BATMAN: REVOLUTION – A Book Review

Author John Jackson Miller has returned to the Tim Burton Universe with a follow-up to last year’s Batman: Resurrection – Batman: Revolution. This outing finds the Caped Crusader matching wits with the Riddler… and others.

While a version of the Riddler did appear in the Batman films of the ’90s from Warner Bros, we are not concerning ourselves with Edward Nygma or Jim Carrey. Our Riddler is Norman Pinkus, a copy boy at the Gotham Globe who crafts an exceptional column of puzzles that become a big hit in the city. While reading Pinkus, I always pictured Cory Michael Smith of the TV show Gotham. Pinkus demonstrates brilliant deductive reasoning as the city runs tails around itself through several mysteries, and through a budding friendship with reporter Alexander Knox. Seems to be on the precipice of greatness…

Until he isn’t. Dejected, rejected, and broken, Pinkus is driven underground. There, he unexpectedly finds friends. Meanwhile, the city is facing statewide scrutiny for its history with crime and vigilantism as both the police force and the mayor try to win back public trust. The mayor with a rescheduled bicentennial, the police force with fancy new armored paddy wagons. As the average citizen grapples with crime, garbage, and poverty, the city’s opulence stings like a slap to the face.

All of the ingredients are in place for a juicy Batman story wherein the city goes crazy. A crazed villain stokes its fires, and Batman has to punch the bad man into obscurity so Commissioner Gordon et al can calm the masses. What makes this particular outing more compelling is Miller’s use of the supporting cast. Alfred takes a much larger role in this adventure, and I’ll admit that while reading I did hear and picture Michael Gough. The same could be said for Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) and Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer).

I also had a better time hearing Michael Keaton in this adventure than I did in Resurrection. Batman is as grounded as he was in Tim Burton’s films, dealing with threats as they arise while trying to manage his duties as Bruce Wayne. This time, those duties involve tamping down the ego and ambitions of fellow “businessman” Max Schreck, written to channel the threatening aura of Christopher Walken.

I don’t want to say too much as this expansive book brings in so many unexpected characters and story arcs in its 500+ pages, but I can say that Batman, Alfred, Max, and Selina make it to the sequel. But you knew that already.

You can check out my interview with John Jackson Miller at this year’s New York Comic Con in the video below:

Overall Grade: 8/10

As we said, this is the last of this particular planned series, but I certainly hope this isn’t the last we get to see of John Jackson Miller writing this character or in this world. These books are an absolute delight for fans of the films, comics, and graphic novels and I would be thrilled to read more.

I give this book an 8 out of 10 score for characterization, tension, and pure joy.

Batman: Revolution released October 21, 2025 and is available for purchase now.

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