Books : Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5973
EAN: 9781563893421
ISBN: 1563893428
Label: DC Comics
Manufacturer: DC Comics
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 224
Publication Date: May 01, 1997
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: May 01, 1997
Sales Rank: 137
Studio: DC Comics
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Editorial Review:
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:
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
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
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. ... Read More
Rating:  -
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.
Rating: -
I got the four part series several years ago before I sold off all my comics in the late 80's. I recently decided to renew my aquaintance with the series upon seeing Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight".
It is sometime in a dystopian future. Batman has disappeared. Batgirl is in a wheelchair somewhere. Robin is dead. Superman defends a corrupt government.
In book I 50 something Bruce Wayne is disturbed by what he sees happening in Gotham City and decides to resurrect The Batman to combat Punk street gangs who have taked over the streets. In the course of fighting he is rescued by Geek Girl Carey Kelley Who becomes the new Robin. In the end he is victorius and finds many imitators among former gang members.
In Book II Harvey Dent is released from Arkham Asylym. Supposably he is cured and has had plastic surgery to restore his face. In the end of what is a great psychological tour de force he reverts to being two face.
In book III The Joker is cured and released from Arkham and his appearance on a certain late night talk show might presage what Leno has in mind for its host. We see retired Selina Kyle put in danger in this one and Batman and the Joker have their final confrontation.
In book IV Batman and Green Arrow team to fight Superman and a corrupt US Government(since this was the late 80's it is Reagan but we're used to comics only showing GOP administrations as corrupt). In the end he loses or does he???? ... Read More
Rating: -
Frank Miller returned Batman to his gritty glory with this piece. For so long in the 60's and 70's the Batman had become tame and cartoony. However Batman returned to his dark roots, and Gotham became the concrete jungle it should've been once more. This story also re-defines the relationship between Batman and Superman. The World's Finest Superheroes would never really get along in real life, and this story brought that out in wonderful fashion.
Rating:  -
Let me begin by saying that I'm not a dedicated reader of comics. After seeing Sin City and 300 I gained an interest in Frank Miller so I decided to check out some of his work. I just read 300 and really enjoyed it, but I was not a fan of the Batman: TDK Returns.
My biggest complaint was a cause of constant annoyance while reading the series; the style. It is often difficult to follow the story because it skips around so much and because the animation is often incomprehensible. Some of the slang used throughout the story also makes it unnecessarily difficult to follow. There were several times where it was difficult for me to distinguish what was happening in the story. The story itself is decent enough, but nothing special. I enjoyed a bit of the political commentary, but it was a bit over the top.
I also didn't really like the fact that the reason given for Batman retiring a decade ago was because of Robin dying, but then accepts a 13-year old girl to be his new Robin with barely no explanation. This may just be ignorance on my part since she may be a character from earlier in the series or something (never read any other Batman comics), but I'm assuming since he retired 10 years ago and she is only like 13 that this is not the case. At several times throughout the story Batman also uses guns and rockets, but then preaches to the Sons of Batman group that he leads at the end that they shouldn't use guns.
Read More
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