*************************************************************
GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS #171
Friday November
9th 2001
*************************************************************
Hi folks –
This will be the last GWN
for a while. I start my new “day job” next week with 5 weeks of training. I
have no idea what level of internet access I will have over that time and as I
will be way from my home office I will not have access to this e-mail account
on a regular basis either. So I decided it would be easier to put GWN on hold
while I concentrated on starting the new job. If all goes according to schedule
the next issue of GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS will be heading your way the weekend
of December 22nd – just in
time for the holidays.
But I will still be working
on the next issue of GOTHAM GAZETTE which will focus on the animated Batman.
(You can find the current issue at http://batmanmagazine.com
).
Also look out for the return
of the ALFRED AWARDS within the next few days.
In the meantime I wish
everyone a happy few weeks and I’ll see you all again in December.
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.”
=====================================
IN THIS ISSUE OF GOTHAM
WEEKLY NEWS:
=====================================
Comics Shipping This Week –
In stores November 14th
Comics News – Tec #27 Sells For $241,000
TV Show Schedules - Batman Forever - Tonight
TV News – Super Friends Marathon
Movie News – Scooby Bat?
In The Sores – Batman Helps
launch Game Cube
Meet The Bat-Team
On-Line Happenings - Gotham Girls updates
Fanzines & Fan-Clubs
Order The BATMAN Collectors
Guide (Back in Stock)
======================================================
COMICS SHIPPING NEXT WEEK (
November 14th )
***************************************
AZRAEL: AGENT OF THE BAT #84
Written by Dennis O'Neil;
art by Sergio Cariello and James Pascoe; cover by Scott McDaniel and Cariello
The "Agent of the
Bat" faces a madman with a bat when he runs afoul of a homicidal athlete
seeking revenge on those who taunted him throughout his career. Will Azrael
choke when faced with a foe with metahuman strength? Or are other forces at
work that will change Jean Paul's life forever? (32 pgs / $2.50)
DETECTIVE COMICS #764
Written by Greg Rucka and
Judd Winick; art by Shawn Martinbrough, Cliff Chiang and Jesse Delperdang;
cover by John McCrea
As Vesper digs deeper into
her investigation reporting on Batman, Harvey Bullock's replacement — a
familiar face from the DCU — sets up shop at the GCPD. Plus, Part 2 of the
backup serial "Josie Mac," written by Judd Winick (GREEN LANTERN,
Exiles) and illustrated by Cliff Chiang (WONDER WOMAN: OUR WORLDS AT WAR). (40
pgs / $2.50)
HARLEY QUINN #14
Written by Karl Kesel; art
and cover by Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson
A bold new storyline begins
as Harley and Poison Ivy leave the dirt-encrusted confines of Gotham City for
the bright lights and shining steel of Metropolis! Harley sees opportunity for
crime, fun, matchmaking, and a rest from the bounty that sent her running from
Gotham. So saddle up and join the girls as they enter a new 'burg, find new
digs, decorate 'em, and get into trouble with the law — all in one issue! (32
Pgs / $2.25)
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #1
Written by Ty Templeton; art
by Min S. Ku and Dan Davis; cover by Bruce Timm and Alex Ross
A new ongoing series based on
the Justice League animated show on Cartoon Network begins! When a meteor lands
in an American suburb, the League is called on to investigate. Soon they are
drawn into an intergalactic conflict, but it seems as if the real threat may be
one of their own…Green Lantern! (32 pgs / $1.99)
You can check out preview
images at http://www.comicscontinuum.com:
NIGHTWING #63
Written by Chuck Dixon; art
and cover by Trevor McCarthy and Karl Kesel
A LAST LAUGH aftermath tale!
After his encounter with the Joker, Dick just may hang up his tights forever.
So who's going to patrol Blüdhaven in his absence? Robin and Blue Beetle, of
course! But their first night on patrol may just turn out to be their last, as
they're faced with the maniacal Madmen. (32 pgs / $2.25)
BATMAN also appears in JLA INCARNATIONS #7 – out Next Week
===========================================================
COMICS NEWS
*************
1st BATMAN SELLS
FOR NEAR $1/4M
--------------------------------------------------------
Comic Buyers Guide #1461
(November 6th) reports that a copy of Detective #27 (The first
appearance of Batman) has just sold at auction for a record setting $241,904.
This particular issue had
the highest Comics Guarantee Cop. Grade (8.0) for any un-restored issue of
Detective #27 in circulation. The auction was held by MastroNet Inc. as part of
their first “Americana” auction series. The comic received a total of 25 bids
over 20 days of bidding, closing at $241,904.
