Batman 1989 Comic Adaptation vs Movie

[@SuperHousePodcast]

Show Notes: www.superherostuffpod.com/post/batman-1989-comic-adaptation-vs-movie

[@dreamlandnightmare]

Yep, Batman '89 was also my introduction to Harvey Dent. I thought he was just a district attorney. Didn't realize he was the Batman villain Two-Face until I saw Batman: TAS episode.

[@raulzavala9061]

Comic book movie adaptations can be real hits or miss when it comes to the artist capturing an actors likeness, but with this Jerry Ordway really knocked it out of the park, the only other movie to comic adaptation that came close to likenesses were anything done by Al Williamson such as Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi and Blade Runner.

[@nuascannan]

Yeah, it's a minefield

[@dreamlandnightmare]

Likeness rights also sometimes plays a role.

[@demetriusdillard2863]

I couldn't agree with you more! Ordway's artwork in DC's comic book adaptation of the 1989 Batman flick was phenomenally gorgeous!

[@mariosb93]

06:01 Although I'm a bit younger than you, I do remember that movies took between 6 months and a year to be released on video and the bigger ones like Jurassic Park took almost two years to be on VHS, the record is probably E.T. in 1988, almost 6 years after the theatrical release. And the worst was Disney with the Vault, which meant they would make their old movies available for a few months and then take out circulation for a decade. Funny how times change and now their entire backlog is available within a single click. Fittingly enough, Batman was the one that broke the mold by releasing on video just six months after theatrical release at a relatively cheaper price, and it must work well because, growing up in the '90s, it was the one tape that everyone seemed to own, even in the school library. . That could be an interesting video, the home releases of the Burton/Schumacher films and whether they share continuity or not, since they were always released together. Great video as always, waiting to see the other adaptations

[@_ChoccooMilkk_]

26:15 this also happens in the flash movie, Keaton’s Batman blocked gunfire with his cape to save Barry.

[@Stanwood32]

I remember walking into the local comic shop in June 1989. The shop was actually called Batboy comics. Everyone was wearing a Batman shirt in the shop. There were sooo many of these comic on display. My Dad got the comic for me and I still have it to this day. Batmania in 89 was something I have yet to experience again. Great podcast y’all! Stan

[@shamrockballs1066]

I love you guys! I watched Batman 89 again last night, one of my favourite movies. I finally purchased an original 89 poster last week and cannot wait for it to arrive! Back in the late 90s, I think it was around when Batman and Robin came out, Empire magazine (a movie magazine in the UK) advertised this comic book adaption omnibus along with Returns, Forever and Batman and Robin. So I sent away for it by cutting the order form out of the magazine and sending it away with a cheque (those were the days lol). I loved that omnibus, I read 89 over and over again, loved the artwork, the tone of it, the detail. Returns wasnt as good, Forever was good and I can't really remember B&R. I still have that omnibus, amazing edition and amazing comic!

[@JaredPresleyExperience]

Great episode. I have the collection paperback that has 89-B&R comic adaptations in it. I got it new 25+ years ago. The collection of all 4 reprints together came out soon after the last movie. I agree with Ben with why they stopped. I don't have the numbers, but they probably didn't make a big profit. Not one big enough to justify the time and energy to making it. They came out around when the movie did, so the deadline was definitely tight. Movie comic adaptations are a bygone era. I haven't seen one of any movie in years. Side note, it may be interesting to see you guys cover other movie comic adaptations. (Even beyond the Batman ones) I liked how you pointed out the Dracula references in the comic. Tim Burton was definitely inspired by Dracula, in particular the Hammer Horror ones with Christopher Lee. I definitely like the first one Lee plays Dracula in. "The Horror of Dracula." Michael Gough (Alfred) is in the movie! I understand why folks don't like it though. I totally agree about Keanu. He was out of his depth in the Dracula movie. Terrible miscast

[@demetriusdillard2863]

I also own the long-out-of-print trade paperback Batman: The Movies, which was published in the summer of 1997 (to coincide with the theatrical release of "Batman & Robin") and does indeed reprint all four of DC's in-house comic book adaptations of the four Burton/Schumacher "Batman" flicks, complete with a painted cover by the legendary Bill Sienkiewicz!

[@dreamlandnightmare]

Found this in a comic shop about a decade ago. Interesting to see the differences between this and the movie. Like most comic adaptations of contemporaneous movies, it's primarily based on the script rather than the movie. I may be wrong, but I don't think the artists who work on these comics get to see the movie beforehand, workprint or otherwise. It seems they get a copy of the script and some selected stills/set photos from the movie, and then extrapolate this information when drawing the panels. The actors who played Nick and Eddie were indeed great in their roles. Very naturalistic and totally sold the characters and scene. Hard to believe that Christopher Fairbank, the actor who plays Nick, is actually English since he did an American accent so well.

[@KiramidHead]

Lugosi does use his cape like that in Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, and Costello does an impression of it several times. That one is better than a lot of the sequels Universal did at any rate. I'm a big Universal fan so I'm all for this tangent lol.

[@MrFilbot]

I wonder what Tim Burton’s Bane would be like?

[@Dohsoda]

What a fun episode! I bought the adaptation comics of Batman (1989) and Batman Returns. Both are fun reads, but I enjoyed the 89' adaptation more in incorporating alternative scenes in it and the artwork is very good. Also, regarding Dracula (1931), I understand. It doesn't work really hold up for me either. However, "Horror of Dracula" (1958), is my favorite of the adaptations. It's not accurate with the novel, but the set-design, score, and cast of renowned actors (including Alfred's Michael Gough!) are great. As for the sequels with Christopher Lee, they are very hit or miss, and by the end of the series it really did turn into b-movie schlock. The sequels: "Brides of Dracula", "Dracula: Prince of Darkness", and "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" are worth watching and you could stop there. Interestingly enough, Hammer's "Frankenstein" series with Peter Cushing is much stronger in quality compared to their "Dracula" series.

