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Batman:The Animated Series producers Paul Dini, Boyd Kirkland, Alan Burkett, and Bruce Timm conducted a panel along with writer Randy Rogel where they discuss upcoming events for both Batman and Superman, the new video release "Sub-Zero", and the possibility of future projects.
The new episodes of Batman will premiere this fall on the WB network alternating on weekday afternoons with new Superman episodes. On Saturdays, there will be a one hour block consisting of one episode of both Batman and Superman. All together, there will be 65 episodes: 24 Batman, 28 new Superman, and the 13 already aired Superman episodes. The new season will kick off with a three-part "World's Finest" Superman story, in which Superman and Batman team up to stop Lex Luthor, the Joker, Mercy and Harley Quinn.
Catwoman has also dropped the Batman Returns stylings, for a sleek all-black outfit that was to have originally debuted in BTAS second season. At the time, Warners thought it would have been too soon for the merchandising to get such a radical change. Killer Croc is larger and more reptilian, Scarecrow is now very zombie-like, with a large hat and trenchcoat. The Riddler now looks like a cross between Jim Carrey's take on him in Batman Forever, and Malcom McDowell's Alex in A Clockwork Orange. Bane is another character who received a makeover: the BTAS team considered him a joke when they were forced to use him originally, so they made him into a "Mexican wrestler". Now, however, they wanted to use him for a much different effect, so they recreated him to be more terrifying for what they described as the most harrowing Batman episode yet.
The older characters aren't the only ones showing up. New ones such as Roxy Rocket, Firefly, Farmer Brown, and Calender Girl have been added along with classic DC heroes like the Creeper and Etrigan, the Demon! Each redesigned character will be explained in the episodes that they first appear in, so as not to destroy continuity. The "Sub-Zero" video will set the stage for Mr. Freeze's transformation into a grim, revenge-minded figure. Look for the video to be released during the first quarter of 1998.
The new show will also be much lighter, less grim in tone. The formerly black-based backgrounds will now have more vibrant color, including lots of red skies. To compensate, they've made Batman himself into a darker, less jovial hero, one who will rarely let it be known what he's thinking, or crack a joke. Robin and Batgirl will be in almost every episode to lighten the atmosphere. Interestingly, Ra's Al Ghul is not scheduled to appear in any of the new episodes, and Mad Hatter did not get a redesign. Coincidence? Keep reading.
So, you ask, what does this have to do with toys? Plenty. While Kenner keeps their information about future products close to the chest, Warner folk were more than willing to let us know about possible upcoming releases. Already scheduled for late 1997/early 1998 distribution is the upcoming Mad Hatter assortment, tentatively called "Gotham Knights" possibly after the title of the new show. This assortment will include the new Batman, new Robin, and Nightwing! As you can see, Mad Hatter looks fantastic and comes with a robotic "White Rabbit".
So what may follow? Well, Kenner is thinking about a "cops" three pack with Bullock, Montoya, and Gordon! Already plans are in place for new versions of almost every redesigned character to get new figures. Batgirl in her new outfit is a go, so if you want the old Batgirl, you will have to get the Duo-Force one and repaint it yourself. In both the Superman and Batman lines, guest stars will become figures in 1998. Look for Supergirl, Bizarro, Metallo, Flash, Creeper, the Demon, and maybe Dr. Fate! Kenner is excited about the line, and has big plans for the future. They will not rerelease older favorites like Combat Belt Batman, however. Kenner feels that once an assortment has been retired, that is the end of it. This logic slightly flies in the face of the numerous rereleases of Laughing Gas Joker, but we're sure there's some logic behind it.
Also on deck for later in 1998 is a new line centered on Gotham City. No details are available at this time, and it is unknown whether or not this is actually just the rumored "Gotham Knights" BTAS line mentioned above or an entirely new line than better utilizes the DC license.