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Tim Burton’s Batman #2
Batman: Resurrection
After The Joker’s death, Batman and Gotham City face a mysterious new threat in this direct sequel to Tim Burton’s iconic Batman.
The Joker is dead, but not forgotten. Gotham City is saved, but it is still not safe. By night, its new symbol of hope, Batman, continues his fight to protect the innocent and the powerless. By day, his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, wonders whether there may someday be a future beyond skulking the city’s rooftops or the cavernous halls of his stately manor alongside the ever-dutiful Alfred Pennyworth.
But even after death, the Clown Prince of Crime’s imprint can be seen in more than just the pavement. Remnants from The Joker’s gang are leading wannabes fascinated by his bizarre mystique on a campaign of arson that threatens the city—even as it serves greedy opportunists, including millionaire Max Shreck. And survivors of exposure to The Joker’s chemical weapon Smylex continue to crowd Gotham City’s main hospital.
To quell the chaos, Batman needs more than his cape and his well-stocked Utility Belt. Bruce Wayne is forced into action, prompting a partnership with a charismatic scientist to help solve the health crisis. But as he works in both the shadows and the light, Bruce finds himself drawn deeper into Gotham City’s turmoil than ever before, fueling his obsession to save the city—an obsession that has already driven a wedge between him and Vicki Vale. The loyal Alfred, who had hoped Bruce’s efforts as Batman could help him find closure, finds the opposite happening. Nightmares begin to prompt Bruce to ask new questions about the climactic events in the cathedral, and investigations by Commissioner Gordon and reporter Alexander Knox into the arsons only amplify his concerns.
Having told the people of Gotham City that they’d earned a rest from crime, Batman finds the forces of evil growing ever more organized—and orchestrated—by a sinister hand behind the scenes. The World’s Greatest Detective must solve the greatest mystery of all: Could The Joker have somehow survived? And could he still have the last laugh against the people of Gotham City?
The Joker is dead, but not forgotten. Gotham City is saved, but it is still not safe. By night, its new symbol of hope, Batman, continues his fight to protect the innocent and the powerless. By day, his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, wonders whether there may someday be a future beyond skulking the city’s rooftops or the cavernous halls of his stately manor alongside the ever-dutiful Alfred Pennyworth.
But even after death, the Clown Prince of Crime’s imprint can be seen in more than just the pavement. Remnants from The Joker’s gang are leading wannabes fascinated by his bizarre mystique on a campaign of arson that threatens the city—even as it serves greedy opportunists, including millionaire Max Shreck. And survivors of exposure to The Joker’s chemical weapon Smylex continue to crowd Gotham City’s main hospital.
To quell the chaos, Batman needs more than his cape and his well-stocked Utility Belt. Bruce Wayne is forced into action, prompting a partnership with a charismatic scientist to help solve the health crisis. But as he works in both the shadows and the light, Bruce finds himself drawn deeper into Gotham City’s turmoil than ever before, fueling his obsession to save the city—an obsession that has already driven a wedge between him and Vicki Vale. The loyal Alfred, who had hoped Bruce’s efforts as Batman could help him find closure, finds the opposite happening. Nightmares begin to prompt Bruce to ask new questions about the climactic events in the cathedral, and investigations by Commissioner Gordon and reporter Alexander Knox into the arsons only amplify his concerns.
Having told the people of Gotham City that they’d earned a rest from crime, Batman finds the forces of evil growing ever more organized—and orchestrated—by a sinister hand behind the scenes. The World’s Greatest Detective must solve the greatest mystery of all: Could The Joker have somehow survived? And could he still have the last laugh against the people of Gotham City?
418 pages, Hardcover
First published October 24, 2024
442 people are currently reading
1,461 people want to read
About the author
John Jackson Miller
348Ìýbooks908ÌýfollowersNew York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in science fiction. His Star Trek novels include the Discovery â€� Die Standing, the acclaimed novel Discovery â€� The Enterprise War, the Prey trilogy, and Takedown. His Star Wars novels include A New Dawn, Kenobi, Knight Errant, Lost Tribe of the Sith, and the Knights of the Old Republic comics, available from Marvel as Legends: The Old Republic.
He’s written comics and prose for Halo, Iron Man, Simpsons, Conan, Planet of the Apes, and Mass Effect, with recent graphic novels for Battlestar Galactica, Dumbo, and The Lion King. Production notes on all his works can be found at
He is also a comics industry historian, specializing in studying comic-book circulation as presented on his website, . He also coauthored the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.
He’s written comics and prose for Halo, Iron Man, Simpsons, Conan, Planet of the Apes, and Mass Effect, with recent graphic novels for Battlestar Galactica, Dumbo, and The Lion King. Production notes on all his works can be found at
He is also a comics industry historian, specializing in studying comic-book circulation as presented on his website, . He also coauthored the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
October 23, 2024
What an excellent book all around! Its a great tie-in book, a great Batman novel, a great crime thriller, a great fun read! John Jackson Miller has turned in just an all timer tie-in book here.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I enjoyed his Batman novel more than his Star Wars book that released this year!
If you have seen the 1989 Batman, you will be prepared for this book. It does an excellent job of setting the stage and also filling in any gaps you may have in your memory.
It also tells an excellent crime thriller story. It has an interesting mystery that I was pretty sure I knew the answer to, but I spent the whole book second guessing myself. Miller created enough doubt that it kept me wondering if maybe I was wrong.
The book deals with a form of PTSD, as well as the theme about moving on from tragedy. It also deals with some themes about living life by using the hand you've been dealt. I thought that in particular was the strongest of the themes present.
There's also some excellent humor in this book. A few moments had me chuckling out loud! The Drive Thru references were well placed!
In just about every way, this book really succeeded. I cannot believe that the book was published, but I am so happy it was. I think this was a pretty big risk on Random House Worlds' part and I believe it will absolutely pay off! And we're getting a sequel next year!
