Movies News Talk
The new miniseries Batman '89: Echoes will treat fans of the venerable Tim Burton's 1989 film Batman. This series transports us to the dark and gothic Gotham City and investigates the disturbing life of Dr. Jonathan Crane, a man destined to be among Batman's most famous adversaries, Scarecrow.
Batman's world has revolved around the design of the Scarecrow since 1941; with each iteration, it gets more horrific and complex. From the basic burlap sack to the contemporary gas mask, the development of the character captures the always increasing threat he presents to Gotham City.
Batman '89: Echoes's new Scarecrow design pays homage to the past and honors the character's legacy going forward. It incorporates elements that are both eerie and nostalgic and finds inspiration in the classic '90s villain design. The broad, smiling mask, the noose around the neck, and the general look evoke the famous Scarecrow from the comics and the first Batman movie.
The design of the Scarecrow in this series gets cues from the venerable actor Jeff Goldblum. The character gains fresh degree of suspense and mystery from this original vision for him. The designers have done an amazing job of fusing this fresh inspiration with the classic features of the Scarecrow's design to produce a horrific and strikingly graphic character.
Batman "89: Echoes" gains additional horror from the use of Scarecrow's fear gas, so augmenting the already disturbing environment. Disguised as the superhero Firefly, Bruce Wayne finds himself caught in a dream world inundated with memories from his past. A really remarkable and eerie scene is produced by the psychedelic images and the terrible effect of the gas.
Bruce Wayne's secret identity is unexpectedly revealed to Scarecrow in Batman '89: Echoes #3. For Batman and his allies, the disclosure of this vital information increases the pressure. The villain now knows who he is truly facing, and this knowledge has broad consequences. The Batman '89 universe's future teeters on a knife edge.
The Scarecrow is renowned for his ability to take advantage of anxiety and turn his victims into total panic. Being able to use fear to subvert the strongest of will makes him among the most dangerous villains in Gotham City. Batman "89: Echoes" uses the Scarecrow's fear gas as a potent weapon to reveal Batman's most intense worries, so driving him to his breaking point.
The Scarecrow, a villain, reflects Batman's own inner demons and the darkness he battles within of course. The anxiety gas of the Scarecrow stands for the vulnerability present even in the toughest of heroes. Batman is constantly reminded by the Scarecrow that he is not exempt from the psychological and emotional suffering his foes cause.