Batman '89 The Official Batman (1989) Thread - Part 6

[AndrewGilkison]

So is this comic taking place after Returns or just the 89 Batman?

 

[Drizzle]

It seems to take place after Returns as well since Bruce looks a bit older. No mention of the events of Returns yet but that could change.

I read the first issue. The artwork definitely fits right in, almost as if it picks up where the comic adaptations of the Burton movies left off.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

It seems to take place after Returns as well since Bruce looks a bit older. No mention of the events of Returns yet but that could change.

I read the first issue. The artwork definitely fits right in, almost as if it picks up where the comic adaptations of the Burton movies left off.

Spoiler

When Barbara is looking at the collected police evidence when on the phone with Dent, she mentions the ejected pieces of the Batmobile when it went into Batmissile mode, and the AI seeking Batarang from Returns.

 

[Drizzle]

Spoiler

When Barbara is looking at the collected police evidence when on the phone with Dent, she mentions the ejected pieces of the Batmobile when it went into Batmissile mode, and the AI seeking Batarang from Returns.

Ah yes, I didn't put two and two together there with that easter egg.

 

[Captain Tired]

I have mixed feelings on this first issue, but am currently leaning more positive than negative. I'm disappointed that the Gotham of this miniseries doesn't look quite as Burtonesque as perhaps many of us would have preferred. To be sure, there are the obligatory aspects like the Gotham Cathedral in the background of that first panel, the sculpted faces appearing atop doorways, etc., etc., but on the whole it didn't feel especially different from the kind of Gotham you'd see in any modern Batman comic, tbh.

And that's kind of emblematic of the whole thing, in a way. This comic feels more like a compromise between Batman '89, and a more modern sensibility towards Batman that it doesn't totally gel with. Sam Hamm should be writing more towards what the finished products ultimately were in '89 and '92, and not how he might have done it if Burton had never had a say in the matter. Given how we never saw Bruce Wayne talk to Gordon during his charity fundraiser, and how curtly and dismissively Batman addressed him in Returns, him and Gordon working closely together and 'going way back' feels very odd and untrue to the movies.

I thought the charming side of BDW's Harvey Dent was captured very well, but also felt that his animosity towards Batman, not to mention his small slips towards villainy in that alleyway, felt very abrupt and sudden. But given this is a mini-series that's pressed for time, it can be excused. The animosity towards Batman can at least be explained away by the offscreen Harvey growing dismayed by the chaotic events of Batman Returns. I also liked how they're hinting that the 'two-facedness' of Harvey derives from this apocryphal image of him appearing to turn his back on his routes. That's a very unique way of originating the Two-Face moniker. I hope they do more with that.

Overall, Keaton's Bruce Wayne/Batman was captured fairly well. Though I thought he seemed a little too outwardly serious and gruff during his talk with Dent. On film, I think Keaton would have probably affected a slightly more casual and deceptively scatter-brained approach to the conversation, as was his usual method of acting as Bruce Wayne when engaged in a social situation. Alfred's voice was also captured very well, but that isn't a high bar to reach. I somewhat dislike how they're tailoring the Burton versions of Alfred and Gordon to look more like the comics versions.

So yeah, as simply a comic, this was a very enjoyable and successful first issue. As an adaptation/continuation of the Burtonverse, it's somewhat less successful, but still a very enjoyable read.

 

[Rick190293]

Agree with you in the Gordon point. Bats literally said only TWO words to him in the movies, that's one of my grip with Burtonverse they are seemingly adressing and it may be a good thing, but it really feels odd.
Also didn't like Batman's white eyes. Part of keaton's charm in the role were his staring look, this might be a problem if they don't follow it.
Anyway, good to finally have some continuity to Keaton's world.

 

[The Caped Knight]

 

[Drizzle]

Why make Robin a whole new character? I'd have been fine with him being Dick Grayson or Tim Drake. It's basically an Elseworlds story anyway, so who cares?

 

[Gothamsknight]

Just picked up the 1989 comic. My thoughts after I read it!

