Throughtful Reader

Author John Jackson Miller

Pages 419 pages

 When I watched the movie, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. I was invested in the characters and the story that was written. The performances stood out, such as Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne/Batman, Jack Nicholson’s Joker, and Kim Basinger’s Vicki Vale. I recalled leaving the theater and wondering if the sequel would be just as good, and whether they would explore the relationship between Bruce and Vicki. Sadly, we would find out in Batman’s Return that they would go their separate ways with no explanation or reason.

 Well, in Batman Resurrections, we get a chance to see what happened between the two movies.

 The story takes place months after the end of Batman. We find that since The Joker’s demise, his gang has broken into smaller factions. One is trying to one-up the other in succeeding their former boss’s legacy. There are also new players in the mix. A former actor who was damaged by chemicals can turn himself into other people and calls himself “Clay Face.” Max Shreck, who would be in Batman Returns, and we learn that he also has his own ulterior motives to cash in on the chaos. Finally, there is also fear that a new Joker has appeared to carry on, or he is the Joker that Bruce thought he had thrown off the chapel balcony some months ago.

 Complicating this mess of an adventure for Bruce is the return of Vicki Vale. When we left the movie, we saw them together. Now, we find them in a place of distance but understanding. The realization of Bruce’s commitment is clear to Vicki, but can she move past that to give their relationship a chance to survive? Of course, how could I forget his loyal companion mentor, Alfred. His role in this story is his ability to keep Bruce in check and aware of his life beyond the suit.

 I enjoyed the book for the most part. He gave Burton’s work respect and did his best to honor the original story while presenting a new one in the same universe. However, I felt overwhelmed by the villains. From Clay Face, Schreck, The Joker’s henchmen, and even Hugo Strange made an appearance. The author attempted to explore the Bruce and Vicki relationship, but I wish he had delved deeper into it, rather than just towards the end of the book. He does a good job with Gotham’s reporter, Alexander Knox. He provided an interesting character in this book; his constant banter with Bruce throughout the book was the highlight for me (Note, Bruce never gave him the grant he asked for in the film). That was the best line to read.

  While I won’t spoil the ending, I will say that I recommend this book, but only to the dedicated fans of the movie who are interested in following the story. There is a sequel that follows this. It is scheduled for release in October of this year and is called “Batman Revolutions.” I hope he can work on the minor details and add more to the story.