Thanks to a retcon of 2024, 1989 Batman now includes the cinematic debut of a classic DC villain. 1989 Batman was a revolutionary success not only for the live-action Batman film landscape, but also for the superhero genre and the way big-budget blockbusters are marketed. The film made Batman DC Comics and Warner Bros.’ most marketable superhero property and directly (or indirectly) led to a number of beloved superhero properties, from various sequels and reboots to the DC Animated Universe itself.
Tim Burton Batman universe – which includes no less than three branching timelines following the events of Batman Returns – continues to be explored through comics such as Batman ’89 and the romance of 2024 Batman: Resurrectionby John Jackson Miller. The latter occurs between 1989 Batman and Batman Returnscombining characters from both films and exploring how the citizens of Gotham City – including Batman himself – deal with the consequences of the Joker’s reign of terror. Of the novel’s two main villains, one is a classic Batman foe who has now been retroactively inserted into the 1989 film. Batman.
Batman: Resurrection introduces Hugo Strange and takes him back to 1989’s Batman
Batman: Resurrection includes the apparently original character “Hugh Auslander”, who eventually reveals that he is Burton Batman universe version of DC villain Hugo Strange. Furthermore, the book retroactively makes Hugo Strange a secondary character in the 1989 film itself. Resurrection retcon establishes that the Axis Chemicals scientist who is seen inspecting and shipping products contaminated with Smylex is actually Hugo Strange. Strange survived Batman’s destruction of Axis Chemicals by simply escaping before the Batmobile’s explosives detonated.
At Burton Batman universe, Hugo Strange is a chemist who wants to create an army of super-strong but stupid Monster Men. Strange was a chemist who previously posed as a psychiatrist to enter Carl Grissom’s criminal empire and continue his work after being fired from his position with the US government. Strange was invaluable to the Joker’s creation of Smylex, although Strange only saw him as a means of finishing his Monster Men endeavors.
Who is Hugo Strange in the comics?
Hugo Strange is one of Batman’s first great villainshaving debuted in the Golden Age Batman comics and preceded even great villains like the Joker. Hugo Strange is a mad scientist and crime boss who initially used his genius to create advanced devices and his iconic Monster Men, but eventually became obsessed with Batman and even discovered his secret identity, making him one of Batman’s most dangerous enemies. Before being reconnected in 1989 BatmanHugo Strange made his live-action debut in Gotham, played by BD Wong.
Batman is a 1989 superhero film directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne. The film features Jack Nicholson’s chilling portrayal of Jack Napier, who transforms into the Joker and reigns terror in Gotham. Kim Basinger also stars in the film as Vicki Vale, along with Michael Gough as Bruce’s faithful butler named Alfred.
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