Batman ’89 Volume 1 by Sam Hamm is a rare treat for Tim Burton’s Batman movie’s. The series written by Sam Hamm screenwriter for Batman and Batman Returns comes back to the world and adds some elements that Tim Burton wanted in the next Batman if they would not have went so cartoonish and colorful with Joel Schumaker’s Batman Forever. Batman ’89 storyline picks up one year after Batman Returns, the Catwoman could be alive or dead and Bruce Wayne is still taking care of her cat. The story is focused on politics and race relations, and it is pretty captivating and ask really good questions. We get a version of Robin that Tim Burton envisioned by originally casting Marlon Wayans (he actually still got paid for Batman Forever and still gets profit points from the film). The Bad guy is Harvey Dent / Two Face who was modeled after actor Billy Dee Williams who played Harvey Dent in the original Batman movie in 1989. I don’t know what the likeness rights for the character deals are but there was moments somewhat brief that they looks like the original actors. The Art design for the city of Gotham was a little lacking, and not even close to how gothic the scenery in Batman and Batman Returns were. Fans of the movies will me rewarded with references and jokes, and Fans of the Batman lore will get hints as to where characters are going. Batman ’89 Volume 1 collects issues 1-5 of Batman ’89. Batman ’89 Volume 1 was published on August 30 2022.

Plot Synopsis: One Year after Batman Returns and Gotham is still a hot bed of crime with Joker gangs running around. The Poor Black neighborhood of Burnside is getting hit hard by police and corruption, Batman tries to help but the police end up killing a robber who were aiming at Batman. Commissioner Gordan has a low approval rating that deals with his close ties to the Batman. Harvey Dent has just proposed to Barbara Gordon who is the Police Liaison to District Attorney. As he proposes a bomb goes off at a Savings and Loan that a lot of Black businesses had their loan. Harvey tries to unite the city but when he learns of corruption, he puts pressure of the wrong people. Dent goes into a burning building half for optics and half to help. he gets burned and his personality splits to helpful and ambitious. He finds out how far corruptions goes but to take it down he must kill.

What I Liked: I like a new version of how Harvey Dent became Two Face. I like that race relations are taken seriously and really approached how corrupt the system is and can be. I loved all the throw backs to the first movies, the remote controlled Batrang from Batman Returns, Alfred letting women into the Batcave. Selina Kyle’s Catwoman returns and how she she toes the bad guy line. Seeing Billy Dee Williams as Two Face is awesome (there’s some parallel universe where it happened in film). I liked the take on Robin and where the name came from and how well it worked with the story. I like we find out the story of the big coin which I’ve seen a couple times in comics but it worked really well with the story.

What I Disliked: I felt the Robin access was too fast. The corruption angle could have been explained a little bit more. Batman and Commissioner Gordon’s relationship needed more interaction and was not that impactful. I rarely thought Batman looked anything at all like Michael Keaton which was a bummer, but it could have been over likeness rights.

Recommendation: If You liked the Tim Burton Batman movies you have to check it out. This is a fun story that adds to the Batman lore and a really great What if Tim Burton would have continued the movies. I rated Batman ’89 volume 1 by Sam Hamm 4 out of 5 stars. I did buy Superman ’78 Volume 1 and can’t wait to see Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Gene Hackman’s Lex Luther continue.