Sunday, March 30, 2014

Ask and I Shall Receive… Again!


In out last post, I lamented the lack of any official word about the coming of the BATMAN (1966) TV series to official, non-bootleg, Warner Bros DVD, beyond an initial and isolated Tweet by Conan O’Brien.  HERE.


 
"You think YOU'VE got it tough, Conan... Try being a TEN YEAR OLD KID on TV every week since the late eighties!  Losing THE TONIGHT SHOW's a snap compared to that!"
 
Previously, I also lamented the inexplicable lack of DVDs for the 1968 Filmation BATMAN Animated Series (the immediate follow-up to the BATMAN TV series though less overtly campy and somewhat more evocative of Silver Age comic books) – HERE. 
 

Then, almost immediately, I learned that the 1968 Filmation BATMAN Animated Series IS indeed coming to Warner DVD during 2014 – HERE.

 
Even The Joker is pleased at the news!

And, in keeping with that “immediate gratification thing” concerning Batman DVDs, commenter “Rusty” informed me that Warner DID include a significant mention of BATMAN (1966) DVDs in an announcement made last week – just one day AFTER my Blog post wondering why there was no word from Warner. 
"No Word" is NOT "Good Word", Old Chum!

Here’s a quote pulled from the announcement: 
 
“*Home Entertainment – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will bring fans an array of new Batman titles throughout the year, including the highly anticipated release of the Batman ’66 TV series for the first time ever. Other new releases include animated films Son of Batman (May 6) and Assault on Arkham (summer 2014). Additionally, a 25th Anniversary Edition of Tim Burton’s Batman feature film will be released in the fall.”
     
Oddly, they DON'T explicitly reference the 1968 Filmation series in the announcement! Go fig!

And HERE’S THE LINK to the announcement itself. 
"Holy Rain Check, Batman!  Let's get to the retailer of our choice, before it's SOLD OUT!"

 
The Joker's happy about THIS NEWS, too!
I kinda like having Warner make announcements in response to my Blog posts… So, while I’m on a roll I’ll ask where Seasons 2-4 of THE HUCKLEBERRY HOUND SHOW are. 


 

And, QUICK DRAW McGRAW, PETER POTAMUS, ATOM ANT, and SECRET SQUIRREL. 


(…And, what the hey, while we’re at it… the Hanna-Barbera ABBOTT AND COSTELLO and LAUREL AND HARDY cartoons, too!) 

 

All the Tex Avery MGM cartoons. 


 
 Completing TAZ-MANIA and THE SYLVESTER AND TWEETY MYSTERIES.    



Where are the color theatrical POPEYEs?

And more LOONEY TUNES – and the continuation of the LOONEY TUNES and TOM AND JERRY Blu-ray series! 

Hey, I can dream (of more immediate gratification), can’t I?  

Let's hope it's NOT "The End" for all these!
 

18 comments:

jim said...

I had read awhile ago (on facebook, I think) that the the sales figures on the first several volumes of Popeye were disappointing (I bought them!!) & so the color Famous Studios Popeye's will be released via Warner Archives, on DVD-R. At the time, they were still being "cleaned up" & no release date was mentioned.

So, at least, they are in some level of preparation. That's something.

Hope this helps.

Joe Torcivia said...

Jim:

A pet peeve of mine has always been that The Warner Archive Collection, for all the great things that it’s released – and all the old films-on-DVD reviews that I’ve done at this Blog, has been abysmal when it comes to animation.

Every year, they seem to “shake loose” some older and more obscure Cagney or Bogart film – and I’ll always buy them, and sometimes review them here… BUT The Warner Archive Collection could – and SHOULD – be an ideal place to release all of the artifacts of animation I mention in the post.

Last year’s release of 1960s Popeyes was a great example of what they could do. So, why not Peter Potamus, et al?

And, even if there ARE music clearance issues with the earlier seasons of Huckleberry Hound, the 4th season was okay, as was the 3rd season of Quick Draw McGraw. They were short seasons, so COMBINE them into one package – to be supplemented by the extra Hokey Wolf cartoons made to replace the departing Yogi Bear segment. That would make for a bountiful release – and there’s no reason it could not be done.

It’s a damned shame we still don’t have an official Tex Avery MGM set. If Warner Home Video can’t support it, why not Warner Archives? And dare I suggest the Gene Deitch Tom and Jerrys? I love “Dicky Moe”!

