Batman: Resurrection
 Cover art | |
| Authors | John Jackson Miller |
|---|---|
| Series | Batman |
| Genres | Superhero |
| Publisher | Penguin Random House |
Publication date | October 15, 2024 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 432 |
| ISBN | 9780593871904 |
Batman: Resurrection is an American superhero novel written by John Jackson Miller. The novel is set in Tim Burton's Batman film series, taking place in-between Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), exploring the aftermath of The Joker's death and Bruce Wayne / Batman's obsessive need to protect Gotham City while investigating a major mystery. The story introduces the characters of Clayface and Hugo Strange.[1] It was released on October 15, 2024, by Penguin Random House.[2]
Premise
[edit]After the events of Batman (1989), Gotham City is still in the clutches of The Joker, even after his death. What's left of Joker's gang continues to terrorize the city, and opportunists such as greedy millionaire Max Shreck come out of the woodwork. Victims of Joker's toxic chemical Smylex crowd the city's main hospital. Bruce Wayne's obsessive need to protect Gotham drives a wedge between him and his newspaper journalist girlfriend Vicki Vale. Batman discovers an ever-growing evil being organized and orchestrated behind the scenes. This also leads him to investigate the biggest mystery of all – could The Joker have somehow survived?
Characters
[edit]- Bruce Wayne/Batman: The vigilante protector of Gotham City who has opened and funded the Smylex ward of Gotham General Hospital to help the survivors of the Joker's Smylex massacre, but who also continues to be haunted by the memory of his parents' murder, and by theories and nightmares that the Joker may have survived their last encounter. In Batman and the DC Extended Universe, he is portrayed by Michael Keaton.
- The Joker/Jack Napier: Batman's deceased archenemy who continues to plague Bruce Wayne's nightmares. In Batman, he is played by Jack Nicholson.
- Alfred Pennyworth: Bruce's butler, confidant and father-figure who grows concerned over Bruce's obsession with the Joker despite the latter's death. In the films, he is played by Michael Gough.
- Karlo Babić: a struggling stage actor who goes by the name Basil Karlo and who is disfigured after being exposed to Smylex-laced products smuggled from Central City which give him the ability to shape his face and alter his voice to impersonate anyone. After a confrontation with Batman on a runaway bus, he is dubbed Clayface by the media, and seeks Dr. Hugh Auslander's help to find a cure.
- Dr. Hugo Strange: the head of the Smylex Ward of Gotham General Hospital who has secretly been experimenting with Smylex chemicals to create a superior race of humans as part of Project Hegemon under a number of aliases. Throughout the book, he initially uses the name Dr. Hugh Auslander.
- James Gordon: the commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department, now a secret ally of Batman's. In the films, he is portrayed by Pat Hingle.
- Harvey Dent: the district attorney of Gotham City. In Batman, he is portrayed by Billy Dee Williams.
- Leo Borg: the Mayor of Gotham City. In Batman, he is portrayed by Lee Wallace.
- Lawrence: a former member of the Joker's gang, having survived the battle in the cathedral and started his own gang, the Last Laughs.
- Alexander Knox: a reporter for the Gotham Globe investigating the Last Laughs and later the Joker's possible return. In Batman and the Arrowverse, he is played by Robert Wuhl.
- Vicki Vale: Bruce's former girlfriend who returns to Gotham to help him investigate the Joker's possible return and Hugh Auslander. In Batman, she is played by Kim Basinger.
- Max Shreck: an influential department store mogul seeking to gain more power over Gotham in the aftermath of the Joker's rampage. In Batman Returns, he is played by Christopher Walken.
- Selina Kyle: Shreck's timid secretary, traumatized by her own experiences with the Joker. In Batman Returns, she is played by Michelle Pfeiffer.
- Julie Madison: a stage actress, friend of Karlo Babić and Bruce's current girlfriend. Though she does not appear in either of Tim Burton's films, she was portrayed by Elle Macpherson in Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin, which was intended as a third sequel to Batman at the time of its release.
- Dr. Arthur Davis: the surgeon who previously performed illegal surgery on Jack Napier's face, whose disfigured corpse is later found in Napier's grave. In Batman, he is played by Steve Plytas.
- Drake Winston: a mechanic working in the Burnside neighborhood of Gotham City. In Batman '89, he is modelled after Marlon Wayans, who was Tim Burton's original choice to play Robin in Batman Forever while Michael Keaton was still attached to play Batman.
- Barbara Gordon: the daughter of James Gordon who works with the GCPD.
- Tattooed Strongman: a former bodybuilder and member of the Red Triangle Gang who resides in the sewers of Gotham City with their boss. In Batman Returns, he is played by Rick Zumwalt.
Background
[edit]Batman: Resurrection was announced in April 2024 as a follow-up novel to the 1989 film Batman, and was being written by author John Jackson Miller. Miller said "There are dream projects, and then there are projects you never dreamt were possible [...] People always ask what world I wanted to get the chance to write in; I never named Burton's take on Batman because I never imagined it could happen. But [PRH] editor Tom Hoeler found a way." Miller further revealed that the 1989 film shaped the writer he had become, mentioning that he saw the film in the theater twelve times and wrote college papers and comics magazine articles about it. Unlike the ongoing comic book series Batman '89 (2021–present) from DC Comics, which serves as an alternative continuation of Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), Batman: Resurrection explores the events following the 1989 film and before the events of 1992's Batman Returns. Miller revealed that the book's timeline enables characters such as Vicki Vale, Alexander Knox, Selina Kyle, and Max Shreck to appear.[3][4]
Sequel
[edit]In October 2024 it was revealed that Batman: Resurrection would be the first of a duology of novels; a sequel titled Batman: Revolution was later revealed by Miller and is scheduled for release in fall 2025.[5][6]
References
[edit]- ^ "A new sequel to Batman 1989 brings Clayface into the Burtonverse — here's a taste". Polygon. September 16, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ "Batman: Resurrection by John Jackson Miller". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ Whitbrook, James (April 11, 2024). "Batman 1989 Continues, in a Brand New Novel". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ Fisher, Jessica (April 12, 2024). "New Batman: Resurrection Novel Will Continue Tim Burton's '89 Batman Story". GeekTyrant. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
- ^ "Batman: Resurrection Continues the Dark Knight's Tale From the Tim Burton Film (Exclusive)". comicbook.com. October 13, 2024.
- ^ "New Batman: Resurrection Book Fills In The Gap Between Batman 1989 And Batman Returns". slashfilm.com. October 15, 2024.
External links
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