Batman '89: Echoes (2023-2025) #1

Batman '89 #7

by Sam Hamm (Writer), Joe Quiñones (Illustrator), Leonardo Ito (Colorist)

You wanna get nuts? Let’s get nuts! After Harvey Dent’s crusade against Gotham and Batman, the Caped Crusader has disappeared without a trace. In his place, ordinary citizens have taken to the streets to root out crime. As innocents get hurt, the question on everyone’s mind is the same: Where is Batman? Sam Hamm, screenwriter of the 1989 Batman movie, and Joe Quinones reunite for another tale in Gotham!

Genres: Comics, Batman, Dc Comics, Comic Book

26 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2023

About the author

Sam Hamm is an American screenwriter, perhaps best known for writing the screenplay for Tim Burton's Batman and an unused screenplay for the sequel. As a result of his work, he was invited to write for the Batman comic. The result was Batman: Blind Justice, which introduced Bruce Wayne's mentor, Henri Ducard, who later appeared in Batman Begins. Hamm's other screen credits include Never Cry Wolf and Monkeybone. He also wrote unused drafts for Planet of the Apes and Watchmen adaptations.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

(B+) 76% | Good
Notes: Hardly action, verve or traction, mostly base construction (new status quo, establish foes): all catch-up/introductions.

*Progress update

[Molly™☺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgia served up with a fair helping of great art and a side of decent plot. It captures this version of Gotham fantastically despite no appearance yet for the titular vigilante and sets up an interesting premise for this miniseries to cement itself on.

actual rating: 3.5 stars

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting idea, I'll be curious to see how it goes.

Artwork is very much Batman - no surprises here.

At the same time, I feel like we've been here before so I'm not sold.

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up. Much like the first run in this series, I like the artwork quite a bit but it doesn’t have the magic of Burton’s Batman, and I’m not convinced that this is how Burton would have handled any of these new characters. (Especially Harleen.) I’ll still read the next issue because I already bought it, but I’m not expecting much. I will say that Crane is oddly attractive, though, so points for that.

[Trae Stratton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of groundwork. Story feels familiar but appears ready to offer a new take on Harley Quinn (and maybe Scarecrow) as Joker is not there to tip her over the edge.

[Jeremiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m intrigued to see where this story leads…

[Christian · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I was prepared to be let down with the content, when comparing it to the absolutely awesome cover - but not this much.
To start off - the comic contains nothing of what you see on the cover.
I'm pretty sure the title is Batman, and that baits are made on the cover that it should be a Batman story.
There's no Scarecrow (in costume and character), no Harley Quinn (in costume and character) and absolutely no Batman at all. There's no cozy atmosphere, as in the cover.
What you get instead, is another excuse to have boss women walking in corridors and sitting on shows - talking. Now, if that dialogue was insightful, interesting or funny, it could be worth plowing through and I'd be ready for a nice set up of the rest of the story. It is neither, though.

I believe the cover, and title, should represent the comic at some level. So in this case I suggest the cover should be a bland office building with the main character - Miss Gordon - walking through it, steadfast and independent, putting other male officers in their place.
Then the people that would enjoy the comic can buy it, and the ones that don't can ignore it

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two years since Batman has been seen, and a LOT has changed. With Jim Gordon deceased, his daughter Barbara follows in his steps as a lieutenant working with Bullock. It feels like the beginning of Nolan's Dark Knight may have influenced this idea of wannabe Batmans, which is weird given this is the Burton world. Harleen Quinzel enters the fray, as writers can't resist incorporating her into these other worlds. (See also Batman '66.) Jonathan Crane referring to himself as a disciple of Hugo Strange feels apt given that Strange used fear dust in early comics before Crane used fear gas. The ending surprised me a bit and has me intrigued.

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well they just resuscitated the Batman 89' series. I thought it was done and gone for this series but here we are. Like the first part of it, this new addition bring forward interesting take on many well known characters and provides a decent intrigue. The art, even if not my favorite style, does a magnificent job at creaking that 89 vibes to the story. Nice one!

[E. Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid opening. Can't wait to see how this unfolds!

[Naveen kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Garth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024 - Year of The Bat (366 Days of Batman)

Day 105: Maybe 3.5⭐️ Laying the groundwork and starting over, like any movie sequel. Worth continuing but I hope it gets better.

[Noah LeFevre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good setup for the next issues

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty neat.

I liked this a lot. Always cool to see the Burtonverse back in action. A classic era of Batman and the movie universe. Good stuff.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the art, story just needs to get going. It tells the story as if we’ve already been here and you’ll see where it goes eventually.

Not to mention the cover is very misleading.