Rating: 
Summary: The best book you will ever read
Review: Riddle me this. What will be a book that you will enjoy time and again? Batman: the Dark Knight Returns. A book set outside Comic Book "reality," Dark Knight is a self-contained epic tale of a 60 year old Batman's struggle to regain Gotham City after a 10 year retirment. He faces a world on the brink of nuclear armageddon, a blood-thirsty cult and of course, the Joker. All this plus his greatest and final battle...against Superman. Interested? Well whip the wallet out of your utility belt and buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Miller's Dark Knight: A Hero in Twilight
Review: I hadn't read a comic book in probably fifteen years. But, it was late, I couldn't sleep, and I was housesitting in a friend's apartment for the weekend. He had a copy of The Dark Knight Returns sitting on the coffee table. I picked it up, snickering a little that my oh-so-sophisticated friend Jon was reading a comic. Boy, was I wrong. The Dark Knight Returns is a thrilling, often brutal journey through the mind and aging body of everybody's favorite cave-dwelling superhero; the Batman. But for this vision of the Batman, the world has moved on. The Caped Crusader is now a relic of the past in a world even less his own than the chaotic one in which he started. The criminals in this book are the sociopathic nightmares every American fears as he watches the nightly news, not the sterilized, zoot-suited jewelry thieves of the old comics. The streets are dark, brutal, and eerily true to life. And so is the Batman, that most pompous and ridiculous of characters in his black and blue bat-suit, with a brightly dressed youth in tow. This Batman gives a first person narrative that is positively dripping with the nest of Raymond Chandler, and the platitudes and moral lessons of old are swept away by the senselessness of post-modern living. The world has changed, and it has changed the Batman, whose drive to make a difference puts him in conflict with society, with the police, the media, and even his old "friend" Superman (and by the way, I always thought Superman was a bit of a prig, anyway--Miller brings it all home). In short, read this comic; Frank Miller is certainly not just for kids.
Rating:
Summary: The best Batman book I have ever read.
Review: This story is among the best Batman books ever written. The
prevailing sense of hopelessness and despair throughout most
of the story is fitting for the late twentieth century.
Rather than being a hero to the people, Batman, like so many
other cultural figures, is disliked and distrusted by many of those he once fought for and protected. Excellent social
commentary, particularly on the way the media pays close attention to the actions of very violent people but ignores
those who don't cause trouble. Overall, a wonderful story.
I would recommend it to any and all Batman fans.
Rating:
Summary: A fitting end to a superhero
Review: Frank Miller seems a bit predisposed to violence, especially in his later works (Hard Boiled, Sin City, and on and on), but The Dark Knight Returns is a classic in the superhero genre. The problem with superhero comics is that the story never ends. (Then again - that's why people buy them. It's a continual soap opera without end. Also, as long as it makes money, there it will be.) Frank Miller provides a possible end to Batman's career that is peppered with violence and mayhem and an intelligent, witty script. I loved it when I first bought it many years ago, and I still think it is my favorite Superhero story. Batman achieves a mythical, mysterious status in Miller's hands. Batman needed an ending to define his career and life. Also, this is a showcase for Miller's pioneering experiments in Oriental artwork and storytelling that he first tackled in Ronin. This story is touted as the turning point in comic books, when comics became "mature" and "for adults". That's perhaps true. In his hands, superheroes underwent a partial metamorphis. But this book speaks out for the possibilities of finite series about heroes where there is a beginning and an end. THAT is a trend that I'd like to see continued
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating tale of future vigilantism.
