By: Frank Miller, Klaus Janson Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Comic Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 512 Publication Date: August 30, 2006 Release Date: August 30, 2006
Product Description: DC Comics Absolute Editions set the standard for the highest quality, most in-depth presentation of classic graphic novels.Each oversized volume is presented in a slipcase and includes unique additional material making each Absolute Edition a cornerstone of any serious comic collection.On its publication in 1986, Frank Miller's THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS changed the landscape of the graphic novel irrevocably.With its dark vision of Batman's future and its stunning artwork, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS set the world on fire.15 years later, Miller's sequel, THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN, further redefined the boundaries of the superhero genre.Now, both of these comics masterpieces are collected in one giant-sized slipcase edition for the first time ever.Frank Miller has provided a new introduction, a new cover and new art for the slipcase.This edition is also filled with bonus material featuring an excerpt from Miller'soriginal plot for DARK KNIGHT RETURNS #4,sketchbook material and much more.
The Dark Knight Returns is Essential even for non-comic reading book fans. A one-two punch of a set in one amazing volume. There are examples of a medium that so much represent the best there is that it transcends the traditional audience. The Dark Knight Returns, the first of two volumes in this set, is such a work. The 15-years between it's sequel, The Dark Knight Rides Again, seem to change the momentum. While it is sometimes fun and always interesting, it is merely a ride-along compared to the first volume. Bottom line, this is worth it alone for The Dark Knight Returns- the sequel is just icing.
There are two odd omissions here- one was the Frank Miller Batman:Year-one story and the other was his Batman x-mas short.
Perhaps Absolute, But Far From Ultimate I'm sorry that I have to be the little skunk at this garden party. I can not share the enthusiasm for this edition which many reviewers have expressed. In fact, I discourage you discriminating collectors from buying this, as it is notably flawed.
I was compelled to buy this by the publisher's product description which claimed that it "set the standard for high quality." As a book collector I love buying these ultra-deluxe editions of all types of subject matter. Recent examples in the comics genre would include: The Deluxe Edition of Frank Miller's Sin City; The Complete Far Side; The Complete Calvin and Hobbes; The Completely Mad Don Martin. Each of these sets is packaged in a very impressive manner: cloth-bound; slip-cased; tipped-in plates on the covers, super-high quality paper. I presumed this Absolute Dark Knight was going to be be in this same spirit, and given the high price (even when discounted by Amazon) I was confident the book would exceed my expectations for quality.
Alas, I was wrong. This large, heavy book is bound in a shiny-paper cover, just like the covers you had on your Dr. Suess books x-number of years ago. These covers get dinged up very easily and look cheap and cheesey from day one. The slip case? It is also covered only in thin shiny paper, and if this book gets any real usage at all it will look like garbage very promptly. And, with the heavy weight, this book is particularly susceptible to damage because when you bump it, there is more inertia behind it. And the torque pulling on the binding and spine from merely reading it is considerable. This production concept MANDATED quality construction, and the idiots who produced it are hoping the majority of consumers are not scrutinizing enough to note, or care about, the compromises. And it is further infuriating when you realize this malfeasance was motivated merely by the desire to shave a few bucks off the production costs.
I should admit this issue of cheap book-making is a huge one for me, and I think once people make the distinction it is a big issue for them as well. Cloth covers (or "buckram," as they are often called), will last for decades even with heavy use. As the cover ages it even takes on some character which arguably enhances the book, or at least it does not detract. With the cheap paper-covered cardboard covers used on so many books nowadays, the cover get scraped, dented, dinged, and otherwise degraded in an amazingly short time. If you spend any time in used-books stores, or on Advanced Book Exchange (abe.com), you can see the difference in appearances, and dollar values, displayed vividly.
If they had put a quality cover on this it almost certainly would have become a highly-valued collectable ten or twenty years from now. But, no, they cut a significant corner, and instead this will probably be only of nominal value. Or, perhaps, it will be of virtually no value if they get around to doing it right in an upgraded edition which really does deliver the quality which the subject matter deserves. Meanwhile, I'm sending this right back to Amazon.
I'm a casual comics reader ... disappointed I was given a $100 gift card to Amazon, so I splurged and purchased this book without knowing the author's work (I know he created Sin City, but never read it), without knowing its significance in terms of how it impacted comics from this point on, etc. I'm judging this purely in terms of how much I enjoyed it as a long time Batman fan BUT casual comic reader. I didn't like it at all. First, the story arc was disappointing ... I didn't feel that it best represented Bruce Wayne's character at an advanced age. There were some interesting story elements for sure, but the quality of the writing was a huge disappointment and the artwork -- both the drawing and the coloring -- was really bad. I know it was supposed to be stylized and such -- and there are glimpses of brillance, like the front cover for example -- but panel to panel it was difficult to enjoy. If you're a die hard Frank Miller fan, I'm sure you see things quite differently and perhaps this isn't the best representation of his work. This title simply didn't resonate with me.
First batman story ever read Well this is the first batman comic i ever picked up. There are some others now on my list, but this one was a fantastic read. Frank Miller really knows how to make batman one dark character. Can't believe how lucky i am to have picked this one up.
First half of the book, i was really empressed, how gritty and grungy everything looked and went so well with the mood miller was setting. The story was fantastic, although recruiting a new robin when your really that old, kinda makes you wonder. Made me laugh really, seems robin always has to be someone young. So batman can um, mold them properly and what not ;-).
Second half of the book was great too, but not as great, made batman look like more of an A-hole. As well as making some of the other dc characters who appear look naive, whiny and push over (ya im talking about superman, you'll find out why if you read it)
I have to say that the art at times was funny, wonder women really looked like a tranny who hadn't gotten the rest of her plastic surgery done. It cracked me up everytime she appeard.
Anyway, for any batman fan, or any person who's a comic fan, this is a great addition to any collection. I love the absolutes, this one goes well with my Absolutes (kingdom come, crisis of infinte earths, Authority 1,2) I look forward to purchasing more of the absolute comics!
Great Compilation A well put together bundle of both the classic and the new graphic novels with a few extras. Very Impressive packaging (coffee table worthy).
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
