Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Book & Mask Set

Doubtlessly one of the most talked about comic book storylines of the past twenty years, its reputation is well founded. While material that was as hyped as The Dark Knight Returns is often ultimately disappointing, or seems outdated decades later, every time one reads The Dark Knight Returns he'd be more convinced that this is indeed a perfect piece of modern literature; and comics, American comics most of all, very rarely got this good. The Dark Knight Returns is one of a handful of graphic novels (e.g. Watchmen, The Sandman and Marvels) that achieve the status of genuine and timeless classics. In the time of its release in the early 80s, The Dark Knight Returns was revolutionary, in every aspect. Frank Miller, already an acclaimed artist for his work on the early issues of Wolverine, already proved himself as a writer in 1984's brilliant and groundbreaking mini-series Ronin, but The Dark Knight Returns in 1986 was his break into the world of mainstream comics, and remains his most important achievement. But while his work on the series was within the world of super-hero comics, and within the financial safety of publishing under the DC Comics banner, Miller took mainstream comics to disturbing new places and super-heroes were never looked at the same way again. Taking inspiration from the groundbreaking work of the Dennis O'neil / Neil Addams team who revolutionized super-hero comics in the late 70s, and from his own former partner Chris Claremont, Miller made super-hero comics darker, more reflective and more mature than was ever made before. For that he took darkest character in the DC Universe, the Caped Crusader himself, and took him 20 years into the future, well into retirement. The new Batman is well into his 50s, sad and tired, and a much rougher kind of hero than he was before. Miller's very modern look on the Dark Knight was disturbing and discomforting to say the least; Dark Knight Returns is not an adventure story, it's a moral examination of his character and the problematic nature of his actions. Never before was Batman judged so harshly by his own author, and it's difficult for the reader to accept it - since, while Batman's actions are here presented as problematic to say the least, if not criminal, but he is also more human and more recognizable than we'd ever seen him before. But it's not just the view of Batman's character that makes Dark Knight Returns so disturbing - it's the view of the world. Miller's future is dark and bleak, and eerily realistic. He goes to great lengths to create a realistic and convincing world, right down to creating a new slang for the new young generation. Through countless minor characters and little stories, each one rounded and well-constructed by its own right, Frank Miller creates a Gotham City we can know, a Gotham we can relate to. It's a city living in fear, a city that's in the grip of a merciless gang more ruthless and vicious than the criminals Batman faced in his prime. In Bruce Wayne's own words, it's a city that's `given up hope, like the whole world seems to have'. And as the city lies in the shadow of the fear of the Mutants gang, so the world lives in the shadow on nuclear holocaust. It is in the middle of this reality that a real hero is proven. And despite all the doubt and all the misgivings, the Batman presented here is more heroic than he ever was. It takes one kind of hero to fight madmen on a daily basis and thwart their diabolical schemes; it takes quite a different one to face himself and the world and not give up. Batman isn't the only character who is given fantastic care on The Dark Knight Returns. Commissioner James Gordon, a character who had become much more important and more sophisticated in the last twenty years, is an important part of the story, and his part in it is fascinating, although more thought would be given to him on Miller's second Dark Knight expedition - Batman: Year One in 1988. The Dark Knight Returns also features a young and energetic Robin, who serves the role that Robin should have from the beginning - to provide contrast to the character of the Batman. Interestingly, though, the death of Jason Todd is often referred to, though it was released three years before Jason actually died in the comic continuity - and even then, his death was decided by a readers' poll. Hmm... Alfred Pennyworth, of course, completes the classic team. As for villains to battle - Two of Batman's most classic enemies, The Joker and Two-Face, return on The Dark Knight Returns - mainly as subplots, and to serve as reflections for Batman himself. This story is not about fighting madmen. There is, though, a grand final showdown at the end, in which Batman fights a surprising enemy... As for the art: Frank Miller's artwork is an acquired taste. So is Lynn Varley's coloring, which is subtle and pale and may seem somewhat outdated to modern readers. Miller's drawing on The Dark Knight Returns is not as impressive and appealing as his work on Sin City, but if you enjoyed his early artwork, especially on Wolverine and Ronin, you'll like this one too. The artwork really is brilliant, if you take the time to see its subtleties. At any rate, on The Dark Knight Returns Miller had the benefit of not only the wonderful coloring of Lynn Varley (who also collaborated on Ronin) but also one of the finest inkers in the world of comics, Mr. Klaus Janson, who contributed to the series beyond words, gave it a lot of its atmosphere and created some of the darkest and most impressive images of Batman and Gotham City. In every possible way, The Dark Knight Returns is a masterpiece. If you like comics, and not just super-hero comics, by all means read it.

