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Tim Burton’s Batman #3
Batman: Revolution
Batman matches wits with The Riddler and uncovers Gotham’s past in this sequel to Resurrection, set in the world of Tim Burton's iconic Batman.
It’s summer, and Gotham City has cause for celebration. The last vestiges of The Joker’s toxic legacy have finally faded, just in time for the mayor to partner with retail magnate Max Shreck to stage a Fourth of July celebration for the ages. But not everyone is rejoicing. Batman’s eternal vigilance continues as threats from rival gangs and masked criminals escalate by the day. Meanwhile, on the streets, protests grow in opposition to the city’s lavish excesses.
No one is experiencing the struggle between Gotham’s optimism and doubt more than Norman Pinkus. The Gotham Globe’s humble copy boy, he’s the unacknowledged mastermind behind the newspaper’s mega-popular Riddle Me This word puzzles. But Norman harbors a secret. He is the smartest man in Gotham City, using his prodigious skills to solve crimes anonymously for years via the police tip line—before Batman even knows there’s a crime to solve.
While neither fame nor fortune finds Norman, he believes in the promise of Gotham and what’s right . . . until he doesn’t. The man no one notices watches time and again as the city and its leaders cast their eyes high above the rooftops toward Batman. Dejected and unappreciated, Norman devises a With the help of dangerous new friends, he exploits the simmering tensions of the long hot summer to draw the Caped Crusader into a volatile game of riddles to crown Gotham’s true savior. As they clash, Norman—now known as The Riddler—and Batman will uncover hidden secrets about Gotham’s past that will have dire consequences for the city’s future.
It’s summer, and Gotham City has cause for celebration. The last vestiges of The Joker’s toxic legacy have finally faded, just in time for the mayor to partner with retail magnate Max Shreck to stage a Fourth of July celebration for the ages. But not everyone is rejoicing. Batman’s eternal vigilance continues as threats from rival gangs and masked criminals escalate by the day. Meanwhile, on the streets, protests grow in opposition to the city’s lavish excesses.
No one is experiencing the struggle between Gotham’s optimism and doubt more than Norman Pinkus. The Gotham Globe’s humble copy boy, he’s the unacknowledged mastermind behind the newspaper’s mega-popular Riddle Me This word puzzles. But Norman harbors a secret. He is the smartest man in Gotham City, using his prodigious skills to solve crimes anonymously for years via the police tip line—before Batman even knows there’s a crime to solve.
While neither fame nor fortune finds Norman, he believes in the promise of Gotham and what’s right . . . until he doesn’t. The man no one notices watches time and again as the city and its leaders cast their eyes high above the rooftops toward Batman. Dejected and unappreciated, Norman devises a With the help of dangerous new friends, he exploits the simmering tensions of the long hot summer to draw the Caped Crusader into a volatile game of riddles to crown Gotham’s true savior. As they clash, Norman—now known as The Riddler—and Batman will uncover hidden secrets about Gotham’s past that will have dire consequences for the city’s future.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2025
189 people are currently reading
901 people want to read
About the author
John Jackson Miller
345 books988 followersNew York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in science fiction. His Star Trek novels include the Discovery – Die Standing, the acclaimed novel Discovery — The Enterprise War, the Prey trilogy, and Takedown. His Star Wars novels include A New Dawn, Kenobi, Knight Errant, Lost Tribe of the Sith, and the Knights of the Old Republic comics, available from Marvel as Legends: The Old Republic.
He’s written comics and prose for Halo, Iron Man, Simpsons, Conan, Planet of the Apes, and Mass Effect, with recent graphic novels for Battlestar Galactica, Dumbo, and The Lion King. Production notes on all his works can be found at his fiction site.
He is also a comics industry historian, specializing in studying comic-book circulation as presented on his website, Comichron.. He also coauthored the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.
He’s written comics and prose for Halo, Iron Man, Simpsons, Conan, Planet of the Apes, and Mass Effect, with recent graphic novels for Battlestar Galactica, Dumbo, and The Lion King. Production notes on all his works can be found at his fiction site.
He is also a comics industry historian, specializing in studying comic-book circulation as presented on his website, Comichron.. He also coauthored the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
October 28, 2025
John Jackson Miller is cementing himself as the best Media Tie-In Fiction writer. He can write for any franchise and not only make the book fit and be entertaining, but he can add such DEPTH to the story!
This book's main strength is the character of Norman Plinkus...aka The Riddler. He is such a complex and heartbreaking character whose backstory really helps the reader understand and empathize with him, even if we disagree with his decision making. In fact, in the beginning of the book, I was ROOTING for Norman Plinkus, because when he was just trying to do the right thing he really felt like a parallel to Batman. His work scenes, his 'date' scene, his times visiting his mother, his descent into villainy, truly one of the best Villain origin stories ever.
One thing that makes this book also work is John Jackson Miller's themes. He infuses so many themes about Revolution, Anarchy, and even Communismk into the book. He expertly demonstrates how while some ideas sound desirable, and maybe even noble, they actually are very detrimental to society. It never seems preachy, but the way that he applies these themes fits the book perfectly.
Speaking of fitting perfectly, you can tell that JJM has researched the Batman character list and mythology. There were some really cool characters who showed up, who I only barely know about (thank you extended characters from the Lego Batman DS games!), and they worked well for the story he was telling.
The puzzles that John Jackson Miller used, from little clues, to riddles, to full on pages of riddles were just incredible. I thought that Miller did a good enough job of making them clever without being too overblown.
Also, Alfred pretending to be an anarchist in this book...hilarious.
This book is sadly the end of the series, making it a duology rather than a trilogy like I'd hoped. There's a door open that maybe more books could be written in the Burton Verse, or maybe other authors could come in and revitalize a franchise like JJM did with the Keaton movies. We can only hope!
One thing is for sure, I will continue reading every book that John Jackson Miller puts out!
Overall, I loved this book. It's about on the same level as book 1 "Batman Resurrection". I think the Villain in this book is better, but I believe the stories are both excellently written. 9.5 out of 10.
This book's main strength is the character of Norman Plinkus...aka The Riddler. He is such a complex and heartbreaking character whose backstory really helps the reader understand and empathize with him, even if we disagree with his decision making. In fact, in the beginning of the book, I was ROOTING for Norman Plinkus, because when he was just trying to do the right thing he really felt like a parallel to Batman. His work scenes, his 'date' scene, his times visiting his mother, his descent into villainy, truly one of the best Villain origin stories ever.
One thing that makes this book also work is John Jackson Miller's themes. He infuses so many themes about Revolution, Anarchy, and even Communismk into the book. He expertly demonstrates how while some ideas sound desirable, and maybe even noble, they actually are very detrimental to society. It never seems preachy, but the way that he applies these themes fits the book perfectly.
Speaking of fitting perfectly, you can tell that JJM has researched the Batman character list and mythology. There were some really cool characters who showed up, who I only barely know about (thank you extended characters from the Lego Batman DS games!), and they worked well for the story he was telling.
The puzzles that John Jackson Miller used, from little clues, to riddles, to full on pages of riddles were just incredible. I thought that Miller did a good enough job of making them clever without being too overblown.
Also, Alfred pretending to be an anarchist in this book...hilarious.
This book is sadly the end of the series, making it a duology rather than a trilogy like I'd hoped. There's a door open that maybe more books could be written in the Burton Verse, or maybe other authors could come in and revitalize a franchise like JJM did with the Keaton movies. We can only hope!
One thing is for sure, I will continue reading every book that John Jackson Miller puts out!
Overall, I loved this book. It's about on the same level as book 1 "Batman Resurrection". I think the Villain in this book is better, but I believe the stories are both excellently written. 9.5 out of 10.
October 26, 2025
This was the easiest 5 star review I’ve given all year. What a phenomenal tie in novel to a couple of movies that I enjoyed in my childhood and continue to enjoy this day. JJM is known for his tie in work but I think these two Batman novels might be his best work to date. It is very clear that he is a big fan of the Burton novels as all the voices sound perfect, the Riddler which was so awful in Batman Forever was given his due as both genius, deeply disturbed and forgotten about which you find as a reader you have real sympathy for. I was captivated by his story. We also see the tie in to Batman Returns with Max Shrek, Selina Kyle and the quickly mentioned but expanded upon in this book business associate of Shrek Fred Atkins (as well as his fate). My only disappointment (very small in the grand scheme of things) was the Camille story as it did closely resemble what we got in The Dark Knight Rises of the vigilante terrorists trying to destroy Gotham by attacking it’s wealthy directly. There’s a lot of focus there but I do give the author credit in creating new obstacles for Batman to overcome.
It is a shame that JJM will not continue this series as I would love to see a novel after Batman Returns as there are so many interesting aspects that could be explored like his relationship with Selina Kyle, the fallout of villain Max Shrek and I think in the hands of JJM we would get a much more satisfying story than the movies that followed Returns.
It is a shame that JJM will not continue this series as I would love to see a novel after Batman Returns as there are so many interesting aspects that could be explored like his relationship with Selina Kyle, the fallout of villain Max Shrek and I think in the hands of JJM we would get a much more satisfying story than the movies that followed Returns.
October 29, 2025
Loved it! Hope another follow up novel could be in our future.
January 2, 2026
"Questions are power. The world is designed to keep the answers from you. Question everything!"
The sequel to Batman: Resurrection, John Jackson Miller's Batman: Revolution has the reader visit Gotham City during the summertime. There is a cause for celebration, yet there are new foes Batman must face to protect the city and its citizens. And then there's the quiet, humble copy boy, Norman Pinkus, who steals the show.
And when I say Norman Pinkus steals the show, I mean he steals the show!
In my opinion, Norman Pinkus carried this book. I loved getting to know him and watching him work. He had a small role in the previous book, so I was thrilled to discover he had a larger role here. I loved him as Norman Pinkus, and I loved him as the Riddler because he nailed it. It makes me wish we had gotten this version of the Riddler on screen.
That said, I wasn't really a fan of Camille and the whole militia storyline. (They made me think of Talia al Ghul and the army from The Dark Knight Rises.) For me, that was the weakest part of the book. Where Norman's a likeable and sympathetic character, Camille was the complete opposite for me.
The epilogue was a wonderful touch, and .
Will Damron once again did a tremendous job performing the characters' voices, and like the previous book, I loved following along with my physical copy at times.
I can only hope to see more Batman books from Miller in the future. Batman: Resurrection and Batman: Revolution have given me a newfound appreciation and love for Tim Burton's movies, and for that I will be forever grateful.
"But a riddle, if it's any good, always has a solution. Make sure you're a part of it!"
The sequel to Batman: Resurrection, John Jackson Miller's Batman: Revolution has the reader visit Gotham City during the summertime. There is a cause for celebration, yet there are new foes Batman must face to protect the city and its citizens. And then there's the quiet, humble copy boy, Norman Pinkus, who steals the show.
And when I say Norman Pinkus steals the show, I mean he steals the show!
In my opinion, Norman Pinkus carried this book. I loved getting to know him and watching him work. He had a small role in the previous book, so I was thrilled to discover he had a larger role here. I loved him as Norman Pinkus, and I loved him as the Riddler because he nailed it. It makes me wish we had gotten this version of the Riddler on screen.
That said, I wasn't really a fan of Camille and the whole militia storyline. (They made me think of Talia al Ghul and the army from The Dark Knight Rises.) For me, that was the weakest part of the book. Where Norman's a likeable and sympathetic character, Camille was the complete opposite for me.
The epilogue was a wonderful touch, and .
Will Damron once again did a tremendous job performing the characters' voices, and like the previous book, I loved following along with my physical copy at times.
I can only hope to see more Batman books from Miller in the future. Batman: Resurrection and Batman: Revolution have given me a newfound appreciation and love for Tim Burton's movies, and for that I will be forever grateful.
"But a riddle, if it's any good, always has a solution. Make sure you're a part of it!"
November 18, 2025
4.5 stars. Goddamn I love this series.
I just recently rewatched the 1989 film - probably something I should've done that before reading the first in the series but here we are. The worldbuilding from the movie is so interesting but we only got such a small glimpse into it. These books have expanded on the world so much more.
I love seeing Detective Batman as opposed to the tough guy we see in most modern adaptations. The mystery here with The Riddler is so good. I was obsessed with The Riddler's descent and the fringe terrorist groups he ends up accidentally supporting. His story is sympathetic - like I almost wanted to root for him?? He is my favorite Batman villain so maybe I'm biased.
My favorite parts are the nostalgia - the book is set in 1990 so there's a lot of things that spark reminders in my brain. My favorite was when someone turned on a TV and it needed to take time to warm up before the picture came into view.
If you're a Batman fan PLEASE read this series!
I just recently rewatched the 1989 film - probably something I should've done that before reading the first in the series but here we are. The worldbuilding from the movie is so interesting but we only got such a small glimpse into it. These books have expanded on the world so much more.
I love seeing Detective Batman as opposed to the tough guy we see in most modern adaptations. The mystery here with The Riddler is so good. I was obsessed with The Riddler's descent and the fringe terrorist groups he ends up accidentally supporting. His story is sympathetic - like I almost wanted to root for him?? He is my favorite Batman villain so maybe I'm biased.
My favorite parts are the nostalgia - the book is set in 1990 so there's a lot of things that spark reminders in my brain. My favorite was when someone turned on a TV and it needed to take time to warm up before the picture came into view.
If you're a Batman fan PLEASE read this series!
October 23, 2025
What do you get when you cross Batman, the Riddler’s origin story, a militia, and Fourth of July? A Firework Brigade of a Booming action packed novel! Love being back in Tim Burton’s Batman. The mix of major and minor characters and some new ones is so fun! Super hard to put down. Action on every page and lots of cool history for Gotham. This series by JJM is my favorite! I also have enjoyed his Star Wars books too!
December 10, 2025
I enjoyed this one. I thought the character development was good, overall. The story moves at a good pace. It had an interesting array of villains that opposed Batman.
I thought the author made a solid, entertaining attempt to bridge the two Michael Keaton Batman movies. The biggest weakness of trying to write bridging stories is going to be "why wouldn't the events of the two books impact what happened in the movie?", and this weakness seemed to appear as I watched Batman Returns after finishing this book. However, I think including the various villains in this book helped bridge the gap between the two movies (as well as the prior book). Not sure how to explain it, but I felt that it fit.
Overall, it was a fun book to read. I enjoyed it far more than I anticipated or expected after reading the first book. I am not saying that this book did not have any weaknesses, any slow moments in the story, but I enjoyed it all the same despite its weaknesses. I find myself wishing the author were to write a few more books that take place after the second movie. I think he could do a bang up job of doing that after reading these two books. If I were to reread this book, I might knock it lower, but for now, four stars it is.
I thought the author made a solid, entertaining attempt to bridge the two Michael Keaton Batman movies. The biggest weakness of trying to write bridging stories is going to be "why wouldn't the events of the two books impact what happened in the movie?", and this weakness seemed to appear as I watched Batman Returns after finishing this book. However, I think including the various villains in this book helped bridge the gap between the two movies (as well as the prior book). Not sure how to explain it, but I felt that it fit.
Overall, it was a fun book to read. I enjoyed it far more than I anticipated or expected after reading the first book. I am not saying that this book did not have any weaknesses, any slow moments in the story, but I enjoyed it all the same despite its weaknesses. I find myself wishing the author were to write a few more books that take place after the second movie. I think he could do a bang up job of doing that after reading these two books. If I were to reread this book, I might knock it lower, but for now, four stars it is.
November 21, 2025
NaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNaNa - BAT SEQUEL!
In this follow-up to last year's Batman:Resurrection (which in turn is a follow up the the 1989 Batman film), Batman: Revolution delivers those Tim Burton, eighties, quirky crime-fighting vibes we've all come to expect from this version of the Caped Crusader.
Unfortunately, it's overly long and dare I say quite dull. About a quarter of the story felt like filler, and for a story full of riddles by none other than The Riddler, it never really felt gripping. Is it bad? No. Is it good? Eh.
The origin tale for this version of The Riddler is heartbreaking and is the emotional core of the book. In fact, Batman himself takes a backseat to the antagonist; it's really his story. There's some revolutionaries and some Gotham history stuff swirling around in there too. Also a mechanical flying menace and a bow and arrow mercenary. It does get muddled; but there are good bits too.
All said, this is the okay-est Batman book I've read. Take that as you will.
In this follow-up to last year's Batman:Resurrection (which in turn is a follow up the the 1989 Batman film), Batman: Revolution delivers those Tim Burton, eighties, quirky crime-fighting vibes we've all come to expect from this version of the Caped Crusader.
Unfortunately, it's overly long and dare I say quite dull. About a quarter of the story felt like filler, and for a story full of riddles by none other than The Riddler, it never really felt gripping. Is it bad? No. Is it good? Eh.
The origin tale for this version of The Riddler is heartbreaking and is the emotional core of the book. In fact, Batman himself takes a backseat to the antagonist; it's really his story. There's some revolutionaries and some Gotham history stuff swirling around in there too. Also a mechanical flying menace and a bow and arrow mercenary. It does get muddled; but there are good bits too.
All said, this is the okay-est Batman book I've read. Take that as you will.
November 29, 2025
Truly excellent franchise fiction. Really enjoyed it a great deal, and Miller leans into using the format with the second one. What's here is more complex than any movie could have hoped to be, but it still "feels" like a movie. He does an excellent job setting things up, as well, to make me want to revisit Batman Returns with this in my head. (I'm not the biggest fan of it, but what he does here sets it up for me to enjoy it as a capper to his own story.)
In short, I think it's well worth the read. As an old-school Batman 1989 fan, this has been one of my favorite reads of 2025.
In short, I think it's well worth the read. As an old-school Batman 1989 fan, this has been one of my favorite reads of 2025.
November 8, 2025
I read the first of this duology last year and loved it so I was really looking forward to reading this sequel.
Set a few months after the events of the previous book, Gotham finds itself under siege by a militia group, an assassin attacking people with arrows, a man with a flight suit, Batman has his hands full. But while this is going on Norman Pinkus, employee at the Gotham Globe and creator of the paper’s hot new puzzle game “Riddle Me This” is having the worst week of his life. Everything seems to go wrong all at once and soon Pinkus finds himself in the middle of all the chaos, taking on the mantle of the Riddler.
I went in with such high hopes and I have to say this is without a doubt the most infuriating and disappointing book I have read this year. That isn’t to say it is awful, but I am just baffled by some of the decisions taken in this book. Jackson Miller has single handedly ruined his own continuations of the Burton classic, this one feels less like a homage to those movies and more akin to a reimagining of the Schumacher films. There are some elements that feel like they are ripped straight out of the 60s TV show as well, I was expecting Batman to pull out some shark repellent bat-spray at one point, instead he has a freaking Bat-Van.
The stuff with Pinkus was decent enough but it almost felt like a retread of the same ground Jackson Miller walked with Basil Carlo on the previous book. A tortured soul who is turned into a villain by the people around him. I could see a baby face turn happening from a mile away and it just killed me that it was that predictable. The other villains are just there. The militia and their femme fatale leader, feel like they are in the wrong story, more a kin to the villains from Dark Knight Rises and having a rather similar goal. The other member of the rogues gallery that appears in the book is the novel’s flying villain, who I don’t want to spoil the reveal of as I was actually surprised at their inclusion. They are not the most obvious villain they could have chosen but he is treated again similarly to Bane from Rises…it feels like Jackson Miller just wanted to write his own version of that film instead.
Overall this was not the sequel I wanted it to be. By far the most disappointing this I read this year, not the worst but seriously not worth the wait.
Set a few months after the events of the previous book, Gotham finds itself under siege by a militia group, an assassin attacking people with arrows, a man with a flight suit, Batman has his hands full. But while this is going on Norman Pinkus, employee at the Gotham Globe and creator of the paper’s hot new puzzle game “Riddle Me This” is having the worst week of his life. Everything seems to go wrong all at once and soon Pinkus finds himself in the middle of all the chaos, taking on the mantle of the Riddler.
I went in with such high hopes and I have to say this is without a doubt the most infuriating and disappointing book I have read this year. That isn’t to say it is awful, but I am just baffled by some of the decisions taken in this book. Jackson Miller has single handedly ruined his own continuations of the Burton classic, this one feels less like a homage to those movies and more akin to a reimagining of the Schumacher films. There are some elements that feel like they are ripped straight out of the 60s TV show as well, I was expecting Batman to pull out some shark repellent bat-spray at one point, instead he has a freaking Bat-Van.
The stuff with Pinkus was decent enough but it almost felt like a retread of the same ground Jackson Miller walked with Basil Carlo on the previous book. A tortured soul who is turned into a villain by the people around him. I could see a baby face turn happening from a mile away and it just killed me that it was that predictable. The other villains are just there. The militia and their femme fatale leader, feel like they are in the wrong story, more a kin to the villains from Dark Knight Rises and having a rather similar goal. The other member of the rogues gallery that appears in the book is the novel’s flying villain, who I don’t want to spoil the reveal of as I was actually surprised at their inclusion. They are not the most obvious villain they could have chosen but he is treated again similarly to Bane from Rises…it feels like Jackson Miller just wanted to write his own version of that film instead.
Overall this was not the sequel I wanted it to be. By far the most disappointing this I read this year, not the worst but seriously not worth the wait.
December 8, 2025
The author works hard on the characters and the environment of Gotham City. This isn’t a poor substitute for a book like many based off of comic books are, but an actual enjoyable novel. It could have used a little more focus on the heroes, and it wasn’t quite as good as the first one, but it’s still an enjoyable read.
November 5, 2025
I liked it, and the way it weaves “Batman” and “Batman Returns” together. Just wish the author watched “The Dark Knight Rises” before plotting this one.
December 2, 2025
While not as fast-paced as the prior novel in the series, still an enjoyable read.
December 18, 2025
We love tim burton's batman so its nice to have two books continuing the franchise. We also love batman!
October 29, 2025
Great sequel to last year's Batman Ressurrection, so much fun. Gutted we arent getting more of these. JJM absolutely knocked it out of the park.
November 11, 2025
Burton-verse continues to expand!
This a prose novel which serves as a bridge between “Batman” and “Batman Returns” movies, but also is a direct sequel of the first novel “Batman: Resurrection”, which is a duology.
REWRITING THE SAGA
I have some initial mixed feelings with the premise of this second entry of the prose sequels by John Jackson Miller, working as a bridge between 1989’s Batman and its film sequel Batman Returns, since in the first entry you have a book using the plot holes left by the first film and preparing what was set for the film sequel and that was cool and brilliant.
When I knew about this book and I saw the cover, I thought “Cool! Like “Resurrection” was a bridge between “Batman” and “Batman Returns”, this second book will be a bridge between “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin””, but nope, that wasn’t the case, this second prose novel clearly establishes that the only canon stuff will the the first two movies directed by Tim Burton, and the remaining two didn’t exist here.
I know that Batman Forever and Batman & Robin aren’t in the same league than the original two movies, especially the disastrous Batman & Robin, but I think that Batman Forever is quite acceptable in its general development leaving that the final climax is sadlly too goofy and campy (while I am huge fan of the same campy 60’s TV series Batman, what works in the 60’s, it won’t work in the 90’s), still are part of the same saga, you have the same actors for Alfred and Commisioner Gordon, and while they have different actors for Batman character and different director, I have no problem to see them as part of a same saga..
…but it’s clear that many people don’t think the same and certainly John Jackson Miller didn’t think the same either.
Therefore, you have here a new Riddler, the Jim Carrey’s Riddler isn’t anymore, and now a totally new Riddler is developed. Of coourse, I can’t deny that this new Riddler is brilliantly developed and easily can be a way better version of Riddler, but still I’m kinda sad that instead of trying to use other plot holes or characters unused (while there is indeed several unused characters in the novel) that it was selected The Riddler that it was a too recognizable character and already used in the 90’s film saga.
Another thing that surprised me, it was this project will be only a duology, in other words, only two prose novels, I thought that it would at least a third entry, where a character Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent would become Two-Face, I mean, I didn’t enjoy to have decanonize Batman Forever but if the author would erase Jim Carrey’s work, then why not erase Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face? I mean, I am fan of Tommy Lee Jones, but certainy his Two-Face wasn’t the pinacle of his acting career.
If they’d decanonize Batman Forever, well, do it all the way!
Even, since the genie is already out of the bottle, then why not being more ambitious and instead of just developing between the first two movies (and since the author isn’t tied to the remaining movies), well why not enlarge this prose expanded universe, and presenting his own versions of Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy or Bane, and even better to present totally new unused villains.
RIDDLE ME THIS, BATMAN!
OK, fair is fair, leaving behind the issue of decanonize the rest of 90’s “Batman” film saga, this second entry is as goood as the first one, where John Jackson Miller presents you a solid, very compelling new version of The Riddler, in the shoes of the character Norman Pinkus who is easily the cleverest person in Gotham City who when he was only a child, he deduced the identity of Thomas & Martha Waynes’ murderer! No less! Sadly in a long chain of tragic events in Pinkus’ life, his mother didn’t believe in his son’s intelect and she didn’t send a letter that Norman prepared to the GCPD trying to help to solve the grimm crime. Now as adult, he is convinced that the authorities are corrupt or inept, and he’s the only one to deal with the criminallity consuming Gotham City (even it’s revealed that he was the mysterious helper sending info to Batman in the previous book).
However, the path to Heaven is paved with good deeds, and Riddler’s deady methods soon enough would clash with Batman.
Something amusing is that it seems that always there is an incoming celebration in Gotham City, in the first movie, there was the 200 Anniversary, in the second movie, it was Winter and they have Xmas Celebrations, and now it's summer a new celebration is coming!
Also, there is the Aeterna Militia, which is reallly interesting, since they are villains but their goal is to fight the corrupt authorities and pivotal city figures, then like The Riddler, their cause is “just”, the problem is their killing methods. In this group, you have the introduction of some B-Level know vilains like Killer Moth and even cooler The Archer (who was a invented villain for the 1966’s Batman TV show) (and another cool reference to the 60’s TV show is that The Riddler at some point uses a knickname to address the GCPD using the name of “Bookworm” (who was yet another invented villlain for that TV Show and even he was a “replacement” of the The Riddler in a moment that the production was in conflict with Frank Gorshin (actor who played The Riddler in the TV series).
John Jackson Miller continous to masterfully filling up the gaps between the movies, like Batman’s reasoning that he needs a “Batboat” and start to prepare it.
It was a great book to read, and I do hope that it won’t the last that we seen of this “Burtonverse” prose novels.
This a prose novel which serves as a bridge between “Batman” and “Batman Returns” movies, but also is a direct sequel of the first novel “Batman: Resurrection”, which is a duology.
REWRITING THE SAGA
I have some initial mixed feelings with the premise of this second entry of the prose sequels by John Jackson Miller, working as a bridge between 1989’s Batman and its film sequel Batman Returns, since in the first entry you have a book using the plot holes left by the first film and preparing what was set for the film sequel and that was cool and brilliant.
When I knew about this book and I saw the cover, I thought “Cool! Like “Resurrection” was a bridge between “Batman” and “Batman Returns”, this second book will be a bridge between “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin””, but nope, that wasn’t the case, this second prose novel clearly establishes that the only canon stuff will the the first two movies directed by Tim Burton, and the remaining two didn’t exist here.
I know that Batman Forever and Batman & Robin aren’t in the same league than the original two movies, especially the disastrous Batman & Robin, but I think that Batman Forever is quite acceptable in its general development leaving that the final climax is sadlly too goofy and campy (while I am huge fan of the same campy 60’s TV series Batman, what works in the 60’s, it won’t work in the 90’s), still are part of the same saga, you have the same actors for Alfred and Commisioner Gordon, and while they have different actors for Batman character and different director, I have no problem to see them as part of a same saga..
…but it’s clear that many people don’t think the same and certainly John Jackson Miller didn’t think the same either.
Therefore, you have here a new Riddler, the Jim Carrey’s Riddler isn’t anymore, and now a totally new Riddler is developed. Of coourse, I can’t deny that this new Riddler is brilliantly developed and easily can be a way better version of Riddler, but still I’m kinda sad that instead of trying to use other plot holes or characters unused (while there is indeed several unused characters in the novel) that it was selected The Riddler that it was a too recognizable character and already used in the 90’s film saga.
Another thing that surprised me, it was this project will be only a duology, in other words, only two prose novels, I thought that it would at least a third entry, where a character Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent would become Two-Face, I mean, I didn’t enjoy to have decanonize Batman Forever but if the author would erase Jim Carrey’s work, then why not erase Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face? I mean, I am fan of Tommy Lee Jones, but certainy his Two-Face wasn’t the pinacle of his acting career.
If they’d decanonize Batman Forever, well, do it all the way!
Even, since the genie is already out of the bottle, then why not being more ambitious and instead of just developing between the first two movies (and since the author isn’t tied to the remaining movies), well why not enlarge this prose expanded universe, and presenting his own versions of Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy or Bane, and even better to present totally new unused villains.
RIDDLE ME THIS, BATMAN!
OK, fair is fair, leaving behind the issue of decanonize the rest of 90’s “Batman” film saga, this second entry is as goood as the first one, where John Jackson Miller presents you a solid, very compelling new version of The Riddler, in the shoes of the character Norman Pinkus who is easily the cleverest person in Gotham City who when he was only a child, he deduced the identity of Thomas & Martha Waynes’ murderer! No less! Sadly in a long chain of tragic events in Pinkus’ life, his mother didn’t believe in his son’s intelect and she didn’t send a letter that Norman prepared to the GCPD trying to help to solve the grimm crime. Now as adult, he is convinced that the authorities are corrupt or inept, and he’s the only one to deal with the criminallity consuming Gotham City (even it’s revealed that he was the mysterious helper sending info to Batman in the previous book).
However, the path to Heaven is paved with good deeds, and Riddler’s deady methods soon enough would clash with Batman.
Something amusing is that it seems that always there is an incoming celebration in Gotham City, in the first movie, there was the 200 Anniversary, in the second movie, it was Winter and they have Xmas Celebrations, and now it's summer a new celebration is coming!
Also, there is the Aeterna Militia, which is reallly interesting, since they are villains but their goal is to fight the corrupt authorities and pivotal city figures, then like The Riddler, their cause is “just”, the problem is their killing methods. In this group, you have the introduction of some B-Level know vilains like Killer Moth and even cooler The Archer (who was a invented villain for the 1966’s Batman TV show) (and another cool reference to the 60’s TV show is that The Riddler at some point uses a knickname to address the GCPD using the name of “Bookworm” (who was yet another invented villlain for that TV Show and even he was a “replacement” of the The Riddler in a moment that the production was in conflict with Frank Gorshin (actor who played The Riddler in the TV series).
John Jackson Miller continous to masterfully filling up the gaps between the movies, like Batman’s reasoning that he needs a “Batboat” and start to prepare it.
It was a great book to read, and I do hope that it won’t the last that we seen of this “Burtonverse” prose novels.
October 23, 2025
Batman: Resolution by John Jackson Miller is the follow-up to last year’s Batman: Resurrection. Taking place in the Tim Burton universe between Batman (1989) and Batman Returns, Miller once again breathes incredible depth into Burton’s Gotham City.
This sequel unfolds during the Fourth of July as Gotham attempts to redo its centennial celebration—an event previously ruined by the Joker. The story follows Norman Pinkus, a copy boy first teased in Resurrection, who has a fascination with riddles. Meanwhile, Gotham is under siege by an activist militia with big ideas and a mysterious flying monster tormenting Batman. Over the course of the story, Norman experiences one truly bad day that drives him to become the Riddler, eventually joining forces with Camille, the militia’s leader.
From the start, Norman felt destined for that bad day, and even though I saw it coming, his reveal and full transformation into the Riddler were well-earned. I loved how the book uses “Edward Nygma” as the name credited in the newspaper puzzles. Norman also calls into the police tip line to help solve crimes—something established in Resurrection—but under the alias The Bookworm, a clever callback to the classic villain from the 1960s Batman TV series. Since Norman works at the paper, we also get a lot more of Knox in this book. One of my favorite parts of Resurrection was his expanded role, and this story continues that nicely. I laughed out loud when it was revealed that Norman would go on a double date with Knox—and that his date would be none other than Selina Kyle!
Although Selina seemed a bit timid here, she didn’t quite feel like the same character we meet later in Returns, before her Catwoman transformation. Still, I loved their entire interaction—from Norman’s awkward “accident” at the table to their showdown with some goons. We even get a few more Knox and Selina moments later in the story, which were great touches.
The militia plays a major role throughout, with strong connections to the Revolutionary War and even Corto Maltese. It’s not something I expected, but it added a unique and timely layer to the story. The political themes felt surprisingly relevant, regardless of where you stand. Norman’s intellectual approach to connecting all the threads was fascinating and really showcased his intelligence. Miller’s Riddler feels very reminiscent of Paul Dano’s version from The Batman—less about a killing spree, more about intellect and influence.
One reveal I absolutely didn’t see coming was that the flying menace terrorizing Gotham—and aiding the militia—was Miller’s take on Killer Moth! I honestly don’t remember ever seeing the character executed this well. Miller nailed it.
As before, Gotham feels more fleshed out than ever. We see plenty of Max Shreck, with Riddler pulling elaborate pranks on him through his hotline (the one with the animals in the store had me grinning). In Returns, Penguin mentions Fred Atkins—or more specifically, his hand—but here, Fred is alive and well… at least for now. It’s a small detail, but it helps tie the world together beautifully. We also get more from Dent, Barbara Gordon, Mayor Borg, and other familiar Gotham faces.
Another standout aspect is how much more Batman and Gordon work together. There’s a heartfelt moment after an ambush that really strengthens their bond. I wish we had seen more of that dynamic in the Keaton films. We also learn Gordon was more involved in Bruce’s life after his parents were killed by Napier—and that his partner in that flashback wasn’t Bob, but someone else tied to Batman lore.
I truly hope Miller continues exploring the Burtonverse. He connects this story to Sam Hamm’s Batman ’89 comic, which featured a potential Riddler of its own. Maybe we’ll get a third act from both creators! I’d love to see this story expand further, especially after Strange’s return at the end—and the ending of Echoes.
Miller has once again expanded Burton’s Gotham in a fantastic way. His take on Batman feels perfectly in line with Keaton’s portrayal. While the story can get a bit detail-heavy at times, that fits perfectly with a villain like the Riddler. The ending ties everything together wonderfully, connecting both the Burton films and Miller’s first novel with tons of callbacks that will make fans smile.
It’s a must-read for any Batman fan. 5 out of 5! 🦇
This sequel unfolds during the Fourth of July as Gotham attempts to redo its centennial celebration—an event previously ruined by the Joker. The story follows Norman Pinkus, a copy boy first teased in Resurrection, who has a fascination with riddles. Meanwhile, Gotham is under siege by an activist militia with big ideas and a mysterious flying monster tormenting Batman. Over the course of the story, Norman experiences one truly bad day that drives him to become the Riddler, eventually joining forces with Camille, the militia’s leader.
From the start, Norman felt destined for that bad day, and even though I saw it coming, his reveal and full transformation into the Riddler were well-earned. I loved how the book uses “Edward Nygma” as the name credited in the newspaper puzzles. Norman also calls into the police tip line to help solve crimes—something established in Resurrection—but under the alias The Bookworm, a clever callback to the classic villain from the 1960s Batman TV series. Since Norman works at the paper, we also get a lot more of Knox in this book. One of my favorite parts of Resurrection was his expanded role, and this story continues that nicely. I laughed out loud when it was revealed that Norman would go on a double date with Knox—and that his date would be none other than Selina Kyle!
Although Selina seemed a bit timid here, she didn’t quite feel like the same character we meet later in Returns, before her Catwoman transformation. Still, I loved their entire interaction—from Norman’s awkward “accident” at the table to their showdown with some goons. We even get a few more Knox and Selina moments later in the story, which were great touches.
The militia plays a major role throughout, with strong connections to the Revolutionary War and even Corto Maltese. It’s not something I expected, but it added a unique and timely layer to the story. The political themes felt surprisingly relevant, regardless of where you stand. Norman’s intellectual approach to connecting all the threads was fascinating and really showcased his intelligence. Miller’s Riddler feels very reminiscent of Paul Dano’s version from The Batman—less about a killing spree, more about intellect and influence.
One reveal I absolutely didn’t see coming was that the flying menace terrorizing Gotham—and aiding the militia—was Miller’s take on Killer Moth! I honestly don’t remember ever seeing the character executed this well. Miller nailed it.
As before, Gotham feels more fleshed out than ever. We see plenty of Max Shreck, with Riddler pulling elaborate pranks on him through his hotline (the one with the animals in the store had me grinning). In Returns, Penguin mentions Fred Atkins—or more specifically, his hand—but here, Fred is alive and well… at least for now. It’s a small detail, but it helps tie the world together beautifully. We also get more from Dent, Barbara Gordon, Mayor Borg, and other familiar Gotham faces.
Another standout aspect is how much more Batman and Gordon work together. There’s a heartfelt moment after an ambush that really strengthens their bond. I wish we had seen more of that dynamic in the Keaton films. We also learn Gordon was more involved in Bruce’s life after his parents were killed by Napier—and that his partner in that flashback wasn’t Bob, but someone else tied to Batman lore.
I truly hope Miller continues exploring the Burtonverse. He connects this story to Sam Hamm’s Batman ’89 comic, which featured a potential Riddler of its own. Maybe we’ll get a third act from both creators! I’d love to see this story expand further, especially after Strange’s return at the end—and the ending of Echoes.
Miller has once again expanded Burton’s Gotham in a fantastic way. His take on Batman feels perfectly in line with Keaton’s portrayal. While the story can get a bit detail-heavy at times, that fits perfectly with a villain like the Riddler. The ending ties everything together wonderfully, connecting both the Burton films and Miller’s first novel with tons of callbacks that will make fans smile.
It’s a must-read for any Batman fan. 5 out of 5! 🦇
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2025
4.5/5 stars
In Batman: Revolution, John Jackson Miller returns once again to the world of Tim Burton’s Batman films, marrying their gothic overtures with a surprisingly grounded and tense exploration of political unrest. It’s been mere months since Batman’s defeat of the Joker, and tensions run high in Gotham City. A brand new serial killer stalks the streets of Gotham, terrorizing victims with a cello and a bow and arrow; there’s a group of radical revolutionaries targeting the political elite of Gotham City; and, most unexpectedly of all, there's the newspaper puzzle that’s sweeping the city, written by the mysterious Edward Nygma. But, as is often the case in Gotham, this seemingly disparate group of people are about to cross paths in the deadliest of ways—and it’s up to Batman to put a stop to the carnage before July 4th sparks a brand new, far deadlier American Revolution.
Batman: Revolution's greatest strength lies in the way Miller fleshes out the antagonists of the story. The Riddler (aka Edward Nygma, aka Norman Pinkus) is practically a co-lead in this book, and Miller writes him with a lot of empathy. You feel for the guy, even as he goes down this really dark path. In a way, he’s as much of a mirror to Batman as someone like the Joker is—a prime example of how good intentions can go incredibly wrong in the blink of an eye. Here’s this guy, his superpower is his ability to very quickly make connections that others miss, and he desperately wants to help the citizens of Gotham while being taken seriously in the process. But as is often the case in Gotham City, the little guy’s destined to be smashed underneath the boot of the powerful and corrupt. And that’s precisely what sends Norman down the rabbit hole that leads him to becoming the Riddler—a version of the character we've rarely seen before.
And then there are the revolutionaries threatening Gotham with untold destruction and mayhem. But, yet again, Miller explores them with a great deal of empathy and understanding. How does a person go from an average citizen to an anarchist craving a total upheaval of the government? Well, it’s complicated. And Miller explores those complexities immensely well, crafting a narrative around them that’s as tense and thrilling as it is emotionally satisfying. This is Gotham Coty at its worst. There are shades of the anarchy found in the Nolan Batman films mixed with the mobster drama and supernatural tendencies of the Burton ones. It’s a perfect blending of all kinds of Batman mythologies, just seen through the lens of that period between Burton’s two Batman films.
Like with Miller’s previous Batman novel, Batman: Resurrection, Bruce Wayne and Batman get the shorter end of the stick. But honestly, that’s for the best—and it’s in line with the approach Burton took with his movies, too. Batman is more of a symbol here, and Bruce continues to struggle with the balance of Batman’s responsibilities and maintaining a public persona that benefits the citizens of Gotham as much as Batman’s actions do. But really, this isn’t Bruce Wayne’s story, and he acts more as a figure to compare the Riddler and the Sons of Freedom to. But honestly, it works. You’re never missing Batman very much, and Miller’s exploration of the more political side of Gotham City proves immensely more fascinating than retreading a bunch of familiar Batman lore anyway.
Put simply, if you’re looking for a Batman story that weds the grandeur of the Burton films with more modern-day explorations of political unrest, you’re in for an absolute treat with Batman: Revolution. It’s a tightly-paced thrill ride from start to finish that’s as action-packed and tense as it is emotionally satisfying.
Reviewed for Geek Vibes Nation's October 2025 Book Round-Up.
Note: A review copy of Batman: Revolution was provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
In Batman: Revolution, John Jackson Miller returns once again to the world of Tim Burton’s Batman films, marrying their gothic overtures with a surprisingly grounded and tense exploration of political unrest. It’s been mere months since Batman’s defeat of the Joker, and tensions run high in Gotham City. A brand new serial killer stalks the streets of Gotham, terrorizing victims with a cello and a bow and arrow; there’s a group of radical revolutionaries targeting the political elite of Gotham City; and, most unexpectedly of all, there's the newspaper puzzle that’s sweeping the city, written by the mysterious Edward Nygma. But, as is often the case in Gotham, this seemingly disparate group of people are about to cross paths in the deadliest of ways—and it’s up to Batman to put a stop to the carnage before July 4th sparks a brand new, far deadlier American Revolution.
Batman: Revolution's greatest strength lies in the way Miller fleshes out the antagonists of the story. The Riddler (aka Edward Nygma, aka Norman Pinkus) is practically a co-lead in this book, and Miller writes him with a lot of empathy. You feel for the guy, even as he goes down this really dark path. In a way, he’s as much of a mirror to Batman as someone like the Joker is—a prime example of how good intentions can go incredibly wrong in the blink of an eye. Here’s this guy, his superpower is his ability to very quickly make connections that others miss, and he desperately wants to help the citizens of Gotham while being taken seriously in the process. But as is often the case in Gotham City, the little guy’s destined to be smashed underneath the boot of the powerful and corrupt. And that’s precisely what sends Norman down the rabbit hole that leads him to becoming the Riddler—a version of the character we've rarely seen before.
And then there are the revolutionaries threatening Gotham with untold destruction and mayhem. But, yet again, Miller explores them with a great deal of empathy and understanding. How does a person go from an average citizen to an anarchist craving a total upheaval of the government? Well, it’s complicated. And Miller explores those complexities immensely well, crafting a narrative around them that’s as tense and thrilling as it is emotionally satisfying. This is Gotham Coty at its worst. There are shades of the anarchy found in the Nolan Batman films mixed with the mobster drama and supernatural tendencies of the Burton ones. It’s a perfect blending of all kinds of Batman mythologies, just seen through the lens of that period between Burton’s two Batman films.
Like with Miller’s previous Batman novel, Batman: Resurrection, Bruce Wayne and Batman get the shorter end of the stick. But honestly, that’s for the best—and it’s in line with the approach Burton took with his movies, too. Batman is more of a symbol here, and Bruce continues to struggle with the balance of Batman’s responsibilities and maintaining a public persona that benefits the citizens of Gotham as much as Batman’s actions do. But really, this isn’t Bruce Wayne’s story, and he acts more as a figure to compare the Riddler and the Sons of Freedom to. But honestly, it works. You’re never missing Batman very much, and Miller’s exploration of the more political side of Gotham City proves immensely more fascinating than retreading a bunch of familiar Batman lore anyway.
Put simply, if you’re looking for a Batman story that weds the grandeur of the Burton films with more modern-day explorations of political unrest, you’re in for an absolute treat with Batman: Revolution. It’s a tightly-paced thrill ride from start to finish that’s as action-packed and tense as it is emotionally satisfying.
Reviewed for Geek Vibes Nation's October 2025 Book Round-Up.
Note: A review copy of Batman: Revolution was provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
November 22, 2025
Enjoyed this one more than it's predecessor.
John Jackson Miller again lends a literary hand to the Burton Batman universe and this time sprinkles this world with well crafted faux American Revolution events and references, homages to classical composers, and a borderline Shakespearean rise/fall/rise of one of the more fleshed out versions of a Batman villain--Norman Pinkus as the Riddler. This Riddler (who would not have been my first choice as villain) has legitimate motivations for his brand of villainy that feel believable and lived-in.
I said in my review of Resurrection that I've always preferred Batman Returns to Batman '89. And since this book is the direct lead up to Burton's sequel, I was excited to see everyone get into their Returns starting places. You get a lot more of Selina Kyle and even learn the reason for Fred Atkins' "extended vacation": , and the origin of the new mayor in that film .
And even though I'd had my fill of Joker and Smylex references, I can appreciate Miller's real-world take on the fact that a disaster of those gargantuan proportions wouldn't just go away over the course of mere months. There have to be tangible consequences (delayed deaths, lawsuits, etc.) and this novel isn't afraid to delve deep where Batman Returns, ostensibly taking place six months or so after Batman '89, hardly acknowledges the events' existence.
Fun action sequences include:
-Batman escaping the burning Wave Rock building
-The "because the subject is over my head" scene, where Batman realizes the Riddler knows where he is hiding and has to dodge a barrage of bullets from below
-Bruce using Batman's drones to try and stop their kidnapping in a fun car chase
And I have to state my favorite reveal of the book: .
I had read a lot of reviews that were disappointed in re-hashed themes and plot points from The Dark Knight Rises. I agreed that the general theme of dissidents and revolution had been done in a Batman medium before, but it wasn't until the ending that I felt the comparison hit me in the head like a Batarang (i.e., ). In a book chock full of villains, the Riddler stands out and those that lean more heavily into The Dark Knight Rises field are hard to take at times (Killer Moth, the Archer, Camille).
Overall, I highly recommend. Not perfect, but a story with high octane action, some deep themes, and well developed characters. A suitable sendoff for a duology that we needed, but did not necessarily deserve.
John Jackson Miller again lends a literary hand to the Burton Batman universe and this time sprinkles this world with well crafted faux American Revolution events and references, homages to classical composers, and a borderline Shakespearean rise/fall/rise of one of the more fleshed out versions of a Batman villain--Norman Pinkus as the Riddler. This Riddler (who would not have been my first choice as villain) has legitimate motivations for his brand of villainy that feel believable and lived-in.
I said in my review of Resurrection that I've always preferred Batman Returns to Batman '89. And since this book is the direct lead up to Burton's sequel, I was excited to see everyone get into their Returns starting places. You get a lot more of Selina Kyle and even learn the reason for Fred Atkins' "extended vacation": , and the origin of the new mayor in that film .
And even though I'd had my fill of Joker and Smylex references, I can appreciate Miller's real-world take on the fact that a disaster of those gargantuan proportions wouldn't just go away over the course of mere months. There have to be tangible consequences (delayed deaths, lawsuits, etc.) and this novel isn't afraid to delve deep where Batman Returns, ostensibly taking place six months or so after Batman '89, hardly acknowledges the events' existence.
Fun action sequences include:
-Batman escaping the burning Wave Rock building
-The "because the subject is over my head" scene, where Batman realizes the Riddler knows where he is hiding and has to dodge a barrage of bullets from below
-Bruce using Batman's drones to try and stop their kidnapping in a fun car chase
And I have to state my favorite reveal of the book: .
I had read a lot of reviews that were disappointed in re-hashed themes and plot points from The Dark Knight Rises. I agreed that the general theme of dissidents and revolution had been done in a Batman medium before, but it wasn't until the ending that I felt the comparison hit me in the head like a Batarang (i.e., ). In a book chock full of villains, the Riddler stands out and those that lean more heavily into The Dark Knight Rises field are hard to take at times (Killer Moth, the Archer, Camille).
Overall, I highly recommend. Not perfect, but a story with high octane action, some deep themes, and well developed characters. A suitable sendoff for a duology that we needed, but did not necessarily deserve.
December 9, 2025
John Jackson Miller has done it again. Batman: Revolution drops readers right back into the shadow-soaked, gothic grit of Tim Burton's Gotham — set between Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) — and immediately feels like home for anyone who loves that era of the Dark Knight. This is a direct continuation of Miller's earlier tie-in novel,
Batman: Resurrection
[read my review here], and once again, he absolutely nails the tone, atmosphere, and character voices of Burton's world.
The standout storyline for me was unquestionably The Riddler's. Here, Norman Pinkus — aka The Bookworm — evolves into a compelling, surprisingly sympathetic version of the future Riddler. His arc is layered, emotional, and painfully relatable at times. Even when he reaches his villainous heights (or lows, depending on your viewpoint), I still found myself on his side more often than not. It's the kind of nuanced villain origin story we rarely get in Batman media, and it genuinely made me wish this version existed on screen.
The supporting character threads are equally thoughtful. Selina Kyle appears in what feels like a perfect prelude to the character we meet in Batman Returns. She's not a major player here — more of a tertiary presence — but her scenes enrich both this novel and the eventual film portrayal. Max Shreck is similarly well-rendered, feeling faithful to Christopher Walken's interpretation while slotting neatly into the story's timeline. Camille and her militia group bring a fresh dynamic to Gotham: a storyline exploring class warfare and social unrest, which is something Batman narratives don't always give enough attention to. In a city overflowing with the ultra-rich, Miller digs into the resentment simmering below the surface.
Action sequences are thrilling and perfectly tuned to the Burton aesthetic. The Bat-tech is inventive and cinematic — exactly the kind of thing I wish had made it into the films. For a fairly long novel, the pacing is remarkably tight; there were no fluff sections or unnecessary detours. Every scene pushes the narrative forward with purpose.
What puts this firmly at 5 stars for me is the nostalgia factor paired with Miller's talent for tie-in fiction. He's already proven himself across Star Wars and Star Trek, but capturing Burton's Gotham is another challenge entirely. Yet he pulls it off effortlessly. The atmosphere, the tone, the dry humor, the operatic drama — it's all here. And the Riddler storyline alone elevates this from a good tie-in to a genuinely compelling Batman novel.
This is a must-read for fans of the Burton films and for anyone who loves a Batman story with a strong sense of place, character, and emotional complexity.
And honestly... does anyone else sometimes find themselves rooting for the villains in Batman stories? Because reading this — and, frankly, watching The Dark Knight Rises — makes me wonder if Gotham doesn't occasionally need a hard reset...
The standout storyline for me was unquestionably The Riddler's. Here, Norman Pinkus — aka The Bookworm — evolves into a compelling, surprisingly sympathetic version of the future Riddler. His arc is layered, emotional, and painfully relatable at times. Even when he reaches his villainous heights (or lows, depending on your viewpoint), I still found myself on his side more often than not. It's the kind of nuanced villain origin story we rarely get in Batman media, and it genuinely made me wish this version existed on screen.
The supporting character threads are equally thoughtful. Selina Kyle appears in what feels like a perfect prelude to the character we meet in Batman Returns. She's not a major player here — more of a tertiary presence — but her scenes enrich both this novel and the eventual film portrayal. Max Shreck is similarly well-rendered, feeling faithful to Christopher Walken's interpretation while slotting neatly into the story's timeline. Camille and her militia group bring a fresh dynamic to Gotham: a storyline exploring class warfare and social unrest, which is something Batman narratives don't always give enough attention to. In a city overflowing with the ultra-rich, Miller digs into the resentment simmering below the surface.
Action sequences are thrilling and perfectly tuned to the Burton aesthetic. The Bat-tech is inventive and cinematic — exactly the kind of thing I wish had made it into the films. For a fairly long novel, the pacing is remarkably tight; there were no fluff sections or unnecessary detours. Every scene pushes the narrative forward with purpose.
What puts this firmly at 5 stars for me is the nostalgia factor paired with Miller's talent for tie-in fiction. He's already proven himself across Star Wars and Star Trek, but capturing Burton's Gotham is another challenge entirely. Yet he pulls it off effortlessly. The atmosphere, the tone, the dry humor, the operatic drama — it's all here. And the Riddler storyline alone elevates this from a good tie-in to a genuinely compelling Batman novel.
This is a must-read for fans of the Burton films and for anyone who loves a Batman story with a strong sense of place, character, and emotional complexity.
And honestly... does anyone else sometimes find themselves rooting for the villains in Batman stories? Because reading this — and, frankly, watching The Dark Knight Rises — makes me wonder if Gotham doesn't occasionally need a hard reset...
November 19, 2025
Batman: Resurrection – 4.5/5
John Jackson Miller’s Batman: Resurrection is the closest thing we’ll ever get to a lost Tim Burton sequel, and for about 85% of its 400+ pages, it feels like an absolute triumph. Miller captures the 1989 film’s fever-dream Gotham so perfectly you can taste the smog and hear Prince’s “Partyman” echoing off gargoyles. The rain-slicked atmosphere, the purple-orange streetlights, the Elfman-esque dread: all here, distilled into prose that somehow feels more gothic than the movie itself. Bruce Wayne’s insomnia and guilt are rendered with a rawness the screen version only hinted at, and the new Clayface (Karlo Babić) is one of the most tragic, genuinely frightening Batman villains in years. When Batman’s fighting a melting, shape-shifting horror on a cathedral roof in a thunderstorm, it’s pure Keaton-era nightmare fuel.
