Originally published March 10, 2016. Updated June 30, 2023.
DC Comics are on a bit of a nostalgia trip at the moment with the brilliantly-reviewed and received Batman ’66 (which continues the adventures of Adam West and Burt Ward as the Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder) and Wonder Woman ’77, featuring further outings of Lynda Carter’s as the Amazonian Princess. But it would seem they’re not looking to expand this line as artist Joe Quinones has unveiled a rejected pitch that he and Kate Leith put forward for Batman ’89, which would have continued the Burton-Batverse after Batman Returns.
“Inspired by DC’s recent Batman ‘66 series, our story would have picked up the threads left by Tim Burton’s Batman Returns,” Quinones notes on his blog. “We would have seen the return of Selina Kyle/ Catwoman as well as introductions to ‘Burton-verse’ versions of Robin, Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. It also would have showcased the turn of Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent into Two-Face. We had a lot of fun ideas for the series overall, but in the end it was turned down. Regardless, these were fun a lot of fun to draw and Kate [Leith] and I got to bond over our love of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman.”
Check out some of the images below, including the Burton-esque designs of Harley Quinn, Batgirl, Poision Ivy and the Billy Dee Williams version of Two-Face.
