August 29th, 2003
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ED BRUBAKER LEAVES DETECTIVE.
Earlier this week news broke that fan-favorite Ed Brubaker will be leaving the writing chores on DETECTIVE COMICS at the end of the year. Brubaker's comments on his departure can be read at Newsarama. He will still be hanging around the streets of Gotham as he is still commited to both CATWOMAN and GOTHAM CENTRAL books.
The new creative team will be writer Andersen Gabrych and artist Pete Woods. Woods maybe familar from his work on ROBIN. Gabrych is totally new, not only to the world of the Batman, but as a comics writer.
- Thanks to all those people who e-mailed me last week with comments and suggestions about the relaunched GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS. I appreciate the time and effort that you invested. Just a reminder if you haven't added your name to the subcribers list, just click here to register. You will just get a short e-mail each time that a new issue is posted.
For our US based readers, have an enjoyable Holiday weekend, and we'll see you all next week.
All the best.. - Alan J. Porter
IN THIS ISSUE
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PLANETARY / BATMAN & TEEN TITANS SELL OUT
DC Comics continues its run of sold-out issues with TEEN TITANS #2 (featuring ROBIN), and PLANETARY/BATMAN: NIGHT ON EARTH.
TEEN TITANS #2 sold out at the
publisher five days before its in-store date of August 13. This follows the sell-outs of
two second printings of TEEN TITANS #1. "We couldn't be happier that TEEN TITANS is
continuing to find its way into the hands of so many readers, new and old," says
writer Geoff Johns. "And we're just getting warmed up."
In addition, the WildStorm Prestige Format
Special PLANETARY/BATMAN: NIGHT ON EARTH has sold out at the publisher."We printed
what should have been enough copies of PLANETARY/BATMAN for at least six months,"
says WildStorm Group Editor Scott Dunbier. "To have it sell out in eight weeks shows
how much demand there is for new stories by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday - (Source - DC
Comics press release)
BIRDS WRITER INTERVIEW
Fan favorite and critically acclaied writer, GAIL SIMONE, gives an interview about her work on BIRDS OF PREY at the Newsarama website this week.
ARKHAM ASYLUM: LIVING HELL #5 - Written
by Dan Slott; art by Ryan Sook and Wade von Grawbadger; painted cover by Eric Powell
- As if rioting super-villains weren't bbad enough, Arkham Asylum now has a new, deadlier
menace to contend with. With demons picking off both guards and inmates, it's time to
bring in an expert: Jason Blood! - 32pg. | 5 of 6 | Color
| $2.50
AVENGERS/JLA #1 - WRITER: Kurt Busiek, PENCILS: George Perez
THE WAIT IS OVER! The most eagerly anticipated comic book crossover of all time has
finally arrived, with alternating Prestige Format issues by Marvel & DC Comics! What
cataclysmic threat could endanger two universes - and dwarf the combined power of both
Earth's Mightiest Heroes and the World's Greatest Super-Heroes? The world finally learns
the answer in September 2003! - PRICE: $5.95
CATWOMAN #22 - Written by Ed
Brubaker; art and cover by Cameron Stewart
-
32pg. | Color | $2.50
DC/MARVEL: CROSSOVER CLASSICS IV - Written
by Ron Marz, John Byrne, J.M. DeMatteis, and Dan Jurgens; art by Darryl Banks, Terry
Austin, Byrne, Graham Nolan, Karl Kesel, Jurgens and Art Thibert; cover by Ed McGuinness
- Bringing together a staggering collecttion of the greatest comics heroes ever with an
all-star roster of legendary creators! This volume collects GREEN LANTERN/SILVER SURFER:
UNHOLY ALLIANCES, DARKSEID VS. GALACTUS: THE HUNGER, BATMAN & SPIDER-MAN, and
SUPERMAN/FANTASTIC FOUR. - 224pg. | Softcover | Color
| $14.95
DETECTIVE COMICS #786 - Written
by Ed Brubaker and Rick Spears; art by Patrick Zircher, Aaron Sowd and Rob G.; cover by
Tim Sale
- The conclusion of "Made of Wood&qquot; throws Batman and the JSA's Green Lantern
Alan Scott into a race against time to save James Gordon from a homicidal maniac! And in
the back-up &mdash mdash;"The Dogcatcher," Part 2 of 4, by Rick Spears and
Rob G. (Teenagers From Mars) &mdash mdash;an unfortunate city worker happens
upon the Joker's lost pooch! - 40pg. | Color | $2.75
HARLEY QUINN #36 - Written
by A.J. Lieberman; art and cover by Mike Huddleston and Troy Nixey
- "Behind Blue Eyes" Part 4 off 5. At last, the truth is revealed about Amanda's
parents: why they hid valuable information with her, and how to retrieve it. But knowledge
isn't always power, and Harley is running out of options as she struggles to keep herself
and her unlikely ward alive! - 32pg. | Color | $2.50
JLA-Z #1 - Written
by Mike McAvennie; art by Jim Lee, Scott McDaniel, Scott Kolins, Rob Haynes, Patrick
Gleason, Dan Jurgens, Jeff Parker, Pascual Ferry, Tom Nguyen, Peter Pachoumis, Scott
Williams, Christian Alamy, and various; cover by Phil Jimenez
- A handbook to DC's greatest super-teamm featuring artwork by some of the biggest names in
comics, timed to coincide with the debut of JLA/AVENGERS! Featuring the first of a
triptych of covers by Phil Jimenez (originally featured in Wizard magazine), this stunning
issue includes villains and heroes from Amazo to Green Arrow, and features artwork by
BATMAN's Jim Lee, SUPERMAN's Scott McDaniel and indie comics superstars including Jeff
Parker (The Interman). - 32pg. | 1 of 3 | Color |
$2.25
JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES #23 - Written
by Chris Sequeira; art by Min S. Ku and Rob Leigh; cover by Eric Wight
- Kobra strikes reality television! Afteer so many failed attempts to conquer the world,
Kobra finds that his legion of believers is evaporating. In order to renew the faith of
his followers, he comes up with his grandest scheme yet: to kill the Justice League live
on TV! - 32pg. | Color | $2.25
SUPERMAN/BATMAN SECRET FILES 2003 -
Written by Geoff Johns, Jeremy Johns, Jeph Loeb, and Mark Waid; art by
Ivan Reis, Tim Sale, Ed McGuinness, Scott McDaniel, Marc Campos, and Pascual Ferry; cover
by McGuinness
- Discover the secrets of DC's heaviest hitters in an explosive special tied directly into
their new ongoing series' first storyline! In a lead story by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis and
Marc Campos, an unexpected champion plays a decisive role in the super-powered war on
terror &mdash mdash;but how will the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight respond to him?
