Tim Burton’s iconic Batman first debuted in 1989, and today, over three decades later, its gloriously gothic world continues to grow. Through the Batman ’89 comics and most recently, the John Jackson Miller novel Batman: Resurrection, Burton’s Gotham has expanded to include new heroes, new villains and new threats. Remarkably—or perhaps not, considering the talent involved—all of these new elements have felt like natural fits, each one intermingling perfectly with the characters first introduced in Burton’s films. The result is that this 35-year-old franchise feels as fresh as ever, winning over fans who were both old enough to see the original movie in theaters along with those who grew up watching it on cable and streaming years later.

As the illustrator of the Batman ’89 comics, artist Joe Quinones has played a major role in continuing the story of Batman and Batman Returns—a dream job for this longtime fan.

“I’ve been a bit obsessed with the world of Batman ‘89 since I first saw the original Burton film at a drive-in theater when I was eight years old,” he shares. “I was utterly enchanted by the world that Tim Burton, Sam Hamm, Anton Furst, Bob Ringwood (and many more) created—a wonderful mix of science fiction, German expressionism and film noir.”

Quinones’ vivid interpretation of that world can be seen in the two existing Batman ’89 miniseries—Batman ’89: Shadows and the still-in-progress Batman ’89: Echoes, both scripted by Sam Hamm, the screenwriter of Burton’s original film. Introducing new villains like Harley Quinn, the Scarecrow and a Billy Dee Williams-inspired Two-Face, Quinones’ designs are both unique and highly reminiscent of the villains introduced previously in Burton’s films, the result of hours of studying and absorbing the work of the Batman ’89 filmmakers.

“I’ve grown quite comfortable inhabiting this version of Gotham,” Quinones reveals. “Any choice I make in designing new characters, costuming, machinery or locales takes those initial filmic influences into account. I try to also draw inspiration from classic genre pictures, scenery, actors, costuming, etc., reforming these elements through the lens of the comic book source material and my own taste.”

The most recent example of this won’t be seen in any of the comics (at least, not yet). Instead, it stems from Miller’s Batman: Resurrection, the recent novel set in the immediate aftermath of Burton’s first film. Batman: Resurrection introduces the universe’s Clayface, a down-on-his-luck actor who develops a frightening appearance after he’s exposed to the Joker’s Smylex. To promote the book’s release, Quinones was tapped to create a poster featuring the character, which we’re exclusively revealing here.

“This particular version of Clayface is not a malevolent figure,” Quinones explains. “Basil is a failed actor who has befallen a terrible accident, thus becoming this strange creature. I wanted to highlight his humanity as a tragic character, showcasing the fear and sorrow in his eyes as the shadow of Batman looms over him.”

Batman: Resurrection’s Clayface may look like a villain, but is he one? To answer that would delve into spoiler territory, so if you’re curious we suggest you check out the book, which serves as a unique bridge between Burton’s two films and another important chapter in their expanding world.

Not many films remain so beloved so many years later, but it’s also hard to think of many films that had the same impact as Burton’s Batman, which filled theaters all summer long, brought thousands of new fans to the character and ignited a popular film franchise that continues to this day.

“The world of Tim Burton’s Batman, like Tim Burton’s films in general, remains an enchanting, beguiling, dark and bittersweet experience,” says Quinones. “Melancholy and blissful, nostalgic and inventive, frightful and hilarious, his films have a rich texture throughout, pulling from film history while crafting something entirely new.”

Best of all, with source material as robust as DC’s Dark Knight, it’s a world with nearly unlimited possibility, one that begs for the expansion that we’re now seeing. The only real surprise is that it took this long in the first place.

“[We’re] building upon the foundations Tim built to create something new and exciting,” promises Quinones. “It’s been wonderful to see John expand upon that foundation even further with Resurrection. I was so excited to collaborate with John and contribute to his book in my own small way with this illustration.

“Just when I thought I’d finished my work in Gotham, happily, Batman Returns.”
 

Batman: Resurrection by John Jackson Miller is now available in bookstores, online retailers and libraries in print and as an e-book and audiobook.

Tim Beedle covers movies, TV and comics for DC.com, writes our monthly Superman column, "Super Here For...", and is a regular contributor to the Couch Club, our recurring television column. Follow him on Bluesky at @TimBeedle.