Summer Gleeson
Encyclopedia
Summer Gleeson is a fictional character on Batman: The Animated Series
, voiced by Mari Devon
.
. She resembles Batman
supporting character Vicki Vale
, as she also has red hair and works as a reporter (though Vale was a photojournalist).
Gleeson is often seen on the show in cameo appearances, reporting on crimes as exposition for the audience. She has been taken hostage a few times by criminals, but usually by accident. Most notably, she was kidnapped by Kyodai Ken in the episode "Night of the Ninja" and nearly discovered Bruce Wayne's double life during his conflict with Ken. She was also featured in the episode "A Bullet For Bullock". In the episode Harvey Bullock
approaches her for help and implies that the two have a history together. Whether this was romantic or merely a friendship is never expanded upon. In the episode, "Lock-Up", moments before she is kidnapped by the titular vigilante, she is seen exiting a restaurant with Bruce, having just had dinner with him, but their dialogue implies that it was dinner over an interview about a Wayne Enterprises merger and not romantic.
When Batman: The Animated Series was revamped as The New Batman Adventures
, Summer Gleeson was mostly absent. Instead, Jack Ryder was used as Gotham's exposition-speaking reporter, mostly to set up for his eventual transformation into The Creeper.
Summer (with a different-sounding voice) made small appearances in Mad Love
, and the Batman Beyond
episode "Lost Soul". She also made a cameo appearance at Bruce Wayne's wedding in the episode "Chemistry", along with other characters who had not appeared since Batman: The Animated Series such as Leslie Thompkins
, Zatanna
, and Kirk and Francine Langstrom
. Summer later made several more speechless cameo appearances in Justice League
and Justice League Unlimited
. She was last seen in the huge crowd scene addressed by Superman
in the ending of the episode "Divided We Fall".
In the Batman Adventures comic book she has been romantically pursued by Clayface
and went on a date with him while he was in the form of a handsome young man. She is also pursued by Killer Croc
in Batman and Robin Adventures. Croc tries to convince her to go out with him, but she is unaware of his affections. When he attacks Batman and Robin
, she says he is acting like a monster, which causes Croc to turn himself, allowing Batman to take him to prison.
Although Summer Gleeson has not yet appeared in the main DC Comics universe
, she receives a byline
in an article in Batman: No Man's Land Secret Files #1.
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
, voiced by Mari Devon
Mari Devon
Mari Devon is an American voice actress who is also known as Jane Alan.-Anime roles:* 8 Man After - Sachiko* Babel II - Juju* Battle B-Daman - B-DaMage* The Big O - Vice-President Mari Devon (born 1960) is an American voice actress who is also known as Jane Alan.-Anime roles:* 8 Man After -...
.
Overview
Gleeson is a reporter and talk show host for "Gotham Live", a news channel in Gotham CityGotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
. She resembles Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
supporting character Vicki Vale
Vicki Vale
Victoria Vale is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Batman #49 , and was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.-1940s-1960s:...
, as she also has red hair and works as a reporter (though Vale was a photojournalist).
Gleeson is often seen on the show in cameo appearances, reporting on crimes as exposition for the audience. She has been taken hostage a few times by criminals, but usually by accident. Most notably, she was kidnapped by Kyodai Ken in the episode "Night of the Ninja" and nearly discovered Bruce Wayne's double life during his conflict with Ken. She was also featured in the episode "A Bullet For Bullock". In the episode Harvey Bullock
Harvey Bullock (comics)
Harvey Bullock is a fictional character from DC Comics' Batman titles.-Fictional character biography:Prior to the 1984-85 DC maxi-series Crisis on Infinite Earths, Bullock is a crooked police detective under instructions from Gotham City's Mayor Hamilton Hill to sabotage Commissioner Gordon's career...
approaches her for help and implies that the two have a history together. Whether this was romantic or merely a friendship is never expanded upon. In the episode, "Lock-Up", moments before she is kidnapped by the titular vigilante, she is seen exiting a restaurant with Bruce, having just had dinner with him, but their dialogue implies that it was dinner over an interview about a Wayne Enterprises merger and not romantic.
When Batman: The Animated Series was revamped as The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman Adventures is the successor to Batman: The Animated Series produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Although bearing different character designs and animation styles, both shows take place in the same continuity, with TNBA set two years after BTAS. The series aired on The WB from...
, Summer Gleeson was mostly absent. Instead, Jack Ryder was used as Gotham's exposition-speaking reporter, mostly to set up for his eventual transformation into The Creeper.
Summer (with a different-sounding voice) made small appearances in Mad Love
Mad Love (comic)
The Batman Adventures: Mad Love is a one-shot comic book written by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm...
, and the Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond is an American animated television series created by Warner Bros. Animation in collaboration with DC Comics as a continuation of the Batman legacy...
episode "Lost Soul". She also made a cameo appearance at Bruce Wayne's wedding in the episode "Chemistry", along with other characters who had not appeared since Batman: The Animated Series such as Leslie Thompkins
Leslie Thompkins
Dr. Leslie Thompkins is a fictional character from the Batman mythos. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Dick Giordano, she first appeared in Detective Comics #457...
, Zatanna
Zatanna
Zatanna Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman vol. 1 #4...
, and Kirk and Francine Langstrom
Man-Bat
Man-Bat is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually as a supervillain and adversary of Batman, though occasionally depicted as a heroic character. He first appeared in Detective Comics #400 and was created by Frank Robbins and Neal Adams...
. Summer later made several more speechless cameo appearances in Justice League
Justice League (TV series)
Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics...
and Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited
Justice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
. She was last seen in the huge crowd scene addressed by Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
in the ending of the episode "Divided We Fall".
In the Batman Adventures comic book she has been romantically pursued by Clayface
Clayface
Clayface is an alias used by several DC Comics fictional characters, most of them possessing claylike bodies and shape-shifting abilities. All of them have been enemies of Batman.-Publication history:...
and went on a date with him while he was in the form of a handsome young man. She is also pursued by Killer Croc
Killer Croc
Killer Croc is a comic book supervillain in the DC Universe, an enemy of Batman. Created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Gene Colan, while there was a shadowy cameo in Detective Comics #523 , his actual first appearance is credited to Batman #357 , which is also the first appearance of Jason...
in Batman and Robin Adventures. Croc tries to convince her to go out with him, but she is unaware of his affections. When he attacks Batman and Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
, she says he is acting like a monster, which causes Croc to turn himself, allowing Batman to take him to prison.
Although Summer Gleeson has not yet appeared in the main DC Comics universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
, she receives a byline
Byline
The byline on a newspaper or magazine article gives the name, and often the position, of the writer of the article. Bylines are traditionally placed between the headline and the text of the article, although some magazines place bylines at the bottom of the page, to leave more room for graphical...
in an article in Batman: No Man's Land Secret Files #1.