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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

by Frank Miller

Series: Batman, The Dark Knight (1)

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Recently added byjmartinez1, jenknox, private library, jjohnstz, wendyv, tkennedy, Phar4oh, Dija, Eternalinquirer, LJerome
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English (36)  Dutch (1)  All languages (37)
Showing 1-5 of 36 (next | show all)
Batman comes out of retirement, older, weaker, and more tortured, but still capable of taking on Gotham City's criminals. Over the course of the four books in the novel, Batman meets up with Harvey Two-Face, the Joker, a new Robing, and *drumroll please* Superman. And through it all the public is still engaged in a neverending battle discussing whether Batman is a hero or a villain. I'm not sure even Batman himself knows the answer to that question.

I loved it. I enjoyed this new twist on the Batman character. Always a bit darker than his "superhero" counterparts, Batman's dark side and his mental anguish are given free reign in Miller's adaptation of the Batman icon. The inclusion of Superman into the mix was a nice foil, helping the reader to see Batman as the black sheep among his kind, but one who is doing what's necessary to help society. That has always been a theme within the series, then and now, in novels and film: Batman is whatever Gotham City needs him to be. As always, James Gordon is my favorite character. He had a decent sized role in this story with his retirement and thoughts on his replacement as well as a short and nice action sequence.

On the down side, there were a few times where the repetition got to me. All four stories had numerous lines on how Batman was getting old and tired, and all four included none-too-small segments showing the media debate over the necessity, sanity, and morality of Batman. Now and then I was thinking "yeah, I get it already". But overall, those two annoyances did function as literary devices within the text, foreshadowing events mainly. Despite the downside, this was an excellent novel and I highly recommend reading it. ( )
  EclecticEccentric | Sep 18, 2009 |
I know that pretty much everyone raves about how awesome these comics are, but I just didn't like them. It took me forever to read this collection, and I never got into the story. Maybe if I'd read more Batman comics I'd think this was awesome. ( )
  rosesyesterday | Sep 15, 2009 |
Another great adventure, and apparently Miller’s first Batman ever. It was a great read and but perfect in how different it was compared to what I expected.

This specific graphic novel focuses on Gotham City after Batman has been missing or inactive for over 10 years. He’s now growing older but crime is continuing to rise dramatically and Batman is faced with having to choose whether to intervene. Commissioner Gordon is also reaching his prime and handing down his title to someone new, who can’t wait to rid the world of Batman.

It was a great read, very interesting and I look forward to others in the future.
  blondierocket | Sep 11, 2009 |
The comic that changed comics. Frank Miller upped the ante for all super hero stories that have followed proving that comics aren't just for kid. The supercool badass Batman we love today? Thank Frank. Worthy of all the hype and praise. ( )
  francomega | Jul 18, 2009 |
Brutal and bleak. Enough said. ( )
  pandaadam | Jul 6, 2009 |
Showing 1-5 of 36 (next | show all)
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Series (with order)
Canonical Title
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Awards and honors
Epigraph
Dedication
First words
I've got the home stretch all to myself when the readings stop making sense.
Quotations
The time has come. You know it in your soul. For I am your soul... you cannot escape me... you are puny, you are small—you are nothing—a hollow shell, a rusty trap that cannot hold me—smoldering, I burn you—burning you, I flare, hot and bright and fierce and beautiful—you cannot stop me—not with wine or vows or the weight of age—you cannot stop me but still you try—still you run—you try to drown me out... but your voice is weak...
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Canonical titleBatman: The Dark Knight Returns
Original publication date1986-10
SeriesBatman, The Dark Knight (1)
People/CharactersBruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Carrie Kelley, Oliver Queen (Green Arrow), Batman, Superman (show all 20)
Important placesGotham City, New Jersey, USA, Arkham Asylum, Batcave, Wayne Manor
Awards and honorsKirby Award (Best Graphic Album, Best Art Team, 1987), Time's 10 All-Time Graphic Novels
First wordsI've got the home stretch all to myself when the readings stop making sense.
QuotationsThe time has come. You know it in your soul. For I am your soul... you cannot escape me... you are puny, you are small—you are nothing—a hollow shell, a rusty trap that cannot hold me—smoldering, I burn you—burning yo... (show all)
Last words(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
BlurbersKing, Stephen, Spillane, Mickey
Book description

Amazon.com (ISBN 0930289137, Paperback)

If any comic has a claim to have truly reinvigorated the genre, then The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller--known also for his excellent Sin City series and his superb rendering of the blind superhero Daredevil--is probably the top contender. Batman represented all that was wrong in comics and Miller set himself a tough task taking on the camp crusader and turning this laughable, innocuous children's cartoon character into a hero for our times. The great Alan Moore (V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, the arguably peerless Watchmen) argued that only someone of Miller's stature could have done this. Batman is a character known well beyond the confines of the comic world (as are his retinue) and so reinventing him, while keeping his limiting core essentials intact, was a huge task.

Miller went far beyond the call of duty. The Dark Knight is a success on every level. Firstly it does keep the core elements of the Batman myth intact, with Robin, Alfred the butler, Commissioner Gordon, and the old roster of villains, present yet brilliantly subverted. Secondly the artwork is fantastic--detailed, sometimes claustrophobic, psychotic. Lastly it's a great story: Gotham City is a hell on earth, street gangs roam but there are no heroes. Decay is ubiquitous. Where is a hero to save Gotham? It is 10 years since the last recorded sighting of the Batman. And things have got worse than ever. Bruce Wayne is close to being a broken man but something is keeping him sane: the need to see change and the belief that he can orchestrate some of that change. Batman is back. The Dark Knight has returned. Awesome. --Mark Thwaite

(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:02 -0400)

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