Batman Revolution by John Jackson Miller is the sequel to Batman Resurrection. These books are set in the Michael Keaton Batman continuity, with Resurrection serving as a direct sequel to the movie. Revolution, then, is the direct sequel to Resurrection, picking up a few plot threads from the previous book and the 1989 film that preceded both works.
For me, it means spending more time with Keaton's Bruce Wayne/Batman, Michael Gough's Alfred Pennyworth, and Pat Hingle's Commissioner Gordon. I loved the 1989 Batman movie. For all the talk of the Christopher Nolan movies--a solid trilogy without argument--Keaton is my Batman and Jack Nicholson my Joker. Being able to return to that gothic Gotham City is a real pleasure.
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| Image via Indianapolis Public Library |
We spend a fair amount of time with Bruce and Alfred, and while Batman gets top billing in the book, be prepared for A LOT OF Norman Pinkus. He's the "puzzle master" for the local newspaper and creates a sensation with "Riddle Me This," a daily word puzzle with mind-bending clues and cash prizes. People love it so much, it's helping the Gotham Globe sell like hotcakes, although the always put-upon Norman gets zero credit for its success. National syndication is a certainty!
Norman may be the most intelligent man in the world. He's definitely the smartest guy in Gotham City, even if no one recognizes it. When he's not creating "Riddle Me This," he's also tracking crimes and providing the Gotham City Police Department with tips.
When revolutionaries sweep into Gotham City to upend what they view as an unjust, decadent government, Norman gets swept along right with them. Perpetually overlooked and underappreciated, he finds fresh start with the revolutionaries and takes on the persona of The Riddler, the smartest man in town.
He matches wits with Batman without understanding the true scope of the revolutionaries' plot. He's the bad guy but not really the bad guy, just an overlooked peon who convinced himself he was meant for greater things.
I found this to be a pretty engaging read, although I liked Resurrection more, probably because it had a direct connection with the 1989 movie by exploring Smylex (the secret ingredient--smile!) and the fallout from The Joker's plot.
As Norman is essentially a co-protagonist in the novel (you could argue he's the main protagonist), readers will spend a lot of time with him. His "poor me, poor me" shtick did wear me down a little at times, but it is all ultimately in service of making his turn as The Riddler believable. I would've probably trimmed a chapter or two with Mr. Pinkus. I can still hear him whining about his life.
Still, the book has plenty good Bat-action and gives me another chance to spend some time with Bruce and Alfred, and for that, I'm grateful.
