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GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS #165
Friday September 14th 2001
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Hi folks –
Thoughts on events of this week.
For the first time I have no real enthusiasm for compiling this week’s round up of Batman news and rumors. The events of the last week, make it all seem so trivial. But the Bat is important to all of us GWN readers, and life must go on – we have a duty to those who lost their lives to make sure that we are not defeated by those who seek to disrupt our lives and freedoms through the use of terror.
But, before we get on with enjoying our shared passion for the Dark Knight, let’s pause and salute the true life heroes, the brave men and women on the rescue teams and those who tackled the hijackers in the air.
We all need our heroes, and this week we discovered that they live amongst us.
Our thoughts are with all our New York and Washington based subscribers. We hope you all came through OK.
See you all next 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.Or check out the Comics we have for sale on WizardWorld under the seller id “gothamajp.”
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IN THIS ISSUE OF GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS:
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Comics Shipping This Week – In stores September 19th
Comics News – DK2 Scheduled for December
TV Show Schedules – No BB this week
TV News – .Annie Nominations Announced
Meet The Bat-Team -
On-Line Happenings -
Fanzines & Fan-Clubs
Order The BATMAN Collectors Guide (Back in Stock)
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COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK ( September 19th)
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Given the after effects of this week’s events some comic book shipments will be delayed.
Diamond distributors released the following announcement: “Shipments scheduled to arrive during the week of Sept. 17 in both England and Los Angeles may be delayed, since these locations receive merchandise via air freight. Diamond is currently making alternate arrangements.”
BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #21
Written by Devin Grayson and Mike Carlin; art by Roger Robinson, Dan DeCarlo, John Floyd, and Terry Austin; cover by Brian Bolland
"Retribution," Part 2 of 2. A man named Yoska has emerged from Dick Grayson's past, claiming to be Dick's grandfather! Where Yoska has come from and why assassins are on his tail are answers that Batman and Nightwing must figure out quickly if they're going to keep this final link to Dick's past alive! Plus, a Batman Black & White backup "Day & Night…in Black & White!" written by DCU Executive Editor Mike Carlin and illustrated by legendary Archie artist Dan DeCarlo & Terry Austin — featuring Batgirl & Poison Ivy! (40 pgs / $2.50)
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BATMAN: ORPHEUS RISING #2 |
Written by Alex Simmons; art by Dwayne Turner and Danny Miki; cover by Turner
Caught in the crossfire of a police shootout, Orpheus must fight for his life as he seeks to take down a bevy of deadly gangbangers. But even if he can get past the hail of bullets, the mystery of who's behind the recent police killings still remains. And to solve that mystery, Orpheus must face Gotham's protector…the Batman! (32 pgs / $2.50)
BIRDS OF PREY #35
Written by Chuck Dixon; art by William Rosado and Keith Champagne; cover by Phil Noto
Oracle, Power Girl, Blue Beetle, and Militia have arrived to rescue Black Canary, but they're too late! Ra's al Ghul is on the run, but how much running can a centuries-old guy do, anyway? The walls are coming down and it looks like Dinah's gonna get squashed...unless she can make it to the Lazarus Pit! It's the climactic conclusion to our star-crossed story of love, betrayal, death and rebirth. (32 pgs / $2.50)
ROBIN #94
Written by Chuck Dixon; art and cover by Pete Woods and Andrew Pepoy
A lead-in to next month's big event! Spoiler's up to her eyeballs in villains, and they're living in her house, no less! Meanwhile, Tim makes a very disturbing discovery as the truth about his roommate Wesley is revealed. Unfortunately, Wesley makes a discovery about Tim, and it involves a certain Boy Wonder costume. (32 pgs / $2.50)
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COMICS NEWS
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DK2 SCHEDULED
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DC Comics announced on Saturday, September 8 at the Diamond Retailer Summit in Fort Wayne, IN, the first issue of THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN, the most anticipated comics sequel of all time, is scheduled to reach stores on December 5. Subsequent issues will be released monthly in 6-week intervals.
THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN is an epic 3-issue miniseries - each issue a massive 80 pages in DC's PPrestige Format (a format initiated with BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS #1) - masterfully written and illustrated by Miller and featuring the magnificent colors of Miller's collaborator, Lynn Varley. The series carries a cover price of $7.95.
"This is Frank and Lynn at their absolute peak," says Group Editor Bob Schreck. "If you were blown away by their work on THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS or 300, you ain't seen nothin' yet."
The multi-award-winning team of Frank Miller and Lynn Varley have delivered - together and separately - some of the finest tales of our time with BATMAN: YEAR ONE, 300, Sin City, Elektra Lives Again, RONIN, Give Me Liberty, and Hard Boiled. Now, they strike again with what may be their finest work to date, as THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN sets a new standard for comics.
CHUCK DIXON MOVES ON
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After a few days of quiet speculation and rumors, the Newsarama website confirmed that Chuck Dixon, writer on ROBIN, NIGHTWING and BIRDS OF PREY, has signed an open-ended, exclusive contract with Florida based CrossGen Comics.
When asked about reasons for his move, Dixon cited the shrinking freelance market as one of his prime motivators for the switch, while denying rumors of growing tension between himself and DC.
“I'm not aware of any tension between me and DC. I didn't leave DC. I joined CrossGen. I still have great friends at DC and will forever be grateful for the opportunity they gave me. Walking away from my three monthlies is not easy for me, but I was in no way pushed.” Dixon told Newsrama
Indeed, Dixon had nothing but good memories to talk of when he looked back on the highlights of his nearly ten years with the DC and the Batman office. “It was all a highlight,” Dixon said. “I mean, I worked on Batman! That's a high! But I guess I'd have to count working with Denny [O’Neil] and Scott Peterson as big time. And I got to do stories for Archie Goodwin who will always be an idol to me. Doing Bane with Graham Nolan and Green Arrow with Rodolfo Damaggio was pure adrenalin. Also, the opportunity to work with Jim Aparo, Russ Heath and other great pros from my youth. And my recent work with Scott McDaniel, Pete Woods and Rick Leonardi. There's too many to name.
Dixon’s DC work will continue appearing for a while after he’s established himself at CrossGen, given that he often works many months ahead of schedule.
“The ‘real time’ date I start at CrossGen is March 1st,” Dixon told Newsarama. “But stuff will be appearing by me deep into next year and beyond at DC. I'll have Batgirl: Year One completed before I leave. Scott [Beatty] and I have scripted the first two issues already
While it’s too early for successors to Dixon to be named on his three Bat-titles, he did report that he’ll be writing up extensive outlines for Nightwing, Robin, and Birds of Prey, explaining where he was headed with the characters for the new writers to use if they desire.
WHITEOUT TEAM REUNITE ON DETECTIVE-----------------------------------------------------------------
DC announced this week that artist Steve Lieber will take over the regular penciling duties on Detective Comics beginning with next February's issue #767. The move marks a reunion of sorts, the first time Lieber, writer Greg Rucka, and editor Bob Schreck have worked on a large-scale project since the original award-winning Whiteout miniseries at Oni Press.
For Lieber, it marks the return to monthly comics work -
his first ongoing monthly series since penciling Hawkman nearly six years ago.
To hear Lieber tell it, how he landed the gig was something out of Dickens…or
he's been hit on the head really hard…
"It came completely out of the blue," Lieber told the Newsarama web-site "I'd been brawling in the bowery, a drunken amnesiac in a moth-eaten raincoat. Someone was about to brighten my smile with a pipe wrench when Bob Schreck recognized me and shooed my playmates away. Then, with his old 'Oni Press' lighter, he burnt the whiskers from my chin. Someone showed me my face in a mirror and I remembered who I was. Bob asked me if I would pencil Detective. The rest is history."
On the serious side, Lieber is very pleased to be once again working with Rucka. "Greg's Batman is some of the most compelling work ever done on the character," Lieber said. "We're looking forward to working together closely on the book. We want to make every sequence distinctive."
As for Rucka, he reports he's already look at the series with Lieber's strengths as an artist in mind. "Steve and I live in the same town, so it will allow a really tight collaboration on the scripts," Rucka told Newsarama. "I've already tailored #767, which is the February issue with specific requests from Steve, and I think you're going to see stuff in there that only Lieber can pull off well. It's part of the 'Bruce Wayne: Fugitive' arc, and there are sequences, page layouts and design features that you're not going to see in your average Batbook.
"One of the things that makes Steve a good match for me is that while Batman is in a costume, Batman has always been a very 'real' hero, and Steve will do an outstanding job of grounding the universe and maintaining that level of realism that I just love to roll around in. There really isn't going to be any radical change in how the book is going to be done. The storytelling style will be fundamentally the same, and if anything will be a little more exacting.
"Steve, unlike many other artists, is a masochist, and a glutton for punishment. When you say to most artists, 'I want to go to ten panels on this page," they respond with, 'I'm calling the editor on you.' Steve, on the other hand, when asked for ten panels, will ask if he can't go for twenty-four."
Lieber downplays his legendary craftsman-like approach to his art, saying that he's going to approach the art in Detective as "naturalistic forms depicted in expressionist light," - or in other words, "I'm going to approach it as a crime book."
At the same time through, Lieber's already feeling sympathetic towards his inker. "Jesse will be inking it, and it'll be his hellish task to try to make my lunatic pencil line both reproducible and expressive," Lieber said. "This will almost certainly leave him a shuddering wreck, and within a year, I expect we'll be holding an eBay benefit auction to help pay for his therapy."
DC said current DETECTIVE artist Shawn Martinbrough will continue to work with DC on other projects, and is in fact attached to a new project in early development.
COMICS SHORTS---------------------------
- It was announced this week that the acclaimed 100 Bullets creative team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso are working an original graphic novel starring Batman
CHARTS AND SALES FIGURES FOR SEPTEMBER
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Here are the positions of Batman family titles in the Direct
Market sales charts for comics shipped in SEPTEMBER 2001. (Note these positions
reflect orders placed by the comic shops and not actual sales to readers).
Also included are estimates* of actual numbers of copies ordered.
37 – Batman #595 (down 8) – 43,520
42 - Detective #762 (down 4) – 40,590
50 – Nightwing #61 (down 4) – 37,240
51 – Batgirl #20 (down 3) – 36,990
60 – Legends Of The Dark Knight #147 (down 5) – 34,610
63 – Gotham Knights #21 ( down 11) – 34,140
71 – Superman / Batman – Generations II #2 – (down 11) – 30,440
75 – Robin #94 (up 2) – 28,280
76 – Harley Quinn #12 (down 8) – 28,070
83 – Harley & Ivy: Love On The Lam (New) – 25,790
87 – Batman: Orpheus Rising #2 – (down 14) – 25,480
90 – Birds Of Prey #35 (down 6) - 24,630
131 – Azreal #82 (down 3) - 15,340
147 – Gotham Adventures #42 (down 7) – 12,920
(Source: Diamond Comics Distributors)
Sales Figure estimates from:
http://j_carl_henderson.tripod.com/september-2001.txt
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TV SHOW SCHEDULES
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BATMAN BEYOND
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BATMAN BEYOND is now off-air in the USA until it’s October 1st debut on Cartoon Network at 6:30pm
YTV (Canada) will air
Batman Beyond at 10:00am on Saturday mornings.
In the UK “Batman of the Future” as Batman Beyond is called in Europe will be back on the UK Cartoon Network from 3rd September at 22.50hrs
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.
Tim Echorst writes from Germany with the news that "The new Batman Adventures" (in Germany simply called "Batman & Robin") are running on the TV Channel Pro Sieben. The series can be seen on every Saturday at 10.10 a.m. (the time changes every week a little bit....).
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
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In Canada, YTV has dropped B:TAS from its schedule until further notice
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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EPISODE CHANGES
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Due to the terrorist attacks on Tuesday 11th, Kids' WB! has altered its programming this week, which will mean that the series finale of Batman Beyond will not be seen Today (Friday 14th) as originally scheduled.
The Batman Beyond episode "Unmasked," the 47th
made and the only episode yet to air, was originally scheduled to air Friday at
4:30 p.m. as the last Batman Beyond episode on Kids' WB!. The show is moving to
Cartoon Network as of Oct. 1. 
