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Summary: THIS BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE!
Review: Well not really...but it did have a huge impact in the way I draw and judge all comic books ever after. What can I say about this comic book? It is quite possibly THE BEST COMIC BOOK OF ALL TIME!!! I was no bigger than a grasshopper when my step brother introduced me to the stunning graphics and story lines of Frank Miller.
I hope you dismiss the dismissive comments on the "sloppy" art work....the "sloppy" graphics fit right into what Frank Miller is trying to do with his story. Yeah, I know this stuff is quite unlike anything that Jim Lee or the other names in the industry put out (slicked out stuff)...but its a gritty bare-knuckled jaunt through Gotham and the masterful artwork fits right in. This is obviously the best writing Frank Miller has ever done as witnessed in these pages and as compared to his subsequent Sin City comic books. (Sin City is incredibly beautiful but the writing is subpar to the art.)I am so surprised that years later when I glance at my sketchbook, I see the invisible hands of Frank Miller's influence working their magic on me. Dang! This is the one of the best comic books pound per pound. I can't really say enough, but I can say that it is equal to the great comic series painted by Alex Ross, Kingdom Come.
Go on and buy it!
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Summary: You don't know Batman until you know the Dark Knight
Review: I first read DK when my friend let me borrow it. IT BLEW MY MIND!! This graphic novel ties in first place with Watchmen as my favorite book. If you're a fan of Batman, or just have general knowledge of him, as I was, this book will give you all the knowledge you need. Miller gives you all the background you'll need to understand the most complex hero in comics. Batman remains my favorite character because he is so inherently deep. He does not earn the adoration of the populace and pose like superman. He fights not because of some idealistic view, but because he has to. He fights for vengeance and duty, and we never figure out how much of each make up his perogative. This novel truly looks into the mind of this tortured soul. His thoughts are expressed brilliantly by Miller and the story is just fantastic. I'm skipping the prerequisite "this is Batman's comeback blah blah" because I'm guessing you know what the book is about, but the real story is the man himself. His dual personas of rational detective and vengeance incarnate. The story is, as stated, fantastic. It pits Batman against old enemies and a new generation of ones as well as an old ally. This book is considered the first "Elseworlds" by DC, but I consider this the real deal. I judge all Batman related material to this book, from the cartoons to other comics and commentary. This is the quintesential Batman story. I've avoided the sequel for fear of ruining the perfect ending. Just to acknowledge the criticism of this story, it being set in the cold war in no way makes it dated. Anyone thinking that the cold war setting makes it in anyway not universal or relevant is simply closed-minded. I'll end this before I write a novel on a novel. Ending points - the Joker in this is pure evil and an incredible character in his own right. Pick this up, and Year One, and anything in the middle is just gravy.
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Summary: Possibly the greatest comics story ever told
Review: If your one of those people who think comic books are only kid stuff than you should really pick this up. Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns" may well be the greatest storyline in the history of comics, and those who have never read it will see Batman in a very new light. The storyline picks up 10 years after Batman's retirement. Bruce Wayne, now in his fifties, watches the world around him continue to be filled with social decay. Eventually we see how obsessive he was with crime fighting begin to come back to him, and soon enough he dons the cape and cowl and Batman makes his return. But this isn't the Batman that most people will expect to see, we see him battle a gang called The Mutants with no holding back, and he deals with the return of a now "rehabilitated" Two-Face, and the return of his all time arch nemesis The Joker. The graphic novel is shockingly violent and disturbing at some points, Miller's gritty art really gives the book life (although I will admit I was turned off by the artwork the first time I read it, but I realized it is like this for a reason and it grew on me), and the climatic final battle between Batman and Superman has to be seen to be believed. Do yourself a favor, if you even remotely like Batman and have never read this, than buy it as soon as you can, "The Dark Knight Returns" is a stunning landmark in the Batman saga, as well as it is a landmark in comics history.
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Summary: MILLER'S MASTERPIECE
Review: Can anyone say anything new about this book? This is Miller's crowning achievement. It pays the proper respect to a loved character and to a genre in general. Few comic books fall under this caliber of writing and artwork. Sandman, Bone, Lone Wolf and Cub immediately come to mind, but Miller stands alone with this story of an aged Batman reclaiming his city. I've been very critical of Miller's sequel to this series, but rightfully so. It was rushed and packaged and hyped and ultimately a let down. It really comes close to putting me off anything Miller except Sin City--another book that belongs on a short list of greats. Please, treat yourself to a great read and buy this book--AS IF EVERYONE OUT THERE HASN'T READ IT YET--but avoid The Dark Knight Strikes Again like the plague. You have been warned.
