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Greater than 35 years later, DC is returning to the world of Tim Burton’s “Batman” for a model new journey. Whereas we’re not going to see Michael Keaton swimsuit up because the Caped Crusader on display screen once more, Penguin Random Home is publishing a model new novel titled “Batman: Revolution” that takes place within the continuity of Burton’s movies. Notably, this new e book will introduce a brand new model of a basic villain — The Riddler.
Written by John Jackson Miller, this new novel serves as a follow-up to final yr’s “Batman: Resurrection,” which stuffed within the gaps between “Batman” and “Batman Returns.” As was first revealed by Comicbook.com, “Revolution” is because of hit cabinets on October 28, 2025 and can equally look to fill in some gaps within the Burton universe. The synopsis for the novel helps set the desk for what is going on on at this level in Gotham Metropolis:
It is summer time, and Gotham Metropolis has trigger for celebration. The final vestiges of The Joker’s poisonous legacy have lastly light, simply in time for the mayor to associate with retail magnate Max Shreck to stage a Fourth of July celebration for the ages. However not everyone seems to be rejoicing. Batman’s everlasting vigilance continues as threats from rival gangs and masked criminals escalate by the day. In the meantime, on the streets, protests develop in opposition to the town’s lavish excesses.
Nobody is experiencing the wrestle between Gotham’s optimism and doubt greater than Norman Pinkus. The Gotham Globe’s humble copy boy, he is the unacknowledged mastermind behind the newspaper’s mega-popular Riddle Me This phrase puzzles. However Norman harbors a secret. He’s the neatest man in Gotham Metropolis, utilizing his prodigious abilities to unravel crimes anonymously for years through the police tip line—earlier than Batman even is aware of there is a crime to unravel.
Jim Carrey famously performed Riddler in 1995’s “Batman Eternally,” which was helmed by Joel Schumacher versus Burton. Warner Bros. determined to chase a lighter tone after “Batman Returns” took issues in a darker route, so whereas we by no means bought to see what Burton may need performed with Riddler, Miller is serving us up a imaginative and prescient of what that may have seemed like.
An alternate universe for Michael Keaton’s Batman
1989’s “Batman” was a seminal field workplace smash hit, however Burton’s imaginative and prescient finally clashed with Warner Bros.’ want to chase that success additional. So each events moved on and the “Batman” franchise went in a radically totally different route, with Schumacher additionally directing 1997’s much-maligned, completely wacky “Batman & Robin.”
Nonetheless, time has been variety to Burton’s movies and plenty of followers nonetheless maintain them in excessive regard. In consequence, that universe has been revisited a number of occasions lately. Keaton’s Batman even returned in 2023’s “The Flash.” That makes these novels attention-grabbing time capsules, permitting us to think about “what if?” situations for Keaton’s Bruce Wayne. The prolonged synopsis for “Revolution” additional explains what leads Norman Pinkus to develop into The Riddler.
Whereas neither fame nor fortune finds Norman, he believes within the promise of Gotham and what’s proper…till he would not. The person nobody notices watches again and again as the town and its leaders solid their eyes excessive above the rooftops towards Batman. Dejected and unappreciated, Norman devises a scheme: With the assistance of harmful new pals, he exploits the simmering tensions of the lengthy sizzling summer time to attract the Caped Crusader right into a unstable recreation of riddles to crown Gotham’s true savior. As they conflict, Norman—now referred to as The Riddler—and Batman will uncover hidden secrets and techniques about Gotham’s previous that can have dire penalties for the town’s future.
This seems like a reasonably distinctive tackle the character, and one which’s totally different from what we have seen on the massive display screen. The model of Riddler Paul Dano performed in 2022’s “The Batman” was darkish and lethal, to place it mildly, and this looks like a take that, tonally, might sit comfortably within the Burton-verse. We’ll see the way it all comes collectively when the e book hits cabinets later this yr.
You’ll be able to pre-order “Batman: Revolution” proper now on Amazon.
