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Batman
Batman Forever: The Official Movie Book
The Dark Knight and Robin confront Two-Face and The Riddler, both of whom are out for revenge. At the same time, Bruce Wayne and Batman become entangled with Gotham City newcomer, Dr. Chase Meridian, a psychologist who specializes in dual personalities.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
4 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
About the author
Peter David
3,567 books1,362 followersaka David Peters
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
Peter Allen David, often abbreviated PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films, and video games. His notable comic book work includes an award-winning 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as runs on Aquaman, Young Justice, SpyBoy, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Captain Marvel, and X-Factor.
His Star Trek work included comic books and novels such as the New Frontier book series. His other novels included film adaptations, media tie-ins, and original works, such as the Apropos of Nothing and Knight Life series. His television work includes series such as Babylon 5, Young Justice, Ben 10: Alien Force and Nickelodeon's Space Cases, which he co-created with Bill Mumy.
David often jokingly described his occupation as "Writer of Stuff", and he was noted for his prolific writing, characterized by its mingling of real-world issues with humor and references to popular culture, as well as elements of metafiction and self-reference.
David earned multiple awards for his work, including a 1992 Eisner Award, a 1993 Wizard Fan Award, a 1996 Haxtur Award, a 2007 Julie Award and a 2011 GLAAD Media Award.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 7, 2021
It's amazing how much better this book is than the movie. David just makes it work.
Update 2021 - David makes little tweaks to the story that just make it work better. Especially at the end. The scenes in the end are essentially the same, but he makes a few character moment changes and it all just works so much better. I love this novelization.
Update 2021 - David makes little tweaks to the story that just make it work better. Especially at the end. The scenes in the end are essentially the same, but he makes a few character moment changes and it all just works so much better. I love this novelization.
October 10, 2011
If there's one unifying theme I'm noticing with reviews of this book, it is that Peter David's take on the script was better than the movie itself. I won't disagree. Peter David put a fun spin on it, taking the reader inside the minds of the characters and even making some of the worst jokes in the script work (a little better). He also tossed in some great references to the actors' other work (like The Mask or The Fugitive), and provided continuity to the previous film. At the end of Batman Returns, Batman was still a wanted fugitive - a situation the script for Batman Forever never addressed. A scene between Batman and Harvey Dent in the novel clears that up while providing a bit of backstory between the two characters.
You know, this Peter David guy... he's pretty good at this sort of thing!
You know, this Peter David guy... he's pretty good at this sort of thing!
February 14, 2017
Of the three film novelizations I have read so far, this one was the best. Although I started it over a year ago and wasn't impressed with the beginning of the book, I think I may just have been burned out a little from reading superhero novels at the time, having read the first two Batman movie novelizations plus six different X-men books. But after coming back to this book, it was a very captivating story. The writing style was more character driven, and it was heavy with Bruce Wayne. Val Kilmer played Batman in this film, but I pictured George Clooney throughout the book since he is my favorite Bruce Wayne so far (Michael Keaton is my favorite Batman). Two-Face and The Riddler are the villains, and they read much better in the novel than they are portrayed onscreen. Worth the read if you are a Batfan
October 5, 2009
I found this book at Reading Lights along with Daredevil and Ghost Rider novel.
Quick read, fun and amusing just like the movie, thanks to Mr. David. Batman Forever movie was released in 1995, and I know that the actor was Val Kilmer. But I can't help but picturing Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne when I read this novel. Sorry Mr. Kilmer... He is The Dark Knight right now.
Quick read, fun and amusing just like the movie, thanks to Mr. David. Batman Forever movie was released in 1995, and I know that the actor was Val Kilmer. But I can't help but picturing Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne when I read this novel. Sorry Mr. Kilmer... He is The Dark Knight right now.
April 25, 2022
I haven’t seen the movie in years, but I found this pretty enjoyable. It really emphasizes some of the campier aspects of the story, complete with some fun Easter eggs. Riddler is the highlight, as in the movie, but this novelization does a good job of developing the relationship between Batman and Robin.
August 5, 2016
Batman Forever is the first Motion Picture Batman that I saw as a kid, and it's what made me a die-hard Batman fan, and it made me want to watch the other ones! Batman battles a new villain, Two-Face AKA Harvey Dent, former District Attorney of Gotham, who has one half of his face scarred and also doing severe damage to the brain. So Dent takes the name Harvey Two-Face and swears vengeance on Batman, who he thinks responsible for what happened to his face. We are also introduced to The Riddler, AKA Edward Nygma, a supergenius who creates a brainwave-machine, and after his invention is rejected by Bruce Wayne, Nygma becomes the Riddler and joins forces with Two-Face, and they team-up to destroy Batman, whilst using the Riddlers machine to suck the brainwaves from the people of Gotham. making the Riddler smarter
Batman also takes a partner under his wing, Robin, who along with his family was formerly a circus acrobat, who's whole family was killed by Two-Face, and Robin joins Batman to battle Two-Face and The Riddler.