Overall, this is a terrific book! 9.3 out of 10! Really excellent storytelling here. Way to go John!
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I enjoyed his Batman novel more than his Star Wars book that released this year!
If you have seen the 1989 Batman, you will be prepared for this book. It does an excellent job of setting the stage and also filling in any gaps you may have in your memory.
It also tells an excellent crime thriller story. It has an interesting mystery that I was pretty sure I knew the answer to, but I spent the whole book second guessing myself. Miller created enough doubt that it kept me wondering if maybe I was wrong.
The book deals with a form of PTSD, as well as the theme about moving on from tragedy. It also deals with some themes about living life by using the hand you've been dealt. I thought that in particular was the strongest of the themes present.
There's also some excellent humor in this book. A few moments had me chuckling out loud! The Drive Thru references were well placed!
In just about every way, this book really succeeded. I cannot believe that the book was published, but I am so happy it was. I think this was a pretty big risk on Random House Worlds' part and I believe it will absolutely pay off! And we're getting a sequel next year!
Overall, this is a terrific book! 9.3 out of 10! Really excellent storytelling here. Way to go John!
December 20, 2024
The legacy of Nicholson's Joker looms large in this sequel to the 1989 film Batman
I had a lot of fun listening to this audiobook even though the narrator didn't quite match my expectations bringing voice to characters I already knew so well from the movie.
Sorry Bruce just how I felt about it.
I can't really discuss the plot without giving away vital details but suffice to say Miller reaallllllly knew his source material, solving for certain movie plot holes I hadn't even realized were there while at the same time providing richer answers to questions like, "What happened to Vicki Vale?" than had previously been available. I'm not so sure so many efforts needed to be made to weave in characters and elements from Batman Returns as well but it didn't distract too much from the story the author was telling here.
Where you been, Vicki?
I think the book has been quite commercially successful, as these things go, so one imagines there may well be a sequel taking place in this period between the films, especially as
November 17, 2024
Funny thing about jokers, there’s two in every deck.
When Tim Burton’s Batman came out in the summer of 89� I was caught up in bat-fever. I pestered my parents to take me to see it multiple times and watched it many times when the VHS came out, so the idea of a lost sequel, even in book form, peaked my interest.
The story itself was ok, I enjoyed it. It dealt with the aftermath of the joker’s smilex attack from the physical perspective of survivors suffering from a range of debilitating symptoms. Also the physiological aftermath that Bruce/ Batman faces.
The thing I wasn’t quite as keen on, that I could see a lot of people liking is the extent it goes to to link itself with the first and second movies by explaining the logistics of how events in the first film happened. It does a good job of weaving itself into the films but it makes it feel less like the films in the process (if that makes sense)
pretty fun but Nothing will ever match up to a movie you saw when you were 12.
When Tim Burton’s Batman came out in the summer of 89� I was caught up in bat-fever. I pestered my parents to take me to see it multiple times and watched it many times when the VHS came out, so the idea of a lost sequel, even in book form, peaked my interest.
The story itself was ok, I enjoyed it. It dealt with the aftermath of the joker’s smilex attack from the physical perspective of survivors suffering from a range of debilitating symptoms. Also the physiological aftermath that Bruce/ Batman faces.
The thing I wasn’t quite as keen on, that I could see a lot of people liking is the extent it goes to to link itself with the first and second movies by explaining the logistics of how events in the first film happened. It does a good job of weaving itself into the films but it makes it feel less like the films in the process (if that makes sense)
pretty fun but Nothing will ever match up to a movie you saw when you were 12.
October 5, 2024
4.25 rating! I was very surprised when I heard about this book as I'm a big Batman fan and John Jackson Miller is a favorite author! I think I always wondered what happened in between Batman and Batman Returns and now I know! This was a well written caper of a story with many ups and downs. I was getting antsy when the villian kept getting away with stuff but Batman came through as he always does. I hope more books like this are written because I really enjoyed this one!
October 14, 2024
Batman Resurrection was written by bestselling author, John Jackson Miller. The book was published by Random House Worlds. This Novel is a direct sequel to Tim Burton's 1989 Batman.
This novel is hard to summarize while keeping it spoiler free... I've gotta say, I did a pretty fine job keeping this spoiler free. There is so much I'd like to talk about, but I really want you all to experience this book for yourselves.
SUMMARY
Months after the Joker's death, the streets of Gotham are still in recovery after Smylex, the solution the Joker and his goons used to terrorize the city, was unleashed. Many were killed by the chemical concoction that deformed faces, twisting cheeks upward into a heinous smile, and forced victims to laugh themselves to death. A man named Auslander, may hold the key to curing many victims.
Bruce Wayne is loosing sleep over his last encounter with The Joker. Something the Joker said to Batman before his fall from the Gotham City Cathedral is eating away at Bruce's mind. It seems that more and more questions arise as he recalls specific details leading up to the final fight.
A resurrection stuns Gotham City and Batman! The Joker's reign of terror continues, but how? Batman is pushed to his limit while fighting crime and doing his best to solve a great mystery that plagues the city and his own mind! Who will have the last laugh?
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Batman Resurrection is an absolute blast! A sequel story that ties up loose ends, a satisfying read from start to finish! I recommend this novel for anyone who was a fan of the 1989 film, Batman. John Jackson Miller does a fine job keeping the tone of the story consistent with the vision of Tim Burton's heroic vigilante. This tale is dark and mysterious, yet heroic and fun.
I love that characters from the film are present in this book. The author did such a good job keeping them true to how they were represented in the film, nailing their personalities and dialogue. New characters introduced are also very well written and move the story along in a thrilling direction.
I've never been excited to read a super hero novel, but because Batman (1989) is my favorite hero film... I got excited. I was thrilled to get direct sequel novel to that story. John Jackson Miller delivered an excellent Batman story that had me burning through the pages. I'm also thrilled that this is not the last of this Batman "canon," as there is more to come soon.