DK2 TOP SELLING COMIC OF
LAST FIVE YEARS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The
SPLASH news and opinion site (http://www.comicon.com/splash/ ) reports that
“DC’s “The Dark Knight Strikes Again,” will be the year’s highest selling project
with initial orders coming in above 175,000 copies. At $7.95 the 80 page
graphic novel installment will generate the highest dollar share of any comic
of the last five years.
Dark
Knight 2 promises to be an enormous cash injection for DC and will close 2001
on a high growth note…. In the mass market, DK2’s sales figures would place it
at the top of the bestseller charts, indicating that DC and the retail
community are looking to this project as a lure for the mainstream reader. The
most hopeful view is that the project will grow the direct market by bringing
lapsed and new consumers into the shops. Its format -- halfway between the
periodical and the graphic novel -- will allow retailers to point them in
either direction. Whether new consumers do come into the shops remains to be
seen and will be determined by the marketing and content of the series.
Yesterday
(Thursday) the SPLASH spoke with Frank
Miller while he was working on the novel’s third volume. Miller was
enthusiastic about the book’s sales and seemed confident that the story would
satisfy readers. “This book is a bold departure from the first one,” Miller
told the SPLASH. “It’s not the same story, but I am using the same continuity
to show the DC pantheon as it exists in that world.” Miller declined to reveal
specifics about the story, but explained the book will comment on the current
political climate. “What’s freaky is that before September 11 I drew sequences
in first two issues that now seem like a reaction to it,” Miller said, pausing for
a siren to pass his New York studio. “We left all of that in,” Miller
continued, “and you’ll see my reaction to the attacks in the third issue.”
Miller
explained that he won’t be taking a kid gloves approach to commenting on
post-attack culture. “I don’t give a shit about taste right now,” Miller said.
“This is not a time for knee jerk pacifism nor is it a time for knee-jerk
jingoism; this is a time for smarts. What I won’t do is dance around the issue
like the rest of entertainment is doing. I’d rather go at what happened
directly.”
One of
the pillars of Dark Knight’s success in 1986 is that Miller was able to hit the
cultural zeitgeist between the eyes. His depiction of a violent and cynical
culture reflected the late cold war mood so precisely that it earned him
extensive coverage in the national media. It remains to be seen if Miller will
be able to repeat his eighties performance, but comments he made at the start of the
project eerily anticipate the current cultural mood. In 1999 Miller said,
“[T]his is a very strange era and one that's hard to put a finger on. As I work
on it, and remember that this is satire, what I want to show is a sort of,
"kinder, gentler fascism." … We've thrown away our civil rights, but
life's good. At least that's the way it's portrayed in the media in the context
of this Dark Knight. … I'm also exploring the simple notion that superheroes
should be heroes. There are so many possibilities. The superhero makes a great
metaphor for all kinds of things about society.” Whether or not Miller is still
able to successfully wield the superhero as a metaphor for a turbulent culture
will be known next month.
What
may not be seen with such immediate clarity is how much growth the book will
actually create. Retailers have ordered with the belief that mainstream
consumer demand for the project will be high, but this isn’t necessarily an “if
you build it they will come” proposition. DK2’s initial orders exceed this
year’s average sales of top selling comics by a significant margin, which
forces DC to ensure that the new consumers retailers are expecting actually
come into the shops. Whether they do so or not will be seen through the
company’s promotional and publicity efforts. DC will be promoting the project
with advertisements in comics and mainstream media outlets and sources indicate
they will also launch a PR offensive early next month.
So far
the sell in for DK2 is positive, but the sell through is crucial. If DC can
successfully win new and lapsed readers with the project, they will continue to
build growth in the direct market. If their efforts fail, retailers could be
stuck with very large numbers of an expensive product.
2001
has been a year of tremendous strides for comics in areas of content, sales,
and public perception. DK2 may or may not continue those strides, but it will
surely set the tone of the direct market as it enters the new year. “
=====================================================
TV SHOW SCHEDULES
********************
MOVIES
----------------
UPN will air Batman Forever,
the 1995 film starring Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey, TONIGHT -
Friday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).
JUSTICE LEAGUE
------------------------
The highly anticipated
JUSTICE LEAGUE show debuts on November 17th at 7:00pm on Cartoon
Network. Regular episodes will follow on Mondays at 9:30 pm.
