Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Originally was out to just purchase Watchmen. Several reviews for that book said it was very good like DKR. Also noticed that DKR was on Amazon's top 100 seller list (along with Watchmen). So I went ahead and bought both. I can't match the other great reviews out there for this book but I still wanted to add my 5 stars to it.

This book is worth every bit of praise it gets. Frank Miller created a masterpiece with this work. And even a die-hard Marvel fan that I am came to appreciate the Dark Knight through this book. The book itself is almost a legend among comics, but don't buy it for that. Buy it for the story and the insidious art that doesn't have much appeal at first, but by the end you can't picture the story being told in any other style. At least I can't.

Frank Miller did something special with this. He gave Batman such a blistering air of realism and depth that the character was changed forever. This work is something any comic fan should read to call themselves a comic fan. It has stood the test of time and is still on the top of the pile.

This is really good material for a 3rd Batman movie. Batman has retired. Gotham in ruins. An old-aged Batman returns and tests his limits as he battles the Joker and other nemesis to once again clean the streets of Gotham. But not everyone agrees with Batman's approach or his behavior which does not match that of a model superhero like Metropolis' Superman. The final story is quite epic as Batman battles Superman to the end. The new Robin (why would anyone want to be Robin given the history?) is the best Robin yet, a girl! The writing is gritty and exciting. The illustrations are actually not bad and some of my favorites as they give a different take of Batman and correctly so given he has aged a bit. This book is a milestone in comics as it brought it back once again to its original dark roots.

Blood and Rain
Blood for the Masses

Originally published by SavageNight Ezine

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
By Frank Miller

Intro- Alan Moore

Reviewed by
B.L.Morgan

4 Stars

According to the introduction by Alan Moore at the time when Frank Miller reintroduced Batman in its softcover form, the general audience still perceived him like Adam West had portrayed Batman in his TV series; That of an almost comical, certainly a camp representation of a comic book hero.

It was time for a change.

Frank Miller created a huge change in character and tone for the Caped Crusader, one closer to the movie versions that came later but darker than had ever been seen before The Dark Knight Returns.

Batman comes out of a ten year retirement as a middle-aged man. He tires quicker that he'd like in fights, gets sore and gets beat up. But through grit and determination and ingenuity he makes it through. Frank Miller's Batman is also slightly psychotic. The criminals have changed in his absence. They are meaner and more bloodthirsty. Batman goes after them with a vengeance.

Sometimes he's more bloodthirsty than they are.

A lot of social commentary takes place during the four stories that make up The Dark Knight Returns. The copyright on this book was 1986. It surprised me how little the attitudes expressed in this Batman book have changed.

The police are frequently handcuffed by the very laws they are supposed to uphold and are prevented from being effective crime fighters. All too often the victims of crime are treated worse that the criminals by the media and court systems.

My, how times flies. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The artwork in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns was for the most part just average. Moody, but average. Where Miller really shined was in his storytelling ability. This was a story on an epic scale that had a personal feel to it. Batman became a living breathing person during The Return Of The Dark Knight.

Batman: The Return Of The Dark Knight comes highly recommended. Check it out. You won't be sorry.

With only the acclaimed Watchmen as a peer, this is a must-read for any Batman fan. Miller's artwork takes some getting used to, but he can sure tell a story well. The only drawback is that some knowledge of the Batman universe is required going into the comic, so first-time comic book readers would be better served picking up Watchmen. That's not to say TDKR is a bad comic - far from it, it's one of the best ever. But not for first-timers.