I know the movie got a lot of haters, but I don't care what people said about it, I liked it for what it was. Val Kilmer was a good Batman, no he wasn't Michael Keaton, but he was acceptable, Tommy Lee Jones was a good Two-Face, even though his Two-Face character was different than the comic book version, I'm not much of a Jim Carrey fan but he nailed it as The Riddler.
Batman also takes a partner under his wing, Robin, who along with his family was formerly a circus acrobat, who's whole family was killed by Two-Face, and Robin joins Batman to battle Two-Face and The Riddler.
I know the movie got a lot of haters, but I don't care what people said about it, I liked it for what it was. Val Kilmer was a good Batman, no he wasn't Michael Keaton, but he was acceptable, Tommy Lee Jones was a good Two-Face, even though his Two-Face character was different than the comic book version, I'm not much of a Jim Carrey fan but he nailed it as The Riddler.
October 21, 2022
This was a fun listen. Watched the film a lot as a child, as I did Batman 89. It gave a little back story for the Riddler, more substance to the Two-Face/Batman dynamic, and gave Dick Grayson more to do. Plus there is the Halloween bit, which adds to the current season.
Auberjonois did a great job narrating. Worth checking out.
Auberjonois did a great job narrating. Worth checking out.
January 14, 2025
Probably the best of the Batman novelizations I've read so far. Probably better than the movie ha.
April 26, 2020
I expected to read more about the filmmaking progress itself, instead we get a ton of mini biographies from all the people who worked on the movie.
November 3, 2022
Listened to the audiobook version of this one for free on YouTube. It wasn't bad; I think Peter David did a decent job of expanding on some of the characters and background in the movie, and René Auberjonois is a good narrator. I think it helps if you're already a fan of this movie, and I've always been sort of lukewarm on it myself, but again, this isn't bad. Good for a quick, fun listen if you need a break from heavier books on your TBR pile.
August 14, 2014
It's amazing just how much better Peter David makes the story of the movie. He recontextualizes stupid lines through narration; he adds backstory that makes character motivations make sense; he deepens and broadens the shallow, flashy light show. Worth reading if you've ever wished the movie was better than it was.
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July 20, 2021Being based on earlier versions of the film script, the book as deleted/alternate scenes. Overall, I liked David's tieing back the book to the two previous films. The Joker, Penguin, and Catwman--even Poison Ivy--are alluded to. I kept picturing Michael Keaton, and not Val Kilmer, in the scenes.
February 21, 2023
As someone who really enjoyed the film the book holds up well, it adds enough to keep me interested as well. There are some changes that would have been cool to see in the movie but this was an enjoyable read
September 2, 2011
Better than the movie it's based on.
April 22, 2019
based on the movie this movie tie in is an excellent book to read for fans of the movie a definite must have.
January 16, 2019
Fun read. Alfred & Bruce have a few moments wherein they’re kind of dicks/acting out of character, but it spices things up a bit. I really like the alternate Two-Face death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2025
Great read if you enjoyed the criminally underrated Batman Forever. Has little nuances here and there that add to the movie along with Peter David’s usual flare and love for his source material.
June 5, 2022
¿Qué decir de esta obra?
Un comic ligero y rápido de leer. Una adaptación decente de una película de los 90's que si bien no fue del todo mala, fue el inicio de la decadencia del hombre murciélago en las pantallas por un largo tiempo.
Como puntos destacables quiero mencionar las correcciones/adiciones de escenas que fueron recortadas y censuradas del producto final para cine y que aquí si están plasmadas (como el mensaje con sangre en la celda de Harvey Dent cuando este escapa de Arkham o la mítica escena final de Batman y Robin observando ciudad Gótica desde lo alto de un rascacielos a mitad de la noche)
Y lo segundo es el estilo gráfico utilizado para la edición de este comic que rescata la esencia de aquellos cómics clásicos de Batman que llevaron al caballero de la noche a su época de oro, todo un gran acierto por esta parte.
Si nunca viste la pelicula o simplemente la quieres recordar, te recomiendo mucho que te adentres en este formato.
Un comic ligero y rápido de leer. Una adaptación decente de una película de los 90's que si bien no fue del todo mala, fue el inicio de la decadencia del hombre murciélago en las pantallas por un largo tiempo.
Como puntos destacables quiero mencionar las correcciones/adiciones de escenas que fueron recortadas y censuradas del producto final para cine y que aquí si están plasmadas (como el mensaje con sangre en la celda de Harvey Dent cuando este escapa de Arkham o la mítica escena final de Batman y Robin observando ciudad Gótica desde lo alto de un rascacielos a mitad de la noche)
Y lo segundo es el estilo gráfico utilizado para la edición de este comic que rescata la esencia de aquellos cómics clásicos de Batman que llevaron al caballero de la noche a su época de oro, todo un gran acierto por esta parte.
Si nunca viste la pelicula o simplemente la quieres recordar, te recomiendo mucho que te adentres en este formato.
May 15, 2021
Peter Davis is a wonderful author, but not even he could save this convoluted, lousy storyline. The book is marginally better than the movie, but really, that isn’t saying very much.