Black and white Looney Tunes won’t sell? Put them out in MOD fashion via the WAC. I just ordered a 1932 Cagney film, “Winner Take All”, that is so obscure I never heard of it, until WAC offered it. Also, over the past month or so, I ordered a collection of 1930s Shemp Howard Vitaphone comedy shorts.

If these artifacts of early entertainment can get a Warner Archives release, why not the Looney Tunes cartoons that PLAYED ON THE SAME PROGRAM with them?

…As I said, I can dream, can’t I?

scarecrow33 said...

While we're on the subject, how about more releases of the Disney anthology series, focusing primarily on the Walt years? Walt's introductions were charming, clever, and informative, and the program content, though not always stellar, maintained strong production values and wholesome storytelling. Among the best shows were the cartoon compilations that gave a context and overriding story to cartoons that originally had been individually produced, thanks to some excellent bridging animation to give continuity. My favorite example is "Highway to Trouble," an hour-long romp in which Donald Duck takes the nephews on a cross-country road trip, culminating in a delightful montage sequence at Disneyland. Another good example is "Donald's Weekend," which strings together several cartoons featuring Donald and the nephews, but puts them in context of a weekend visit to Donald's house--including a scene of Donald taking his nephews to church on a Sunday morning. Then there were the live action series such as "Elfego Baca" and "The Swamp Fox." Plus, of course, the episodes focusing on Disneyland. A treasure trove!

Surely there's still a market today for classic Disney stuff! I truly miss the late "Disney Treasures" series.

Oh--and this is in addition to all of the abovementioned desirable releases, which I am very grateful you mentioned.

I can dream, too!

Joe Torcivia said...

Awww, Scarecrow… Isn’t it difficult enough to discuss the shortcomings of Warner Bros., without bringing-up Disney? 

That could be another post in itself – and very likely WOULD BE, if I were a little more passionate overall about Disney’s product. They release way too much stuff that I have no interest in, vs. the balance of “what I’d like, but don’t have in one form or another”, for me to be quite as bothered about it.

I DO agree with you on the shows hosted by Walt but, even there, my interest would be in the primarily animated ones. Those hosted by Ludwig Von Drake (a character I REALLY enjoyed writing in comics) and the ones with Donald, as you mention. There was even an episode with MOBY DUCK that I watched in first run – and, as the huge Silver Age / Gold Key Disney comic book fan that I am, would love to have!

During the enthusiastic period of my youth (…like I’m so “un-enthusiastic”, now?), when the Disney series ran head-to-head with VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (Sunday nights at 7 PM), just about the only time I’d skip VOYAGE and watch Disney was when it was an animation episode.

Now, all that said, I think it’s terrible that the Disney Afternoon series remain unfinished. Especially DUCKTALES and DARKWING DUCK! I just don’t harp on it as much as I do for HUCKLEBERRY HOUND because (A) HUCKLEBERRY HOUND just may be my all-time favorite “made-for-TV” animated series (unquestionably, if you limited it to pre-‘90s) and (B) I have so little faith in Disney to “do right” by the fans of these shows.

As critical as I have been – and REMAIN – of Warner, they still show occasional “spurts or periods of goodness”, as recently when they completed ANIMANIACS and TINY TOON ADVENTURES after long layoffs, released two volumes of TAZ-MANIA, one volume of the 1960s POPEYE, and even coughed-up (like a fur-ball?) the complete PINKY, ELMYRA, and THE BRAIN.

We’ll just leave “The Best of Warner Bros. Hanna-Barbera 25 Cartoon Collection” fiasco off to the side for now. About that, at least I can say the INTENTION was good, even if the execution failed so miserably.

Even the one thing Disney did… um, “more right” than anyone else, The Walt Disney Treasures series, is marred by the entire series being marketed as limited editions!

WHY? Does Disney in any way benefit from the inflated secondary market prices for these sets that have resulted over the years? Why not continue to sell what most agree was The Gold Standard for such DVD releases on an ongoing basis? They could still be profiting off these things nearly a decade later, as opposed to the short term rush of speculators swooping in for initial sales, to turn into later profits that are THEIRS – and not Disney’s.

This was well and truly their BEST PRODUCT EVER! Why not continue to showcase it for as long as the DVD home video market exists? Warner may not have released a LOONEY TUNES GOLDEN COLLECTION since 2008, but at least they’re STILL AVAILABLE to anyone not fortunate enough to have purchased them at the time of release.

