World Famous Comics: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
By: Frank Miller Publisher: DC Comics Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: DC Comics Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 224 Publication Date: November 01, 2002 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: November 01, 2002
Product Description: If any comic has a claim to have truly reinvigorated the genre, then The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller--known also for his excellent Sin City series and his superb rendering of the blind superhero Daredevil--is probably the top contender. Batman represented all that was wrong in comics and Miller set himself a tough task taking on the camp crusader and turning this laughable, innocuous children's cartoon character into a hero for our times. The great Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, the arguably peerless Watchmen) argued that only someone of Miller's stature could have done this. Batman is a character known well beyond the confines of the comic world (as are his retinue) and so reinventing him, while keeping his limiting core essentials intact, was a huge task.Miller went far beyond the call of duty. The Dark Knight is a success on every level. Firstly it does keep the core elements of the Batman myth intact, with Robin, Alfred the butler, Commissioner Gordon, and the old roster of villains, present yet brilliantly subverted. Secondly the artwork is fantastic--detailed, sometimes claustrophobic, psychotic. Lastly it's a great story: Gotham City is a hell on earth, street gangs roam but there are no heroes. Decay is ubiquitous. Where is a hero to save Gotham? It is 10 years since the last recorded sighting of the Batman. And things have got worse than ever. Bruce Wayne is close to being a broken man but something is keeping him sane: the need to see change and the belief that he can orchestrate some of that change. Batman is back. The Dark Knight has returned. Awesome. --Mark Thwaite
Amazon.com Review: If any comic has a claim to have truly reinvigorated the genre, then The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller--known also for his excellent Sin City series and his superb rendering of the blind superhero Daredevil--is probably the top contender. Batman represented all that was wrong in comics and Miller set himself a tough task taking on the camp crusader and turning this laughable, innocuous children's cartoon character into a hero for our times. The great Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, the arguably peerless Watchmen) argued that only someone of Miller's stature could have done this. Batman is a character known well beyond the confines of the comic world (as are his retinue) and so reinventing him, while keeping his limiting core essentials intact, was a huge task.
Miller went far beyond the call of duty. The Dark Knight is a success on every level. Firstly it does keep the core elements of the Batman myth intact, with Robin, Alfred the butler, Commissioner Gordon, and the old roster of villains, present yet brilliantly subverted. Secondly the artwork is fantastic--detailed, sometimes claustrophobic, psychotic. Lastly it's a great story: Gotham City is a hell on earth, street gangs roam but there are no heroes. Decay is ubiquitous. Where is a hero to save Gotham? It is 10 years since the last recorded sighting of the Batman. And things have got worse than ever. Bruce Wayne is close to being a broken man but something is keeping him sane: the need to see change and the belief that he can orchestrate some of that change. Batman is back. The Dark Knight has returned. Awesome. --Mark Thwaite
5 Stars for its Masterful Storytelling Wow. Frank Miller is a genius. I was really blown away by his noir dialogue this time around. You thought his Sin City stuff was good? This makes Sin City look like coloring books. The story is unpredictably unpredictable! I wouldn't be suprised if Frank Miller was entirely under the influence of a mind-altering substance while creating this work of art. It's so different, and that's what makes it so appealing.
Batman is now an old man. Imagine a gray-haired Batman with achy bones. Probably wouldn't come across as your first suspect for masked vigilatism. With this in mind we get a story that works. Gotham is the worst we've seen it, and now a gang seriously borders on ruling the city. After building up to a huge climax, the city is in chaos and our only help is this decrepit Batman with the aid of a preteen female Robin. What are the odds?
But somehow, somewhere Frank Miller makes an incredibly engaging Batman story. We discover so many themes and truths as we see an aged hero trying to save a city that refuses his help. It hold so much value and I would argue that this book is, although graphic, educational in a sense. I felt intellectual forces grow inside my brain. I wish, I hope I could be a writer someday. And I'd owe it to my idol of modern comic literature. I don't fathom him failing to impress anyone.
If I were to say anything I'd say "It's all in the ending." I felt a little confused at times, but by the ending I had a full Joker grin as well as a full understanding. By far this graphic novel has the best ending I've read. Read it for yourself, because It is a must read for any comic/Batman fan.
Adequate The story reminded me a lot of the Watchmen, only less brutal. The art was, at times, adequate. I haven't read the full story yet, but it looks promising. The idea of Batman killing Superman is intriguing. It was just a little too dark for me.
