon ( role, but now the favorite is ) Aaron Eckhart.”
Make of all this what you will,
but remember nothing is fixed until we see it on the silver screen.
And just to add to all the Year
One stuff this week the Ain’t-It-Cool site has posted a review of an early
draft of the Aronofsky / Miller
screenplay – check it out at http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=9819
NOTE: The review is of a first draft date June – apparently the script has already been through a couple of rewrites since then.
WORLDS FINEST MOVIE
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Major news this week is that Variety ( www.variety.com )reported that screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker (who worked with Tim Burton on Sleepy Hollow) has been contracted to write a “World's Finest” script that would feature Warner Bros top two super hero properties superman and batman. the article went on to say that the project would be directed by Wolfgang Petersen. (Director of The Perfect Storm)
Interestingly the 4Filmmakers website (http://www.4filmmakers.com/ )has the project listed as a Superman VS. Batman project.
There have been rumors of a World’s Finest movie before, starting back around the time of the 1989 movie. But this is the most public affirmation of the project to date.
BATMAN GETS OUT OF GOTHAM ?
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In an article on the above mentioned World’s Finest announcement the Ain’t It Cool News website mentioned an “unknown” BATMAN live action script that is “allegedly being worked on by Paul Dini and Alan Burnett” which rumors say gets Batman out of Gotham and on a world wide adventure.
With the above mentioned World’s Finest, Batman:Year One, the stalled Batman Beyond project and Catwoman movie that makes a total of 5 different Batman movie projects in some sort of development stage. What are the chances of at least one of them making it to the screen in the next few years ?
CATWOMAN SCRIPT DETAILS
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The excellent Comics2Film website recently spoke with screenwriter John Rogers. About his new screenplay for the Catwoman movie. Ashley Judd is also attached to star in the film. C2F asked Rogers to talk about the Batman spin-off that's raising eyebrows among comic fans.
First off, Rogers confirmed that Selina Kyle will not be the character under the Catwoman mask. Instead it will be Patience Price, a character that's been developed in previous iterations of the screenplay.
"If you're starting a new franchise, the decision was to do a totally new character to make it stand on its own," Rogers said. "It's both a business decision and a creative decision that I can understand and agree with."
However, the new Catwoman will have some vague ties to the character who appeared in Batman Returns. The new Catwoman's origin story is similar to what happened to Michelle Pfeiffer's character in that movie. A woman is wrongfully killed and she comes back and gets to settle the score.
Rogers went on to say that the new movie will expand on the resurrection so it makes more sense to viewers. "We're going to set up a legacy in the first few minutes so that you understand how it works and the mythology behind it. In the first half-hour of the movie you will know not only how this happens with this girl, but how that worked back with Selina Kyle."
Rogers also points out that the movie isn't going to be one, long origin story. "This movie isn't about the mythology of Catwoman. It's about the adventures of this particular Catwoman, in this particular situation."
Patience Price will have to struggle with the duality of her reborn self. "The fun of the movie is watching this nice, pleasant person become this very sexy, viciously sarcastic, extremely talented criminal," Rogers told C2F. "As she evolves into Catwoman, one of the things she's dealing with is, 'this can't be good. I'm becoming a criminal.'"
The character is forced to use her Catwoman identity to solve the mystery of her own death, and to solve the greater mystery of what the villain of the piece is up to. "But she's also finding she's getting addicted to the buzz and to the thrill," Rogers said. The character will play more like an anti-hero. "It's not like, 'Oh, yay! Catwoman's here.' It's more like, 'well, this is going to be interesting and possibly destructive,' whenever she shows up. That ambiguity is some pretty decent character stuff to settle in on."
Rogers' take on the material is going to be darker and more action oriented than the previous draft. "There's a much heavier villain plot. It occurs in a large city. It's going to look much more like your classic superhero movie," he told us, adding that the filmmakers are looking to keep Catwoman's environs more realistic. "This is not going to look like Gotham with thousand foot statues you can ride your motorcycle on."
Like her comic book counterpart, Catwoman won't have super-powers, other than heightened senses. "It's a woman in a suit who, because of what has happened to her, is pushed to the limit of what she can possibly do." Rogers tells us to expect big action sequences, much more detective work, banter and a story in the vein of the recent Entrapment. "Hopefully it'll be enough to satisfy the comic fans."
=============== IN THE STORES************** ===================== ON THE NEWSSTANDS************************
- The August 30 issue of Rolling Stone, the annual "Hot" issue, names the Dark Knight as "Hot Comeback," with comments from Frank Miller on THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN, saying, "Batman is the quintessential character for my medium, because it's an outlaw medium."
- The July 15 edition of the Joliet, IL Herald-News features an article entitled, "Isn't Anybody in Kansas Anymore?" in which Andrew Smith writes, "It's not just another summer crossover, folks - it's a day that will live in infamy!&&quoot;
- The July 22 edition of the Syracuse Herald-American includes an article called "Stepping Up to the Bat - Twice," which reviews the Watson-Guptill publication The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics, which Jeff Kapalka calls "an invaluable resource to the beginning superhero comic book writer...an essential text for Comic Book Writing 101."
- The July 29 edition of the Durham, SC Herald-Sun carries an article entitled "Comic Book Guide May Help All Writers," about the Watson-Guptill publication The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics, which Andrew Smith describes as "[Dennis] O'Neil breezily imparts his wisdom in swift, sure strokes that accomplish his goal...[the book] lets you know what you need to know, in the order you need to know it, in such an effortless and entertaining way that it reads...well, it reads like a well-written comic book." Smith also reviews the Dorling-Kindersley publication Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight, writing, "If there's anything you want to know to understand where Batman is these days, it's here."
- The July 17 edition of the Knoxville News-Sentinel features a review of BATMAN: GOTHAM ADVENTURES #40, in which Terry Morrow writes, "Writer Scott Peterson and penciller Tim Levins stretch the reader's imagination...they approach this comic with an edge to engross and engage."
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MEET THE BAT-TEAM
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DALLAS TX – October 19-21
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HollywoodExpo has announced that its October Dallas show has been re-titled as BAT.CON to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Batman TV show. The show is scheduled for the weekend of October 19th to 21st. Featured guests include: MARK WAID, CRAIG ROUSSEAU, DAN BRERETON, NORM BREYFOGLE and from the TV show, ADAM WEST, BURT WARD, YVONNE CRAIG, JULIE NEWMAR and FRANK GORSHIN. For more details check out http://members.aol.com/toyshow/batcon.html
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ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
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DC DIRECT NOW ON-LINE
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DC Comics excellent merchandise division is now on-line with a special website dedicated to “all those wonderful toys.” Check them out at http://www.dcdirectonline.com
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
Two new episodes were shown at the San Diego Comic-Con to great applause. The representatives from WB web studios said that the episodes will be shown in rotation with two available on the site at any given time.
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.