…And, alas, my one (and, presumably only) appearance on a DVD extra feature, is on the “Limited Edition” – and, thus no longer available – Disney Treasures “The Chronological Donald: Volume Four”. (Sigh!) I can dream about being on another one, can’t I? …Bet I’ll even see HUCKLEBERRY HOUND first! 

Ryan Wynns said...

Joe,

I've never seen Filmation's Batman. I'm curious to check it out, so this is a welcome release. I used to snobbishly deride the Adam West live-action, preferring the modern, "dark" Batman. But I've lightened up over the past few years, and can admit that I have fond memories of when WPIX 11 carried it weekdays at 5 and 5:30 circa 1989-90, after the success of the first Tim Burton Batman. And the series is still fun. But I can only take it in small doses, so I don't know if I'd be willing to buy an entire set. But maybe.

I second all of your calls for final volume releases. I'd add the Disney Afternoon series to the list (but preferably, with revised versions of the existing volumes, with extras and a more respectable presentation. But I can only ask so much...)

-- Ryan

Joe Torcivia said...

Ryan:

I’d say Filmation’s Batman was pretty good. Especially so for 1968. Olan Soule was Batman and Pre-Shaggy Casey Kasem was Robin. Ted Knight was many of the other characters -- as well as the narrator.

It was “Silver Age”, while the actual Silver Age was still going on. In fact, Olan Soule is the voice I hear when reading Silver Age Batman comics.

The Adam West series is pure fun – and I’ve always regarded it as having taken place on one of DC’s many Multiple Earths, and that’s what makes it work all the more for a more mainstream, hardcore comics fan like myself. The guest villains and other sixties-era character actors are always great! Frank Gorshin and Victor Buono especially rule!

Yeah, you could say it kinda lags as the Second Season wore on – but, even as it got cheaper in the Third Season, it still picked up speed with the “once-a-week” format and the addition of Batgirl.

The First Season was really great – with certain stories actually adapted from ‘50s to Silver Age comic books – with only a somewhat higher absurdity factor – just not as absurd as the later seasons got.

I don’t think we’ll ever see the level of extras we’d like – especially from Disney, for Disney Afternoon releases. I’d just be pleased to see them complete. …Though not as pleased as I’d be to complete Huckleberry Hound!

Adel Khan said...

Longtime viewer, first-time poster. As sad as it is to admit this, the era of DVDs are long gone.There was this excitement about rushing into stores, and picking up your favorite show on DVD.

According to Jerry Beck, on "Stu's Show", Warners no longer has the budget for restoring cartoons. The "Super Stars" line, was really good. The selection of cartoons featured were nice. I wouldn't mind if cartoons are released even without restoration.

I am interested if the cartoon releases would ever be available on iTunes, or Netflix. As convenient as DVDs are, the only disadvantages are the amount of space they take up, and eventually they may be marred by scratches.

Hear, hear, I would be content with the final season HUCK and QUICKDRAW. I don't know what's holding their release. There are many gems in the final series.

At the time, I had missed picking up "Chronological Donald: Volume Three". It would have been nice. if Disney had not made the Treasure series as limited editions. Being a Duck fan of both the comics or animated cartoons, I will pick it up someday. I know Mr. McDuck is snarling at me for spending an inflated price on a DVD set.

Great seeing you on the bonus feature on "The Chronological Donald : Volume 4". It heightened my knowledge of how (Hubbard, Scampa, etc) created new characters when needed. I was only aware of of Carl Barks' contributions.

Anonymous said...

Like many long-running characters, Batman went through a lot of different variations over the years: grim Dark Knight, straight superhero/detective, schlock sci-fi, New Look, campy comedy, then Dark Knight again. Each version was a reflection of its time.

In the 1960's, the fad was action-adventure mixed with a lot of comic relief. The James Bond movies were tongue-in-cheek, and their many imitators (e.g., James Coburn as Flint, Dean Martin as Matt Helm) were even more so. TV shows also followed the trend, so Lost in Space, Man from U.N.C.L.E., Wild Wild West, and (the British) Avengers all got sillier and goofier as time went on.

To this day, I'm not certain whether the popularity of the campy Batman show influenced those other shows, or if the camp fad was already in effect, and Batman, like the others, was influenced by it. Kind of a chicken-and-egg question.

