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Title: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns |
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Review of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
- 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
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
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Comments for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
- Posted on 2008-06-24
Brilliant.
I picked this book up in an earlier edition when I was in high school. I was a semi-fledgling to the world of the Bat, but I found myself easily drawn into the story. It's easy to read even if you aren't as knowing of everything as others are.
The idea of a semi-apocalyptic future with no real superheroes is a grim one. The only superheroes that exist are there merely to look good and even Superman is strangely muted in this world. Nearly everything is corrupt, whether people realize it or not. It's into this that Wayne decides to take up the mantle of Batman once more & free Gotham from the crime sprees. However he's not the only one who has once again taken up his old job...
I REALLY enjoyed this book. It's one of my favorites & always will be. I loved the female Robin, the neat artwork, and the story... the story was just about perfect!
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-06-16
A True Epic
You hear so much hype from so many people about Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns', it makes you apprehensive. But you have no idea as to how right they are until you find yourself catapulted into the heart of Gotham City; a decade after the Dark Knight has hung up his cape & cowl for the last time. In my opinion, all the praise it has recieved over the ages cannot do this book justice.
In this groundbreaking epic, Frank Miller brings together an astounding story line & admirable comic-style artwork; in which he portrays an aging Bruce Wayne forced to, once again, don the familiar uniform of the Batman, to cleanse the decaying city of Gotham.
Miller deals with the rebirth of some of the Dark Knight's arch enemies, while at the same time, introducing the new menace of the Mutants; a vicious gang of criminals which had thrived & flourished in the absence of justice.
Also dealt with within its pages are essential, critical & controversial issues to the Batman universe, such as the enlisting of Carrie Kelly, the new Robin of that age, the retirement of police commissioner Gordon & the death of the Joker.
You need not be a fan of the Batman to truly admire the work of Frank Miller & this book is recommended & suitable for anyone with a craving for a good story. For Dark Knight devotees, however; Look no further, this is the undisputed holy grail of graphic novels...
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-06-04
Batman's Back
Even though this was written a long time ago, it is a great read for any Batman fan. It has an amazing story and the artwork is very detailed. You can see some of the ideas from the movie Batman Begins in this novel even though it's a different story. It is something I'd also recommend to a non-Batman fan as well.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-05-22
Good Stuff...Revolutionary
Although originally published in a monthly serial format, this compilation, or Graphic Novel, started the generation of Graphic Novels being sold at local bookstores and Amazon. It's dark, gritty, and keeps your attention throughout. Certainly not suitable for young readers, we're introduced to Batman as being truly a Dark Knight, a vigilante protecting our future by any means necessary. If you're new to the genre, here's a great place to start. I've been a Frank Miller, Batman, and overall comic book fan since the first moment I picked it up.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-05-08
So You've Never Read DKR?
"This book got me back into comics..." I'm not the only one who's said those words over the last 22 years. It was 1989 and the first Batman movie was about to be released when I read it. I was blown away and realized that in my time away from comics, I'd grown up and so had comics...
Now, for anyone who has never read this... comics have continued to grow up since this was first published in 1986, so for those readers it might seam over-rated. Please realize though that at the time no one had ever done anything like this with Batman. It was groundbreaking and it's effects have "darkened" the superhero genre to this very day. Read this and then compare it with any mainsteam comic from 1986 and you will see it's superiority.
The young modern reader has read and enjoyed the waves left by Miller's Dark Knight Returns, and this IS a must read for anyone who spends too much time and money at a local comic book shop. MUST READ.
Score: 5