Review: Some books set trends, and some follow. This story set trends
for years to come in the comic book field. Frank Miller seemed
to be the first person to remember that Batman was born of tragedy and psychosis. Miller's Batman comes out of retire-
ment after he can no longer deny his mental illness, and feels
the need to once again control his city/surroundings. Later
attempts to recapture the feel of this series have failed
miserably, but this remains one of the finest examples of the
graphic novel format ever. A must read.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Greatest Stories of Our Time
Review: This is a must have for any fan of Batman, and a page turner for those who like a deep moving story. This is a must get. Here is the review of the
book I had in my Web-Zine Mantle of the Bat (http://www.cire.com/batman):
The Dark Knight Returns is an elseworld story that takes place ten years after Batman
retires. Now at age 55, Bruce Wayne makes a decision to put back on the mantle of the
bat to save Gotham once more. Unfortunately, his comeback is not a welcome one, as the
media and the government both want him to retire permanently. Batman must go toe to toe with four of his toughest opponents. He battles a physically,
but not mentally, cured Harvey Dent, a gang leader that would give Bane a run for his
money, an even more deadly Joker, and has a battle royale with Superman. In between
these battles he must train a new Robin, dodge the police and the new police
commissioner, contemplate the meaning of his life, and survive a nuclear holocaust. Frank Miller did a phenomenal job when he wrote this four book series. Too often comics
ignore the real world to make an environment where the hero is adored. In Frank Miller's
world, the hero is scrutinized by the media, and classified as a menace to society by
police. The art on this book is also impressive, the world of the Dark Knight is truly dark.
Another great feature is the coloring. No more solid backgrounds and the faces of
characters have realistic shading. I would highly suggest that any fan of Batman should pick this book up. Despite the fact
that it is ten years old, it shows no signs of aging. In fact, it is more true to life now then
the day it was written. Credits:
Frank Miller - Story, Pencils, and Inks
Klaus Janson - Inks
Lynn Varley - Colors and Visual Effects
John Costanza- Letters
Alan Moore - Intoduction
Rating:
Summary: The Dark Knight Returns: The pinnicle of the Batman legend!
Review: In the year 2000, Wizard comics voted and announced which were among the greatest comics book stories ever told. "The Dark Knight Returns" was listed as #2. ("Watchmen" was voted #1). While "Watchmen" was a brilliant, orignal novel written by Alan Moore, who also wrote "Batman: The Killing Joke" (please see my review on that classic), I personally believe that "The Dark Knight is the greatest comic book story ever told. It shows how the Batman/Bruce Wayne relationship has evolved, as has the world. Back when this comic book was written in the 1980's, No one believe how dark the world would have become as Frank Miller had portrayed in this novel. But in this new century, Miller had come close to how the world has become, where violence in the city has run amok, as it has in the world. Batman returns from retirement to battle crime "in its many macabre forms" even though he is not wanted. The world has become different in this book because the world does not want to be reminded that superheroes still exist. James Gordon is forced into retirement to make way for a new Gothman City, where the Batman is outlawed. Only the shadow of Superman working as a agent for the government still exist. Batman is force to deal in this new world where he is no long consider a hero, but a menance. This story has no happy ending for Two-Face, who still fights his inner demons even though he has a new face. ( a personal loss for Bruce Wayne). When the Batman retired, the Joker remained almost comatose until ten years later when Batman returned. As worlds collide in the brink of nuclear war, the battle between Batman and the Joker ends when The Joker does the most hideous thing to the Batman, something Batman could never do. But this is nothing compared to the final battle between Batman and Superman. Only one is left standing, while the other must live with the concequences. The end of this story has its beginnng and endings for Batman...and Bruce Wayne. During this story, we also see that Bruce Wayne has become bitter and angry when he retired from being a superhero to live a mundane life and becomes a new person when he becomes what he was always meant to be...Batman. While I cannot tell the whole story, this novel brings Batman to full circle and makes Batman what he should always be...a hero.
