Batman `89 Returns with the screenwriter, Sam Hamm, and art by Joe Quinones! There was an adaptation of movie by Dennis O’Neil and Jerry Ordway. All of the other Batman films were adapted up to Batman Begins The Official Movie Adaptation (2005) by Scott Beatty and Kilian Plunkett. There was a mini-comics found in cereals with General Mills Presents Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice #1-4 (2016). The comic book that brought back tv and now movie heroes is Batman `66 written by Jeff Parker. Wonder Woman `77 #1-4 (2016) were specials written by Marc Andreyko and other writers. Eventually, this led to the limited series, Batman `66 Meets Wonder Woman `77 #1-6 (2017) with writing duties handled by Marc Andreyko and Jeff Parker. Hopefully, the new movie series will cross-over! Batman `89 #1 is part of a six issue limited series. There are a number of variant covers including one by Jerry Ordway.
Sam Hamm was the screenwriter of the Tim Burton movie and also wrote the Batman: Blind Justice storyline in Detective Comics #598-600 (1989). Artist Joe Quinones worked on a few issues of Batman including Batman `66 #3 (2013). Quinones provides the cover that has Batman in the movie’s classic pose with his cape spread out like a bat as he descends into a Gotham City’s alley. “Shadows” opens in Gotham City on October 31st, Halloween. It is night and we focus on a building with an angel statue at the top and the Janus restaurant. A couple is having drinks, one is Harvey Dent, this is the Billy Dee Williams’ character from the first movie, it is a loss that we never got to see Dent in the Batman sequel or potential sequels. Two-Face as of course in Batman Forever (1995) so it looks like we finally get Billy Dee Williams as the villain!
The woman is Barbara, whom we later find is the daughter of Commissoner Gordon, Batgirl! The first time we see her in the Tim Burton Batmanverse. She was introduced in Batman and Robin (1997) with Joel Schumacher’s version. Of course, we have a Two Face reference with the name of the restaurant, the two-faced Roman god. Harvey is looking to be state attorney general, but Barbara is disturbed at something moving outside of the window. We see the silhouette of the Dark Knight at a building edge. A news reporter (not Vicki Vale, unnamed), is noting three days without violence, but the mayor (unnamed) has said Halloween is not safe kids. Out on the streets, there are cameos of characters from other Tim Burton films. A man in a fedora with a clown nose is counting down while we also see Harvey taking out a ring. To help with Barbara’s decision, he has her flip a coin which she notices has two heads on each side. Another Two Face hint.
They are interrupted by an explosion. Um, Batman is checking on Dent, rather than the criminals setting up explosives? Slappy with clown face, hard hat, and Joker (like the comics) button contacts his associates to keep the police busy. Two women with orange wigs, clown make-up, and purple dresses shatter a window to start the riot. This is kinda like the `66 Batman show with henchmen and henchwomen. Batman contacts Commissoner Gordon on top of a roof. Batman glides over a helicopter with his cape extended. The helicopter hooks three bank vans. Incorrect helicopter to lift such a load maybe a Chinook. Batman lands on top of a bank van and fires a grappling hook from his gauntlet. I’m not certain how a thin grappling line could affect a helicopter. The helicopter is dragged down and explodes. Some gunmen are also on the rooftop and start shooting at Batman, his suit deflects the bullets, what about his head? The scene is a little confusing, you hear voices, and then next panel, "Ack, Ack, Ack", and bullets bouncing off Batman. It is implied that there are guns.
A rocket is fired at Batman, he dodges it, and it causes a giant penny to tip over. This is a fixture of the Batcave in the comics, first appearing in World’s Finest #30 (1947), as a trophy from his battle with the Plunderer. It starts rolling down and Batman uses it as cover like Indy and the gong in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). Batman voice activates the shields of the Batmobile and calls it in. As the Batmobile streaks by, the police helicopter’s loudspeaker has the criminals scatter. This is in front of Harvey and Barbara, a clown with a green mohawk runs past them, and Harvey chases after him. He uses his watch around his fist to strike the thief. Then, brings out a gun, he flips a coin to determine the punk’s fate. Barbara runs up hearing gun shots and Harvey explains that he was just trying to scare the thief. Morning, Alfred opens the curtains bringing sunlight and waking up Bruce Wayne. Alfred informs him that he has a visitor, it’s Harvey, at his breakfast table. He announces his engagement to Barbara Gordon. Closeup of Bruce Wayne’s face as Harvey says he wants Bruce’s help to take down Batman!
The reporter, again no name, points out the National Guard units brought in after the riot. Harvey argues a point that Batman causes more destruction than he saves, doesn’t Wayne pay for building damages? Bruce looks more like Reed Richards than Michael Keaton in one panel. Harvey accuses Gordon of having Batman as a part of an elite squad disbeliving that Batman could be only one person. These are serious charges, unconfirmed, that he is making against the potential father-in-law of the woman he wants to marry! As Harvey drives away from Wayne Mansion, he calls Sgt. Barbara Gordon at her office. She details the evidence they have on Batman and his weapons. So Barbara is betraying her father checking on Batman? It looks like Harvey is going for the Gotham City Council to remove Commissioner Gordon. This all leads to the Burnside neighborhood where Harvey is working with a man named Mr. Otis. Batman also encounters a new vigilante there. Is this Batgirl or another vigilante? The characters act a little off from the basic comic book characters and some panels are confusing, but it is great to see Batman `89 again!
Four Batarangs out of Five!
#Batman89, #SamHamm, #JoeQuinones, #HarveyDent, #BarbaraGordon
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