Do I recommend Batman Resurrection? Yes!
RATING
I give Batman Resurrection an A+.
This novel is hard to summarize while keeping it spoiler free... I've gotta say, I did a pretty fine job keeping this spoiler free. There is so much I'd like to talk about, but I really want you all to experience this book for yourselves.
SUMMARY
Months after the Joker's death, the streets of Gotham are still in recovery after Smylex, the solution the Joker and his goons used to terrorize the city, was unleashed. Many were killed by the chemical concoction that deformed faces, twisting cheeks upward into a heinous smile, and forced victims to laugh themselves to death. A man named Auslander, may hold the key to curing many victims.
Bruce Wayne is loosing sleep over his last encounter with The Joker. Something the Joker said to Batman before his fall from the Gotham City Cathedral is eating away at Bruce's mind. It seems that more and more questions arise as he recalls specific details leading up to the final fight.
A resurrection stuns Gotham City and Batman! The Joker's reign of terror continues, but how? Batman is pushed to his limit while fighting crime and doing his best to solve a great mystery that plagues the city and his own mind! Who will have the last laugh?
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Batman Resurrection is an absolute blast! A sequel story that ties up loose ends, a satisfying read from start to finish! I recommend this novel for anyone who was a fan of the 1989 film, Batman. John Jackson Miller does a fine job keeping the tone of the story consistent with the vision of Tim Burton's heroic vigilante. This tale is dark and mysterious, yet heroic and fun.
I love that characters from the film are present in this book. The author did such a good job keeping them true to how they were represented in the film, nailing their personalities and dialogue. New characters introduced are also very well written and move the story along in a thrilling direction.
I've never been excited to read a super hero novel, but because Batman (1989) is my favorite hero film... I got excited. I was thrilled to get direct sequel novel to that story. John Jackson Miller delivered an excellent Batman story that had me burning through the pages. I'm also thrilled that this is not the last of this Batman "canon," as there is more to come soon.
Do I recommend Batman Resurrection? Yes!
RATING
I give Batman Resurrection an A+.
December 1, 2024
As long as I visualized this novel as a Tim Burton film, it was fine.
The 1989 caped crusader movie is iconic. Michael Keaton will always be Batman to me. So I was excited to read this book. (I had read Timothy Zahn's sequel trilogy to the original Star Wars movies and really enjoyed them, so this one was a no-brainer for me.) But problems came up for me very early on.
Batman works in movies and comics (as in this scene from Batman [1989])
Dark, thrilling, beautiful. But translating these images into prose sometimes doesn't work:
The expansion of the cape when he descended from a line served a practical purpose. Lightweight skeletal spokes in his cape went rigid, causing the assembly to expand like an umbrella, catching air and slowing his descent.
But I pressed on. This was Batman, after all.
However, the problems translating Batman to prose continued in this book as the author went into some detail about the contents of Batman's utility belt and how his systems worked, or were supposed to work. Then the author spent a lot of time trying to integrate characters from the first two Burton films into this story and before I knew it half the book was done and those 200 pages felt like a real slog to me.
Things picked up in the second half of Batman: Ressurection, marred only by
...maybe with a Bat-blimp, or something just as extravagantly silly...
like the Bat-Roost, a floating bat-shaped disk that had hand grips on the underside (which does provide a humorous sequence that I won't spoil) and the Alpha Bat which is just the Batcopter that can release large batarang drones (that one was pretty good).
In the end, it is Miller's treatment of the villains, especially in the original 1940s incarnations of those villains, that provide the real punch of the book. Returning characters, such as Vicki Vale and Alfie Knox, also provided some heart for the story. The climactic scene was kind of silly and had the feel of an Adam West Batman (don't get me wrong, I love Adam West. He was the best Bruce Wayne), but the whole was a solid timewaster. The villain of the next book was teased at the end, so I'm looking forward to Batman: Revolution in 2025.
The 1989 caped crusader movie is iconic. Michael Keaton will always be Batman to me. So I was excited to read this book. (I had read Timothy Zahn's sequel trilogy to the original Star Wars movies and really enjoyed them, so this one was a no-brainer for me.) But problems came up for me very early on.
Batman works in movies and comics (as in this scene from Batman [1989])
Dark, thrilling, beautiful. But translating these images into prose sometimes doesn't work:
The expansion of the cape when he descended from a line served a practical purpose. Lightweight skeletal spokes in his cape went rigid, causing the assembly to expand like an umbrella, catching air and slowing his descent.
But I pressed on. This was Batman, after all.
However, the problems translating Batman to prose continued in this book as the author went into some detail about the contents of Batman's utility belt and how his systems worked, or were supposed to work. Then the author spent a lot of time trying to integrate characters from the first two Burton films into this story and before I knew it half the book was done and those 200 pages felt like a real slog to me.
Things picked up in the second half of Batman: Ressurection, marred only by
...maybe with a Bat-blimp, or something just as extravagantly silly...
like the Bat-Roost, a floating bat-shaped disk that had hand grips on the underside (which does provide a humorous sequence that I won't spoil) and the Alpha Bat which is just the Batcopter that can release large batarang drones (that one was pretty good).
In the end, it is Miller's treatment of the villains, especially in the original 1940s incarnations of those villains, that provide the real punch of the book. Returning characters, such as Vicki Vale and Alfie Knox, also provided some heart for the story. The climactic scene was kind of silly and had the feel of an Adam West Batman (don't get me wrong, I love Adam West. He was the best Bruce Wayne), but the whole was a solid timewaster. The villain of the next book was teased at the end, so I'm looking forward to Batman: Revolution in 2025.