Cartoon Network has released
the full show schedule through to January 6th as follows:
Secret Origins
Nov. 17 7:00 p.m. Secret Origins (episodes 1, 2 and 3)
Nov. 18 8:30 p.m. Secret Origins (episodes 1, 2 and 3)
In Blackest Night Part 1
Nov. 19 9:30 p.m. In Blackest Night Pt. 1 (episode 4)
Nov. 23 7:30 p.m. In Blackest Night Pt. 1 (episode 4)
Nov. 25 8:30 p.m. In Blackest Night Pt. 1 (episode 4)
In Blackest Night Part 2
Nov. 26 9:30 p.m. In Blackest Night Pt. 2 (episode 5)
Nov. 30 7:30 p.m. In Blackest Night Pt. 2 (episode 5)
Dec. 2 8:30 p.m. In Blackest Night Pt. 2 (episode 5)
The Enemy Below Part1
Dec. 3 9:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 1 (episode 6)
Dec. 7 7:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 1 (episode 6)
Dec. 9 8:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 1 (episode 6)
The Enemy Below Part 2
Dec. 10 9:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 2 (episode 7)
Dec. 14 7:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 2 (episode 7)
Dec. 16 8:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 2 (episode 7)
Secret Origins Part 1
Dec. 16 9:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 1 (episode 1)
Dec. 21 7:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 1 (episode 1)
Dec. 23 8:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 1 (episode 1)
Secret Origins Part 2
Dec. 30 8:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 2 (episode 2)
Secret Origins Part 3
Dec. 31 9:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 3 (episode 3)
Jan. 4 7:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 3 (episode 3)
Jan. 6 8:30 p.m. Secret Origins Pt. 3 (episode 3)
BATMAN BEYOND
---------------
BATMAN BEYOND is now showing
on Cartoon Network at 6:30pm Monday through Friday
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
Batman Beyond/Batman of the
Future: 4.00 Tuesdays on Fox Kids in Australia
Batman Beyond is now running
on Cartoon Network – Italy Monday to Friday
- 5.00 pm
and 8.00pm. Episodes are shown in originally running order.
NEW BATMAN / SUPERMAN
ADVENTURES
----------------------------------
The Batman / Superman
Adventures are currently on hiatus. No news as to when we can expect them back
on the Cartoon Network 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
-------------------------------------------------
In Canada, YTV has dropped
B:TAS from its schedule until further notice
1977 ANIMATED BAT BACK ON
AIR
---------------------------------------------------
The WB Airing The CBS 1977
Series THE NEW BATMAN ADVENTURES. The shows are originally running in original
broadcast sequence on Saturday mornings at 7:30 am and rerun the following
Friday morning at 8:30 am.
UPDATES NEEDED
---------------------------------
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.
======================================================================
TV NEWS
***********
ALL SUPER FRIENDS - ALL
WEEKEND
-----------------------------------------
On November 10-11, in anticipation
of the November 17 debut of the new animated series Justice League, the Cartoon
Network's Boomerang presents a "Weekend of Justice" with 48 hours of
classic Super Friends episodes.
BATMAN UNMASKED AT LAST
-------------------------------------------
The "lost" Batman
Beyond episosde Unmasked will air on Cartoon Network on December 18th at
6:30pm. Originally reported not to be apart of the episode package the network
purchased, it now appears that Cartoon Network has rights to all the episodes
of Batman Beyond. This will be the first time this episode will air in North
America.
The episode was originally scheduled to air September 14th, but was pushed back
due to the tragic events of September 11th. Kids'WB! annoubnced the episode
would air later in the season on the network. Kids'WB! gave no specific date
when it would air. The episode is likely not air on Kids'WB!.
===================================================
MOVIE NEWS
************
BATMAN SHADOWS NEW SCOOBY TRAILER-------------------------------------------------------------------Dark Horizons (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news.htm ) has posted a descriotion of thetrailer for the upcoming Scooby-Doo movie that will be attached to Harry Potter next week, and it has definite echoes for us Batfans.
“It (the trailer) starts off
with the Warner Brothers logo dissolving into the moon, bats come out of
somewhere into the night sky. The voice over guy tells us about a hero, one who
protects the innocent, he's always been there in the background. The camera
enters a dark house, goes up a staircase and everyone thinks it's the next
Batman film. We even see the back of a figure standing in front of a window
looking into the night sky, he looks like Batman with the pointed ears from his
hood... voice over guy stays something like "He's here to save the
world..." and the camera swings round to show us the face of SCOOBY DOO,
he look at the camera saying in his usual comic voice "Who?....me?.”
==================================================
IN THE STORES
*******************
BATMAN HELPS LAUNCH
GAME-CUBE
--------------------------------------------------------
Ubi Soft Entertainment
confirmed on Wednesday that Batman: Vengeance is set to launch simultaneously
with the Nintendo GameCube. The game will ship to stores for the launch of the
new console system during the week of Nov. 18. Batman: Vengeance is one of 22
games that will be available for the Nintendo GameCube by the end of the year.
