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, 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…