November 9, 2024
Gotham City is still reeling from the Smylex attack by the Joker and Batman is finding it hard to keep up with the increasing demands on his services from the GCPD. Vicki Vale has left Gotham, tired of Bruce's inability to leave his Batman identity behind. When some of the Joker's former henchmen begin to burn buildings at random, there appears to be no discernible pattern. But Batman becomes convinced that there is a new villain orchestrating the crime wave and that he must be stopped.
Well written, with a good feel not only for the characters of Batman and Bruce Wayne, but specifically a good feel for the Michael Keaton version from 'Batman' and 'Batman Returns'. Gotham City is still the dystopian Gothic nightmare of the Burton movies and the use of some of the wider villains from 'Batman's lineup is inspired, lending a level of insight and pathos to these characters that is rarely made explicit in the source comics.
Well written, with a good feel not only for the characters of Batman and Bruce Wayne, but specifically a good feel for the Michael Keaton version from 'Batman' and 'Batman Returns'. Gotham City is still the dystopian Gothic nightmare of the Burton movies and the use of some of the wider villains from 'Batman's lineup is inspired, lending a level of insight and pathos to these characters that is rarely made explicit in the source comics.
November 28, 2024
I love the idea of this book. A novelized sequel to Burton’s Batman 89. Written by John Jackson Miller who I’ve read a couple of his Star Wars books, so I was excited.
Overall this is pretty good. I gave it three stars, but it’s maybe closer to 3.5 stars. It has a solid story that brings in a few villains. There are several nods to not only Batman 89, but also Batman Returns. And it brings back several movie characters, a few I wasn’t expecting. The on page characterization of Bruce/Batman is nil. It’s hard to get Michael Keaton from it, but it was very subdued in the movie so that can be excused here. There are two adaptations of Batman villains here. I think one is pretty good, the other is different, and I’m on the fence whether I thought it was good or not. I’m leaning towards it’s good.
My main problem is this book runs really long. There’s a lot of plot. This is a novel, not a movie or an adaptation of a movie, so it requires extra plot and characters to keep our interest. But even still, this was pretty dense for a Batman 89 story. It had almost too much going on. I felt like the story should have been a bit more nimble, maybe a bit breezier. In many respects, though, that’s a good problem to have, I guess. It feels like what later movies in the franchise try to do when they shoehorn in like 3 villains and 4 subplots.
Anyway, as the story winds down, it sets up a few things coming up in the sequel next year. I’ll more than likely read the sequel if only to see how it leads into Batman Returns.
Overall this is pretty good. I gave it three stars, but it’s maybe closer to 3.5 stars. It has a solid story that brings in a few villains. There are several nods to not only Batman 89, but also Batman Returns. And it brings back several movie characters, a few I wasn’t expecting. The on page characterization of Bruce/Batman is nil. It’s hard to get Michael Keaton from it, but it was very subdued in the movie so that can be excused here. There are two adaptations of Batman villains here. I think one is pretty good, the other is different, and I’m on the fence whether I thought it was good or not. I’m leaning towards it’s good.
My main problem is this book runs really long. There’s a lot of plot. This is a novel, not a movie or an adaptation of a movie, so it requires extra plot and characters to keep our interest. But even still, this was pretty dense for a Batman 89 story. It had almost too much going on. I felt like the story should have been a bit more nimble, maybe a bit breezier. In many respects, though, that’s a good problem to have, I guess. It feels like what later movies in the franchise try to do when they shoehorn in like 3 villains and 4 subplots.
Anyway, as the story winds down, it sets up a few things coming up in the sequel next year. I’ll more than likely read the sequel if only to see how it leads into Batman Returns.
August 31, 2024
Purchased an ARC because I was so excited for this book, I couldn’t wait! Excellent addition to the Burton timeline, I’m looking forward to Batman: Revolution and seeing where it fits in the series. Hopefully I’ll be lucky enough to grab that ARC next time around.
JJM does a fantastic job of making this novel feel like a proper follow up, including resolving some unanswered questions with the original film. I can easily picture returning characters in my mind, they are all written so well. They picked the perfect author, his love for the films shines through.
JJM does a fantastic job of making this novel feel like a proper follow up, including resolving some unanswered questions with the original film. I can easily picture returning characters in my mind, they are all written so well. They picked the perfect author, his love for the films shines through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2024
I am giving this one 4.5 stars. I thought this was really good but just a tad cheesy at times, but not too much. This was very nostalgic for me because Tim Burton’s “Batman� came out when I was a kid and has to be my favorite version of him. I really hope to see more installments of this and would also like to read more by John Jackson Miller.
Great job and anyone else who is a fan, I definitely recommend reading this book.
Great job and anyone else who is a fan, I definitely recommend reading this book.
January 6, 2025
4.5 Great thriller/mystery but it was Batman v Joker so it gets the extra half
October 24, 2024
‘Tell me, have you ever danced with the devil on the pale moonlight?�
I have always loved Batman and when I found out they were doing a follow up novel to Burton’s 1989 classic I knew I had to pick it up.
The story begins just as the 89 film ends. Batman has defeated the Joker and is fighting crime throughout the Gotham City. But when a victim of the Joker’s Smylex outbreak wakes up and escapes from Gotham General, Batman has to stop them and the last remaining members of Joker’s crew. But questions start to rise as the Joker has somehow returned from the grave.
This book is very well paced and is full of twists and turns. Jackson Miller writes the characters from the Burton films so well and the new ones he has introduced in this work well and fit right at home with the story. A major highlight for me are both Batman’s butler, Alfred, who has a lot of fun interactions with Bruce Wayne. Another is the novels primary narrator, Basil Carlow. Carlow is just a man having a bad day, and the story makes him very sympathetic despite him being the villain Clayface.
The mystery is very well thought out and ties up what little plot holes were in the original Burton movie quite well. The main heel turn I saw coming from when one character introduced himself, (his name literally was his rogues gallery name in a different language) but their plan is deliciously evil and kept me interested.
