Batman: Resurrection

De: John Jackson Miller

Narrado por: Will Damron

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?

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Did you ever wonder WHAT IF Tim Burton and Michael Keaton had created a trilogy? Wonder no longer! Her is the missing Part 2 of 3! Diving deep into the imaginations of director Tim Burton and screenwriter Sam Hamm, John Jackson Miller provides the missing link between 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman: Returns in this new novel.”—Michael Uslan, executive producer of Batman and Batman Returns

Great Exploration of the Batman '89 Universe

Bottom line: An excellent superhero-action story read by a great narrator, "Batman: Resurrection" creatively fleshes out the story universe suggested by Tim Burton's Batman movies.

Spoiler-free review: I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. As one would expect for a book derived from a media franchise, there are many callbacks to both Batman '89 and allusions to things to come in Batman Returns (this novel being set between the Tim Burton movies.) But rather than just being just Easter eggs for fans, author John Jackson Miller uses those callbacks to propel the story forward while exploring the fictional universe of implied by the Burton movies.

What would it be like for an average Gothamite during the Joker's Smylex reign of terror? What would be the aftermath for the city after multiple, insane, mass casualty events? With the benefit of a novel's extra space to explore, "Batman: Resurrection" has time to explore these and similar questions, making for some rich worldbuilding and character exploration that remains consistent with (and honoring of) the original movie.

That extra space also means the book can revisit some seeming plot holes in the '89 Batman movie, which in Miller's hands turn out not to be plot holes at all but questions that push the narrative forward.

One of the things I enjoyed most was how true the book was to Michael Keaton's interpretation of Batman. Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne was famously just Batman's mask. In retrospect, I can see how Keaton's Bruce Wayne was the real identity. Put another way, Keaton’s Bruce Wayne puts on a performance, Bale’s Bruce Wayne is a performance. Keaton’s Bruce Wayne may be a vigilante in a dark, grim world, but Bruce Wayne himself isn’t really dark and grim.

Somewhat to my own surprise, I enjoy keeping company with Keaton’s (and the novel’s) interpretation more. My recollection is we saw more of Batman/Bruce Wayne’s kindness in “Batman Returns” than the first movie, and that kindness is very much on display in “Batman: Resurrection.” In all his interactions, all his battles, we have a caring Bruce Wayne as a caring Batman, doing everything he can to save people not for vengeance, but because it’s the right thing to do. It’s great.

Will Damron has narrated favorite fiction and nonfiction reads of mine, and he displays his usual excellence here. His rendition of iconic characters from the movie sound true to themselves without being impersonations. In a handful of places, I did think his Batman was a bit more Kevin Conroy than Keaton. But then, whose Batman was Conroy’s probably first modeled after when “Batman: The Animated Series” debuted in 1992? Regardless, Damron's Batman is a joy to listen to.

If I had to find something to criticize, I wish the author had described more of Gotham’s architecture. Those designs helped make Gotham its own character in the Burton movies. Iconic locales are referenced in the novel, but I am not sure I’d have a vivid picture if the text wasn’t supplemented by memories of the movie. But perhaps that is inevitable, given the differences in visual and written media (and the fact that the author knows readers have likely seen the movies).

I wish the author was more prolific in the superhero genre (much of his work is in Star Trek and Star Wars novels), because I cannot wait for more novels set in the Batman ‘89 universe. Highly recommended.

Great jump back into the Burton/‘89 Batman world!

I really enjoyed it. There is great care by the author to lay the groundwork for a wonderfully layered story, rife with lore from the Batman mythos. Elements of the story felt like they were cherry picked from the Batman Arkham video game series, and carefully reworked into this iteration of the dark knight. Loved it. I also liked how the narrator’s personification of Batman sounded similar to Jason O’Mara who voiced the character in several DC animated projects.

Better sequel than Batman Returns

Wonderfully written and read. Introduces several new characters from the Batman mythos and sets up a sequence I would love to see done.

Great In Between

I thought this is a great continuation of the 89 Batman film. With villains that’s fans will recognize and hear a good back story for, I would strongly suggest that you read/ listen to this.

A few familiar faces and a few new ones

I would’ve liked more action and more wonderful bat toys. I did enjoy the story though.