GOTHAM WEEKLY NEWS #202

Friday 12th March, 2004

BATMAN TOO BIG FOR HIS SUIT?

BATMAN BEGINS star Christian Bale may have over done his preperations for the movie. It's been widely reported that he has "beefed" up for the role of the Dark Knight Detective, but it seems that he may have put on too much muscle. Reports from the set this week told of how the first time he tried on the Bat suit, it ripped and that he only squeezed into a second suit with the help of talcumn powder.

In the suit, or out of it, there is plenty of activity on the movie at the moment as filming in Iceland appears to be over and production has moved to London (starting today) before moving on to Chicago in July and August. Check out the Movie News below for all the latest stories from the set.

And for those people attending this year's San Diego Comic-Con in July, expect a major BATMAN BEGINS precence at the show.

See you next week

- Alan J. Porter

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IN THIS ISSUE

• Comics News
• Van Sciver Exclusive at DC
• Comics Shipping
• TV News
• "The Batman" Sneak Peek.
• Boxed Sets Confirmed
• TV's Catwomen
• TV Schedules
• Movie News
• Batman Begins
• Teaser Poster?
• Script Reviews
• Dent In?
• On-Set Report
• Bat-suit Descriptions
• Catwoman
• The Director and Star speak.
• Trailer news
• Merchandise updates
• In The Stores
•  MiniMates Sets
• In The News
• Catfight at Six Flags
• Meet The Bat Team

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COMICS NEWS

DC SIGNS BATMAN/CATWOMAN ARTIST TO EXCLUSIVE

DC Comics this week announced the singing of artist Ethan Van Sciver  to an exclusive two year  agreement with the company.

"DC Comics and I are finally going steady," Van Sciver, the artist of the upcoming Batman/Catwoman said in a press release. "It's a distinct honor and a privilege to join the ranks of DC exclusives, and I wish to thank Dan DiDio, Joey Cavalieri, Peter Tomasi, Stephen Wacker and all of the editors and staff who have made the past year so enjoyable and exciting for me. I'm grateful to be recognized as one of the creators who DC doesn't like to share with other companies. That's love reciprocated. With 'Batman/Catwoman: Trail of a Gun'  completed and ready for release later this year, I'm looking forward to the challenges that 2004 will bring, and anticipating the monumental project that comes with the signing of this contract."  According to DC, "Batman/Catwoman: Trail of a Gun" is a 2-part prestige format mini series written by Ann Nocenti with art and covers by Van Sciver. Issue #1 will be solicited in the June issue of Previews and scheduled to arrive in stores in August.

Comics Rumor of the Week

• It appears thatr Bill Sienkiewicz will no longer be working on the "Batman" story arc planned for him due to a  conflict between Bill's and DC's schedules for the work.

Comics Shipping (March 17th)

BATMAN ADVENTURES #12 - Written by Ty Templeton and Dan Slott; art by Rick Burchett and Terry Beatty; cover by Kelsey Shannon - The Riddler's been badly wounded — but by whom? Everyone wants to know...especially the Penguin, whose job as Gotham's mayor could depend on it! Plus, in the backup, discover the origins of Batman's trophy room! - BATMAN  |  32pg.  |  Color  |  $2.25

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #51 - Written by A.J. Lieberman; art by Al Barrionuevo and Francis Portela; cover by Lee Bermejo - Guest-starring a trio of Batman's greatest foes: Hush, The Riddler and The Joker! A desperate Riddler contacts the only man who might save him from Hush's wrath: The Joker. Meanwhile, Batman is called away on a mission where not everything is as it seems. - BATMAN  |  40pg.  |   Color  |  $2.75