There are a lot of references and nods to the other Burton film, Max Shreck (Christopher Walken’s character from Batman Returns) being as slimy as his original appearance.
Overall this book is amazing. Not just for fans of the original movie but for anyone who likes a good detective story. A great Batman story, told incredibly well
I have always loved Batman and when I found out they were doing a follow up novel to Burton’s 1989 classic I knew I had to pick it up.
The story begins just as the 89 film ends. Batman has defeated the Joker and is fighting crime throughout the Gotham City. But when a victim of the Joker’s Smylex outbreak wakes up and escapes from Gotham General, Batman has to stop them and the last remaining members of Joker’s crew. But questions start to rise as the Joker has somehow returned from the grave.
This book is very well paced and is full of twists and turns. Jackson Miller writes the characters from the Burton films so well and the new ones he has introduced in this work well and fit right at home with the story. A major highlight for me are both Batman’s butler, Alfred, who has a lot of fun interactions with Bruce Wayne. Another is the novels primary narrator, Basil Carlow. Carlow is just a man having a bad day, and the story makes him very sympathetic despite him being the villain Clayface.
The mystery is very well thought out and ties up what little plot holes were in the original Burton movie quite well. The main heel turn I saw coming from when one character introduced himself, (his name literally was his rogues gallery name in a different language) but their plan is deliciously evil and kept me interested.
There are a lot of references and nods to the other Burton film, Max Shreck (Christopher Walken’s character from Batman Returns) being as slimy as his original appearance.
Overall this book is amazing. Not just for fans of the original movie but for anyone who likes a good detective story. A great Batman story, told incredibly well
November 21, 2024
Wow. This is the true sequel to Batman 89. This perfectly encapsulates the Tim Burton gothic world and the Michael Keaton characterization of Batman. The story was compelling and the characters were great. AMAZING plot twists and turns and honors the legacy of how iconic Batman 89 is. Can’t wait for the next one.
February 7, 2025
Excellent sequel to the 1989 Tim Burton Batman film. Set six months after The Joker falls off Gotham Cathedral. The story cleverly unveils new '89 Universe Batman villains. Voice over on the audio book is fantastic as the narrator takes on a multitude of characters. In time this Batman story deserves to go down in the upper echelon of great Batman stories. I'm so glad Penguin decided after all of these years to give Batman '89 a sequel and a well written one.
February 10, 2025
I've read a few other books by John Jackson Miller and I thought they were good, but in my opinion, Batman Resurrection did not hold up. I liked how the characters were written, but everything else did not hold up. I could see the late Michael Gough, reprising his role as Alfred, Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, but the story, the new characters, the action, were all weak and uninteresting.
December 14, 2024
It is sad to say but this just might be the biggest disappointment of the year for me. The book was a slog to get through and the story was bland, repetitive, and uninteresting. But the worst thing was that none of the characters were given justice.
November 29, 2024
Got a real kick out of the book! It does a great job recreating the "feel" of the 1989 movie and building on it in the way that anyone would have expected from a sequel at the time (before we had Batman Returns three years later). Returning characters, building mythos, and fan service are all a part of this puzzle. It also takes on the interesting stance of respecting the limits created by the 1992 sequel, while ignoring the world deconstruction and reconstruction that happened starting 1995's Batman Forever.
No spoilers. But trust me.
Solid recommendation for anyone looking for a fun read, who's a Batman fan. I have some minor quibbles. But I won't bother going into them, primarily because they're part of my reflex to be a wet blanket soaked in deep knowledge and obsessive film detail. In short: my quibbles are my own and won't matter one whit to whether anyone enjoys this on their own terms.
Highest praise I can give it, actually, is this: I am very happy to know that there is a book sequel coming out that builds on the events of this one. This is classic "Expanded Universe" style lore, but done with care and craft. Worth the spend.
No spoilers. But trust me.
Solid recommendation for anyone looking for a fun read, who's a Batman fan. I have some minor quibbles. But I won't bother going into them, primarily because they're part of my reflex to be a wet blanket soaked in deep knowledge and obsessive film detail. In short: my quibbles are my own and won't matter one whit to whether anyone enjoys this on their own terms.
Highest praise I can give it, actually, is this: I am very happy to know that there is a book sequel coming out that builds on the events of this one. This is classic "Expanded Universe" style lore, but done with care and craft. Worth the spend.
October 19, 2024
The release of Tim Burton’s film Batman in 1989 unleashed a pop culture phenomenon. Indeed, alongside Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie more than a decade earlier, it’s the film that launched superhero cinema. It’s no wonder there’s been numerous sequels and attempts to capitalize on the world Burton, his cast including Michael Keaton’s Batman and Jack Nicholson’s Joker, and crew created for that film. Something which has extended from Burton’s own 1992 film Batman Returns to the more recent Batman �89 comic from the film’s co-writer Sam Hamm. Now, thirty-five years after the film’s release, comes a literary sequel in the form of John Jackson Miller’s Batman: Resurrection.
What’s clear is that Miller has a great love and appreciation for the 1989 film. It’s something that you can sense throughout, from the spot-on characterizations that make it easy to imagine the likes of Keaton, Michael Gough, and Robert Wuhl among others reprising their film roles in the mind’s eye. Indeed, given the characters such as Wuhl’s Knox or Kim Basinger’s Vicki Vale who didn’t return for Burton’s sequel, it seems all the more fitting that they should appear here and feel spot-on. Miller also shows an appreciation for the wider universe that’s expanded out from the 1989 film with appearances of characters from Returns and some nods toward the Batman �89 comic. Sitting alongside a host of references and Easter eggs throughout, it’s something that goes a long way toward adding to the atmosphere of the novel and the sense that this is a literary sequel to the 1989 film.
