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         GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS #175

         Saturday January 5, 2002

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 Hi folks –

 Welcome to the first issue of GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS for the year 2002. I hope everyone had a good New Year celebration and that the next 12 months will be everything that you hope it to be.

Thanks to everyone who voted over the last few days of the year in the ALFRED AWARDS. The last minute rush of entries resulted in a total number of votes close to that reached in previous years.

Over the next few weeks I will be counting the votes and will announce the winners by the end of January.

There won’t be any GWN next week as I’m off on my travels again. This time the new day-job is taking me to England for just over a week. But we should be back in your e-mail inboxes the weekend of January 18th.

 Alan J. Porter

E-mail: gothamajp@home.com

http://www.gothamweeklynews.com

 GOTHAM GAZETTE – The BATMAN Magazine On The Web

http://BatmanMagazine.com

 

COMICS NEWS

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BATMAN 10c ADVENTURE TOPS SALES CHARTS

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  • The latest sales figures released by Diamond Distributors show that for the second month running a BATMAN title is the top seller. Last month it was the high priced $7.95 initial issue of Dark Knight Strikes back. This month it’s a book at the other end of the price spectrum – BATMAN: THE 10 CENT ADVENTURE.

Ranking for the Bat family of books in this month’s Top 100 are as follows:

Rank

Title

Price

Pub.

1

BATMAN 10 CENT ADVENTURE

$0.10

DC

3

DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #2 (Of 3)*

$7.95

DC

18

DETECTIVE COMICS #766

$2.50

DC

22

BATMAN #599

$2.25

DC

30

NIGHTWING #65

$2.25

DC

31

BATGIRL #24

$2.50

DC

33

BATMAN GOTHAM KNIGHTS #25

$2.50

DC

44

ROBIN #98

$2.25

DC

46

CATWOMAN #3

$2.50

DC

49

BIRDS OF PREY #39

$2.50

DC

53

BATMAN LEGENDS O/T DARK KNIGHT #151

$2.25

DC

86

HARLEY QUINN #16

$2.25

DC

DK2#2 DELAYED

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The Dark Knight Strikes Again #2, which was scheduled to reach stores on Jan. 16, instead will reach stores on Jan. 30.

"What can I say? Good things take time, and this book is way beyond just good," said DC Comics group editor Bob Schreck. "Trust me, it will be worth the wait."

Copies of DK2 #2 ordered to arrive on the staggered ship dates also will be delayed to follow the weekly delivery pattern.

In addition, DC said revised release dates for DK2 #3 will be announced in the near future.

JL FEATURE IN FREE COMICS DAY

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Plans for the May 4th, 2002 Free Comic Book Day event continue between Diamond, retailers and (so far) the ‘big four’ publishers, and more specific details are beginning to take shape. Newsarama has learned DC, Marvel, Image and Dark Horse have worked out the preliminary plans as to what free comic book they will offer during the event, with some details still to be finalized.

DC has decided to offer a full reprint of Justice League Adventures #1, the new series based on the new Cartoon Network animated program.

“We thought it would be good to show as many recognizable characters as possible in a self-contained story,” explained DC’s Bob Wayne. Justice League Adventures #1 seemed the logical choice, with the extra recognition from the tie-in WB Animation series on Cartoon Network.”

WIZARD FAN POLL NOMINATIONS

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The February issue of Wizard announces the nominees for this year's Wizard Fan Awards, which includes a number of BATMAN related figures and projects. The winners will be announced at Wizard World Chicago in July.

Batman related nominations include:

 -  Favorite Editor   Bob Schreck (Batman books)

 - Favorite Heroine   Batgirl

 - Favorite Publisher   DC Comics

 - Favorite Comics Merchandise   Batman: Vengeance (Ubi Soft)

 - Favorite Comic TV or Movie Project   Justice League.

END FOR AZRAEL?

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A post on the ToonZone News speculates that “the extremely low sales of Azrael: Agent of the Bat may be starting to take it's toll on the comic as rumors of it's cancellation are running rampant. While the title was a high seller, the sales has slipped dramatically over an eight year period. A recent issue of the title has also fueled the fire even more.

At the end of Azrael: Agent of the Bat #84, the issue ends with the quote: "The beginning of the end", which has fans speculating that the fate of the title is apparent. The comic has been hampered with low sales for years, and is now slipping down to as low as 130 in the top 300 comics of the month. The comic premiered in the top 10 when it was launched almost eight years ago.

Denny O'Neil recently posted this reply on the official Azrael Message Board. Interpret it as you will:

Enigmatic message must remain an enigma until Mike Carlin, who wrote it, says otherwise. Sorry.”

DEVIN GOES DOT COM

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Former GOTHAM KNIGHTS and new NIGHTWING writer Devin Grayson has launched her own web site at  www.devingrayson.com.

Visit the site and you'll find some cool flash animation, a detailed autobiography, previews of upcoming comics, a complete checklist of Grayson's work, a comprehensive collection of the print and online interviews and a collection of scripts and other writing samples.