DC: THE NEW FRONTIER #3 - Written by Darwyn Cooke; art and cover by Cooke - The sprawling 6-part miniseries chronicling the DC Universe's Silver Age continues! Revisit the dawn of the Silver Age as the Challengers of the Unknown are assembled in response to a mysterious evil. Meanwhile, Hal Jordan travels one step closer to Destiny. Plus: BATMAN, Martian Manhunter, and the Suicide Squad! - DC UNIVERSE  |   64pg.  |  3 of 6  |  Color |  $6.95

ROBIN #124 - Written by Bill Willingham; art by Francisco Rodriguez de la Fuente and Aaron Sowd; cover by Jason Pearson - As Robin continues to juggle his girlfriend Spoiler, a mess of schoolwork and an intensive training regimen, his greatest fear threatens to come to fruition! And in a faraway land, Robin's most hated enemy summons a deadly assassin. - BATMAN  |  32pg.  |  Color  |   $2.25

SUPERMAN/BATMAN #8 - Written by Jeph Loeb; art and cover by Michael Turner - An explosive 6-part storyline featuring art by Aspen Studios' Michael Turner begins here! After the catacylsmic events of SUPERMAN/BATMAN #6, Batman discovers something strange and mysterious on the bottom of Gotham Bay...and it looks like a girl. Will she battle on the side of good...or evil? - DC UNIVERSE  |  32pg.  |   Color  |  $2.95

TEEN TITANS #9 - Written by Geoff Johns; art and cover by Mike McKone and Marlo Alquiza - Part 1 of the 5-part "Raven Rising!" Another weekend begins for the Teen Titans, and the first thing on the agenda: teach Bart Allen to drive. But what looks like a fun, relaxing adventure turns into dark nightmare for the Titans as Raven returns, and with her the new, mysterious Brother Blood! - DC UNIVERSE  |   32pg.  |  Color |  $2.50

TV News

CATCH "THE BATMAN" THIS WEEKEND

According to the the Kids' WB website, a "sneak peek" of the new animated show, THE BATMAN, will be shown tomorrow, Saturday March 13th.

WARNERS CONFIRM BOX SETS

The Toon Zone  web-site recently  questioned a Warner Home Video representative bout box sets regarding the "DC Animated Universe" properties, the representative responded that, "there will be season boxed sets of both BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES and SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. TEEN TITANS is scheduled as well." He continued "BATMAN: The Aninmated series is coming out this year. Regarding the BATMAN films, we're planning something to synchronize with the new BATMAN feature in 2005."

TV'S CATWOMEN GET TOGETHER

The three women who played Catwoman in the Batman television series, Eartha Kitt, Julie Newmar and Lee Meriwether, all appeared at The TV Land Awards last weekend. The TV Land Awards will air on Wednesday, March 19 at 9 p.m. (ET) on TV Land.

TV Schedules

BATMAN - Adam West (TV Land)

• Fri 12th Mar  - 12:00am - # 41 -- "The Spell of Tut"
• Sat 13th Mar - 12:30am  - # 42 -- "Tut's Case is Shut"
• Sat 13th Mar - 12:00am - # 43 -- "Greatest Mother of Them All"
• Sun 14th Mar - 12:30am - # 44 -- "Ma Parker"

JUSTICE LEAGUE (Cartoon Network)

• Monday 15th Mar - 10:30pm -  Only A Dream
• Tuesday 16th Mar - 10:30pm  - Maid Of Honor
• Wednesday 17th Mar - 10:30pm - Maid Of Honor
• Thursday 18th Mar - 10:30pm  - Hearts & Minds

TEEN TITANS (Cartoon Network)

• Saturday 13th Mar - 12:00pm - Winner Takes All
• Saturday 13th Mar - 9:00pm - Divide & Conquer
• Sunday 14th Mar Feb - 1:00am -  Divide & Conquer
• Sunday 14th Mar - 10:00pm - Divide & Conquer

TEEN TITANS (KidsWB)

• Saturday 13th Mar - 9:00am - Nevermore

SUPER FRIENDS (Boomerang)

• Sunday 14th Mar - 11:00am -
• Sunday 14th Mar - 7:00pm -
• Monday 15th Mar - 3:00am -

UK TV SCHEDULE

Toonami, Turner's new UK cartoon Network has just started broadcasting. The following Batman shows will be running.

