Batman '89 Issue 1

* Main
* Ordway

***Batman '89* #1** is the first issue of *Batman '89* published by DC Comics.

## Solicitation

*Step back into the Gotham of 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. Gotham becomes torn in two as citizens dressed as Batman and The Joker duke it out in the streets. As D.A. Harvey Dent tries to keep the city together, he targets the one problem tearing it apart: BATMAN! And he’ll get Bruce Wayne’s help in taking down the Dark Knight!*

## "Shadows"

* **Writer**: Sam Hamm
* **Artist and cover**: Joe Quinones
* **Colorist**: Leonardo Ito
* **Letterer**: Clayton Cowles
* **Variant covers**: Jerry Ordway and Steve Oliff
* **Editors**: Andrew Marino and Andy Khouri

### Synopsis

On Halloween night in Gotham City, district attorney Harvey Dent enjoys a romantic dinner with his girlfriend, Barbara Gordon. Elsewhere in the city, citizens are gathered in the streets to celebrate Halloween. While many people have chosen to dress up as Batman, others dress like the Joker. Suddenly, a group of criminals wearing Joker attire launch an attack on an armored convoy while also starting a riot in the streets. Several of the citizens wearing Batman costumes decide to fight back.

Batman, communicating with Commissioner Gordon, springs into action to stop the robbery. As the criminals try to airlift two armored trucks with a helicopter, Batman anchors the chopper to a building with a grappling hook, causing it to crash into a nearby building and explode. Batman drops down to the ground, but is fired upon by criminals on the ground, forcing him to escape in the rebuilt Batmobile. As Batman leaves the scene, the police arrive to apprehend the criminals.

As Dent and Barbara leave the restaurant, a man in Joker attire steals Barbara's purse, prompting Dent to pursue him. Dent chases the thief into an alley but is ambushed by him and another criminal. Dent fights back and grabs hold of their gun, then decides to flip a coin to decide their fate, saying he will kill them if it lands on heads but let them leave if it lands on tails, knowing the coin is double-headed. When the coin lands, he fires the gun into the air, scaring the men away. Barbara runs to Dent and embraces him, admonishing him for risking his life. Dent remarks that the streets aren't meant for law-abiding citizens as he watches the Batmobile speed by.

The next morning, Bruce Wayne is informed by Alfred that Dent is at Wayne Manor to see him. Dent informs Bruce that he wants his help to oust Commissioner Gordon and take down the Batman, and reveals that he has called in the National Guard to deal with the riots due to the police being ill-equipped to handle them. Dent blames Batman for inspiring the riots and believes Gordon is making the problem worse by relying on Batman. Bruce says he does not disagree with anything Dent has said and would like to help, but has no intention of going against Gordon. As Dent leaves, Alfred tells Bruce he thinks he has a point. Bruce says he will never turn on Gordon, as he was the cop on duty the night of his parents' murder. Alfred tells Bruce to look at the larger picture, and Bruce responds that if he thinks he is doing more harm than good, he will hang up the cowl. As Dent leaves Wayne Manor, he speaks on the phone with Barbara and asks about Batman's equipment that the police have confiscated during his time of activity. She examines pieces from the Batmobile and pictures of a remote-controlled Batarang, remarking that it is high-tech. Dent realizes that Batman must be well-funded.

After speaking with Barbara, Dent visits his childhood neighborhood of Burnside and meets with his friend and mentor Jerome Otis. Dent explains to Otis that he wanted the youth of the neighborhood to see a successful black man who isn't an athlete, though Otis responds that Dent belongs to a different crowd now. Dent replies that he has covered up his true self to become the man he is, but never forgot who he really was and where he came from. Dent asks Otis for his help in mobilizing support for Gordon's ouster. Recruited to the cause by Otis, local Reverend Cecil Culp later gives a public speech in the neighborhood calling for Gordon's dismissal and criticizing the Batman.

