Good day, citizens, El Cosmico here with some fun words from a friendly reader, who wishes to be known as The Indestructible Man (don't we all...). He brings glad tidings of the Batman/Superman world, in fine detail, and spoiler-packed, so be forewarned. Read on and glean gladness.
Heya Geeks! A reader of two years and a poster of one, this is my first bit of correspondence to you guys on anything. However, I literally just got in the door from the Wondercon comic convention in Oakland, CA, where one of the panels was Paul Dini discussing Batman Beyond and such, and there's a nice chunk of news from it. So, I decided to file this report.
Paul talked a bit about the direct-to-video Return of the Joker (October 31), especially mentioning the details of the DVD (same day, including both a making of video and two additional scenes cut from the VHS for time including a supposedly spectacular mood scene of elderly Bruce Wayne revisiting the ruins of Arkham Asylum for the first time in forty years). Also, he explained how WB wouldn't comment on extending the series to a fourth season unless, by January, the film sales were good (I suppose they need another Pokemon spot so buy this video! Because the third season sounds really cool!)
Beware, from here on in there be MASSIVE SPOILERS (don't say you weren't warned)!
First, on a minor front, Dini commented that Batman Terry McGinnis would be having at least one crossover on the show's new spinoff Zeta (from the episode on this morning), as well as an appearance by the robot on Batman Beyond again in the new year. Also, some other characters, mainly villains will be present. More Inque (including her origin), Kobra (2-parter), Stalker, the Royal Flush Gang, Curare and (very cool) Talia al Ghul herself (although no Ra's al Ghul, at least in season 3). Some of the points visited upon in the movie about Bruce's past will be fleshed out too (esp. his time with Barbara), but Dini said that most of the remaining huge revelations would have to wait for a fourth season, after Terry and his world (and rogue's gallery) is fully assembled (so buy the movie and save the show!)
Oh yeah, and Dini finally spilled the beans on the 2-part 3rd season finale.The Justice League! Led by an aged Superman (in a costume and characterization Dini described as part Kingdom Come and part Kryptonian-influence), it includes his lieutenant Barda (replacing Wonder Woman, as the legality of getting her character for an appearance was too tough, he explained at length), Aquagirl (daughter of Aquaman and Mera), a new Green Lantern, and a few other new characters. In a surprising move, Kal-El comes to Terry to request the boy's membership needing a strong detective on the established team. Terry however, rightfully feels out of his league among all the big shots, especially with such confidence in him on Superman's part (I see some shades of Kyle Rayner here). If the fourth season is greenlighted (they'll know in January), that season will be divided between Bruce dealing with the past as its revealed and Terry among the Justice League (so we'll get big roles back for each of Conroy's Bruce Wayne and Tim Daly's Superman!!!)
That aside, in other news...
Dini also announce today that, starting next March, Warner Brothers Online will be featuring two new flash animation series: Lobo and Gotham Girls. Lobo is said to be in the style the main Man was presented in his Superman appearance. Gotham Girls however, he explained in more detailed. Using stylized character designs from Glen Murakama (of Superman and Batman Beyond), the series would focus on six characters: on the side of good Batgirl, Zatanna, and Black Canary (from a complete character design of Dinah Lance Bruce Timm did back in the Fox days) versus Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. Things are looking up for the original voices to return as well. If all these are successful, Dini said he'd like to do more direct-to-video movies, including a Batman-Superman teamup in the old animated style (in the old B:TAS story/visual mold), and a more mature Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy film (which had been pitched as an idea for prime time animation previously).
And one last thing: each year at Wondercon, Dini has brought a new un-aired Batman or Superman (last year he premiered A Fish Story for example). This year, however, he instead brought one of the episodes of Clerks: The Animated Series he had helped co-write (the 2nd one with their reminiscing to the 1st episode). Frankly, I don't know why ABC passed on this. All 300 or so people in the room were literally rolling in the aisles none-stop for the entire 24 minutes, it was that funny.
Ah well, best to send this in now. If you post this, I‚m call myself The Indestructible Man.
Well, that's all he wrote. Many thanks to you, Indie, and here's hoping the best of these things come to pass.
-El Cosmico
mail me at: elcosmico@austin.rr.com