BATMAN OF THE FUTURE (Batman Beyond) :

• Weekdays - 06:30am, 10:30am, 3:00pm.
• Weekends - 07:30am, 12:00 noon, 3:00pm

JUSTICE LEAGUE

• Weekdays & Weekends - 00:30am, 05:10am, 11:30am, 02:30pm, 06:30pm.

Movie News

LATEST BATMAN BEGINS RUMORS & NEWS

• Last week the Ain't-It-Cool News site posted this supposed image  of a promotional poster for BATMAN BEGINS, that was later revealed as an "internal inter-office thing never intended for release"   probably a promotions dept mock-up  - but it's kind of cool anyway.
• Rumor has it that the official teaser poster will have nothing but the Bat-symbol and include the tagline: "Beginning Summer 2005."
• IGN FILMFORCE has posted an excellent script review HERE. There are no major spoilers. And not to be outdone AICN also has has a script review here but this one has spoilers.
• It seems that despit ethe listing on IMDB Larry  Holden may not be in BATMAN BEGINS after all, but his character may be replaced by a Harvey Dent cameo, possibly played by Guy Pearce
• The DARK HORIZONS website posted this on-set report on the start of filming in Iceland.... "Day 1 - They've set up about ten small huts and apparently it's supposed to be a village in Tibet, with more huts to be added by CGI. Yesterday Batman and someone were fighting with swords on the glacier. Tomorrow a magnificent scene will be filmed with Batman and the bad guy fighting while crashing down a steep hill toward a very high cliff. Of course this will be done with some elaborate wire work".  Day 2 - Liam Neeson has been spotted, he is sporting an Asian looking mustache with a one inch gap in the mustache under his nose. Also Christian Bale has a "one month beard". As far as I know he has not yet begun wearing the batsuit. He is wearing some leather clothes with a string belt. In one scene Christian Bale was being carried over the shoulder by someone. The buzz is that this is supposed to be the beginning of the movie. Oh and there is an buddist looking temple also"
• This latest report comes from DARK HORIZONS also posted a report on the Batman costume "The suit looks unusual but it's very confusing because they have the hero and stunt versions and the pieces were covered in plastic and labels, they haven't been assembled yet," says the DH scooper. "The inner bodysuit is definitely dark grey but leather and used looking, not shiny like in the last movies but a material that looks like a second skin. The chest area features a large black bat emblem that doesn't look like the one from the movies or the comics but looks very cool. ...all the other pieces are dark grey/granite but so dark its almost black. The cowl looks small and may stretch to fit the wearer, complete with longish ears. ... They (Nolan, Hemming, etc.) are going for the 'Spiderman/Daredevil' look where Batman looks like a more agile human being rather than a guy in a bulky muscle suit."
• SuperHero Hype also has a report on the costume "Most of the reports you've read about the suit recently seem pretty on the money. The cowl, cape, boots and gloves are al black while the body suit is a dark charcoal grey. The belt is bulky with compartments not like the one in the other movies, it's also a much duller yellow than the belts before. The symbol doesn't have the yellow oval, it's really big, taking up a good part of the chest. It's a smoother material than the rest of the body suit and slightly raised. The gloves aren't quite armoured but the boots look like they have greaves and the soles look like they're designed to give good traction. The cowl isn't as restrictive as the one from the other movies was, the guy in the suit was able to turn his head. The cowl is sculpted and I'm not sure if the material would move with the actor's face. The material looks kind of like leather, it definitely has a texture to it, it isn't smooth like rubber or plastic. Also there's seams on the costume, up and down the arms and legs and on the sides of the body. I don't know if they're supposed to be there as they don't really show up in the darker shots of the costume. "

