The latest addition to Tim Burton’s 2024 novel Batman: Resurrection is an interquel, set between the events of 1989’s Batman and Batman Returns, dealing not only with the fallout of the events of the first film, but also including characters previously exclusive to each film within the same story.
Resurrection is set mere months after the events of 1989’s Batman, and it explores how Gotham City’s citizens continue to deal with the aftermath of the Joker’s crime spree. In the live-action Batman movie, Joker poisoned hygiene and beauty products with Smylex (the film’s version of his lethal Joker Venom from the comics), with specific combinations of products becoming deadly. Joker murdered more innocents during Gotham City’s bicentennial parade, where he released Smylex gas. Resurrection reveals what The Penguin, Catwoman, and Max Shreck were up to during the events of the 1989 film and, specifically, how they perceived the Joker.
The Penguin Respected The Joker
The Penguin does not appear in Batman Resurrection, but he and most of his criminal gang – the Red Triangle Circus gang – are referenced in the book. The unnamed Strongman of the Red Triangle gang makes multiple appearances, however, surfacing from the gang’s sewer hideout to purchase food and other supplies for The Penguin and the other gang . The Red Triangle gang itself was not thrilled with The Joker and his henchmen using the clown motif, as they felt they were “horning in on their circus theme.” The Strongman does note, however, that The Penguin appreciated The Joker’s style.
Batman Returns: Penguin's 10 Best Quotes
Part of the brilliance of the Tim Burton movie, Batman Returns, lies in the dialogue. Among those with incredible remarks is the antagonist, Penguin.
The Strongman reveals that The Penguin saw how The Joker upended Gotham in a matter of weeks and felt inspired by him. The Penguin also appreciated the sheer audacity of Joker’s mass poisoning of Gotham’s citizens, though he was aware that the Smylex products also threatened him and his gang. Gotham citizens were dumping their hygiene and beauty products down the drain, endangering The Penguin and the Red Triangle gang, who reside in the sewers. Resurrection even implies that the “lagoon” toxic waste in Returns contains Smylex, in addition to toxic byproducts from Max Schreck’s company.
Catwoman Was Terrified Of The Joker
Selina Kyle appears in Batman Resurrection as well, and the novel not only reveals what she thought of the Joker but also that she encountered him in person. When Joker revealed that he was poisoning the citizens of Gotham, Selina Kyle immediately disposed of all of her hygiene and beauty products. After the Joker’s encounter with Batman and Vicki Vale at the Flugelheim museum, Selina ed him by as he left. The Joker gave her a backhanded compliment, leading Selina to panic and take a week off from work, hiding in her apartment and fearing that Joker would follow her home.
Selina Kyle’s fear of the Joker is justified, given his assaults on Gotham, unpredictability, and tendency to murder for amusement. Of course, had Selina Kyle been Catwoman by this point, she most likely would have had a vastly different attitude toward Joker. As Catwoman, Selina Kyle was a menace in her own right, and while she did not poison the city like Joker or perpetrate a mass rocket attack like The Penguin, she was a skilled and cunning fighter. As Catwoman, Selina Kyle would have been far more confident in her ability to defend herself from the likes of the Joker.
Max Shreck Feared Joker Even When He Was Jack Napier
Batman Resurrection also delves into the history of Max Schreck, revealing that the corrupt tycoon was so dangerous that Gotham’s most notorious crime boss – Carl Grissom – allegedly avoided incurring his wrath. Shreck himself privately avoided entanglements with Carl Grissom’s criminal empire, though this was seemingly mostly due to his fear of Grisson’s right-hand man – Jack Napier. Even before Napier’s transformation into one of the most iconic live-action versions of the Joker of all time, Shreck recognized Napier as the real threat within Grissom’s organization, and Shreck, unsurprisingly, feared him even more as the Clown Prince of Crime.
Max Shreck did occasionally work with other crime bosses, such as Vinnie Ricorso and Antoine Rotelli – though both were murdered by the Joker.
The Joker’s Smylex poisonings threatened not only the citizens of Gotham, but also Max Schreck’s business. Shreck also became aware of the Joker’s horrific assassination of crime boss Antoine Rotelli, who Joker killed with his lethal joy buzzer in 1989’s Batman. According to Batman Resurrection, Shreck “couldn’t imagine a more terrible way to die.”
Batman
- Release Date
- June 23, 1989
- Runtime
- 126 Minutes
- Director
- Tim Burton
WHERE TO WATCH
Batman is a 1989 superhero movie directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne. The film features Jack Nicholson's chilling portrayal as Jack Napier, who turns into the Joker and reigns terror on Gotham. Kim Basinger also stars in the film as Vicki Vale, along with Michael Gough as Bruce's trusty butler named Alfred.
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