The Press Release:
The Movie Worlds of Superman ’78 and Batman ’89 Are Heading to Comics in Two All-New DC Digital First Series! The gothic mentality of Tim Burton’s Batman lurks around every corner in Batman ’89 by Screenwriter Sam Hamm and Artist Joe Quinones! You’ll believe a man can fly in Superman ’78 by Writer Rob Venditti and Artist Wilfredo Torres!
Beginning in July 2021, decades after both Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie and Tim Burton’s Batman introduced generations of fans to silver screen versions of DC’s Man of Steel and the World’s Greatest Detective, DC is returning to these beloved properties to tell new stories set within these worlds with the publication of a series of Superman ’78 and Batman ’89 comic books. Writer Rob Venditti and artist Wilfredo Torres will capture imaginations in Superman ’78 while screenwriter Sam Hamm and artist Joe Quinones will immerse readers into Batman ’89.
“Batman ’89” artwork by Joe Quinones
Continuing the twisted adventures of DC’s Dark Knight from Tim Burton’s seminal classic Batman movies, Batman ’89 brings in screenwriter Sam Hamm (Batman, Batman Returns) and artist Joe Quinones (Dial H for Hero) to pull on a number of threads left dangling by the prolific director. The gothic mentality behind the world, while still rooted in a sense of realism, helped inform many of DC’s global fans’ first impressions on the Dark Knight’s Gotham. In the new Batman ’89 comic, Hamm and Quinones will help usher in the return of Selina Kyle/Catwoman and will debut a new Robin! Plus, Quinones has a vision for Harvey Dent/Two-Face that is as close to movie magic as a comic can get!
“Superman ’78” artwork by Wilfredo Torres
And in the vein of DC’s plans for Batman ’89, Rob Venditti (Hawkman) and Wilfredo Torres (Batman ’66) will collaborate on Superman ’78 to tell stories set within the world Richard Donner and Christopher Reeve created in Superman: The Movie. In Superman ’78, bystanders are surprised and delighted by Superman’s abilities, and Lois Lane doesn’t (yet!) know that Clark Kent is secretly Superman. The sheer thrill of seeing a man fly, leap, or stop a bullet will be reflected in this environment where Superman has just been introduced! Inspired by Donner’s classic, timeless style of superhero storytelling, in Superman ’78 Venditti and Torres will show fans that a man can truly fly.
Superman ’78 and Batman ’89 will debut with six digital chapters of each new series on July 27, followed by new chapters of each comic book for the six weeks that immediately follow. The twelve chapters of each new series will also publish as six printed comics between August and October and as hardcover collections in October (Batman ’89) and November (Superman ’78).
Stay tuned for more news about the Metropolis of Superman ’78 and the Gotham of Batman ’89 in the coming months!
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PiercingMetal Thoughts: This is exciting news for the comic book readers and collectors of the day and for me as well of course. Each of these films bring back special memories of having seen them early in their theatrical run and while today I cannot recall this or not, but I am fairly certain that I caught each film at least twice when it ran. I’ve owned each on DVD and Blu-ray disc for years and despite this I will still let either film run should I chance upon it on one of the networks. Now I’ve slowed down the monthly comic book purchasing during the pandemic but I will likely snag a copy of the collected editions that they mention will be coming out. I’d need to see the individual issues on the racks before I decide if I will add those into the long boxes at the time I am writing this. Closing up I wonder what you readers think about this one. Chime in down below in the comments section and I will see you next time around.
Official Websites:
DC Comics: https://www.dccomics.com
Batman (1989) Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(1989_film)
Superman (1978) Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_(1978_film)