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TV SHOW SCHEDULES & NEWS

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APRIL DVD RELEASE DETAILS

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Warner Bros. has released information on the upcoming Batman DVD releases, including Sub-Zero, World's Finest, Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker - The Original Cut. These DVDs will all hit on April 23rd and set you back $19.99 each (although Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker - The Original Cut is expected to cost more). All the DVDs, except for Justice League, are expected to be full frame. Here it is:

  Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero explodes into animated action when the villainous Mr. Freeze kidnaps Batgirl. Now, racing the clock, Batman and Robin face off against Mr. Freeze in the iciest showdown of the century.

The DVD comes with the film as well as the "Hunt for Mr. Freeze" game, an original music montage, a featurette on how to draw Batman, an introduction by producer Bruce Timm and a trailer.

  The Batman/Superman Movie begins when the Joker elicits the help of Lex Luthor in a new fiendish scheme. Only the combined superpowers of Batman and Superman can save Metropolis. Will the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader be able to foil the plot of this diabolical duo? Not if the superheroes' alter egos clash as they vie for the attention of the self-reliant Lois. The "movie" is comprised of three episodes of Superman: The Animated Series.

The disc will contain similar features to "Subzero" including The Joker's Challenge game, introduction by Bruce Timm, original music montage and how to draw Batman featurette.

  Batman: The Animated Series - The Legend Begins goes back to the beginning of the franchise with five episodes of the original television series which premiered in 1992. Many fans of the show will be relieved to hear that the episodes are being released on disc in order as opposed to a "best-of" format which is a common practice at Warner Brothers.

The same features and a couple of extra ones appear on this disc including how to draw Batman, Life on the Edge Game, animation tests, and introduction by Bruce Timm, and trailers.

  Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker - The Original Cut features the return of the Joker! When the Joker shows up in Terry McGinnis's time, he brings along a deadly secret with him...and secret to Bruce Wayne's past.

Aside from a new intro by Bruce Timm, the extras will be exactly the same as the previous edition of this movie, although the trailers might be different.

CARTOON NETWORK PUBLICIZE THE BIG FIGHT
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Cartoon Network have released the following press release to generate interest in the BATMAN vs SUPERMAN section running from January 21st to January 25th:

Toonami: Batman vs. Superman Caped Crusader and Man of Steel Face Off On-air and Online January 21-26

Monday, January 21-Saturday, January 26, the titans of tights face off on Toonami, Cartoon Network's afternoon action-adventure programming block, to see which superhero is the most powerful during Toonami: Batman vs. Superman. Every night, Monday-Friday, Toonami will air back-to-back episodes of Batman: The Animated Series and Superman from 6-7 p.m. (ET, PT). Viewers can then log on to CartoonNetwork.com to view the site's first "gomic," an exclusive interactive hybrid joining a game and a comic, to cast their vote for the superhero of their choice.

     On Saturday, January 26, the superheroes will return for a six-hour marathon from 1-7 p.m. (ET, PT). At 5 p.m., the winner of the online vote will be revealed and the final two hours of Toonami: Batman vs. Superman will be dedicated to the victorious superhero.

     Beginning Monday, January 21 and throughout the week, fans will be able to go to CartoonNetwork.com to play "The World's Finest: The Gauntlet of Doom," an exclusive comic and online game and to vote for their favorite superhero. Each day, one of five comic book covers will become active with each day's comic coming to a close by positioning both Batman and Superman in a competitive challenge against an enemy. The player can select the superhero that they think is best equipped to beat that enemy and that choice will cast one vote in favor of either Batman or Superman. Online, fans can also obtain an Orbit Code that they can redeem on Cartoon Orbit, CartoonNetwork.com's online digital trading community, for a limited edition Batman vs. Superman cToon (the site's online trading cards).

(CARTOON NETWORK PRESS RELEASE)

 

 

The press release was accompanied by a “fight” poster, a copy of which can be found on-line at http://www.toonzone.net/news/images/batman-vs-superman.jpg

 

BATMAN BACK ON TV LAND ?

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It appears that this upcoming March the classic 1960s Adam West Batman TV show will air on TV Land starting with a week long Batathon.  GWN and a couple of readers have e-mailed TV Land for further information and exact air dates, but no reply has been received so far.

 

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 IN THE STORES

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TALIA AT LAST

 

A source from Hasbro leaked out that a new Batman four pack is in the works. Posted on the Raving Toy Maniac's message board, (http://www.toymania.com )

The next 4pk is Shadows of Gotham containing Ra's and Talia. Ra's is only a new deco and Talia is all new. I first got this info from 'Bill' at Hasbro and had it confirmed by 'Mike' the head of Category 11 [action figures] at TRU. It is 'supposed' to be out in February. The other two figures are new decos of Batman and Robin.

 

(Thanks to ToonZone for pointing this item out.)

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  2002 Convention Dates

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February 22-24 – MEGA-CON, Orlando FL. (www.megaconvention.com )

Location: Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, Orlando.

Attendees include:

-          Scott Beatty (writer Batman: The Ultimate Guide)

-          Dick Giordano ( legendary Batman inker and ex- DC editor)

-          Carmine Infantino ( legendary Batman artist)

-          Greg Rucka (writer Detective Comics)

-          Kevin Smith (writer upcoming Brave & Bold)

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 )

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GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS is a FOREST COMICS Publication.

 FOREST COMICS and GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS are (c) and TM  - Alan J. Porter (1994 - 2002)

 "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

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