Exploring the Novel Enigma in Burton's Batman Universe

Although the historic significance of Batman and Batman Returns in graphic novel movie history, Michael Keaton’s tenure as the Caped Crusader wrapped up with unrealized possibilities. Fans will never know what a threequel could have been if Tim Burton had remained to helm the film that ultimately evolved into Batman Forever. Fortunately, writer John Jackson Miller was commissioned to envision this alternate scenario.

Introducing The Riddler, a New Adversary

Rather than using the well-known character of Edward Nygma, Miller’s new book, Batman: Revolution, centers on Norman Pinkus, the frequent riddle composer for the local press. Envision if the brain behind a popular word game engineered a criminal spree, and you’ll comprehend the concept.

“I've always believed that ‘Edward Nygma’ might simply be a alias — since a nygma denotes a spot on a insect’s wing,” Miller explains. “But that’s precisely the kind of trivia Norman would know! A lexicon lover with an encyclopedic memory, he literally resided in the book repository — and became the trusted source for information at the publication [...] Yet he is furthermore a tremendous mystery-unraveler, solving conundrums people didn't even know existed — and when he decides to use his fame, it’s to urge citizens to question the powers that be in Gotham City. This encompasses the police, Harvey Dent — and its relatively new protector, Batman. I believe their relationship, equally as partners and foes, is something that’s extremely new and engaging.”

That concealed intellect is what makes Norman such a intriguing Tim Burton-style persona. This metropolis is a setting where ordinary people commonly change under intense strain. In Batman Returns, an excluded Oswald Cobblepot welcomed his villainous bird-like persona. In Miller’s Resurrection, stand-in Karlo Babić succumbed to his baser nature as he transformed into the mud-like menace. Miller aimed the Riddler’s transformation to seem cut from similar fabric.

“To the average observer, Norman Pinkus is a humble, mawkish shut-in; yet he furthermore has a alternate identity, battling lawlessness by employing the characters of his own invention, much more flamboyant than he,” the author notes. “This seemed like it would be extremely in the essence of Tim Burton’s movies, where we saw nervous clerical worker Selina Kyle transform into the energetic cat burglar. We see a comparable metamorphosis here, yet again the result of tragedy.”

Combining Drama and Realism

Miller is candid about how much previous versions of the Riddler influenced his work — but additionally about where he wanted to venture in fresh avenues. He admits that as a youngster, he found it hard to take Frank Gorshin’s exaggerated 1960s interpretation with gravity.

“Even as a kid I wondered whether concealing the indicators to one's crimes in enigmas for Batman was the best way to evade capture!” Miller remarks.

Rather, his Tim Burton-style Riddler strikes a harmony between drama and practicality. Norman’s brain-teasers echo actual puzzle fads, but they’re also designed to provoke Gothamites into questioning their officials and to compel Batman into a contest of intellect. “I bring in elements like his outfit and the interrogation symbol, while heading in our distinctive route with the type of person he once was, and how the enigma identity was born,” Miller says.

Just like previously in Resurrection, Miller vows that The Riddler is just a component of the enigma in Revolution. This is still the tale of Batman and a city he has pledged to defend.

“Following observing the setting presented in the couple of motion pictures, I liked the idea that Gotham City was larger than just Batman and the immediate foe — that there were other characters in this locale who may have been actively fighting or perpetrating unlawful acts, hidden until Batman’s arrival pulled them into the spotlight,” Miller explains. “Moreover as we’ll see in Revolution, The Riddler has company.”

Batman: Revolution arrives in bookstores on the 21st of October.