As does the world building Miller does. The sense of loose threads from the film, what happened in the aftermath of the panic over cosmetics the Joker caused and the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Vicki Vale along them, linger over the novel for much of its length. The former serving as something of the novel’s backbone, from the origin story for one of the novel’s villains to how the characters (and Gotham City at large) are still reacting to the aftermath some months later. It’s something that makes Resurrection a far closer sequel to the 1989 film that even Burton managed with Returns in 1992, no mean feat given the passage of time.
Atmosphere and (arguably) fan service is one thing, but is there a story to go along with it? Miller delivers in that department, as well, crafting a new mystery for the cowl-wearing detective to solve. One that, as the subtitle suggests, partly involves some potentially unfinished business from the film. A matter that is further complicated for Batman by the addition of new villains from the rogues gallery (to say who would be to diminish part of the novel’s fun) offered in a form not out of place in the world the film created. Nor is there a lack of twists and turns along the way with red herrings and plenty of things which are not what they seem in the classic mystery/thriller tradition. That the world’s greatest detective gets a mystery to solve is something else which speaks in Resurrection’s favor.
Which isn’t to say it lacks action, of course. Far from it as Miller builds up sequences in prose that would have cost millions to realize on-screen. Among the highlights being Batman dealing with an arson, a thrilling Batmobile sequence on a Gotham bypass, and the addition of new vehicles to the Dark Knight’s fleet. All done in service of the plot and leading to a finale that, much like the novel itself, builds upon the original film to a satisfying conclusion.
From Miller’s spot-on characterizations and world building to an engaging mystery and thrilling action, Batman: Resurrection is the sequel to Burton’s 1989 film you never knew you needed. More than that: it’s a better sequel to it than Burton’s own cinematic follow-up. For fans of the original film wanting more of their favorite characters or looking for an (officially licensed) answer to some burning questions, it’s well-worth a read, as it is for fans of Batman and good thrillers in general.
So turn on Danny Elfman’s Batman march and return to Gotham: 1989.
What’s clear is that Miller has a great love and appreciation for the 1989 film. It’s something that you can sense throughout, from the spot-on characterizations that make it easy to imagine the likes of Keaton, Michael Gough, and Robert Wuhl among others reprising their film roles in the mind’s eye. Indeed, given the characters such as Wuhl’s Knox or Kim Basinger’s Vicki Vale who didn’t return for Burton’s sequel, it seems all the more fitting that they should appear here and feel spot-on. Miller also shows an appreciation for the wider universe that’s expanded out from the 1989 film with appearances of characters from Returns and some nods toward the Batman �89 comic. Sitting alongside a host of references and Easter eggs throughout, it’s something that goes a long way toward adding to the atmosphere of the novel and the sense that this is a literary sequel to the 1989 film.
As does the world building Miller does. The sense of loose threads from the film, what happened in the aftermath of the panic over cosmetics the Joker caused and the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Vicki Vale along them, linger over the novel for much of its length. The former serving as something of the novel’s backbone, from the origin story for one of the novel’s villains to how the characters (and Gotham City at large) are still reacting to the aftermath some months later. It’s something that makes Resurrection a far closer sequel to the 1989 film that even Burton managed with Returns in 1992, no mean feat given the passage of time.
Atmosphere and (arguably) fan service is one thing, but is there a story to go along with it? Miller delivers in that department, as well, crafting a new mystery for the cowl-wearing detective to solve. One that, as the subtitle suggests, partly involves some potentially unfinished business from the film. A matter that is further complicated for Batman by the addition of new villains from the rogues gallery (to say who would be to diminish part of the novel’s fun) offered in a form not out of place in the world the film created. Nor is there a lack of twists and turns along the way with red herrings and plenty of things which are not what they seem in the classic mystery/thriller tradition. That the world’s greatest detective gets a mystery to solve is something else which speaks in Resurrection’s favor.
Which isn’t to say it lacks action, of course. Far from it as Miller builds up sequences in prose that would have cost millions to realize on-screen. Among the highlights being Batman dealing with an arson, a thrilling Batmobile sequence on a Gotham bypass, and the addition of new vehicles to the Dark Knight’s fleet. All done in service of the plot and leading to a finale that, much like the novel itself, builds upon the original film to a satisfying conclusion.
From Miller’s spot-on characterizations and world building to an engaging mystery and thrilling action, Batman: Resurrection is the sequel to Burton’s 1989 film you never knew you needed. More than that: it’s a better sequel to it than Burton’s own cinematic follow-up. For fans of the original film wanting more of their favorite characters or looking for an (officially licensed) answer to some burning questions, it’s well-worth a read, as it is for fans of Batman and good thrillers in general.
So turn on Danny Elfman’s Batman march and return to Gotham: 1989.
October 20, 2024
Batman �89 has been having kind of a resurgence these last five years. Knox made a surprise cameo in CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, and we got the Batman �89 comics that take place after the Burton films, but the DCEU unfortunately fumbled its use of Michael Keaton. This book, however, explores an interesting time period between the two Burton films, not stepping on the toes of the aforementioned comics. I did get confused about whether it was in the weeks after or months after the first film, but I guess that doesn’t matter too much.
The death of the Joker does weigh on Bruce Wayne, and you can definitely feel that. With this being a bridge between �89 and Returns, I was surprised at first to hear that Vikki Vale had already left, but there’s more bridging later on. Even cameos of Returns characters.
It’s interesting to imagine how Clayface would’ve looked in a film of that time period. There’s also Dr. Auslander, and it’s pretty easy to guess who he actually is, so I kind of wonder how much of a secret it was expected to be for the reader. I did enjoy the character dynamics regardless.
I was also very surprised when I found out there’s a follow-up book on the way in about a year titled Batman: Revolution. It’s pretty exciting that there will be more prose in this time period. And it doesn’t necessarily need to worry about stepping on the toes of Batman Forever or Batman & Robin since those are now considered a separate universe.
The death of the Joker does weigh on Bruce Wayne, and you can definitely feel that. With this being a bridge between �89 and Returns, I was surprised at first to hear that Vikki Vale had already left, but there’s more bridging later on. Even cameos of Returns characters.
