Thursday, Jan. 25, 2001

JUSTICE LEAGUE ANIMATION UPDATE

Rich Fogel confirmed for The Continuum that he is one of the writers on the Justice League animated series being produced at Warner Bros. Animation for Cartoon Network.

"I just finished writing the pilot, and we think this is going to be an amazing, eye-popping show, filled with big action, epic adventure and gripping suspense," Fogel told The Continuum. "In developing the pilot, I've worked closely with Bruce Timm, Glen Murakami and James Tucker, who have developed a slick new look for the Justice League."

Stan Berkowitz, another Warner Bros. Animation veteran, joins Fogel as a writer on the show, which has a 26-episode order.

"This isn't Super Friends," Fogel said. "Nothing quite like it has ever been attempted, and I don't think the fans will be disappointed."

Bret Blevins, a Superman comics artist in the 1990s, will also be working on the show as an artist. Blevins recently worked on Batman Beyond.

Representatives of Warner Bros. Animation could not comment if the show would be set in the continuity of the Batman and Superman series. It also appears that the Green Lantern in the series will be the John Stewart version of the character, although that has not been confirmed.

Regular members of the team will include Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Flash, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl.

Look for more on Justice League soon here in The Continuum.

BONGO COMICS FOR MAY

Following are Bongo Comics' solicitations for May, with information coming from the company:

BART SIMPSON COMICS #4

By Shaw!, Simone, Worley, Ho and Morrison.

First, Lisa goes on a game show in order to settle a bet with Bart and capture Homer's attention. But when she gets sick, Lisa discover that cold medicine is the great intellectual equalizer. Them, Millhouse decides it's time to learn how to defend himself by taking karate lessons. Finally, another Professor Frink invention in Bart's hands gives Maggie the ability to fly.

32 pages, $2.50.

SIMPSONS COMICS #58

By Bates, Gonzalez and Morrison.

When Mayor Quimby, caught in yet another scandal and up for re-election, decides to curry the favor of the religious right in Springfield by enacting Sunday Blue Laws, he suddenly finds himself in the political fight of his life. The hastily assembled Keg Party is championing their own candidate â¤| Homer Simpson. But how low will Homer stoop to win the election? Just ask his campaign manager, Fat Tony!

32 pages, $2.50.

FIRST LOOK: JUSTICES LEAGUES: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1

Justice Leagues: Justice League of America #1 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Tom Peyer, with art by Justiniano and a cover by George Perez.

Here's how DC describes the issue, which is the conclusion to the "Justice Leagues" event:

"Plura, the world-consuming threat that hired the Advance Man, is loose upon our world. Can Superman crack the mystery of what 'J.L.A.' should stand for in time to save billions of innocent souls?"

Justice Leagues: Justice League of America #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS #13

Batman: Gotham Knights #13 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Greg Rucka and Harlan Ellison, with art by Rick Burchett, Gene Ha and Rodney Ramos and a painted cover by Durwin Talon.

Here's how DC describes the issue, which his the conclusion to the "Officer Down!" event"

"James Gordon faces his final destiny and Batman must accept the possibility of the loss of a valued comrade, and a life which never will be quite the same. Plus, a black-and-white backup feature written by Harlan Ellison and illustrated by Gene Ha."

Batman: Gotham Knights #13 will be 40 pages and will cost $2.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: ACTION COMICS #775

Action Comics #775 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Joe Kelly, with art by Doug Mahnke, Lee Bermejo and MarloAlquiza and a cover by Tim Bradstreet.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"Has Superman become outdated in our modern world? A new aggressive team of metahumans called the Elite certainly thinks so, and they're about to wreck the Man of Steel's truth, justice and American way. And if a lot of innocent bystanders get killed in the process, so be it."

Action Comics #775 will be 48 pages and will cost $3.75.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: WONDER WOMAN #166

Wonder Woman #166 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Phil Jimenez and J.M. DeMatteis, with art by Jimenez and Andy Lanning and a cover by Adam Hughes.

Here's how DC describes the issue, which is part three of the four-part "Gods of Gotham" story arc:

"Wonder Woman's mission to rescue Gotham City from the God of War's evil offspring has turned into the greatest challenge of her life. Even with Batman, Nightwing and Troia by her side, there seems to be no way for the Amazon Princess to match her foes' Olympian omnipotence. But as the hideous partnership that the Godchildren have formed with the Joker, Scarecrow and Poison Ivy begins to unravel, Diana and the Dark Knight see their one slim chance at victory."

Wonder Woman #166 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.25.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

FIRST LOOK: EL DIABLO #1

El Diablo #1 will arrive in stores on Wednesday from DC Comics. The issue is written by Brian Azzarello, with art by Danijel Zezelj and a painted cover by Tim Sale.

Here's how DC describes the issue:

"Small-town sheriff Moses Stone is running from his past, and from something even worse -- a brutal and relentless gunman who has unearthed the skeletons in Sheriff Stone's closet and has every intention of making the Sheriff face them. That relentless gunman is a killer of legend, known only as...El Diablo. Resurrecting the popular frontier phantom from the pages of the Weird Western Tales, El Diablo hits all the touchstones of the American Western Myth but digs deeper to uncover the sinister secrets and cold-blooded brutality of that unforgiving time and place. Is El Diablo a man on a mission? Is he a spirit of atonement avenging the ghosts who know no justice? Or is he the devil himself, impatiently collecting the souls of men whose actions have damned them? Sheriff Stone and his ragtag posse are about to find out -- the hard way."

El Diablo #1 will be 32 pages and will cost $2.50.

GIVE'EM A CLICK

BRIEFLY