[@GBglide]

14:43 I'm going to be *that* guy and correct you, It's not "Who are you?" it's "What are you?" 51:42 That's the entire jet engine that Robin is working on. Don't take my criticism as destain, I love what you guys are doing! 😀

[@demetriusdillard2863]

Awesome video! I've read DC's special edition collector's trade paperback reprinting the original 1989 comic book adaptation, and it's interesting to see the printed art alongside the (uncolored) original art! Thanks for sharing, and keep up the good work!

[@slightrebellionoffmadison]

Bram Stoker’s Dracula will always be my favorite Dracula but the Monster Squad is a close second, mainly because Dracula is so petty he blows up the Squad’s club house while quipping “meeting adjourned.”

[@jonjones6764]

Great video! First off, Andrew i hope your test went well! I know how nerve wracking it can be. Im supposed to take an exam for my Cybersecurity certification and i just am not looking forward to it haha. I didnt have this as a kid either since i was only 3 but i picked it up in the back issue bin of my comic shop when i was in high school. The art is amazing and it's a fun read seeing the differences. And i love the Dracula tangent you guys went on. I'm a huge Dracula fan, love the novel and even saw a ballet production of it here in Pittsburgh as a birthday gift from my wife. But i agree, the Universal and Hammer Dracula films aren't great, i preferred their Frankenstein counterparts. Bram Stoker's Dracula was pretty awesome, despite the flaws, and Nosferatu was and still is beautifully creepy. You guys are making me want to dig my copies of the comic adaptations out, including Begins (bought it after seeing the movie opening day, but i don't remember the art so I'm curious about the background faces now)

[@aaronpingiaro]

Fantastic vampire movie is Let Me In directed by our guy Matt Reeves with Frasier as DOP and Giacchino as Composer

[@_ChoccooMilkk_]

You guys should come to FanX in Salt Lake City Utah!! I would one hundred percent come see you guys!!!

[@kamdan2011]

Check out the movie Cobb if you wanna see more material with Robert Whul. It was also the source of tension between Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey as Cobb was killed at the box office due to Dumb and Dumber coming out at the same time.

[@Maestro86-sd8zy]

Hey Ben & Andrew, I enjoyed this episode from you guys. I was wondering if any of you could shed any light concerning a possible alternate ending to Batman 89. I remember watching a version of Batman 1989 where Harvey Dent is reading the letter from Batman and he tells the citizens “if the forces of evil should rise again, to cast a shadow on the heart of the city, call me.” Knox in this version says “question, how do we call him?” Use a 1-800 number.” I distinctly remember Alexander Knox using the 1-800 number line. I’ve asked a few Batman 89 fans out there to see if they remember Knox saying it and some have confirmed remembering that to be the original line. I remember seeing this line was when I was watching Batman on Showtime tv.

[@raulzavala9061]

Not sure about Knox's dialogue maybe you're misremembering and thinking about the MTV Steal the Batmobile contest in which Robert Whul in character as Knox does the commercial.

[@Maestro86-sd8zy]

@@raulzavala9061 I am well aware of Robert Wuhl’s steal the Batmobile commercial. I am not misremembering anything. I distinctly remember Knox adding the line “question, how do we call him?” “Use a 1-800 number.” Honestly that sounds entirely like something Knox would say. It completely goes with his characters energetic quippy sarcastic dialogue.

[@leigh_the_batfan]

I know this would have lots of plot holes seeing as Harley Quinn wasn’t created yet, the joker dies at the end and also not ideal that Vicky discovers Batman’s identity, but imagine in an alternate universe where there was a Batman sequel with the joker turning Vicky Vale into his version of Harley Quinn. He was a little obsessed with her in 89, and the trend would continue with joker taking people away from Bruce (first his parents and now Vicky). Would of been cool to do something like that in the 89 comic series if it wasn’t for jokers death

[@trevorjenkins2176]

For me just to have some shenanigans: I'd spell Vickie, Vickey

[@SDCTProductions]

Oh one more thing - ironic, I actually told my 17 year old that Ted and Orville are the only MacFarlane projects that I like.

[@SDCTProductions]

I think for me, it was Batman 89 and then I read Batman Annual 14 when it came out in 1990, then I made the connection. I think BTAS was 92, I had some familiarity with Two-Face going into it.

[@sevensblack]

Jerry MuthaFuckin’ Ordway!!!!!!! I heard he passed the JLPT after he sketched a perfect Billy Batson Captain Marvel on the answer sheet.

[@Stanwood32]

Dracula!! Guys if you haven’t seen our number one guy..Jack Palance as Dracula…it’s great. Set the standard for the mix of Vlad and the romance side of the story. He’s does a great job!!

[@JBalderas1990]

Here me out…I thought in the animated series Harvey was ethnically ambiguous as well…but out of nowhere I made this connection that Harvey is a nod to OJ Simpson. I took a screenshot of Harvey and his blonde wife together and compared it to one with OJ and his blonde wife..spot on. And OJ was seen as the “nice” guy with a darkside..like two face.

[@wyldelf2685]

BM3 ?? Totally against ever having ROBIN IN A KEATON BATMOVIE , , , robin is unnecessary in a bat film , Tim Burton felt that way for 2 movies straight, a concept that should've continued 😂😂 ,🙄🙄