Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again

This was so stupid and hyper-satirical, that it's pretty awesome. Raw, fast-paced and wacky.

Afterthoughts:

I'm not a DC/Marvel-reader (had to look up many of the DC character histories), but I can see the reasons for general discomfort this book has caused. But the truth is, discomfort and detachment are obviously what Miller wanted to inspire. Trying to consider this as a straight-forward sequel to DKR is a misplaced view. I consider The End of Evangelion of the NGE series as a close parallel to this.

Certainly not The Dark Knight Returns or Year One, this one's chock full of characters, social criticism, and paranoia. It's still great, but without the previous two series to back it up, this one wouldn't make it as a standalone novel. Batman's aging disfigurement is a bit too over the top. Rather than Clint Eastwood swaggering late in his years B. Wayne instead looks like a ball of clay run over by a Mack truck 4-5 times. Nonetheless, check it out, if only to complete the trilogy.

You know what? Not bad. Trippy, alternative, bizarre. Like Andy Warhol took over. Or something. I liked it.

The sequel to Frank Miller's groundbreaking graphic novel, "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns". This compilation of the three original softbound books is not quite the equal of that first one in story or art, but it does improve on second reading. In this book, Batman recruits Superman and a wide range of other retired heroes to fight against the phalanx of Braniac and Luthor, who effectively rule the world (and hold the microscopic city of Kandor hostage). My original quibble about Miller trying to cram too much into the book still holds, you still need a scorecard to keep up with all the players, and I still am disturbed by the betrayal of a key character at the climax. But this is a story of undeniable power, and will certainly hold up show more over time. show less

Faking his own death and creating an underworld civilization, Bruce Wayne has been keeping his eye on the world above. And as that false Camelot reaches it's breaking point, it is up to the Dark Knight to emerge from the underground shadows and once again restore order to chaos.

It's been three years since the events of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS and everything is just fine. At least on the surface. What the wold at large doesnt know is that it's a total sham. A perfectly choreographed, pretty little world where everything that is ugly, or even potentially disturbing is all nicely wrapped up with neat little ribbons and swept under the carpet. Only he knows better. He's watched it fester to near breaking point and it's time for the only show more free man left who can effect any real change to bring it all down around their ears once and for all

Written and illustrated by Frank Millar with colours by Lynn Varley.

Batman is in hiding. The JLA has been disbanded and is split between two main fault lines: the holier-than-thou-must protect-the-weak-humans ideaology of Superman and the lets-get-it-fixed-no-matter-the-cost attitude of the "missing" Batman.

Batman - who barely appears in a third of the strips - has decided it is time to fight back against all he sees as wrong. The President of the USA is a hologram of a figure who doesnt exist and is controlled by Lex Luthor. People have forgotten about their heroes and believe they either never existed or are dead. Wearing tights is seen as a fashion statement News channels produce inane coverage of justa bout anything

Oh where to begin (or end?). The illustrations are poor and messy. The inclusion of Catgirl (Carrie, who used to be Robin) and Lara (the daughter of Superman and Wonderwoman) does not counteract the presence of Superchix or the depiction of Wonderwoman herself (and her relationship with Superman). The following sentence, issued by Wonderwoman herself, gives an indication (even in 2002) the graphic novel's attitude toward women:

Where is the hero who thew me to the ground and took me as his rightful prize?

. So are we talking Rape? Forced sex? A touch of BDSM? What?

Anyway, not impressed with this collection, and Mr Millar will not be one I will too eager to follow up on show less

Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again takes place some time after Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Carrie Kelly, now the new Catgirl, helps Batman free heroes trapped in captivity: The Atom is freed from his prehistoric petri dish prison; the Flash is freed from his job at the electric company, and so forth. The heroes unite against the regime in place, led by Lex Luthor, and enforced by other heroes whose loved ones are being held in captivity.

It's a throw-down between the good guys, the bad guys, and the guys somewhere in between.

If you followed my instructions in my review for DKR, then listen to this amendment: If you own two Batman graphic novels, the second one must be The Dark Knight Strikes Again. While the storyline is show more noncanonical with the accepted Batman chronology, Miller's Dark Knight books are of the best Batman graphic novels available. So, go and get this one now! show less

Comic Shop Guy said this was worth reading for free.

Comic Shop Guy lied to me.

This is a jumbled story that makes no sense and pulls in every conceivable superhero, whether they're relevant to the story or not. Not that I can tell what the story is supposed to be, granted. This may be one of the least interesting Superman books I've read. (It was a Superman book, right? Since he was in it way more than Batman?)

Ugh. This was a library read and I still want my money back.