Batman: the Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
Batman: the Dark Knight Returns
by Frank Miller
This book found its way into my life through a fun coincidence. I finished reading it last night.
Batman is usually disturbingly dark and angsty. This one was huge amounts of both of those things and more. Bruce returns as the Batman after many years of being away. He's apparently an old man--which, in this case, means 55. Doesn't seem that old to me. But Alfred is still alive so unless Al lived to be 130 and still taking care of Bruce and the house, Batman couldn't be *that* old. I guess 55 is too old to be running around, fighting bad guys, though. And Bruce figures that out soon enough but carries on throughout the book anyway. This is a collection of 4 different books in one volume, chronicling his return and his struggle to free Gotham city one last time from the dangers it faces. There are some familiar bad guys, some angsting from Batman about why he started this in the first place, a mutant rising, more angsting from Batman about the people who have suffered because of him, politicians who are crazy stupid and warrents out for the Batman's arrest, and even more ansting from Batman to Superman about his role as a superhero. Then it gets worse when the stupid, embarrassed government orders Superman to kill Batman.
There were tons of stunning moments--like a new Robin stepping up and Batman reluctantly accepting her at first and then acknowleding how he'd be dead without her skills a dozen times over. There's a scene where she almost dies but pulls off a fantastic accomplishment and he holds her to keep her from falling to her death and calls her a good soldier--I teared right up. You can see that panel here: http://www.comicsrecommended.com/images/dc/dkr_carriefalls.jpg Carrie Kelley as Robin was my favorite part of the book--she stole every scene she was in and was daring, clever, and good with computers (impressive traits for a character created in 1986). I loved the side moments with Gordon as well as he is no longer the commissioner and still won't give up on his city or the Batman. I loved the quiet moments with Clark, as they discuss the nature of Batman as a superhero, saying some things bluntly and dancing around others. I even loved a lot of the action, watching Batman kick some serious butt, being injured and almost dying for his city. He's got such faith in the goodness and potential of Gotham. And he's got people who have faith in him. But sometimes that's not enough. And sometimes it is.
I can see why this is called one of the best Batman stories and one of the best graphic novels of all time. I can also see why people would not like it--if you don't love Batman, if you don't love dark stories where the hero pretty much says he's going to lose from page one, if you don't love seeing some of the inspiration for the recent hit, The Dark Knight Rises, then this isn't the book for you. There were certainly a lot of moments I didn't quite follow or had to re-read. And the art style isn't one of my favorites, really. But I am still really glad I got a chance to read this and I'm left feeling great about it.