The plot is smartly constructed: a slow-burn detective story about lingering Joker trauma that keeps escalating into bigger conspiracies, corporate villainy (Max Shreck is deliciously slimy), and spectacular set pieces (the burning chemical plant Batmobile chase is worth the cover price alone). Alfred, Gordon, and Vicki Vale all feel like real extensions of their film counterparts rather than cameos.
Where it loses half a star for me is pacing in the final quarter. A couple of subplots (particularly one involving city council red tape) drag a bit, and the resolution, while satisfying, leans a touch too tidy compared to the glorious messiness of Burton’s actual movies. I also wanted the Joker’s shadow to feel even more ambiguous and sinister; Miller ultimately gives us a definitive answer when a little more “is he really dead?” dread might have cut deeper.
Still, this is easily one of the best Batman novels ever written and the single best thing ever done with the Burton continuity. 4.5/5 feels exactly right: damn near perfect, with just enough room left for the impossible dream of an even darker, bloodier, R-rated film adaptation.
And honestly? Give Tim Burton (or someone with his exact sensibilities) a $150 million budget and an R rating, and turn both Resurrection and the upcoming Revolution into the unhinged, gothic horror-superhero duology we deserved after 1992. Keaton’s Batman was always one bad night away from completely breaking. Let’s finally watch him fall.
John Jackson Miller’s Batman: Resurrection is the closest thing we’ll ever get to a lost Tim Burton sequel, and for about 85% of its 400+ pages, it feels like an absolute triumph. Miller captures the 1989 film’s fever-dream Gotham so perfectly you can taste the smog and hear Prince’s “Partyman” echoing off gargoyles. The rain-slicked atmosphere, the purple-orange streetlights, the Elfman-esque dread: all here, distilled into prose that somehow feels more gothic than the movie itself. Bruce Wayne’s insomnia and guilt are rendered with a rawness the screen version only hinted at, and the new Clayface (Karlo Babić) is one of the most tragic, genuinely frightening Batman villains in years. When Batman’s fighting a melting, shape-shifting horror on a cathedral roof in a thunderstorm, it’s pure Keaton-era nightmare fuel.
The plot is smartly constructed: a slow-burn detective story about lingering Joker trauma that keeps escalating into bigger conspiracies, corporate villainy (Max Shreck is deliciously slimy), and spectacular set pieces (the burning chemical plant Batmobile chase is worth the cover price alone). Alfred, Gordon, and Vicki Vale all feel like real extensions of their film counterparts rather than cameos.
Where it loses half a star for me is pacing in the final quarter. A couple of subplots (particularly one involving city council red tape) drag a bit, and the resolution, while satisfying, leans a touch too tidy compared to the glorious messiness of Burton’s actual movies. I also wanted the Joker’s shadow to feel even more ambiguous and sinister; Miller ultimately gives us a definitive answer when a little more “is he really dead?” dread might have cut deeper.
Still, this is easily one of the best Batman novels ever written and the single best thing ever done with the Burton continuity. 4.5/5 feels exactly right: damn near perfect, with just enough room left for the impossible dream of an even darker, bloodier, R-rated film adaptation.
And honestly? Give Tim Burton (or someone with his exact sensibilities) a $150 million budget and an R rating, and turn both Resurrection and the upcoming Revolution into the unhinged, gothic horror-superhero duology we deserved after 1992. Keaton’s Batman was always one bad night away from completely breaking. Let’s finally watch him fall.
December 25, 2025
I liked this book more than the first one, Batman: Resurrection. However, in my case I don't feel completely immersed in the world of the book. For me, it doesn't feel like it is the same world as the Batman movies directed by Tim Burton.
I have mixed feeling with the scope of both books. They present stories that, if made into movies, they would have required larger budgets and probably the technology they required was not there yet. In this book, stakes are also higher, but in a way that throws me out of the story as it doesn't really feel like it belongs to the Burton movies. I guess that was part of the intention of making these books, to present stories that would be difficult to make into movies. It didn't work for me but it may work for others.
In particular, Max Sherck feels too different as he wanted to prove he belonged to an old family and because of his interest in politics. That doesn't feel like the one in Batman Returns. I see a small connection because in the movie Shreck helped the Penguin in running for mayor. But this connection feels thin for me.
The Riddler seems like a good addition to these books. Part of his story seemed similar to that of the Riddler in the movie The Batman. I have mixed feeling on how his story ended. Also, he clearly is not the one from the Batman Forever movie. I have not double checked but it is clear to me that these books only consider the Burton movies and ignore the two sequels with other directors.
The author said that the plan was for releasing only two books set in between the Burton movies, but there is the possibility of releasing more. If that's the case, I doubt I'll continue reading these books.
I have mixed feeling with the scope of both books. They present stories that, if made into movies, they would have required larger budgets and probably the technology they required was not there yet. In this book, stakes are also higher, but in a way that throws me out of the story as it doesn't really feel like it belongs to the Burton movies. I guess that was part of the intention of making these books, to present stories that would be difficult to make into movies. It didn't work for me but it may work for others.
In particular, Max Sherck feels too different as he wanted to prove he belonged to an old family and because of his interest in politics. That doesn't feel like the one in Batman Returns. I see a small connection because in the movie Shreck helped the Penguin in running for mayor. But this connection feels thin for me.
The Riddler seems like a good addition to these books. Part of his story seemed similar to that of the Riddler in the movie The Batman. I have mixed feeling on how his story ended. Also, he clearly is not the one from the Batman Forever movie. I have not double checked but it is clear to me that these books only consider the Burton movies and ignore the two sequels with other directors.
The author said that the plan was for releasing only two books set in between the Burton movies, but there is the possibility of releasing more. If that's the case, I doubt I'll continue reading these books.
November 30, 2025
The second of John Jackson Miller's two (at least, so far!) Batman '89 books and after Batman: Resurrection, set between the events of the original 1989 movie and the 1992 sequel Batman Returns.
I also had to keep reminding myself that 1995's Batman Forever (and even the later - and woeful - Batman & Robin) are not considered part of the same universe, despite both still featuring Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's faithful butler who is in on the secret.
In particular, 95's Batman Forever (which was Val; Kilmer's sole outing on the cape) features Jim Carrey as The Riddler, one of the two main villains of that film.
And also the main villain of this (albeit not Jim Carrey's manic version!).
This also brings back the reporter Alexander Knox - who has a larger role here than in the previous novel - and has a pre-Catwoman Selina Kyle having a larger(ish) role in the proceedings, alongside Max Schreck and his son Chip.
I *think* that may be why I didn't gel as much with this entry as the previous - namely, that I couldn;t get Jim Carrey's version of The Riddler out of my head the whole time I was reading this, despite knowing he's a very different take on the character than here.
That's not to say that this is a bad read, per se, - it's not, by any stretch of the imagination - just that I feel it may be better read 'cold', that is, without any pre-existing baggage. A hard sell in this day and age, I know!
I also had to keep reminding myself that 1995's Batman Forever (and even the later - and woeful - Batman & Robin) are not considered part of the same universe, despite both still featuring Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's faithful butler who is in on the secret.
In particular, 95's Batman Forever (which was Val; Kilmer's sole outing on the cape) features Jim Carrey as The Riddler, one of the two main villains of that film.
And also the main villain of this (albeit not Jim Carrey's manic version!).
This also brings back the reporter Alexander Knox - who has a larger role here than in the previous novel - and has a pre-Catwoman Selina Kyle having a larger(ish) role in the proceedings, alongside Max Schreck and his son Chip.
I *think* that may be why I didn't gel as much with this entry as the previous - namely, that I couldn;t get Jim Carrey's version of The Riddler out of my head the whole time I was reading this, despite knowing he's a very different take on the character than here.
That's not to say that this is a bad read, per se, - it's not, by any stretch of the imagination - just that I feel it may be better read 'cold', that is, without any pre-existing baggage. A hard sell in this day and age, I know!
October 31, 2025
Real rating: 3.5/5
So big thing about this book - it's longer, it contains a stronger "Burton voice" than the last one, but obviously it really is a mix. A mix of Burton, Adam West, Animated Cartoon and Schumacher Batman. There's elements of everything. Burton can be seen in some of the dialogue. 66 and Animated Batman can be seen in the description of the Riddler and the audiobook voices, Adam West can be seen with the pole leading to the bat cave. It's all there, which is awesome for a Batman fan, but unrealistic for a Tim Burton fan, because more than dialogue, Burton is known for his vision, dreary, weird, pale, gothic.... and I don't really sense that with this book.
Story wise, I was a big fan of the Riddlers backstory, introduced as a good, humble man, who slowly turned into the Riddler after a really bad day and realization that maybe he's not as smart as he always thought he was. I really loved the transformation here. Even after becoming the Riddler, his actions aren't great, but they are fully understandable and you feel for him in certain parts. That's great.