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January 12, 2022Discussed on the pod!
https://anchor.fm/authorizedpod/episo...
https://anchor.fm/authorizedpod/episo...
December 20, 2024
I saw this in the movie theater and was more than amazed at how the Batman franchise continued with mostly everything new - from the leading man, the director, and the score, to the look of the film. The only thing that seemed to remain was the actors that played Alfred and Commissioner Gordon. I heard so many things about the changes but I was a kid that loved the story no matter who was involved. Now, I get to read the book with a change of reins, with the director of the movies, and with the novel's writer.
Gotham City. It's been years since the events of Batman Returns and things have changed a lot in the city as the organized criminal element has been wiped out thanks to the team-up of Batman and an honest DA named Harvey Dent. Still, one act of violence by the mob changes him into a violent criminal called Two-Face out for revenge against the Caped Crusader. All this as an obsessive intellectual who fancies himself as the next Bruce Wayne is out to make a name for himself as a criminal called The Riddler. These outlandish, freakish villains lead to a crime spree that may be too much for Batman aka Bruce Wayne to handle by himself as a new adventure for the salvation of Gotham City and the souls of its people.
This was interesting to read for so many years having watched this movie in theaters as well as in the comfort of my home. I heard many reasons for the differences between Tim Burton's movies and Joel Schumacher's movies was due to Warner Bros wanted to get rid of the middle-aged Michael Keaton, but Burton as well as many of the fans were devoted to Keaton but Warner wanted someone younger and marketable so Burton was replaced with Schumacher as Kilmer became their new Batman. I also heard that most of the casting and styles were changed but the main premise and huge chunks of the screenplay were left intact, some have gone and described a Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever, and clearly, this novel is proof. From the backstory of Batman and Harvey Dent before his transformation to Two-Face, several deleted scenes and subplots involving Bruce's resurfaced trauma. But of course, most novelizations are written via the penultimate script instead of the final shooting script, and Peter David is a creative man with experience writing for DC, so much of the writing mentions more of the DC universe from the comics.
The story is good but sometimes weak, not nearly as good as watching the movie. So you miss out not knowing Jim Carrey's antics or Nicole Kidman's desire. Still, this was a good read.
Gotham City. It's been years since the events of Batman Returns and things have changed a lot in the city as the organized criminal element has been wiped out thanks to the team-up of Batman and an honest DA named Harvey Dent. Still, one act of violence by the mob changes him into a violent criminal called Two-Face out for revenge against the Caped Crusader. All this as an obsessive intellectual who fancies himself as the next Bruce Wayne is out to make a name for himself as a criminal called The Riddler. These outlandish, freakish villains lead to a crime spree that may be too much for Batman aka Bruce Wayne to handle by himself as a new adventure for the salvation of Gotham City and the souls of its people.
This was interesting to read for so many years having watched this movie in theaters as well as in the comfort of my home. I heard many reasons for the differences between Tim Burton's movies and Joel Schumacher's movies was due to Warner Bros wanted to get rid of the middle-aged Michael Keaton, but Burton as well as many of the fans were devoted to Keaton but Warner wanted someone younger and marketable so Burton was replaced with Schumacher as Kilmer became their new Batman. I also heard that most of the casting and styles were changed but the main premise and huge chunks of the screenplay were left intact, some have gone and described a Schumacher Cut of Batman Forever, and clearly, this novel is proof. From the backstory of Batman and Harvey Dent before his transformation to Two-Face, several deleted scenes and subplots involving Bruce's resurfaced trauma. But of course, most novelizations are written via the penultimate script instead of the final shooting script, and Peter David is a creative man with experience writing for DC, so much of the writing mentions more of the DC universe from the comics.
The story is good but sometimes weak, not nearly as good as watching the movie. So you miss out not knowing Jim Carrey's antics or Nicole Kidman's desire. Still, this was a good read.
June 28, 2014
3.5 stars, but because I am a gentle and kind soul, I decided to be generous gave it 4 - mainly because of the strong final part of the book. David has some great descriptions, especially the prologue and added some new parts of the story, like Craig Show Gardner in the adaptation of the original. However sometimes he tried way too hard - like in the opening chapters he mentioned that Harvey survived Poison Ivy thanks to the intervention of the Batman, while we KNOW that she appears as a villain in this universe after the death of Two Face. This reminded me of the mistakes which Denny O'Neil had with the novelization of "The Dark Knight", but unlike him, as I mentioned, David managed to wrote the ending of the story in a great way and not rush it. Hence, I gave it four stars, although I dislike some of the blog posts of David in which he was always unhappy with the movies - you are not that great as a Batman author either, pal.
But good enough.
But good enough.
December 31, 2025
Was not a fan of the narrator, especially his Riddler voice. There are some "deleted scenes" that were interesting, but, maybe due to the narrator, I just wasn't too invested in listening closely and sussing out the differences.
January 16, 2008
Yes, I actually read this on a summer trip to the beach back in the '90s. Even with selective memory, this one was awful.
March 21, 2008
BETTER THAN THE MOVIE!
August 23, 2016
As novelizations go, this wasn't too bad.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews