duke101's Full Review: Frank Miller, John Costanza, Lynn Varley, Klaus Ja...
Before I begin this review, let me explain to you one thing, "The Dark Knight Returns" will make a lot more sense and be a lot more fun to read if you actually go back to the seemingly unrelated storyline "A Death in the Family," in which The Joker kills off the second Robin, Jason Todd. This prior storyline sets the tone and several elements of the plot for this later story, both through reminding the reader just why The Joker is Batman's greatest adversary, and explaining why it is that Batman has so much pent-up anger towards Superman.
Batman's conflict with Superman in "The Dark Knight Returns" is probably the coolest part of an amazing series. Rather than being considered a "superhero," in the future, Batman is more a renegade outlaw, who is seen as little different from the criminals he seeks to bring to justice, if not worse. Superman is the only hero allowed to continue to operate, but he is under constant surveillance by the American government, and takes orders from President Reagen, who is for some reason, still our president in the future (shudder). Back in the "Death in the Family" storyline, Batman tried to punch Superman out when Superman stood in the way of his revenge because it would be contrary to the interests of America. In "The Dark Knight Returns," when Bruce says "Clark, you let them do it, I always knew you would," in reference to a nuclear missile being fired, his character is thinking back to this prior storyline in which Clark Kent was always a push-over. So enters the greatest battle in the history of comic books.
How would Batman stand a chance against Superman, you ask? Especially when Batman is an old man with a heart condition! Well, with the help of his old buddy Green Arrow, a brand-new female Robin, and a battle suit reminiscint of what Batman wore when he faced Predator in the cool crossover you should also check out sometime. I won't spoil what happens during this battle, but suffice it to say, Batman is no pushover, even if he is an ordinary human being.
Batman also faces off against some of his greatest enemies during this storyline, completely retold thorugh Frank Miller's unique perspective. There is Two-Face, trying to be brought to justice and return to his life as Harvey Dent, but undeniably there is still a monster lurking around in his brain. The only portrayal of Two-Face that is superior to this one is by Jeph Loeb in the astounding graphic novel "The Long Halloween," which is absolutely the best of all Batman graphic novels, by the way. And of course, there is also the return of The Joker, who is not all that different than he was before, even if Batman is.
Batman has changed, and it appears he is willing to fight a lot more ruthlessly in this dark future. Where once he fought with style and grace, at one point he rides around in a tank, and he now fights with moves he knows will just plain hurt. After all, he's an old man, he's got to fight dirty.
Comissioner Gordon is also well played up during this storyline, a great character who is too often ignored during the regular Detective Comics and Batman series. An irritating focus of this storyline, however, is all the time Miller devotes to mocking the media, which although it needs some mockery, gets tiring by the second part of the series. All in all though, this is a must-read, especially with a sequel planned for this December which is going to sell out quicker than you can say "shazam," whoops, wrong superhero. :)
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