Batman 1989 Sequel Batman: Revolution to Introduce the Burton-Verse's Riddler

Tim Burton's Batman universe is expanding once again in the form of a new novel called Batman: Resurrection. Written by John Jackson Miller and published by Penguin Random House, this book will introduce the Burton-Verse's version of The Riddler.

As revealed by ComicBook.com, Revolution is a follow-up to 2024's Batman: Resurrection, which was also penned by Miller. Like Resurrection, Revolution is set between the events of 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns. The book will draw inspiration from Burton's abandoned third Batman film, which at one point was expected to star Robin Williams as 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.

Batman: Revolution will be released on October 28, 2025. You can preorder a copy on Amazon.

Not to be outdone, DC Comics has also been busy expanding on the Burton-Verse. They published Batman '89, a sequel to Returns featuring a Billy Dee Williams-inspired Two-Face and Marlon Wayans-inspired Robin. They followed that comic up with Batman '89: Echoes, which introduces a Jeff Goldblum-inspired Scarecrow and a Madonna-inspired Harley Quinn. DC has also published two volumes of Superman '78, which serve as sequels to the Christoper Reeve Superman movies.

For more on Burton's Batman 3 and other canceled DC movies, check out the DC movies that failed to launch.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.