It's amazing how well this story, originally written as a 4-part mini-series in 1986, has held up. This story is responsible for the re-emergence of Batman not just as a superhero, but as a tortured anti-hero with flaws that make him no less obsessed than the supervillains he hunts. Not only do we get heaping servings of the dark, obsessed Batman, we also meet an him as an older man, a true "lion in winter" who must come to grips with his mortality and the unstoppable decline of age. Miller allows us to use our hero to percieve the world around us, and in doing so The Dark Knight Returns also ends up as a critique of 20th century society (and 21st, for that matter). Batman is just a few public opinion points away from being considered no different than the likes of Two-Face and the Joker. The relationships between Batman and those he hunts is simply outstanding work by Frank Miller. Generally, there are three types of villains. The first are everyday thugs that are shallow and meaningless both in dialogue and mentality. The second is a savage gang leader. Powerfully built, full of rage and singularly focused hate often seen in the young, this character forces Batman to confront his own mortality and, in an awesome final confrontation, turn to the experience of age for victory. But the most powerful relations come with Batman and his fights with the classic supervillains Two-Face and The Joker. In one really powerful scene, Batman realizes he is equally as tortured as Two-Face, but with one difference: Two-Face feels remorse and despair for what he has once again become (One panel has him actually jumping off a skyscraper, in a possible suicide attempt). He has recieved redemption from society as well as himself, but was unable to maintain it from either. In contreast, Batman, has accepted what he has become, and revels in his darkness. And then of course, there's my favorite, The Joker. We have here an excellent portrayal of a supervillain with no conscience whatsoever, who commits evil deeds not for any agenda or flawed goal, but simply because he enjoys doing them. His ending scene with Batman is another one to remember, and I can't imagine it happening any other way. The supporting cast in the graphic novel are also superbly detailed. Superman is portrayed as equal parts god, innocent child, tortured soul, government flunky, dumb jock, and a lampoon of the comic industry's idea of superheroes as flawless humans. The interesting point is, Miller creates a Superman that is not to be mocked, but understood and even sympathized with. His contrast with Batman benefits the development of both characters. Other characters, including a naive yet gifted Robin, a Gordon who is more fully fleshed-out as a cop than anything you'll see on NYPD Blue or Law and Order, and Green Arrow, who has become the epitome of grizzled in a novel full of grizzled ornery old men. By now, I think you can guess I kind of liked it. Frank Miller has published here a brilliant novel. If the Gods of Hollywood are truly kind, perhaps one day this will be converted into a movie. The excessive use of Batman-as-narrator increases the difficulty of writing a screenplay, but the plot is not only flawless, it is still relevant. Miller, in 1986 mind you, points out how America has a love affair with celebrities (including superheroes), public perception, a fascination with criminals, and how modern media loves to praise heroes (and successful people in general) only to aid in their entertaining downfall from public grace. By the end of the graphic novel, with some of the most original artwork for it's time (notice how good the story is that I didn't even mention how it looks until now?), Miller has us realizing we have experienced a story that explains obsession, public perception, conscience, mortality, and what it truly means to be a hero better than any psychology textbook could, and I am including those textbooks with the pictures.

There are few things in any form of media which can be truly seen as a classic and a must see or a must read. This graphic novel is one of them. While there are many graphic novels which are great and there are many characters in the universes of marvel and DC comics few are as iconic as Batman. This book not only takes a different look on this iconic character but also greatly expands on him. The first part of the book explains the story which we all know so well - Bruce wane's parents are murder, which makes him the vigilante which we know as batman - however the major change is that this Bruce Wayne is not the young playboy which he is usually portrayed as but instead a retired businessman whose far past his prime. This dynamic changes greatly how we see the dark knight and even what he can do. It shows our hero bitter and incapable to do many of the things he had done formerly and even show some humanity by appearing out of breath and needing to take a rest after a hard nights work. This also expands to some of the more brutal and some of the most - one could say blastphemous - intense scenes in the book. The art style of the book is unlike what was going on during this time - and the time after this - in comics. Rather than move more and more towards realism he moved more and more towards a "cartoony" and more comic bookesque than picturesque things that were directly after this. The colors aren't as vibrant as the older books but the drawings are much more like it, and the colors themselves are muted and the few drops of color they depicted mean a lot and stand out clearly from the rest of the art. The characters also depict their strength and their importance in the plot: batman and his direct enemies and allies are physically gigantic and the civilians and the rest of the minor characters are depicted as small and weak. Effectively everything in the book is great and i think that it should be a must read to anybody who likes a good book.

I know Stephen King was uber impressed with this graphic novel. In some senses he has the right to be: there are some solid points to Frank Miller's story--interesting reinterpretation of well-known superheroes and characters, entertaining and brave move dealing with an aged Caped Crusader, immersive sense of the Batman's future world with the political commentary through, clever political and social critique. That said; I'm sure some people enjoyed the artwork, and there were definitely some high points, when the artist actually took time to sit down and draw the characters. Many time's I found the story boxes hard to follow, or worse, hard to decipher what the images represented. The drawing style was so bare-bones that when a close-up was attempted the result was usually an epic fail, a bland, incomprehensible image. As an artist myself, what's the point of drawing a comic if the image is visual gibberish? Batman's character was interestingly 'conflicted'; I qualify that term because Batman was essentially haunted by this 'bat creature' his dark nature and he basically just gave in to it. As far as characterization goes, it was useful in explaining Batman's insatiable drive and crazed war on evil. But in this same sense, it was a largely undeveloped device: no stages of resistance, nothing ultimately interesting or new brought out of Batman's character, except that he may be crazy. Still, undeveloped. Additionally, Batman is shown feeling his age; it's interesting that he complains throughout the novel about his slowness, fatigue, etc, and while he is shown to be taking some hits that a younger Batman wouldn't have, he still performs exceptionally well, way above other humans. The age aspect is interesting, but the novel presents him as barely middle-aged; which honestly isn't that old. There are remarkable professional athletes active well into their forth quarter of life. Batman's sense of his age seemed disproportionate to his performance and his actual age. This may be nit-picky, but characterization devices are important, and the little details make the characters believable. The story overall was mostly predictable: (spoiler alert!) predictably Harvey Dent is not 'cured' but remains Two-Face, the Joker, similarly is not cured but goes on a very short rampage (and then kills himself, a good twist) but that chapter is short-lived and I expected more from Batman's archenemy. The ending was the most original twist in the story, although Batman surviving is in itself predictable and in line with the American sensibility to have all loose ends neatly tied: Deus Ex Machina. It's a fun read, and an enjoyable length--I liked that it was long, that the story had various chapters and a building plot. Was it revelatory, showing us something of Batman we'd not been aware of? No. Did it reinvigorate Batman? Absolutely. So even with the various inconsistencies, Solid Story.