Anyway, people who hate the campy TV version sometimes forget that Batman had dropped the Dark Knight persona long before then. In the late fifties and early sixties, the comics were following a science fiction and fantasy trend. The 1966 TV series was no worse (imho) than Bat-Mite, or stories with genies, space aliens, bug-eyed monsters, or Batman turning radioactive or into a giant. And the New Look ca. 1964-65 scrapped the sci-fi, but still had costumed villains and melodramatic plots.

The 1966-68 TV series did jack it up a few notches, just as the Bond movies were more way-out than Ian Fleming's books. (And the campy Matt Helm movies had little in common with Donald Hamilton's novels.)

Of course, the camp fad passed, and Batman went back to his Dark Knight image, which may be the most familiar today.

Admittedly, though (and with all due respect to Buono, Gorshin, and the other great villains), the main thing I remember from 1966 is Julie Newmar. :) -TC

Joe Torcivia said...

Adel:

I’m very pleased to welcome you aboard! Feel free to post more often. …First time’s always the hardest, or so they say! 

DVDs became “the new comics” for me (…in the same sense as 50 became “the new 40” for baby-boomers – with 60 eventually to become “the new 50”, and so on). The excitement is still there for me, otherwise I wouldn’t use so much Blog space lamenting things we should have, but the era IS – if not at a close – certainly winding down.

And it’s a SHAME too! Because I’m one that likes owning and possessing the physical media... books, discs, etc. Downloads just don’t have that feel of solid permanence – and I can’t help but wonder that, as corporate policies evolve, they would find a way to take those away from us, at their whim. If and when DVD does end, I will be very grateful for what we got during its period of viability.

There was – and IS – so much more Warner could do. And, some of this discussion is carried-over into the next post on the “Fifth Birthday” of The Warner Archive collection. “Looney Tunes Super Stars” was a nice vehicle for releasing some of the lesser lights, which all true fans want anyway! Bunny and Claude?! Who’d have EVER guessed we’d have gotten those?

But, don’t you think we could at least have all of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tom and Jerry, Tex Avery, and Huck Hound, Quick Draw McGraw, and Yogi Bear by now? I don’t expect everything ever made by every studio (…no matter how much it might SEEM that way), but at least THESE icons of theatrical and TV animation? I don’t think that’s so unreasonable, given the wealth of other material that’s been released. …And, they’re all under Warner’s control, and could come from regular WHV or, if not a high-demand property, WAC.

Really sorry you missed “Chronological Donald Volume Three”. I thought it was the best of the series, content wise. My review of it – a very early post, back when I didn’t illustrate as profusely as I do now, and used more garish colors – can be found HERE .

The “Donald Goes to Press” feature, on “Chronological Donald Volume Four”was a great thrill to do – back in those good old Gemstone days!

Do return anytime you’d like! As my regulars know, great comments are always welcome around here!

Joe Torcivia said...

TC:

While certainly spectacular, Julie Newmar didn’t do it for me to the degree that Marta Kristen, Yvonne Craig, and Grace Lee Whitney did! Funny, how each of them ended up on all-time favorite TV shows of mine. Yep, funny how that works out…

I think the way-out fantasy kind of camp was beginning to take hold, perhaps as far back as My Favorite Martian – and maybe even Mr. Ed. But, it really got its big push at the time of Batman. Everyone involved with Lost in Space openly says its direction was directly influenced by Batman. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, oddly, took its later seasons cue from that direction of camp – AND, perhaps more so, the fifties drive-in sci-fi horror films of a decade earlier.

Me? I loved that time… and do so all the more today, when we really could use more of it!

Oh, yes… The “Jack Shiff Era” (No puns about the editor “not knowing Jack Shiff”! I did them decades ago!) of Batman comics when aliens and monsters abound! Not unlike TV of some years later! Julius Schwartz would be the man who brought Batman back from that – only to run smack into the TV series. At least it drove his comic book sales up dramatically – for a time, at least.

Anonymous said...

It's a pity that (as I recall, anyway) Marta Kristen and Grace Lee Whitney never really seemed to be given much to do on their respective shows. The original Star Trek seldom spotlighted the secondary characters, and Lost in Space came to focus so much on Will, Dr. Smith, and the robot that the other characters, particularly the daughters, sort of faded into the background.

