adicarter's Full Review: Frank Miller, John Costanza, Lynn Varley, Klaus Ja...
Mention Batman to almost anyone and they will be able to tell you more or less who he is. The Dark Knight Detective, The Caped Crusader, the guy who hung out with a kid called Robin. What you have there is one of the most famous characters to emerge from the comics genre in the last century. Second only in his almost iconic status to DC’s other big league hero Superman.
The difference between the two characters however has always been the fact that while Superman was a being of almost godlike powers and prowess, Batman achieved his deeds without the aid of superhuman powers.
Throughout his existence since the late thirties Batman has been many things, a grim faced crusader for justice. An urban myth for the residents of his fictional home city Gotham, in the sixties he was characterised as a larger than life super hero with a somewhat camp and frivolous air in his own television show.
Frank Miller with the aid of Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley however have taken him and turned him on his head to create their own particular take on the character that many have know and loved for years.
The Dark Knight Returns was originally published as a limited series over ten years, reading it again today it retains all the qualities which made such a fascinating read in the first place.
The tenth anniversary edition recollects all the original comics together in a soft cover format (with a new cover by Miller) and places them together for perhaps a new generation of readers who didn’t catch it the first time round.
Set in a Gotham of the 1980’s this book is essentially an Elseworld’s title in all but name. The events don’t tailor to original continuity but don’t let that diminish your enjoyment of the book whatsoever.
However do remember this, The Batman you see hear is not the Batman you grew up with.
The story deals with the life of Bruce Wayne ten years after he has retired from his role as The Dark Knight, there was no around to take over the role of Gotham’s protector and as a result the city has fallen into an almost terminal state of criminal disrepair.
The book immediately captures the darker spirit of a Reagan-esque America in the 80’s. Gotham has never looked so delightfully bad with criminal gangs more or less running the city, a spineless administration has control in name only and an aged Jim Gordon labours on as The Commissioner only a short time away from retirement. In the background there is the constant rumbling threat of serious political incident which threatens the not only the city but the entire nation.
Wayne meanwhile is by no means enjoying his retirement, his personal struggle to maintain a normal life is marred by the calling of his own inner voice that longs to be back on the streets again dealing with crime in the only way he ever could.
In the end he cannot resist his urges to slip back into his ways of old and we see an older yet not necessarily wiser Batman return to the streets in bid to rid them of crime.
It’s not just Bruce/Batman who makes a comeback either, a host of his greatest enemies are waiting in the wings to return as well. The notorious criminal Two Face, supposedly rehabilitated is awaiting release from prison, and The Joker, a man who has not smiled since his adversary went into retirement are on hand to settle old scores. There are cameo appearances in the book from characters who you will recognise and even a new Robin to take a place by his side.
One of the reasons why this book works so well for me is the way the storytelling and art are so faithful to each other in terms of style. The story is dark with a constant undercurrent of violence and that really is reflected in the way the book comes across visually. Batman continues to be haunted by the death of his parents (the reason he assumed the role of a costumed crime fighter) and his desire to bring justice to the city is portrayed in the manner of a man obsessed with the duty he has placed upon himself.
It’s almost as if all the traits that this character ever had bubbling away just beneath the skin are brought to the surface. This Batman is in no way as controlled as he was in his younger years, age has worn away compassion and restraint and at times you have to question whether he is in fact any better than the criminals that he fights.
Issues like this are addressed in the book as well, Batman’s return brings a host of media attention and as the story progresses we see the ongoing bickering between newscaster who agree and simultaneously disagree with his methods.
One of Batman’s biggest fights in the story is the one he has to endure with himself. His ethical standpoint on crime is constantly challenged as his opponents show him no mercy, he battles with his advancing years as the feats he would have managed to achieve in his youth are hindered by a failing body.
I’m not going to go into any more of the story, I can’t do it justice and it is simply too good for me to give away. All I can say is it is a must have book for any comic collector to own, whether that be as part of a collection of Batman material or a stand alone book, it’s a comic book classic.
A young Bruce Wayne has spent his adolescence and early adulthood, traveling the world so he could hone his body and mind into the perfect fighting an...More at Barnes & Noble.com
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