CATWOMAN UPDATES

• Halle Berry and CATWOMAN director, Pitof, talked about their upcoming film to UK's popular film magazine, TOTAL FILM! The issue features the Catwoman on the cover of their April 2004 'Blockbuster' Preview  "All I can say is, this film will create a brand new universe for Catwoman. The possibility of Batman existing will be kept open, just in case someone wants to make a film with the two of them, but Batman is not part of this film. With Catwoman, we're starting from the beginning" said the director.
  Halle added this about here character, Patience Philips:
  "Patience is a graphic artist, so it makes sense that she'd have a great costume. She has an artistic side that comes out in her behaviour, her drawings and her relationships. She looks like a warrior."
• The debut theatrical trailer for CATWOMAN is expected to premiere later this month,
• Halle Berry, has been named female star of the year for ShoWest 2004. ShoWest, an annual convention for movie exhibitors and distributors, will be held in Las Vegas March 22-25. It is expected the first footage of Catwoman will be shown at the show.
• Reuters news Agency reports that CATWOMAN may get the IMAX treatment later this year.
• Inkworks will be producing trading cards for the upcoming Catwoman movie starring Halle Berry. The cards are tentatively scheduled for a July 7 release.
• CATWOMAN halloween costumes now available for pre-order at here
• Halle Berry recently appeared on PULSE; an entertainment show in Berlin! She was there to promote the overseas release of GOTHIKA, but as usual, talk about CATWOMAN came up! Here are her comments: "
  I chose the role because I'm always wanting to do something different, and what could be further from Miranda Gray in GOTHIKA, than Catwoman? I sort of love the genre...I got a taste of it with X-MEN, but I had a really small role in X-MEN, and now I get to be Catwoman, and I love sort of that comic book world. I think people love those kinds of movies and I love being apart of movies that people actually see, and actually enjoy."

IN THE STORES

NEW ART AYSLUM MINI-MATE BATMAN SETS

The Toy News International web-site has posted several photos showing Art Asylum's upcoming Batman and Justice League C3 Contruction and Building Sets. Look for these to start hitting shelves in the Summer of 2004. 

The sets include:

• Batglider with Batman & Catwoman
• Mini Batmobile with Batman & Robin
• Batmobile with "caped" Batman (see left)
• Batwing with Pilot Batman
• Batcave with Mega Armor Batman, Bruce Wayne and Alfred
• Joker vs Batman Chemical Warehouse playset
• Nightwing figure (possibly in 2005)

IN THE NEWS

CATFIGHT AT SIX FLAGS

Press Release - Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari in New Jersey, America's largest regional theme park, introduces a spectacular new action-adventure show, Batman vs. Catwoman: Catfight, a new 3-D simulator ride and major park enhancements to mark its 30th anniversary.

The only show of its kind, based on the DC Comics Superhero Batman, Batman vs. Catwoman: Catfight features the Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin, as they battle to save Gotham City from the evil clutches of Catwoman and The Joker in this all-new, high-voltage adventure. - Opens April 3rd  - More informationn on the park and attractions can be found here

Meet The Bat Team

SUPER MEGA-SHOW - Secaucus, NJ - March 12th to 14th

The largest NJ show to date features guests from TV, music and comics at the Secaucus, Crown Plaza Hotel. Among the featured guests are: Adrienne Barbeau (voice of Catwoman in B:TAS) and artist Ethan Van Sciver.

WIZARD WORLD - Los Angeles - March 19th to 21st

The first west coast Wizard World convention features an impressive list of guests including: ALEX ROSS, JOAQUIM DOS SANTOS (director of Justice League animated show), PAUL DINI, JEPH LOEB, TIM SALE and DEXTER VINES

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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 - 2004)

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BATMAN and all related characters and indicia are acknowledged as Trademark and copyright DC Comics Inc..

 BATMAN created by Bob Kane & Bill Finger