Comic artist Julian Totino Tedesco has revealed his variant cover for the last issue of Batman '89. The sixth and final issue will include a chance for fans to buy a beautifully visceral cover that artistically invokes Martha Wayne. A string of pearls has rarely been as recognizable as those of Batman's mother the night of her death.
Batman '89 is a limited series from DC Comics that continues the story begun in the film Batman (1989). It has featured Harvey Dent before he became Two-Face, will introduce Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman, and pays homage to the classic Batman film. The covers for the series have been visually appealing, but this new variant is an astonishing way to close out the story. It directly evokes Bruce Wayne's recurring nightmare and the start of his journey to becoming Batman.
On Twitter, Julian Totino Tedesco shared the cover he created for Batman '89 #6. It features Batman in the center in his costume, complete with the Bat-symbol that serves as the Batman (1989) logo. Flowing downwards from the cover's upper white space is a trail of pearls. A quick glance may not be enough to fully grasp the weight of these pearls, but this composition is full of significance. These simple, shiny spheres, are Martha Wayne's pearls being snapped off her neck during the robbery - and murder - in the alley outside Gotham's theater.
Initially, this cover seems rather simplistic. It only features Batman, some pearls, and his logo, with bases of predominantly black and white. However, this is a direct nod to the film itself, which was the first Batman movie to place emphasis on Martha Wayne's jewelry as part of her tragic demise. This eventually became an element that would be repeated in several other films starring Batman, including Batman Begins (2005), Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and most recently, Joker (2020). The pearls on the cover direct the viewer's eye downwards, curving along the length of the cover, with uneven gaps. This is a masterful interpretation of the elements that captures the falling of the pearls once the necklace has been broken. This breaking mirrors the breaking that Bruce undergoes emotionally due to his loss. It also serves as the entire basis for his identity in the future - one that has reached fruition within this particular series.
This isn't only a perfect Batman cover in terms of composition and significance, it is also the perfect cover to close out Batman '89. The Dark Knight has been around for eighty-two years and even with all the comics and films he has starred in, there are still new ways to capture his life, his journey, and his accomplishments. Tedesco proves that there are still ways to rehash the same origin story that feel fresh, even though fans have seen the death of Bruce's parents happen frequently. This cover also reveals how simple, yet effective, comic covers can be at telling their own story. Complexity can be visually intriguing, but well thought out simplicity sometimes reveal the most provocative stories. Martha Wayne's major legacy is her son and his fall comes after her pearls fall. Batman '89 - featuring the final emotional showdown between Batman and Harvey Dent - will release January 11th.
Source: J. Totino Tedesco