"I am vengeance! I am the night! I--AM--BATMAN!" Okay, so that heading is actually taken from Batman: The Animated Series, but hey, who knows if that cartoon would've taken off if it wasn't for this comic?
After hearing so much about Frank Miller and how he can pretty much touch anything and make it gold, I decided to read one of his most renown Batman tales. And I have to admit: It creates for me the darkest of Batmen I ever thought could be possible.
Years after his "retirement," we see Bruce Wayne struggling to still break free from his former heroic nights (I'd say "days," but he is the Dark Knight after all), only to find that the Batman is not subject to Bruce Wayne's control. The Batman is its own living, breathing creature, using the body of Bruce Wayne as its vessel. Bruce then decides to give the black cape one last go, only to find the current state of Gotham City worse than he thought.
This is definitely the best Batman comic I've read, and probably will read (Batman: Year One is next, though). I've grown up from the '80s with the darker Batman--from Tim Burton's adaptations to the '90s cartoons--than from the early comic and Adam West days, so reading this novel was a real thrill. The only thing I don't really like about this novel is, from comparing it to Miller's other works, the illustrations seem kind of sloppy. They do the job just fine in interpreting the story, but it feels as if Miller hadn't put much time and effort into this opus.
But don't let that detract you from reading The Dark Knight Returns. If you're a fan of the much darker Batman, like I am, and you haven't read this yet, pick up a copy immediately.
This is Frank Millers way of demoralising Batman, obviously Ah, Batman... the hero who stands and fights for truth and justice. The person who, when he was first created by Bob Kane as a role model for children, and the soldiers of World War II, pledged a solemn oath to never intentionally kill a nemesis. Oh, yeah, but now we're talking about Frank Millers Dark Knight Returns, huh? The one where, first issue, BAM! Batman drowns a mutant leader in a lake of mud, then BAM! Twists the Jokers back until his spinal column snaps (and he dies)...? It seems, in here, the Caped Crusader dons more than cape and cowl, but also excessive violence and blood, sex on a sort of major scale, and even drugs. What kind of role model is THAT??? Not just for kids, but for ANYONE. I feel sorry for anyone who reads this and would even have part of a mind to think this version of Batman is in any way better than any villain he gruesomely puts to the slaughter. They, obviously, have a VERY sick and dismal outlook on life. As for Robin, hey, I'm alright with Batman having a female sidekick, but that's what BATGIRL is for, Robin was always a boy in the comics. Which brings me to wonder how much Kane was bribed to say that 'Frank Miller depicted exactly what I had in mind when creating Batman.' Uh, I'm sorry, Kane, but in YOUR OWN comic books, Batman NEVER killed anyone on purpose (aside from Dracula, but he was already sort of dead to begin with...) and Robin and Batgirl were ALWAYS a different gender, and I'm not being sexist here, but it was just that way for over forty years, till this book came out. He just did this to screw with Bats even more. And the tank. I have always HATED the tank. Where's the Batmobile, Frank? 'Oh, I dunno, Batman just isn't grizzly enough already, hey, let him go around in an '80's-style war tank, just for the heck of it.' Okaaaaay..... right. I hope that people can just begin to see things from my perspective. By the way, I have read Alan Moores Watchmen, and I loved it. The unfathomably huge difference between these books are that Moore DIDN'T change anyone. He started off with a story where the heroes lived, still, by evil-spirited morals, and let them live on like that. Miller screwed with an American hero who has stood by a righteous code of honour for decades before this, and just changed the hero into a villain simply competing with other villains for the title of 'Most Inhumane Badguy,' and believe me, in this competition, Batman just kills anyone who can get in his way. See, my look on Batman is this: Gotham is a stained, crime-infested slimeball of a city, and Batman tries to take a stand to help save the city. But not here, where this guy kills eveyone for no obvious reasons. This isn't Batman. This is some blood-crazed psycho in a two-dollar batsuit. This book strays far from any previous version of Batman, especially Kanes version. And for this reason, I also hate Tim Burtons Batman movies. Kills the Joker, Penguin... you get the idea. And all on purpose, too. See, for this reason, I (and a few others who are truly brave enough to stand up for what they know is right) hate this version of Batman.
What a comeback The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller is one of the best graphic novels I've ever read. The story is amazing, although I was left wanting just a little more, but I can understand why the comic had to end there. The art style was a little sketchy, but it in no way took away from the great story. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Batman or Graphic Novels in general.
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