Tim Burton's iconic Batman universe is set to expand once more with the release of a new novel titled Batman: Revolution. Penned by acclaimed author John Jackson Miller and published by Penguin Random House, this upcoming book introduces the Burton-Verse's interpretation of The Riddler. Fans can now preorder Batman: Revolution on Amazon, eagerly awaiting its arrival on October 28, 2025.
As reported by ComicBook.com, Revolution serves as a sequel to the 2024 novel Batman: Resurrection, also written by Miller. Both novels are set within the timeline between the events of the 1989 film Batman and its 1992 sequel Batman Returns. Revolution draws inspiration from Burton's unproduced third Batman film, which was rumored to feature Robin Williams as The Riddler.
Here's the official summary for Batman: Revolution:
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.
In addition to Miller's novels, DC Comics continues to enrich the Burton-Verse with its own publications. Following the release of Batman '89, a comic sequel to Batman Returns featuring a Billy Dee Williams-inspired Two-Face and a Marlon Wayans-inspired Robin, DC introduced Batman '89: Echoes. This comic brings in a Jeff Goldblum-inspired Scarecrow and a Madonna-inspired Harley Quinn. DC has also expanded the universe with Superman '78, a series that acts as a sequel to the Christopher Reeve Superman films.
For those interested in learning more about Burton's vision for a third Batman film and other unrealized DC projects, be sure to explore the list of DC movies that never made it to the screen.
Batman '89: Echoes & Superman '78: The Metal Curtain Cover Gallery
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