Warning: includes a preview for Batman '89 #1!

A new variant cover for Batman '89 pays homage to one of Batman's most iconic covers in the best way. What makes this even more fitting is that Batman '89 is all about legacy. The entire premise for the series is based on an already established, iconic property, that being Tim Burton's Batman films starring Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader. Almost everything revealed about Batman '89 so far indicates that it will draw heavily on nostalgia for the Burtonverse films.

As a character that has been around for more than 80 years, Batman has been drawn by many people, in countless different styles. There is no one definitive Batman, but there are iconic iterations of the character. For instance, in the comics, Frank Miller's Batman in The Dark Knight Returns is one of the most memorable versions of the Dark Knight. On the cinematic side, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and Adam West's Batman show contain some of the most notable moments in Batman's history. Now, Michael Keaton's Batman is being immortalized further as he makes the leap to the comic book pages in Batman '89.

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One of the most well-renowned comic book artists to ever draw Batman is Jim Lee. His iconic debut with DC Comics in 2002 is paid homage to with Batman '89's new cover by artist Mico Suayan. Lee's first issue was Batman #608, which was the first chapter of the classic Hush story. Lee's cover art sees Batman standing on top of a gargoyle as he watches over Gotham City. Not only do fans love Lee's cover, but it was further immortalized when Ben Affleck's Batman stood on top of a gargoyle in Zack Snyder's Justice League. It's become one of Batman's most iconic poses. Now, Keaton's Batman is seen mimicking Lee's classic cover. Check out the variant cover below:

What makes the variant cover so perfect is that Batman '89 #1 marks the start of a new era for Keaton's Batman. The series will continue to explore what was set up by the Burtonverse films, marking the return of Keaton's Batman for the first time since Batman Returns. Likewise, Batman #608 was the beginning of a new era of DC Comics. The variant cover showcases Batman standing on one of Gotham's highrise buildings as his cape flaps in the wind. Keaton's Batman sports his classic Batsuit, albeit opting for 1989's Bat symbol even though the miniseries is set during the mid-nineties.

The two Batmans, if compared side by side, are pretty much the same, despite the differences in their Batsuits and physical appearances. Obviously, Suayan's cover highlights his and DC Comics' love for Jim Lee's era of Batman. But it also shows complete admiration for the Burtonverse films as he gets every little detail right. This is the overall feeling that Batman '89 has given fans since artist Joe Quinones began teasing the new miniseries through a series of ongoing tweets. This new cover is just the icing on the cake. Batman '89 #1 releases digitally on July 27.

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