I was a fan of Julie Newmar, Stefanie Powers, and Diana Rigg. I like 'em feisty. :)

And I remember Yvonne Craig (who is 5'3") saying in an interview that she was relieved when Eartha Kitt (who was 5'4") replaced Julie Newmar (5'11") in the third season. "In a fight scene with Julie, what could I have done? Punch her in the knee?" :D -TC

Joe Torcivia said...

Grace Lee Whitney was more of a pity than Marta Kristen, because at least we had Marta Kristen around for the entirety of Lost in Space, even if she just seriously enhanced the background she “faded into”. And, occasionally, she’d get an episode’s focus (even if it was only once a season) with “Attack of the Monster Plants”, “Visit to Hades”, and the aptly titled “Space Beauty”.

Grace Lee Whitney did only EIGHT glorious original Star Treks – later finding her way into some of the subsequent movies and, growing out of one of those movie roles (“The Undiscovered Country”, the one with Captain Sulu), into a part in Voyager.

Apropos to a number of our recent discussions, she was also in a 2nd Season “King Tut” episode of Batman!

Oh, and that’s a great quote from Yvonne Craig! Yes, when I met her in the late ‘90s, she was shorter than I imagined.

Adel Khan said...

Hi Joe, Thanks for the great invite. The topics that you discuss on your blog are interesting to me. I look forward to commenting on future and past posts.

Re. "The Chronological Donald Volume 3", a user uploaded the cartoons from the set on YouTube. Until the time I decide to purchase it, I have downloaded the cartoons.

I was disheartened by how initially Warners did splendid work releasing the "Looney Tunes, and "Hanna-Barbera, but now have started re-releasing older material. I was glad with how the "Super Stars" line was a great vehicle for releasing both popular and obscure cartoons. The lack of bonus features was fine.

It is baffling as to why the majority of "Bugs Bunny", "Daffy Duck", "Quick Draw McGraw, and "Huckleberry Hound" shorts are not released. Possibly the marketing executives don't believe on the other H-B characters besides "Tom and Jerry", "Scooby Doo", and "The Flintstones" as being relevant? I have heard the "Road Runner" and "Sylvester & Tweety" shorts were remastered for Asia. Surely if restoration fund are low, they could release those.

I agree with you a 100% on downloads can never replicate holding a DVD set.
This a brief story, that one day I would expand on my blog http://writewriteitdown.blogspot.ca/
Circa. 2002- early 2003, I was exploring the works of Carl Barks, it was a time where you could not easily locate Disney comics. It was online, where I first read "Voodoo Hoodoo", amongst many stories. Reading comics digitally can never replace the feeling of holding a comic.

Joe Torcivia said...

Adel:

I may never be able to enjoy the experience of reading a comic online. It’s NOT “the same”! Nor, is watching a movie or TV show on a tiny device.

Unfortunately, a generation is now coming-up that will no longer make that distinction, and that’s who the publishers and studios will be catering to.

Either way, I look forward to your continued posting in the future – and wish to complement your essay post on Lisa Simpson – Click HERE for it. That means EVERYBODY reading this! You won’t be sorry.

Adel Khan said...

Hey Joe, My feelings exactly! Thanks for the encouragement on my post. It would be one of my top ten episodes of "The Simpsons". It feels super to see it being recognized. I posted it on my Facebook wall, however there was no thoughts, so I removed it.

Wish I could post regularly like you on your blog :) I always prefer taking my time in jotting my ideas down. One of the merits of blogging, is reliving special occasions in your life. Currently, I am working on a post that will be ducky to one of your interests.

I like the atmosphere you keep on you Comments board! You are free to say what you want, without people criticizing your opinions. Hope you didn't mind the self promotion of my blog here. Always a pleasure commenting on your posts!

Keeping with the theme of Batman, who can forget "Mr. Plow". The writer for that episode Jon Vitti is an immense fan of the '66 Batman series. You can hear his imitation of Frank Gorshin's Riddler on the commentary for ""Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays"

I throughly enjoyed Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Trilogy". I was wondering would you recommend "Batman: The Animated Series"?

Joe Torcivia said...

Adel:

At this time, I’m not sure it’s POSSIBLE to have a single favorite episode of THE SIMPSONS, or even a “short list”. I know I’d never be able to narrow down from over 550 episodes! I’ll be content to say that I like most, if not all, of them and leave it to persons with more time than I to sort out.