It’s interesting to imagine how Clayface would’ve looked in a film of that time period. There’s also Dr. Auslander, and it’s pretty easy to guess who he actually is, so I kind of wonder how much of a secret it was expected to be for the reader. I did enjoy the character dynamics regardless.
I was also very surprised when I found out there’s a follow-up book on the way in about a year titled Batman: Revolution. It’s pretty exciting that there will be more prose in this time period. And it doesn’t necessarily need to worry about stepping on the toes of Batman Forever or Batman & Robin since those are now considered a separate universe.
November 1, 2024
I’m pretty good about selecting books that I know I’ll enjoy, so I tend to rate things pretty highly. Every once in a while, I read a book that makes me regret how highly I’ve rated other books. I wish I could give this one an extra star just for exceeding my expectations.
I expected to enjoy it, and I’ve read a few books by the author previously, and I know I enjoy his writing. I still expected to find a bit of a shallow tie-in with some boring corporate villain or something. I was very wrong. This novel did a great job of diving deeper into the version of Batman and Gotham that we saw in the 1989 movie, but it also leaned heavily into making it a true Batman story, fleshing out the world with classic characters and references and teasing what’s to come. It pulled no punches just because it was a movie tie-in. Watching �89 and Returns will always feel different from this point forward. A sequel has already been announced and I can’t wait for it. This will be one of my favorites on the year.
I expected to enjoy it, and I’ve read a few books by the author previously, and I know I enjoy his writing. I still expected to find a bit of a shallow tie-in with some boring corporate villain or something. I was very wrong. This novel did a great job of diving deeper into the version of Batman and Gotham that we saw in the 1989 movie, but it also leaned heavily into making it a true Batman story, fleshing out the world with classic characters and references and teasing what’s to come. It pulled no punches just because it was a movie tie-in. Watching �89 and Returns will always feel different from this point forward. A sequel has already been announced and I can’t wait for it. This will be one of my favorites on the year.
February 20, 2025
Picking up where the 1989 Tim Burton classic left off, and beginning to fill the gap between that movie and the next Batman Returns. The primary plot deals with the medical fallout of Smylex, as distributed by the Joker, and whether or not the Clown Prince of Crime survived. We introduce staples of the next movie: The Red Triangle Gang, Max Shreck, Selina Kyle, and a hint at Penguin, and developing the Batboat. Check in with first movie favs Alexander Knox and Vicki Vale. But we focus more so on characters essential to the plot of this book: Basil Karlo, known to fans as Clayface; and Hugo Strange.
Overall, the book was well written and engaging. Definitely a good audiobook for my commutes. Looking forward to the sequel coming out this fall. Seems like we might be teasing The Riddler, plus there is also the potential for Harvey Two-Face.
Recommend, especially for fans of Keaton's Batman.
Overall, the book was well written and engaging. Definitely a good audiobook for my commutes. Looking forward to the sequel coming out this fall. Seems like we might be teasing The Riddler, plus there is also the potential for Harvey Two-Face.
Recommend, especially for fans of Keaton's Batman.
October 19, 2024
A Must Read for Fans of Batman 89
Batman 1989 was my first exposure to the character of Batman and since then he’s been my favorite comic book character and I’ve watched this and Batman Returns dozens of times. It’s very clear that JJM is a big fan of these movies as well as he writes a story so engrained in the universe you could swear this was a produced movie sequel. We get to explore Batman’s mind in the aftermath of the Joker and the damage it entails on him both physically and in his relationships. We also see a bridge for characters we will see in the next movie and some new villains that couldn’t have been done properly (at least one of them) at the time but work perfectly here. I’m always a sucker for more Batman gear and “toys� and we get those here and some sneak peaks into future gadgets. In the end without spoilers if you’re a fan of the Burton Batman movies check this out and preorder the sequel coming in 2025. I can’t wait
Batman 1989 was my first exposure to the character of Batman and since then he’s been my favorite comic book character and I’ve watched this and Batman Returns dozens of times. It’s very clear that JJM is a big fan of these movies as well as he writes a story so engrained in the universe you could swear this was a produced movie sequel. We get to explore Batman’s mind in the aftermath of the Joker and the damage it entails on him both physically and in his relationships. We also see a bridge for characters we will see in the next movie and some new villains that couldn’t have been done properly (at least one of them) at the time but work perfectly here. I’m always a sucker for more Batman gear and “toys� and we get those here and some sneak peaks into future gadgets. In the end without spoilers if you’re a fan of the Burton Batman movies check this out and preorder the sequel coming in 2025. I can’t wait
December 15, 2024
This was a fun experience. I've never read a hero novel outside of a graphic novel. The story was solid and relatively believable. As a Batman fan, I think it's only enjoyable if you've seen the original 1989 Keaton and Nicholson film. The author leans heavily on nostalgia, and refers to small details of the film that are fun to go back and watch.The drawback to this is that the world building gets cut short a bit. The dialogue is decent. Some of the characters are spot on, but Bruce Wayne / Batman in particular don't quite seem very "Keaton." Keaton had an intelligent dry humor that was sort of passive-aggressive. This depiction misses that a bit. All in all, 4/5. I've learned through reading this, that the character of Batman is not what intrigues me, rather it's the villains within the story and what drove them to become adversarial to the dark knight.
January 4, 2025
Batman: Resurrection is a captivating novel that bridges the gap between 1989 Batman film and its 1992 sequel, Batman Returns. This story introduces intriguing characters like Basil Karlo, aka Clayface, and Hugo Strange, adding depth to Tim Burton's Batman universe.