 

[DocLathropBrown]

Why make Robin a whole new character? I'd have been fine with him being Dick Grayson or Tim Drake. It's basically an Elseworlds story anyway, so who cares?

I don't know why Joe called him that. That isn't his name according to the promo material. He's named Richard Drake.

 

[Drizzle]

I don't know why Joe called him that. That isn't his name according to the promo material. He's named Richard Drake.

I guess that's a little better considering it's an amalgam of the two.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

I guess that's a little better considering it's an amalgam of the two.

Apparently that was an older name and it has changed. Lame.

 

[Nardz937]

Picked up the comic yesterday. Had to go to two different comic shops because it sold out like crazy.

A slow start but I'm intrigued. The art is beautiful and faithful to the Burton world, minus some iffy looking characters (Keaton could look better) but the batsuit art is gorgeous. Interesting new takes on Two-Face and Robin and am looking forward to where it's going.

 

[The Shape]

Definitely not a fan of the purple inner cape color or the huge cartoonish white eyes on Keaton's Batman.

 

[Rick190293]

Definitely not a fan of the purple inner cape color or the huge cartoonish white eyes on Keaton's Batman.

My two grips with the art, but overall I enjoyed it.

 

[Drizzle]

The purple I can live with but I do agree that the eyes are a bit too large. They look like Bale's sonar eyes from TDK.

 

[J.Drangal]

When you're looking for the word "iconic" in the dictionary :

 

[BrollySupersj]

When you're looking for the word "iconic" in the dictionary :

Truly, turning Batman's emblem into a goddamn attack aircraft was a stroke of genius. It still hasn't been topped. Probably never will.

Also something I realized. You can find almost any clip of Batman 89 on YouTube. All the best scenes. Except one, I swear I can't find it. It's the scene where Joker talks to Gotham on TV without his makeup. I tried all manner of keywords and nothing.

 

[chintai80]

Truly, turning Batman's emblem into a goddamn attack aircraft was a stroke of genius. It still hasn't been topped. Probably never will.

Also something I realized. You can find almost any clip of Batman 89 on YouTube. All the best scenes. Except one, I swear I can't find it. It's the scene where Joker talks to Gotham on TV without his makeup. I tried all manner of keywords and nothing.

which scene was this?

i only remember the smylex commercial and this scene:

 

[BrollySupersj]

which scene was this?

i only remember the smylex commercial and this scene:

Ha! That's the scene I'm talking about. I just used the wrong words to search. Lol

 

[chintai80]

Ha! That's the scene I'm talking about. I just used the wrong words to search. Lol

i loved elfman's score in this part, when it transitions into wayne remembering his parents murder.
really foreboding.

so many iconic scenes in this film.
i been rewatching them on youtube and the movie still largely holds up for me.

nicholson was hilarious but a murderous psychopath. it's quite dark if you think about it.

 

[Rick190293]

The key to this movie, IMO, it's the atmosphere. The music, locations, lighting... it wraps you around in fear and curiosity. Burton nailed it.

 

[BrollySupersj]

Is anyone here familiar with the Youtube series Pitch Meetings? Ryan George hasn't done Batman 89 yet, I'm sure he will after the first Flash trailer. I can already imagine some of the lines for picking apart the movie.

"So anyway then Joker holds a huge parade for Gotham and everyone is just loving it"

"Didn't he poison Gotham's supply of makeup products as a joke and kill dozens of people? Where's the police?"

"Unclear!"

 

[chintai80]

Is anyone here familiar with the Youtube series Pitch Meetings? Ryan George hasn't done Batman 89 yet, I'm sure he will after the first Flash trailer. I can already imagine some of the lines for picking apart the movie.

"So anyway then Joker holds a huge parade for Gotham and everyone is just loving it"

"Didn't he poison Gotham's supply of makeup products as a joke? Where's the police?"

"Unclear!"

i sorta see this as burton throwing in a bit of social satire too.
how easily people are swayed by public figures, to behave in ridiculous manners.
it's exaggerated, but not that far from reality.

 

[Captain Tired]

I agree with that, but the lack of a police presence when the Joker had already announced his intentions on local television is still a yuuuuge plot hole lol.