Rating: 
Summary: DKR: short of greatness... but still pretty good
Review: After many a year of taking in my fellow comic geeks' word-of-mouth about the "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" series being one of the greatest stories ever told in the comic book medium-- right up there with Alan Moore's "Watchmen"-- I finally broke down and gave it a read. While I found it fairly solid if somewhat overdone in the inner monologue department, this four-color yarn never really struck me as being one of the all-time greats. For one thing, the somewhat over-the-top End-Of-The-Cold-War-era political & sociocultural satire Frank Miller injected into the story made the whole shebang seem a bit dated. Then there was the artwork, which was of inconsistent quality. 'Course, I blame this more on the finishing touches by Klaus Janson, whose artwork-- be it pencils or inks-- usually leaves a lot to be desired in my eyes. I swear, he musta' had a few incriminating photos of Miller with a donkey or something to have stayed his partner-in-rendering all those years.As for the assertion by many that DKR was the harbinger of the comic book world's 'grim-and-gritty-anti-hero' era-- well, if this assertion does have merit, I see it as a good thing. 'Cuz back in the day, I really enjoyed reading the adventures of rival Marvel's two grimmest-and-grittiest guys: Ghost Rider version 2 and the Punisher, both of whom got their own ongoing titles shortly after DKR hit the stands. I also liked how Batsy really laid the smack-down on his criminal foes-- especially his crippling of the Joker, who managed to finish himself off immediately after being incapacitated in a most amazing and disquieting manner. And despite his superior strength, speed, and agility, I always figured Batman could hold his own in a knockdown drag-out against Superman-- which he does and the some at the story's climax. I only wish he fought a bit more cleanly than he did, but that wouldn't have been 'grim-and-gritty' enough I guess... The tenth anniversary edition of this TPB includes the original text script to the last issue of this story arc. I found it to be a fairly interesting look at the creative process involved in the conception of a four-color story. I also found it interesting to see the stuff that was originally gonna be put to the Bristol board, and compare it to what eventually did make the cut, and what was changed or removed. If you've ever wondered how they come up with some of those comic stories you're so fond of reading, this bonus feature is a must-read. Anyhoo, like I stated before, I found Batman: "The Dark Knight Returns" a really good super-hero comic story, but it falls short of being among the all-time-greatest tome that most fanboys have told me it is. I might read this once more in my lifetime, but that's about it. It isn't even Frank Miller's best work on the character in my opinion-- that honor goes to "Batman: Year One", which you can check out at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0930289331/ref=pd_sim_books_2/002-6135121-8178428?v=glance&s=books. Happy reading! 'Late
Rating: 
Summary: The Best Laid Graphic Novels of Mice and Men Often Go Astray
Review: "In MY opinion..." Ankurpanchbudhe said in his list. Well I know for a fact that this is not a graphic novel, -- Ankurpanchbudhe's opinion is stupid -- and so is Ankurpanchbudhe. I'm going to write a criticism of the review that Ankurpanchebudhe started his list with. It never pleases me more than when someone calls a reprint collection in a thick softcover comic book form all in one a graphic novel. I bet if you went to a book store and looked at the "graphic novel" section and got a price guide that you would not find any graphic novels there at all. It's kind of like what we called a oneshot back when I lived in California. Kids that thought they were comic collectors would throw around the word oneshot because it made them sound smart. I got a oneshot! You got a oneshot? I have a oneshot! They have a oneshot. He has a oneshot. She has a oneshot. We have a oneshot. Everbody has a one shot. They would say. Longshot. Deadshot. Shattershot. Bloodshot. Sunspot. Blindspot. Grimlock. Shotshot. (Wouldn't that make a great super hero? Two shots on his name? Put him in a comic book and you could make a million!) Just because it has the word "shot" in it doesn't mean it's good. Don't call something a graphic novel unless you look it up in the price guide and it says GN next to it. Buy this book for what it is and you'll be a lot happier. One of these days I'm going to finish a list that has all of the things that Ankurpanchbudhe's list has criticising each criticisim blow-by-blow. None of the things on Ankurpanchbudhe's list is a graphic novel.
Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: Miller's towering achievement, this book was first introduced to me during my Batman craze of 1989 (I was 13) when my Great Aunt bought it for me, along with Year One. I read it in the mountains of Colorado on a rainy day while on vacation, and it was PERFECT. A book EVERYONE should read.
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