Plus: a surprising look at Luthor as "man of the people" written by Mark Waid;
another thrilling take from the creators of SUPERMAN FOR ALL SEASONS, Jeph Loeb and Tim
Sale; and profiles of the SUPERMAN/BATMAN cast by Ed McGuinness, Scott McDaniel, and
Pascual Ferry! - 48pg. | Color | $4.95
WONDER WOMAN: THE BLUE AMAZON -
Written by Randy Lofficier and Jean-Marc Lofficier; art and painted cover
by Ted McKeever
- Completing the trilogy begun in the ELLSEWORLDS specials SUPERMAN: METROPOLIS and BATMAN:
NOSFERATU! The original Superman and BATMAN of the series return as the sinister Doctor
Psykho keeps a mysterious — and powerful — captive in his "Palace of
Sin"...a prisoner who may control the destiny of civilization! -
ELSEWORLDS | 64pg. | Color | $6.95
JL Second Season Finale Details?
According to ToonZone, the title for the three-part, Second season Justice League finale will be "Starcrossed." The exact details on this three-part finale episode are not yet known, but some rumors suggest that the episode will focus on an alien invasion, and will build upon a subplot that has been laced throughout the entire second season, but this has not been confirmed.
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (Cartoon Network)
JUSTICE LEAGUE (Cartoon Network)
SUPER FRIENDS (Boomerang)
SUPERMAN/BATMAN ADVENTURES (Boomerang)
TEEN TITANS (Cartoon Network)
KEEPING BATWOMAN A MYSTERY
The producer / director of the upcoming MYSTERY OF THE BATWOMAN animated movie, Curt Geda has been talking to the Comics Continuum web-site about the challenges of designing the character and how there were influenced by a recent modern incarnation of The Dark Knight.
BATMAN: MYSTERY OF THE BATWOMAN will be released on DVD and VHS on October 21st
HAS DANCY SIGNED ?
Following on from last week's story that British actor Hugh Dancy is in talks with director Chris Nolan to play the Caped Crusader in "BATMAN 5," the FilmForce website tried to contact Dancy's representatives for confirmation and recieved a firm "no comment." But, on the Unofficial Christopher Nolan Website there is a post saying that Dancy is "signed, sealed and delivered."
CATWOMAN - POWERS, COSTUMES AND CAMEOS?
Rumors are circulating that the Catwoman in the upcoming movie will display a few "super powers" such as an ability to leap great distances and cat like eyes for seeing in the dark. These may be a result of her transformation into the Feline Fatale, which is rumored to be similar to the "resuurection" sequence that Michelle Pfeiffer underwent in BATMAN RETURNS. There are also rumors circulating that Catwoman will use two different costumes in the movie for reason as yet unknown.
The British tabloid newsaper THE SUN has ressurected the old rumor that Michelle Pfeiffer will make a cameo apperance in the new movie as "Selina Kyle" to bridge the charcter development from Batman Returns to the new franchise - take that with a large dose of salt.
This week GWN Launches THE CATWOMAN MOVIE PAGE for a summary of all the latest information and happenings on the upcoming Catwoman movie.
Comic Book Marketplace #104 (Gemstone Publishing)
"Celebrating 65 Years of The Batman" this issue of CBM is a delight for Batman fans, collectors and historians alike. From the Bat shaped logo and the front page montage, through interviews and articles this is a must for any collection. Bat themed articles include:
SPX - Small Press Expo - Bethesda MD - Sept 5th to 7th
Although primarily a meeting ploace for Small Press publishers the annual SPX Expo also attacts some mainstream creators. Among this year's registered attendees are FRANK MILLER and TERRY MOORE. And the GWN team (i.e. me) will be there on the Sunday at least.
BALTIMORE COMIC-CON - Baltimore Convention Center - Sept 20th to 21st
The Baltimore show continues to grow each year with more visitors and more guests. Confirmed attendees this year include: JIM LEE (Saturday only), GREG RUCKA, BRIAN STELFREEZE.
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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 - 2003)
"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