While watching a news report on Otis' speech, Alfred notifies Bruce that the Bat-Signal is lit. Batman arrives on a rooftop overlooking the GCPD building, and sees Dent with Harvey Bullock, with snipers surrounding the area in an attempt to trap him. Batman informs Gordon, who warns him to stay off the streets with the National Guard ordered to capture him dead or alive. Gordon decides to end communications with Batman out of fear they are being listened in to and tells him that if they never speak again, he is grateful for his help and remarks that at least they tried. Gordon signs off and promptly smashes his communicator with his gun.

As the National Guard enforces curfew, Batman's attention is drawn to a corner store robbery, with the store owner firing on the fleeing culprit. The National Guard arrests the man for using a gun, while Batman pursues the suspect himself. Batman enters an apartment and finds the culprit talking to his baby sister Nyesah. Batman says he is not going to hurt the young man, who insists he only stole food and diapers for his sister, and asks where his mother is. He hears a voice outside and goes out to investigate, only to be attacked by a costumed figure. The attacker tells Batman to stay away and knocks him off of the fire escape. The costumed figure gives eight dollars to the youth and leaves. Batman uses his grappling hook to descend safely to the ground, only to find himself surrounded by the National Guard.

### Appearances

#### Characters

* Bruce Wayne / Batman
* Harvey Dent
* Barbara Gordon
* Summer Gleeson
* Emmet
* Slappy
* Dee Dee
* Alfred Pennyworth
* Jerome Otis
* Hamilton Hill
* Cecil Culp
* Nyesha's brother
* Nyesha
* Robin

#### Organizations

* Gotham City Police Department
* Joker Gang
* National Guard

#### Locations

* Gotham City
	+ Janus Restaurant
	+ Gotham City Bank
	+ Burnside
		- Royal Autobody
		- Gotham Congressional Church (mentioned)
	+ Gotham Square
		- Gotham City Hall
	+ Gotham City Police Headquarters
* Wayne Manor

#### Objects

* Batsuit
* Utility belt
* Giant penny
* Harvey Dent's coin
* Gordon's communicator
* Bat-Signal

#### Vehicles

* Batmobile
* Russian helicopter
* Armored trucks

#### Weapons

* Explosive Batarang
* Super-Batarang
* Grappling hook
* Uzis

#### Continuity references

* The Joker Gang wears the attire and depictions of the Joker from *Batman*.
* Barbara Gordon examines pieces of the Batmobile which presumably ejected or broke off from the vehicle during Batman's chase with the police in *Batman Returns*. Barbara also looks at photos of the Super-Batarang from the same film, which was confiscated by the GCPD after the Penguin used it to attack the Ice Princess and frame Batman.

## Quotes

* **Harvey Dent**: Huh. Isn't that funny. I just can't decide what to do. I think I'll toss a coin. Heads, you die. Tails, you walk.
* **Harvey Dent**: Santa's Elves must have a *hell* of an R&D department.
* **James Gordon**: If I don't see you again... thanks. We tried.
* **Robin**: Not your house, man. Next time, knock.

## Trivia

* This issue incorporates several characters from other *Batman* media who had not yet appeared within the Earth-89 continuity, such as Barbara Gordon and Harvey Bullock from the comics and Summer Gleeson from *Batman: The Animated Series*.
* The giant penny that is a prominent decoration in the Batcave in the comics appears in this issue, with Batman taking cover from gunfire behind it.
* This issue was originally scheduled for release digitally first on July 27, 2021, along with the second and third issues. However, it ended up releasing the same day, August 10, both physically and digitally.
* Catwoman appears on several variant covers for this issue, though not in the issue itself.

## Gallery

Joe Quinones variantKen Taylor and Taurin Clarke variantFrancisco Mattina variantMico Suayan variantCarla Cohen variant
## External links

* *Batman '89* Issue 1 at Batman Fandom, the Batman Wiki.