The side story stuff with the underground militias and terror groups were the biggest part of the book I didn't care for though. The Riddler never really gets to fully shine on his own because he's simply just a part of this group. He becomes a bit of a celebrity, but not in the way you'd think.
This book also has a LOT of Selina Kyle though, aka Catwoman, and her boss Max Shreck, who you both see in the story that follows - Batman Returns. That is.... if there isn't another book between this and that. You never know
So big thing about this book - it's longer, it contains a stronger "Burton voice" than the last one, but obviously it really is a mix. A mix of Burton, Adam West, Animated Cartoon and Schumacher Batman. There's elements of everything. Burton can be seen in some of the dialogue. 66 and Animated Batman can be seen in the description of the Riddler and the audiobook voices, Adam West can be seen with the pole leading to the bat cave. It's all there, which is awesome for a Batman fan, but unrealistic for a Tim Burton fan, because more than dialogue, Burton is known for his vision, dreary, weird, pale, gothic.... and I don't really sense that with this book.
Story wise, I was a big fan of the Riddlers backstory, introduced as a good, humble man, who slowly turned into the Riddler after a really bad day and realization that maybe he's not as smart as he always thought he was. I really loved the transformation here. Even after becoming the Riddler, his actions aren't great, but they are fully understandable and you feel for him in certain parts. That's great.
The side story stuff with the underground militias and terror groups were the biggest part of the book I didn't care for though. The Riddler never really gets to fully shine on his own because he's simply just a part of this group. He becomes a bit of a celebrity, but not in the way you'd think.
This book also has a LOT of Selina Kyle though, aka Catwoman, and her boss Max Shreck, who you both see in the story that follows - Batman Returns. That is.... if there isn't another book between this and that. You never know
November 24, 2025
Wow, just wow.
Batman is a character that I've read about and watched movies and cartoons about since I can remember. John Jackson Miller has taken the character to a whole new level with his novels.
This is the kind of treatment I wish we'd see for superhero fiction more often. The characters and their motives drive everything and have complex, nuanced personalities formed by their lives, and unlike other formats, books can more thoroughly explore such things and Miller utilizes that.
I forget where I saw it, but someone online pointed out that these aren't floppy little book tie-ins, these are major books. This second one is even longer than the first!
I think these would be impactful even without any other Batman stories for reference, going even further, I think Revolution would practically stand on it's own merits even though it's the follow-up to Resurrection.
There are things in this book I always wanted in greater emphasis in other Batman tales, such as more Bruce Wayne, so much time spent developing the supporting cast and antagonist that the story becomes ensemble with a dozen plot threads, and just lots of great character scenes to build up to the action.
Boy does he deliver on action when it comes!
In other words, this is a proper book that Miller dedicated much time to research and perfect and under all of it, I can see a big fan of those Burton films, and yet this works as his own version of The Dark Knight beyond an homage or tie-in to Burton's films and that is saying something.
Do yourself a favour and read both of these novels whether you're a Batman fan or not. Because these are great books!
Batman is a character that I've read about and watched movies and cartoons about since I can remember. John Jackson Miller has taken the character to a whole new level with his novels.
This is the kind of treatment I wish we'd see for superhero fiction more often. The characters and their motives drive everything and have complex, nuanced personalities formed by their lives, and unlike other formats, books can more thoroughly explore such things and Miller utilizes that.
I forget where I saw it, but someone online pointed out that these aren't floppy little book tie-ins, these are major books. This second one is even longer than the first!
I think these would be impactful even without any other Batman stories for reference, going even further, I think Revolution would practically stand on it's own merits even though it's the follow-up to Resurrection.
There are things in this book I always wanted in greater emphasis in other Batman tales, such as more Bruce Wayne, so much time spent developing the supporting cast and antagonist that the story becomes ensemble with a dozen plot threads, and just lots of great character scenes to build up to the action.
Boy does he deliver on action when it comes!
In other words, this is a proper book that Miller dedicated much time to research and perfect and under all of it, I can see a big fan of those Burton films, and yet this works as his own version of The Dark Knight beyond an homage or tie-in to Burton's films and that is saying something.
Do yourself a favour and read both of these novels whether you're a Batman fan or not. Because these are great books!
Read
November 21, 2025#batmanrevolution by #johnjacksonmiller published in 2025. Set in the 1989 Tim burton #Batman universe. Sequel to last year’s #batmanresurrection. Some great nostalgia at play. Delightful callbacks to the original film and glimpses of things we get to know in Batman returns. I found particular pleasure in the appearance of Fred atkins who is briefly referenced in Returns. Plus an explanation for Knox’s absence in the second film. Great character work on the Riddler. Multiple criminals with separate agendas: riddler, archer/bowman, a militia and killer moth all leading to an explosive conclusion. Another couple of comedic cameos from the duo that helped introduce Michael Keaton’s Batman. Max shreck and selina Kyle feature more prominently. It was a little too long and could have benefitted with a bit more Batman (so much time is dedicated to the villains). Batman is still new to the job, Testing technology and equipment, Making mistakes and learning and developing. But I wasn’t disappointed. The novel does a really entertaining job. It doesn’t betray the film. A little silly in places. I had a fun time with this. I would like this series to continue.
November 2, 2025
Yeah so like, my real world political leanings are very far left but making Max Shreck into a weird Trump thing is stupid as hell and kills the charisma, menace, and haunting Walken magnetism of the character. His political aspirations didn’t feel connected to Returns, it felt like Trump era commentary with flashing lights about who the bad guys are. I’m aware, yes. And a whole side plot finding out how Bruce Wayne’s ancestors helped the founding fathers felt like some post-9/11 “our heroes are American af!!!!” stupid shit.
Really, the crux of this story being based around militias and freedom fighting and political…something without as much to say as The Dark Knight Rises did when it came out during Occupy is a huge problem. The City takes money from the social programs to give the police tanks and Bruce doesn’t see this is wrong or bad in this book. He needs it spelled out for him. Lotta characters. Lotta stuff happening.
Really, the crux of this story being based around militias and freedom fighting and political…something without as much to say as The Dark Knight Rises did when it came out during Occupy is a huge problem. The City takes money from the social programs to give the police tanks and Bruce doesn’t see this is wrong or bad in this book. He needs it spelled out for him. Lotta characters. Lotta stuff happening.
December 2, 2025
A awesome trip back into the Burton-Verse but some characters were a bit bland this time.
I enjoyed Norman Pinkus character but boy did he have a bad couple of days. I wasn't a huge fan of Camile and her band of Servants gone wild.
pros : Alfred is always awesome!
Batman/Bruce was written very well.
Norman Pinkus in the first 17 chapters or so
Batman and Gordon relationship.
Selena Kyle and Knox were great too
Cons:
The Militia bad guys were not interesting at all
The Shreck building over run by animals was too silly
The context is very sandbox effect meaning, characters/places of Batman 89 feel almost as if the novel here is meant to finish a sentence that begun from Batman 89 and only now is being completed. (which isn't a bad thing entirely but it does grow old)
other than all those cons I did enjoy reading it.
I enjoyed Norman Pinkus character but boy did he have a bad couple of days. I wasn't a huge fan of Camile and her band of Servants gone wild.
pros : Alfred is always awesome!
Batman/Bruce was written very well.
Norman Pinkus in the first 17 chapters or so
Batman and Gordon relationship.
Selena Kyle and Knox were great too
Cons:
The Militia bad guys were not interesting at all
The Shreck building over run by animals was too silly
The context is very sandbox effect meaning, characters/places of Batman 89 feel almost as if the novel here is meant to finish a sentence that begun from Batman 89 and only now is being completed. (which isn't a bad thing entirely but it does grow old)
other than all those cons I did enjoy reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2025
Simple, enjoyable fan-fiction for one of my favorite movies of all time. My only criticism is that it was a bit long and had too many villains (Why did later Batman movies always do that?), but The Riddler is very well-written. His scenes kept me very engaged, and I kept picturing Robin Williams as that character. (Robin Williams was considered to play Riddler in the third Tim Burton Batman movie that was never made.)
I enjoyed the first Batman book that Miller put out, but I think this will be his last one since this puts a lot of characters at their starting positions for Batman Returns. Still, a story set after Batman Returns would be welcomed by me.
I enjoyed the first Batman book that Miller put out, but I think this will be his last one since this puts a lot of characters at their starting positions for Batman Returns. Still, a story set after Batman Returns would be welcomed by me.
December 8, 2025
This was really cool to read. If you like DC Comics and The Batman movie, you would like this one. My favorite part that was mentioned on this book was Hugo Strange. Hugo Strange is one of Batman’s villains and that’s why it caught my attention after it got mentioned in the book. But I really do like the Riddler as the villain in this book along with Camille. Towards the end of the book on the epilogue, Clayface showed up as his name as Basil Karlo and I was like “that’s the one👀🫵”. I definitely recommend this book. It’s good. I enjoyed it a lot. Clayface is one my favorite Batman villains. But I don’t consider him as a villain. More like he’s like a tragedy villain along with Mr Freeze.
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