In "Unmasked," Terry remembers a time, early in his Batman career, when he foolishly revealed his identity to a young boy -- leading to his being kidnapped by a cell of Kobra operatives.
The network said the episode will air at a later date. Instead of "Unmasked," Kids' WB! will air the "Hooked Up" episode that features Spellbinder.
Also, YTV(Canada) has yet to announce if they will push back the terrorist themed episodes "Plague" which is scheduled to air this Saturday at 10am. The episode focuses on a terrorist group who try to unleash a plague on Gotham and eventually the world. YTV will announce soon if they plan to change their schedules.
(From Comics Continuum and World’s Finest News)
ANNIES ANNOUNCED
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On September 10th the International Animated Film Society announced the nominees for the 29th Annual Annie Awards honoring "the year's best feature film, video, television program, commercial, and animated interactive production; as well as individual achievement by artists, writers and voice talent."
The following Batman related projects and shows were nominated:
CATEGORY #1 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN AN ANIMATED HOME VIDEO PRODUCTION : Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker - Warner Bros. Animation
CATEGORY #7 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN A DAYTIME ANIMATED TELEVISION PRODUCTION :Batman Beyond - Warner Bros. Animation
CATEGORY #20 OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR WRITING IN AN ANIMATED TELEVISION PRODUCTION : Paul Dini - Batman Beyond "Out of the Past"
CATEGORY #21 OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR WRITING IN AN ANIMATED FEATURE PRODUCTION: Paul Dini, Glen Murakami, Bruce Timm - Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker
CATEGORY #23 OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR VOICE ACTING BY A MALE PERFORMER IN AN ANIMATED FEATURE PRODUCTION : Mark Hamill - As the voice of The Joker - Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker
CATEGORY #25 OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR VOICE ACTING BY A MALE PERFORMER IN AN ANIMATED TELEVISION PRODUCTION :Kevin Conroy - As the voice of Bruce Wayne in Batman Beyond "Out of the Past"
This year's Annie Awards winners will be presented on November 10, 2001 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. More information is available at the newly designed official homepage for the Annies at http://www.asifa-hollywood.org/home.html
Congratulations to all the nominees.
BB IN CANADA
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The World’s Finest News reports that the popular Canadian youth channel YTV has acquired four popular KidsWB! Shows, including Batman Beyond, for their weekend line-up, and will premiere them this weekend on the network.
Batman Beyond will air at 10:00am
In a related announcement YTV confirmed that it has dropped Batman: The Animated Series from its schedule.
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MEET THE BAT-TEAM
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BLOOMINGTON MN – September 29-30
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The Minnesota Comic Book Association (http://mncba.com/ ) is holding its FALLCON 2001 at the Thunderbird Hotel and Convention Center ( across from the Mall Of America) over the weekend of Sept 29th and 30th. Guests include: TERRY BEATTY and GENE HA.
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, CRAIG ROUSSEAU and from the TV show, ADAM WEST, BURT WARD, YVONNE CRAIG, JULIE NEWMAR, FRANK GORSHIN and the Green Hornet’s VAN WILLIAMS. For more details check out http://members.aol.com/toyshow/batcon.html
BALTIMORE MD – October 28th
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The 2nd Annual Baltimore Comicon (http://www.comicon.com/baltimore/ ) takes place at the Shearton Hotel in Towson MD on October 28th.
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ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
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Take GWN on the road with you.
You can now automatically download this issue of GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS to your PDA by clicking on the following link.
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.
GG Schedule:
Currently showing
Epiode 07 – “Catsitter”
Episode 08 - "Gotham Noir"
Upcoming Episodes
Episode 09 - "Scout's Dis-honor” debuts Tuesday 09/25/
Episode 10 - "I'm Badgirl" - debuts Tuesday 10/09/01
BRUCE TIMM GALLERY MOVES
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The Bruce Timm Gallery is now located at www.popcultureshock.com/brucetimm
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
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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When the original version of the GOTHAM GAZETTE web-site went into hiatus I’ve had several e-mails from GWN readers asking where they could 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.