Shadows Over Gotham: A Batman 89 Tribute

To mark Batman Day in September 2023, Batman discusses the cinematic history of the Dark Knight, comparing and contrasting pros and cons of the different film iterations of the character, from Batman 66, Burton and Keaton's collaborations on Batman 89 (and the recent return of this version of the character in both film and comics), the Shucmacher films, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, the DCEU, the animated series and video games with Kevin Conroy and The Batman in 2022.

In the aftermath of a car bomb attempt on Den'ts life, Bob is confronted by both Batman and Boss Grissom; Gordon tries to reason with the Mayor; and Falcone discusses war plans with Grissom over golf...

Dave offers brief commentary on the 30 anniversary last year of Batman Returns and Batman the Animated Series, the death of Batman animated voice actor Kevin Conroy, and the upcoming return of Michael Keaton to the role of Batma in the Flash Movie. In narration of the Shadows Over Gotham story, Vicki uses her first date with Bruce to find out what he knows about the Bat...or is it the other way around?

Dave reflects on Billy Dee Williams' portrayal of Harvey Dent in Batman 1989; Selina Kyle reflects on her new found and unwanted status as a public citizen; Gilda and Harvey Dent celebrate their anniversary.

Bob has a tense meeting with Carl Grissom; and Gordon meets with a potential new ally, one he's not sure he trusts...and outside the narrative, Dave discusses Batman's role (in this reimagination) as a revolutionary, an outside catalyst to trigger and enable change within a hopelessly corrupted system, and as a Robin Hood/Zorro type figure, a traitor to the ruling class, fighting a covert war against the establishment to which he belongs by birth, rather than the traditional intepretation as an enforcer of the status quo. This is a Batman whose mission it is not so much to fight street level crime as to tear down the complex coalition of politicians, business and organized crime that preys on the common people...

With Jack Napier presumed dead on Christmas Eve, Shadows Over Gotham picks up with the first chapter of Part 3: First Contact; and Dave discusses the 30th anniversary of Tim Burton's Batman Returns.

AIn the final chapter of SET UP, at a Christmas charity fundraiser at Wayne Manor, Bruce meets with Grissom; Knox meets the competition; and at Axis Chemical, Jack meets his fate...

A Christmas Eve charity fundraiser at Wayne Manor; Vale and Knox continue their investigation.

A discussion of Harvey Bullock's addictions, morality and animosity towards vigilantism; the Bat steps up his game to the next phase of his strategy; Vale has a plan to help Knox get Gordon on record; and Grissom schemes against his "Number One Guy"...

Commentary on the previous chapters and the connections between Grissom's plan and German history; Montoya learns a secret about her partner Harvey Bullock; Napier delivers an assignment from Grissom to an underground gang; and Knox learns what his story needs...

A discussion of Batman's strategy of using fear and creating an urban legend to curb street crime through fear and reputation; and, Boss Carl Grissom meets with the rest of the heads of Gotham's major organized crime families with a proposal; Alexander Knox investigates the most recent Bat attack; and dirty cop Lt. Eckhardt meets with Grissom's representatives, Jack Napier and his sidekick Bob...

A discussion of 1990's Dick Tracy, which attempted to follow up the success of Tim Burton's Batman the previous year, with a similar score by composer Danny Elfman; with the prequel chapters finished, Part Two: Set Up picks up with the narrative of the first scene of Batman 89...the Bat has been stalking Gotham for over a month, and his urban legend is spreading, leaving criminals all over the city scared...

A discussion on possible alternate casting if Tim Burton had made Batman in 1999 instead of 1989, and who might have been good in the roles of Bullock and Montoya, had those characters been in the movie. Also: Bullock and Montoya pursue a suspect fleeing from the service station heist into the same hotel where the new mayor is speaking, and reporter Alexander Knox smells a big story; Bullock and Knox separately interview witnesses from the previous night's mysterious incidents...

A tribute to Batman '89

On his first day on the job, Commissioner James Gordon reflects on his 20 years on the GCPD and the city's future after a recent election promises hope for change; Detective Harvey Bullock breaks in new partner Rene Montoya; and on the streets of Gotham, predators and their prey encounter a mysterious, shadowy creature, prowling for the very first night...

In the first episode I talk about being a kid in the summer of 1989 and my introduction to the character of Batman by way of the phenomenon that was Tim Burton's blockbuster hit movie that summer. Also: the prologue to an audio recording of a fan fiction I wrote in the late 90s as an experiment and practice when I decided to become a writer as a career. This was actually the first piece of fiction I ever attempted to write.