I *CAN* say that one of my most favorites, back when the episode count was far more manageable was “Marge vs. the Monorail”, which also contained what was (at least BACK THEN) my single favorite line of the series. So much so, that I paraphrased it on the final page of the script I did for UNCLE SCROOGE # 367 (“Heads You Win… Tails You Bruise”).

What season set was "Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays" on? I’d like to go back and hear that commentary?

I wish *I* could post more regularly, too! Especially so, during my recent slow-up of February and March. But, time seems to be at more of a premium for me than ever. I still intend to maintain once-or-twice-a-week postings, for as long as I can. Writing comes at different times and in different ways, for different people. Never sweat it, particularly if the end result is a quality post. Do let me know when that “ducky” post is up.

I am VERY proud of the atmosphere that is maintained here. Sure, I could say I set the tone (and I do) and moderate comments, but it is really due to all of my regulars who contribute interesting, lively, witty, – and, most important, respectful – comments toward what we do here. There is so much negativity and unpleasantness elsewhere on the Internet that I remain grateful that my regulars are not the type of people to bring any of that here. Take a bow, everyone! It is because of you that I enjoy this so immensely!

“Free Blog Plugs” are also welcome. Chances are, if I’ve enjoyed your comments, I’d also enjoy your Blog. One thing I do moderate for, however, is anything that links back to some commercial enterprise. You can usually tell when this occurs, because the comment references my post’s topic in only the vaguest and most general of ways (if at all). Those I delete on the spot. And that’s why I’d recommend “Comment Moderation” to any Blogger. Without it, commercial spamming / phishing comments like these could attach themselves to any of your older posts, and you’d never be the wiser.

…Yeah, that was a tangent, but worthy advice.

And, my final bit of “advice” for this overly long comment is… YES! I heartily recommend “Batman: The Animated Series” (It was the best representation of the comics Batman that I’d ever seen to that point! Maybe STILL!) – and any of the subsequent shows that followed – up through and including “Brave and the Bold”! You can find reviews of “Brave and the Bold” (and one for “The Batman”) throughout this Blog, under the “Batman” label.

Adel Khan said...

"Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays” was from the fifteenth season.

When I was watching the "Stop the World, I Want to Goof Off" segment of "TOH XIV" , instantly I recalled the DuckTales episode "Time Teasers". I always like it when my interests intermingle.

I read "Heads You Win.. Tails You Bruise" again, it is a well-done story brimming with many funny lines. My favorite line that is engraved in my head, is when Donald chases after Melvin, he states, “How can he carry all that flab so fast!” In my mind, Melvin X. Nickleby had a voice like Fenton’s. I liked the reference to Plain Awful. You can never have to many references to a Barks story.

I agree with you had it not been for “DuckTales” that would not have triggered WBA to create “Tiny Toon Adventures”, “Batman: TAS”, “Animanics” and others. I will DEFINTLEY check out "Batman: TAS".

I am debating as to wether that "ducky" post should be separated out in instalments, or to have one lengthily post. Thanks for the great advice on blogging! :)

Feel free to include this video for one of your posts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rmIXv5i1TA

Joe Torcivia said...

Adel:

15th Season? That would explain why I didn’t get fully through that yet. However, I DID just watch “Stop the World, I Want to Goof Off”, in response to your comment. (I LOVE those Halloween episodes!). Don Rosa also did a similar stopwatch story, as I’m sure you know.

But, *I* first saw that concept in the 1967 VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA episode “A Time to Die”. Everyone should check that out someday. On DVD, it’s on Season Four, Volume One.

Thank you for the kind words on “Heads You Win… Tails You Bruise”. Every word of that was my own original dialogue -- and there are references of all kinds scattered throughout.

I REALLY enjoyed writing Melvin! I gave him an even more obnoxiously nerdy edge in the SECOND STORY in which he appeared! Don’t remember that one? It’s because Boom! shut the comics down almost at the exact time I handed in that script! Alas!

I called it “Bad Things Come in Threes”, and it featured Melvin and some other familiar foes. If the Disney comics ever come back, I hope that one (…and MY version, in particular) finds its way into print. If at all possible, I wanted to be the regular “scripting voice” of Melvin, should he appear in the future. Tachyon Farflung, too. …Would be nice, eh?

And, again… you cannot go wrong with BATMAN: TAS.