The comic book continuations of Tim Burton’s Superman as portrayed by Christopher Reeve, are making a team-up seem possible. Fans of both iterations might be in for a treat now that the stage is being set for a crossover between Superman 78 and Batman 89.
At the time of the Reeve Superman movies’ released throughout the 1980s’, it was the only live action superhero franchise brining comics to life. After they wrapped up, there was a void in comic book movies which was eventually filled by Keaton’s Batman. Without any other mainstream superhero franchises, fans could only fantasize about the two versions of DC’s most iconic heroes teaming up. The Superman/Batman crossover never happened in live action, despite some evidence for the Donner Metropolis and Burton Gotham sharing a universe. However, fans might finally see what a team-up story would’ve been like in the comics.
As both limited series continue to expand the canon of Reeve’s Superman and Keaton’s Batman, a crossover could be on the table. Recently, there were even signs that Batman 89 and Superman 78 could be set within the same universe. With the inclusion of a Gotham Gazette magazine featuring Bruce Wayne returning from travels in Superman 78 #3 and a copy of the Daily Planet referencing the “mysterious Bat-Man,” there is precedent for the Dark Knight in Reeve’s universe. The two headlines seem to infer that Bruce had recently returned from training across the world, and came back to begin his crusade as a vigilante, similar to the events of Batman: Year One. The image of Bruce on the cover the Gazette's cover even resembles a younger Keaton.
In Superman 78, written by Rob Venditti with art by Wilfredo Torres, the Man of Steel faces his biggest threat yet in the form of Brainiac and his impending invasion on Earth. The scale for Reeve’s Superman has never been grander, opening the door for many other potential storylines. Similarly, Keaton’s Batman in Batman 89, written by Sam Hamm with art by Joe Quinones and Leonardo Ito, feels less constrained than the films did at the time. Building off of Batman and Batman Returns, there is a wide selection of new heroes and villains for the comics to incorporate. The next logical step for both limited series is to overlap and come together in one title, providing the ultimate fan wish fulfillment. Just as Keaton’s Batman never received a third installment, and Reeve’s Superman films declined in quality, the comics are able to give readers what the studios never could.
A meeting between Keaton’s Bruce Wayne and Reeve’s Clark Kent in the scenario of a Daily Planet interview would thrill fans. It’s difficult to predict how they would interact as their alter egos. Although Superman might be turned off to Batman’s cynicism, such a response might feel too repetitive to Batman v Superman now that they have already met each other in live action. Regardless, the World’s Finest would manage to band together if a threat too big for either of them alone came their way.
