Warning! Spoilers for Superman 78 #3
DC Comics has confirmed that both Christopher Reeve’s Superman and Michael Keaton’s Batman movies take place in the same universe. In a new comic, it’s revealed that Burton’s Gotham City coexists with Richard Donner’s Metropolis.
Since Tim Burton’s Batman movie released in 1989, fans have wondered whether the Man of Steel existed in the same world as the Dark Knight. With Burton nearly making a Superman film starring Nicholas Cage, it seemed that he was the version of Clark Kent that would coincide with Keaton’s Bruce Wayne. As it never happened, the possibility of Keaton’s Batman meeting a version of Superman remained a fantasy. As the Reeve movie canon continues in comics through Superman 78, the Keaton Batman is also expanding in Batman 89. Recently, there was a clue that the two series might share a universe in Superman 78 #3, written by Robert Venditti with art by Wilfredo Torres.
The issue includes two back-to-back references to both Bruce Wayne and Batman, in a Gotham Gazette magazine and a Daily Planet newspaper. The cover of the Gazette includes an image of Bruce, with a story teased that he is returning to Gotham after a long time away. The headline on the front of the Daily Planet references the “Bat-Man,” hinting that the caped crusader is still a mysterious vigilante to the press, long before Tim Burton’s first installment. While the two franchises don’t exactly tie in with each other, it seems that Batman’s career overlaps with Clark Kent’s time as a reporter.
As Superman 78 follows Kal-El as he faces Brainiac and his impending invasion on Earth, the comic book continuation is expanding the films’ scale. For this reason, the reference to Gotham’s silent guardian doesn’t seem like a big deal, as Superman is saving the planet. However, it might have implications down the line as both Batman 89 and Superman 78 are limited series, with the sole purpose of giving fans stories that the movies never provided. It seems particularly intentional given that the two references occur next to each other.
Theoretically, a team-up between Michael Keaton’s Batman and Christopher Reeve’s Superman would come chronologically after both of their series’ came to an end. As Batman Returns released in 1992, Superman’s final installment came in 1987. A crossover would be an epic way to expand both Superman and Batman’s limited series, opening the door for more team-ups to come.