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Summary: The Last Bruce Wayne story
Review: This really is the best of the Batman stories, the most realistic, mature and instantly compelling chapter in the character's long history. The characters react as we know them in the future of the DCU, and finding Frank Miller's commentary is always interesting. Superman is a fascist avatar like Wertham always said, be sure to read it ASAP! I think that Miller told the last BRUCE WAYNE story in DK1, Bruce lost his mansion, his butler, his secret identity, everything, therefore Bruce is gone - and DK2 could only feature Batman. Bruce couldn't kill Joker, but 'Batman' can, that's why it was such a difficult choice for him. Batman is where Bruce's darkness comes from, so deep it manifests itself as a new personality, where the two struggle against each other (how he relates to TWO-FACE). DK2 told the last BATMAN story, so it was much more fantastic and colorful, than DK1's human drama. It's funny how hard Miller worked at showing that intricate aspect of personalities and metaphoric death, Bruce was even placed in a coffin and 'buried' in DK1's ending!
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Summary: Great stuff for Batman lovers and the others!
Review: Batman is back, 10 years later. Older, not stronger, but wiser. Always on the edge of using too much violence or not knowing why he still wants to fight for justice. Batman has doubts, that what makes this -always excellent- Frank Miller book fascinating. A must read for graphic novel fans.
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Summary: Watching Batman Grow Older Is An Exciting Thrill...
Review: If you've ever wondered what would happen to Gotham City when Batman ages into an older man, his body less than it was in his youth, then this book will give you a great thrill. It's an interesting perspective of the Batman's future. We always see Batman as a tall, strong, & fairly young man. To see him age gives him a sense of realism and adds depth to his character. The dialogue can get pretty tiresome, especially the scenes of the "news broadcasts", but the story is quite gripping. I finished the book the day I started reading it. I recommend this book to even the minor fans of Batman. I was never into comics, but a good story is a good story.
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Summary: What a Comic Can Be
Review: If a producer got the balls to make a seriously dark Batman movie, it would have to be an adaptation of this: The single most adult comic about one of my childhood heroes ever created. I won't give away too many spoilers, except I will say that Bruce beats the Hell out of Clark, and that is good watchin'. Bruce is in retirement from his crimefighting, and the city's going to Hell without him. It takes a while...And he meets some of his old enemies while he's back, too. Anyway, all you really need to know is the basic plot and that the battle between Batsy and Supes as really good watchin'.
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Summary: A Graphic Novel Important and Enjoyable Both
Review: This is a classic because of the story and the art. For the writing, Miller envisioned the DC universe at a certain future and went from there, focusing on Batman. The hero aspect aside, the progression of the story worked around a traditional literary motif: a character who was once lost finds his way back to more familiar ground. In this case, Batman has turned away from his vigilante ways. And while the story is linear and somewhat predictable, witnessing Batman's development from a retired and troubled do-gooder to a man secure in his place appeals on many levels. The incremental progression of this story gave it much of its power. He doesn't go from retired to taking on the biggest bad guy in a couple of pages. It takes the length of the graphic novel. In between, there are small obstacles that he (and the plot) have to overcome in order to proceed onto the next problem. This development flowed easily and energetically. Artistically, Miller's pencils coupled with Varley's dark inks reflect the city that Gotham has become and the characters therein. Compare the scenes where the president and Superman make appearances: they are outside of the common man, the real world, and the artwork used at these times show this: bright colors and loads of white, they are like advertisements. An interesting cross-over between the two major emotional landscapes occurs when Superman fights in different places around the world. During these scenes, the colors are as similarly dark as those used in Gotham, but when stress needed to be put on his other worldliness, and godliness, all of a sudden the colors became brighter and cleaner. The artists adeptly wrapped the reader's emotions to the color scheme and visual pacing. Amazing. I would recommend this graphic novel to anyone interested in comics, Batman and pulp story telling. Writers would also be well served in considering the geometry of this tale. Thank you. Roland Petalver
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Summary: Batman as Batman should be
Review: What Frank Miller did in the Dark Knight Returns as it had never been done before is bring to the fore front the charcter of Batman. What modivates him, what continues to drive him and why he must return after ten years of retirement. Miller is able to bring out the dark side of both Bruce Wayne and the Dark Knight. Showing the reader that Bruce Wayne as Batman is not a hero only to promote the greater good of his beloved Gotham City but there is a need deep within him to forever right the wrong in his childhood. Miller is able to show Batman to be human. A man who has made mistakes and who is driven by obsession. To Bruce Wayne the Batman is no longer an alter ego rather Batman has become an equel owner of his soul. Regardless of any votes taken THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS is the greatest comic book series ever written.
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