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Rating:  -
I got this because everyone raves about it so I felt obligated as a comic fan. I was not a fan of Sin City or 300 and found Miller's Daredevil kind of slow. And its true, the story is driven by the writer not the artist so you have to read it at a different pace than modern comics but if you do you will be blown away. I was AMAZED at Miller's ability to write an action sequence. Don't expect the faster page turning of a Jeph Loeb Batman story and focus more on the writing than the art and you will find one of the most bad-ass comic stories ever.
Rating:  -
I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't like this story. I read the numerous 5 starred reviews at the beginning and began doubting myself, but then I perused the 2 stars and under section and felt a lot better.
First off, I LIKE Batman comics, I really do. The only reason I'm not hardcore is because I'm a grad student, and let's face it, I simply just don't have the time (or money). I liked Batman: Year One, and I liked Batman: Hush, Vol. 1, along with Batman: The Man Who Laughs and Superman/Batman Vol. 1: Public Enemies, plus many more. I'm not a newbie to this world.
So when I got TDKR, I figured I'd like it too, right? NOPE. I have the same problem with this comic as I did with Batman: Arkham Asylum (15th Anniversary Edition), only worse. The art is too spastic; the design is too creative; my brain just isn't able to make the leaps in logic that are apparently required to make this all into a storyline that flows in some kind of understandable manner.
Rating: -
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is a collection of four stories by acclaimed comics creator Frank Miller (Batman: Year One, Sin City) that details a world in which Batman comes out of a 10 year retirement grudgingly forced upon him and the world's super-heroes by the government when the suffering masses cry out for salvation. In this world, Batman/Bruce Wayne is now in his mid-to-late-50's, his dual-identity common knowledge to long-time friend/ally GCPD Commissioner Jim Gordon - soon to retire and be replaced by the no-nonsense Ellen Yindel - and former criminal Selina Kyle/Catwoman; now the manager of an escort service to high-society. In his absence from crime-fighting, Gotham has become the stomping grounds for a massive gang of teenage thugs who call themselves mutants, and the arch-criminals of the city's infamous past have either been set on the road to recovery (like the seemingly reformed Harvey Dent/Two-Face) and the Joker; who in Batman's absence has lost his sense of purpose and retreated into a self-imposed catatonic state one level of functionality above a vegetable. But Bruce is not able to stay retired and be happy with it; almost endorsing the idea that he suffers from a kind of schizophrenic-psychosis, Bruce is "called" back to duty by the spirit of the bat that refuses to relinquish its hold upon him. Despite the years since he returned, he has lost little of his physical prowess as he makes as dramatic a comeback as would be expected of the great and powerful Batman. Upon his return, so too do his Rogues Gallery; or at least the ones worth putting in this series. First, Harvey Dent relapses into his Two-Face persona and comes up with a plan that eerily parallels the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks 15 years before they happened. Second, after extremely brazen attacks against mutants, he faces off against their leader who makes a declaration of war against Gotham; and specifically Gordon, Yindel, and of course Batman. Third Batman gets himself a new partner, the unofficial third Robin of Miller's world, a teenage girl named Carrie Kelly; literally a red-headed whipper-snapper (Batman comes to accept her after she saves his life). And last-but-not-least, the Joker - upon hearing of the return of his "Darling" - comes out of his catatonia and through the manipulation of his coddling doctors is able to stage an escape/mass murder during one of the late-night Gotham talk shows; promising a world of death and destruction to welcome back the good-old-days. Also, Superman makes an appearance as the government's trained lap/attack dog who is now a secret from the public, covertly deployed to deal with international crises as well as take down his old friend and ally; lethally if necessary.
My biggest problems with this series was the visual design combined with its setup on the page. The Joker hardly conforms to past incarnations, appearing to have more muscle-mass and slightly feminized facial features and mannerisms that for a die-hard fan of his "homicidal maniac" incarnation is, frankly, insulting (even more-so following the character's next major renovation for The Dark Knight ). While the idea of the Joker/Batman relationship as crime-fighter/arch-nemesis has occasionally hinted at homo-erotic undertones, never before have they been so obvious (additionally, the Joker's ruby-red lips here are the result of lipstick!); at least the idea of them representing ultimate duality (over villain Two-Face) was 'innocent' enough. Additionally, Batman's own visual design has him looking less healthily muscular and more hulkingly bulky and wearing a devious grin that would put the Joker to shame half the time that he isn't scowling.
I personally did not care for this story; but if you can forgive the haphazard-looking artistic style (use the "look inside" feature), then don't let this review deter you from getting this graphic novel.
Rating: -
As a long-standing Batman fan and an artist/writer in the comic community, I found this to be one of the better vehicles for Batman. The page layouts through me off a bit, even though the art was 'spot on' in many places. The story was crisp... an aging Batman, bucking the system, 'dark' to the very end. Miller and Janson return from their fame over Daredevil, to knock out a tale setting the reader up for one twist after another, down a darker path. I recommend this volume.
Rating: -
In 1986 the definitive darker Batman hit the comics stands, created, written and drawn by Frank Miller. We're introduced to a murderous Gotham City and that's made worse by The Batman's retirement.
The TPB (trade paperback) is well put together. The Frank Miller introduction sets the story for the reader; it's an article by a James Olsen on the Truth to Power. About the now-gone man of steel and an Amazon princess, of the times and tribulations of the nation's heroes. But not of the Batman. Did he retire or think the city was just not worth it?
Book I is interesting how Miller pictures the media. The media becomes the main focus in a large part of the tale. Not always telling the truth (of course), shallow and sensational. Reported is a gang of mutants who were part of a "brutal slaying." A death threat on the door of James Gordon, police commissioner. And the tenth anniversary of the last reporting sighting of the Batman and his one-man war on crime.
Gordon, mugged. Harvey Dent released from Arkham (home for the emotionally untroubled). Again the criticism of the media and the "politically correct" language -- if we called it an insane asylum, would we really be offended?
Getting into Books two and three: Batman resurfaces and again the media chatter about his reappearance on the Gotham scene. Entertaining scene with the back & forth between commentators.
Book Three gets more into Batman's return with a female Robin. The media step in: Batman, guilty of child endangerment? Superman: "Nothing matters to you than your holy war -- and I get to save lives and the media stays quiet and they'll hunt us down again, because of you."
Book Four gets even more into the anti-hero, do we really need 'em theme, with the shocking title: The Dark Knight Falls. The ending is particularly interesting -- a new gang or team of Batmen and women, training by Bruce Wayne for the salvation of the city. Can it happen? Will he be successful.
Another cool thing about the TPB is the alternate script. Miller was actually going to end this tale differently than what eventually hit the publishers and newsstands. And the great cover art of the original four books grace the ending.
No, comics are not just for kids anymore and this could be the book that started the trend.
Check it out.
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