DC announces ‘Superman ’78’, ‘Batman ’89’ digital series

Two movies that are now several decades old will get sequels of sorts in comic book form, as DC has announced the digital series Superman ’78 and Batman ’89.

Screenwriter Sam Hamm, who wrote the 1989 film Batman and its first sequel, Batman Returns, will write Batman ’89. The Dc Digital First series will be drawn by artist Joe Quinones.

Here’s the description from DC:

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!

My final project as a DC staffer, BATMAN '89. A continuation of the cinematic vision of Batman from the Tim Burton films.

An all-new adventure written by SAM HAMM, screenwriter of the original films, and drawn by master storyteller JOE QUINONES. Edited by Andrew Marino and me. pic.twitter.com/qr3cw7HHgw

— Andy Khouri (@andykhouri) February 16, 2021

We’ll be sharing more in the coming weeks and months, but in the meantime, here’s a look at some of my early character designs for the book: pic.twitter.com/7YgBdSN0pt

— Joe Quinones (@Joe_Quinones) February 16, 2021

While Batman ’89 returns to the Gotham directed by Tim Burton, Superman ’78 returns to the Metropolis of the Richard Donner Superman film, featuring Christopher Reeve battling Gene Hackman’s real estate schemes. Robert Venditti and Wilfredo Torres are the creative team.

Here is the description from DC:

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.

I don’t want to spoil anything so here’s a look at a couple of the prelim drawings I did for the project. #Superman78 pic.twitter.com/kQR2JU9P3Y

— Wilfredo Torres (@mightyfineline) February 16, 2021

Both series kick off in July on DC’s digital platforms, to be followed by print a few weeks later. Hardcovers of both titles will arrive this fall.