The Riddler Enters Tim Burton’s Batman Universe in ‘Batman: Revolution’

Tim Burton’s Batman world is growing again with a new book called Batman: Revolution. Written by John Jackson Miller and published by Penguin Random House, this novel brings The Riddler into Burton’s version of Gotham City. Fans can preorder the book now on Amazon.

Batman: Revolution is a sequel to 2024’s Batman: Resurrection, also written by Miller. Both books take place between Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). The story is inspired by Burton’s canceled third Batman film, which at one point was rumored to star Robin Williams as The Riddler.

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 scheme: 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.

DC Comics is also expanding the Burton-Verse in other ways. They released Batman ’89, a comic that continues the story after Batman Returns. This series features a Billy Dee Williams-inspired Two-Face and a version of Robin based on Marlon Wayans. DC followed up with Batman ’89: Echoes, introducing a Scarecrow inspired by Jeff Goldblum and a Harley Quinn inspired by Madonna.

They also published Superman ’78, a comic series that continues the story of Christopher Reeve’s Superman movies.

With Batman: Revolution, fans of Tim Burton’s Gotham will finally get to see The Riddler in action. It’s an exciting time for those who love the dark and stylish world of Burton’s Batman.

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