I don't get where all the reviewers are saying that the Dark Knight Returns is the "definitive" Batman. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this is not the Batman that comic readers have come to know and love. This is also not the Batman as portrayed in the 90's films. Nor is it the Batman from Batman Begins (although you can see where Batman Begins owes Frank Miller a few nods for some ideas that definitely come from DKR). But while Batman may be almost unrecognizable in this story, that does not take away from the fact that this is one excellent alternative-history Batman story. In this history Batman has become a burnt-out shell, regretting all the times he failed to eradicate crime rather than try to rehabilitate criminals. Batman considers himself responsible for all the murders that the Joker did because Batman just kept locking him up rather than killing him when he had the chances. And this world is far more dystopic and humanity far more depraved than any realistic view one could imagine or the DCU in general. But that's part of what makes this an absolute great read. What if... what if Batman wasn't inhibited with any strong moral duty to be better than the crooks he fights? What if the world was so wrong that there was literally no hope for heroism left? What if in this dark vision of reality even Superman has become warped from his ideal? The ideas of this book are compelling, and the narrative expertly crafted. There is a lot of text to read here, as each page has a dense array of mini-panels with "talking heads" from the media of Gotham explaining the back story as things are happening (yet twisted to the media's own sensationalist "truth", rather than the Truth as it really happened). The political and social satire in this book is delicious. The artwork is hit or miss. In a few places it's truly breathtaking, and in others it seems fairly primitive, but at least it does have an overall style that fits in perfectly with the story itself. No sane comic lover should pass up on this book. Even if you don't like the world of this comic (and you shouldn't. it's not a nice place. at all.), the story told here is worth reading and thinking about.

It starts with one. This was the first graphic novel I purchased and read it twice within a month. It's incredible. Frank Miller is at his best in the wonderfully crafted story about Batman. Written in the 1980's it's a mystery why it took Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" in 2005 to portray Batman in a gritty, dark yet appealing context that would truly reflect Batman's plight. Miller takes Batman on a journey from a man in solace through a triumphant return to a forsaken hero. Miller does a great job balancing Batman's natural appeal as a man with a hero complex to how society would truly view a vigilante. Miller uses the media in this story of Batman to further carry the moral compass of Batman. It's a nifty way of playing devil's advocate to Batman. Some would love him, some would hate him, but all need him. Miller's artwork reflects his story perfectly. It's dark and gritty when Batman has to get his hands dirty and page dominating when Batman makes a statement. The blend of artwork and story telling makes the reader feel that action and truly make this a page turner. The inner monologue of Batman, Bruce Wayne, Jim Gordon, the Joker and Robin give fantastic insight as how others would view the Batman as hero, as an idol, as a friend and as a foe. The most compelling piece is the interaction between Superman and Batman as Frank Miller gives their relationship a cruel twist readers hadn't seen before. As two star athletes on a football team would argue with one a naturally born athlete and the other earning everything through hard work and discipline. This is a must read. It'll hook you and open your eyes to a new world as it did with me, or if it rubs you the wrong way at least you can say you read a piece of history that helped catapult Batman into one of the most compelling and complex superheroes we've seen. And the rest is easy.

Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns offers a dark, compelling story with a cast of broken people living in a world of hurt. With Bruce Wayne in retiring the cape, Gotham is in a state of peril and he must now step back into the shoes of the once loved crusader. To many of a younger generation, he's a mere myth, a legend. Now at the age of 54, he has returned to take down a foe much greater than he. TDKR is one the greatest graphic novels ever written, and without a doubt, the greatest Batman story ever told(with Year One right behind it) The novel tells a much darker and grittier tale than i had expected, but wanting something more mature, i was ever so pleased! The characters are all very complex people whose innocence was lost long ago. The artwork is very similar to Frank Miller's other work(Sin City/DKSA) giving the the overall tone of the book a very intense and violent vibe. Batman himself is a very hurt and sad individual who doesn't take any crap from anyone. It was really refreshing to see him become so violent and angry, and in this, he was very human. The one thing that i loved the most about the book was seeing all of these people out of their glory days and become old and more-or-less normal people in tough situations. The Joker's character was awesome in this book! He took every moral that you thought he MIGHT have, and just crumbled it. He's a bad man...a VERY bad man. If you are a fan of more mature, dark graphic novels, or just a Batman fan, than this is a MUST READ! i cannot stress enough how important this novel is to the comic book world. ENJOY!

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.