Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Rating:
Summary: Greatest Batman story ever
Review: This is the best Batman story ever written (in my own humble opinion) and one of the greatest comic books of all time. Basically the story is of Batman coming out of retirement ten years after the death of the second Robin (in terms of comic book continuity, this couldn't happen because he didn't actually retire after the incident, but that is beside the point). The book uses a lot of familiar characters, but they're all old and decrepit. It explores all kinds of comic book themes, like the whole mask-as-alternate-personality thing, and the idea that vigilante activities are the work of fascist lunatics. Not really applicable to the real world, but that's okay. Anyone who reads comic books owes it to themselves to read this one. There's really not much else to say.

Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: With the exception the ending, which I wont ruin for anyone, everything about this is mesmerizing. The artwork is good, but the angles and the dialogue are astonishing. The only other series that is as good as this is Kingdom Come.

Rating:
Summary: Classic. The definitive batman history.
Review: A true revolution. This masterpiece sets the comics to another level,bringing pain,loss,agony,filosophy,tortured souls,insanity,obsession and depression to the sun and shinning world of superheroes.Miller's narrative is very introspective and the dialogs are amazing. the history is the best of frank's genius mind(together with daredevil's born again).He tells more about the alienated and sick society there we live on(together with alan moore's watchmen)more than any other writer.He also understands, in a very intense way, the essence of the human being,he works very well with personality and feelings.The history has a incredible development,showing very intense the rise and fall of batman's obssesive fight to cure the caos of his lost and no-hope gotham.this is in my top five comics of all time,one of my favorits, if you like adult comics and you don't read this already, BUY NOW!!! It's obrigatory.

Rating:
Summary: standing the test of time
Review: Miller's Dark Knight series says more about the world we live in than any other comic published to date. Why do we root for The Batman with more desperate hope than any other character in comics? We cheer for him because he reflects what each of us hopes to be in our most fully awakened lives. Amid the fear and the chaos, through the pain and the loss, the Dark Knight rises and stands firm in the face of the storm. No writer understands this better than Frank Miller in this series, and his humble tribute to an aging legend marches off into the darkness with a torch that burns with the boldest of flames.

Rating:
Summary: I truly envy all first time readers of this masterpiece!!!
Review: In the introduction, by Alan Moore, he states that he is in envy of those who are reading this book for the first time. I couldn't agree with him more! It is truly one of Frank Miller's greatest masterpieces. It's dark and brooding storyline and tone was definitely ahead of its time. Mr Miller set the standard for future comics and showed that the mainstream shouldn't consider comics mere funny books. It deals with a grown-up version of supheroes and how they are depicted in a dark and gloomy future. The art is a work of genius as well. Although some would say that the art was sketchy and not up to par for Frank Miller, I feel that it was intentional to further enhance the dark and apocalyptic atmosphere. The art features beautiful coloring by Mr. Miller's wife as well. Some of the best I've ever seen as a matter of fact. I guarantee to all those who never took comics seriously, that after having read this they will definitely see comics in a different light. Warner Brothers should've used this as a script for the Batman movies. It definitely ranks up their with the all-time greats and is a close tie with Watchmen. I can't recommend it enough.

Rating:
Summary: The most infamous and original Batman tale......
Review: It took me awhile to fully appreciate this work of art, but I came around. Frank Miller broke down more doors for 'funny-book' writers than nearly any of his peers, but he did it with such an established character, also no mean feat. His book also focuses on an anally PC populace some ten years before it's time (as with Harvey's 'rehabiltation') as well as the theme of the superhero as fascist, as Superman in the future has become the government's running dog. This book has the kind of greatness that is only equalled by Alan Moore's stunning 'Watchmen'. Mature comic fans should be turned on to both these NOW.

Rating:
Summary: Good but flawed
Review: First of all, the art in this book is very substandard so I'll focus in the storyline. The story presents us in a Gotham where Batman has retired and crime runs rampart. However, some events urge the Dark Knight to Return in action, and along the way goes completelly mad, and confronts even Superman, resulting his death...or not? The story here is really very inventive, especially when we consider that Batman is a mainstream hero and not underground stuff. However, no matter how good the story is, it is damaged by the really bad drawings. If this book had art by, say, Jim Aparo or better the one who draw Batman: The Killing Joke, it wouldhave been the best superhero comic book of all time. It would be really cool to remake this comic, with exactly the same story but with good art.

Rating:
Summary: I wish this Dark Knight could last forever
Review: Sure, lots of people say it's the best Bat-book. Once more, I cannot tell if it's THE best,but it's surely a GREAT comic. Because there's so much in it,you can read it a thousand times and then find out something new. Miller, Janson and Varley did a fabulous work on this tale. But they were not alone : they got Batman and about 46 years of history behind them. You know what? Bats has never been so strong than in his late forties...

Rating:
Summary: Um, Yah!
Review: This is the very best that comics have to offer. That's really all their is to it.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Frank Miller's reworking of the Batman story is deep and compelling. It caused nothing short of a sensation when it was first published. Buy this book.