========================================================
MEET THE BAT-TEAM
********************
NEW YORK NY – November 9-11
---------------------------------------
The 3rd National
Comic Book, Art, Toy and Sci-Fi Expo will be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion
on the weekend of November 9th to 11th. The Pavilion is
located at 125 West 18th St. Featured guests include: DICK AYERS,
CARMINE INFANTINO, JOE STATON, TERRY MOORE and KLAUS JANSEN.
NOVI MI – November 17-18
-------------------------------------
The fall MOTOR CITY
COMIC-CON will take place at the Novi Expo Center, Novi MI on the weekend on
November 17th and 18th. Guests include: ARNOLD DRAKE,
DICK GIORDANO, BOB LAYTON and many more.
COLUMBUS, OH – November
24-25
---------------------------------------------
The MID-OHIO CON takes place
the weekend of November 24th and 25th at the Hilton in
Easto Town Center, Columbus Ohio. Guests include: SCOTT BEATTY, DAVE GIBBONS, JOHN BRYNE and many others.
2002 Convention Dates
-------------------------------
February 22-24 – MEGA-CON,
Orlando FL. (www.megaconvention.com
)
March 23-24 – PLANET
COMICON, Kansas City, KS (www.planetcomiccon.com
)
April 26-28 – PITTSBURGH COMICON,
Pittsburgh PA (www.pittsburghcomicon.com
)
May 17-19 – MOTOR CITY COMIC
CON, Novi MI. (www.motorcityconventions.com
)
June 14-16 – HEROES CONVENTION,
Charlotte NC (www.heroesonline.com )
August 1-4 – COMIC-CON
INTERNATIONAL, San Diego CA (www.comic-con.org
)
====================================================================
ON-LINE HAPPENINGS
*******************
JUSTICE LEAGUE cTOONS
---------------------------------------
The Cartoon network website has announced
a batch of Justice League cToons will be on the way for the premiere during the
week of NOVEMBER 12-18. With 14 new cToon interactive trading cards.
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
-------------------------------------------------
The hit official
internet site Gotham Girls recently completed the first run of its second
season episodes. It is currently rerunning earlier episodes. To check out the
site and the new webisode, go to www.gothamgirls.com
GG Schedule:
Currently
showing
-------------------------
Episode 1 – “Hold That
Tiger”
Episode 2 – “Miss
Un-Congeniality”
Upcoming Episodes
----------------------------
Episode 3 – “Strategy” –
debuts November 20th
BRUCE TIMM GALLERY MOVES
-----------------------------------------------
The Bruce Timm Gallery is
now located at www.popcultureshock.com/brucetimm
DC DIRECT NOW ON-LINE
----------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------
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
---------------------------------------
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
----------------------------
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
======================================================================
BATMAN FANZINES &
FAN-CLUBS
*******************************
(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
--------------------------------
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
----------------------
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
--------------------------------------------
$10 a year for a bi-monthly
newsletter. Contact J. Washington III, 321 Gracie Road . Chesapeake VA 23325
HARLEY QUINN FAN CLUB
----------------------
Based in San Diego. For more
info contact Mike at 4574 Mercurio St. San Diego CA 92130
UNOFFICIAL BATMAN ANIMATED
FAN-CLUB
-------------------------------------
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
======================================================================
HOW TO ORDER OUR OWN BATMAN
BOOK
********************************
"THE UNAUTHORIZED
BATMAN COLLECTORS GUIDE" by Alan
J. Porter
The most comprehensive guide
to Batman comics and collectibles ever collected between
two covers.
160 Pages
294 Photographs
6000 Items Listed
8 1/2" x 11" -
Soft Cover.
ISBN 0-7643-0683-9
$30.00
With over 6000 items listed,
this is the most comprehensive guide to Batman comics and collectibles ever
assembled between two covers. Nearly 300 photographs accompany the informative
articles and price guide listings. Highlights include a comics section which
lists every comic book in which Batman has appeared from his debut in 1939 to
the end of 1997, plus a figures section which lists all of the various Batman
action figures. Covering everything from Artwork to Videos, and price ranges from
15c to $150,000, this book is a must for any Batfan.
As a special offer to GOTHAM
WEEKLY NEWS subscribers, you can order a signed copy from the author.
Send a check / money order
for $30.00* (US Dollars), along with your mailing address to:
Alan J. Porter
Batman Guide
PO Box 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
======================================================================
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.