While the series is engaging, some of the cameos feel a bit forced, disrupting the otherwise smooth flow of the story. The appearance of the strongman from Penguin's henchmen and Joker's brief encounter with Selina Kyle, for instance, seem like contrived nods to the films rather than organic narrative choices. Nevertheless, Batman: Resurrection remains a compelling read for fans of the Batman franchise, offering a unique and suspenseful tale that expands on the iconic characters and world created by Tim Burton.
While the series is engaging, some of the cameos feel a bit forced, disrupting the otherwise smooth flow of the story. The appearance of the strongman from Penguin's henchmen and Joker's brief encounter with Selina Kyle, for instance, seem like contrived nods to the films rather than organic narrative choices. Nevertheless, Batman: Resurrection remains a compelling read for fans of the Batman franchise, offering a unique and suspenseful tale that expands on the iconic characters and world created by Tim Burton.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 9, 2024
35 years later, we have a direct sequel to the first Tim Burton Batman movie! This is a very well crafted Batman story that does a great job staying true to the Batman character and to the Gotham City created by Tim Burton for the 1989 movie. It leans into Batman’s detective skills much more than any we’ve seen in a Batman movie in the last 20 years or so. Give this one a try. Batman fans will love it.
December 2, 2024
Batman: Resurrection is a novel written by John Jackson Miller. It was released in 2024.
Set shortly after the events of Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), Gotham City is still healing from The Joker’s reign of terror. Hundreds of citizens were left dead or scarred from the Smylex attack and Bruce Wayne has opened a state of the art hospital wing, welcoming famed Doctor Hugo Auslander to help cure the victims.
Everything starts to unravel when stage actor Basil Karlo awakes in the Smylex Ward from a coma. He is horrified to learn that his face and skin appear to be melting. He makes a chaotic escape but returns to the scene to get answers. He becomes indebted to Dr. Auslander who manipulates Karlo into using his new abilities to morph into other people.
Batman is still cleaning up the criminal underworld where The Joker’s gang has largely become a nuisance. Going by the name The Last Laughs and lead by Joker’s former henchman Lawrence, the group is struggling to get by when they start taking on jobs for department store businessman Max Shreck.
But Gotham City is in the surprise of a lifetime when the Last Laughs dig up Jack Napier’s grave and somebody else’s body is found. And that is when the Joker reappears�
This new novel serves as a prequel to Batman Returns while also trying to answer perceived plot holes from the first movie. Was it necessary? Of course not, but it’s excellent fan service. Some of the twists are not that surprising if you are a big fan of Batman comics but it’s still fun to see some villains who have not yet made their film debuts. The book does a great job of capturing the tone of the movies. Definitely worth a read if you are a fan of Keaton’s Batman and Burton’s films.
Set shortly after the events of Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), Gotham City is still healing from The Joker’s reign of terror. Hundreds of citizens were left dead or scarred from the Smylex attack and Bruce Wayne has opened a state of the art hospital wing, welcoming famed Doctor Hugo Auslander to help cure the victims.
Everything starts to unravel when stage actor Basil Karlo awakes in the Smylex Ward from a coma. He is horrified to learn that his face and skin appear to be melting. He makes a chaotic escape but returns to the scene to get answers. He becomes indebted to Dr. Auslander who manipulates Karlo into using his new abilities to morph into other people.
Batman is still cleaning up the criminal underworld where The Joker’s gang has largely become a nuisance. Going by the name The Last Laughs and lead by Joker’s former henchman Lawrence, the group is struggling to get by when they start taking on jobs for department store businessman Max Shreck.
But Gotham City is in the surprise of a lifetime when the Last Laughs dig up Jack Napier’s grave and somebody else’s body is found. And that is when the Joker reappears�
This new novel serves as a prequel to Batman Returns while also trying to answer perceived plot holes from the first movie. Was it necessary? Of course not, but it’s excellent fan service. Some of the twists are not that surprising if you are a big fan of Batman comics but it’s still fun to see some villains who have not yet made their film debuts. The book does a great job of capturing the tone of the movies. Definitely worth a read if you are a fan of Keaton’s Batman and Burton’s films.
January 30, 2025
A deeply enjoyable read for anyone fans of Tim Burton's Batman movies and the Batman franchise at large. Dare I say, a better tie-in to those movies than the Batman '89 comic was. Loved the interpretation of Clayface here, and while I did find it kind of unnecessary to fill in the gaps between Batman and Batman Returns, it was still very interesting to see how much work the author went into to do that.
January 17, 2025
Set between the events of Tim Burton’s Batman, and Batman Returns. Batman deals with the immediate aftermath and consequences of Joker’s schemes and attacks in a fun and twisty story. The prose perfectly recaptures the vibe of Burtons films, and it’s natural to hear the voices of Michael Keaton and others in your head while reading.
October 16, 2024
Good
The book was a lot more ambitious than the garden variety tie in novel and is structured like a more proper novel. As such it is a much more involved story and has an emphasis on character development, especially for our villains. However like other 89 tie ins of recent memory it trips over trying to re litigate the first movie and trying to make it more like the comics. To be fair it doesn't press on that nearly as much as the current 89 comic run, but it does happen. Thus as the novel progresses it strays further away from the voices of the 89 cast. Still a much better book than I was expecting.
The book was a lot more ambitious than the garden variety tie in novel and is structured like a more proper novel. As such it is a much more involved story and has an emphasis on character development, especially for our villains. However like other 89 tie ins of recent memory it trips over trying to re litigate the first movie and trying to make it more like the comics. To be fair it doesn't press on that nearly as much as the current 89 comic run, but it does happen. Thus as the novel progresses it strays further away from the voices of the 89 cast. Still a much better book than I was expecting.
October 28, 2024
I never expected to get a direct sequel to Tim Burton's Batman. I mean sure we did in 1992 with Batman Returns but that's more a sequel in the , here's a new adventure with Batman and some new characters, this is a direct sequel, using plot holes as story ammunition, in this love letter to Batman, both the character and the 1989 movie, which ended up very likely being the best book I'll read all year.
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