Status
Available
Call number
Library's review
USA, Gotham City, ca 2010
Indeholder "Introduktion", "Nattens Ridder Vender Tilbage", "Storbyens Sønner", "Fjenden", "Det Store Brag", "Et kig på det oprindelige forslag".
"Nattens Ridder Vender Tilbage" handler om at Batman er i fyrrerne og det er snart længe siden at han har været aktiv og
"Storbyens Sønner" handler om ???
"Fjenden" handler om ???
"Det Store Brag" handler om ???
"Introduktion" handler om tegneserierne, som længe lå for had. Som en grund til ungdomskriminalitet og alskens onder. Men helt døde er de ikke. Men midtvejs i The Dark Knight Strikes Again fløj kaprede fly ind i Tvillingetårnene og slog tusinder af Frank Millers naboer ihjel.
"Et kig på det oprindelige forslag" handler om skitser og udkast og hvordan Frank Miller var nødt til at kaste forgængernes stil overbord for at finde sin egen.
En super rå og brutal udgave af Batman. Amerikansk selvtægt. Hvilket både er fascinerende og frastødende.
Indeholder "Introduktion", "Nattens Ridder Vender Tilbage", "Storbyens Sønner", "Fjenden", "Det Store Brag", "Et kig på det oprindelige forslag".
"Nattens Ridder Vender Tilbage" handler om at Batman er i fyrrerne og det er snart længe siden at han har været aktiv og
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banket forbrydere. Harvey Dent bliver løsladt efter at millionæren Bruce Wayne har betalt for plastik-kirurgi og psykolog-behandling. Politidirektør James Gordon er på vej på pension og er ikke begejstret. En mutant-bande hærger Gotham City."Storbyens Sønner" handler om ???
"Fjenden" handler om ???
"Det Store Brag" handler om ???
"Introduktion" handler om tegneserierne, som længe lå for had. Som en grund til ungdomskriminalitet og alskens onder. Men helt døde er de ikke. Men midtvejs i The Dark Knight Strikes Again fløj kaprede fly ind i Tvillingetårnene og slog tusinder af Frank Millers naboer ihjel.
"Et kig på det oprindelige forslag" handler om skitser og udkast og hvordan Frank Miller var nødt til at kaste forgængernes stil overbord for at finde sin egen.
En super rå og brutal udgave af Batman. Amerikansk selvtægt. Hvilket både er fascinerende og frastødende.
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Publication
[S.l.] : [Frederiksberg] : RW ; i samarbejde med Zoom, 2015.
Description
Comic and Graphic Books. Fiction. HTML: Hailed as a comics masterpiece, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS is Frank Miller's (300 and SIN CITY) reinvention of the legend of Batman. It remains an undisputed classic, one of the most influential stories ever told in comics, and is a book cited by the filmmakers as an inspiration for the most recent Batman movies. It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired, and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now, when his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory. Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest enemies, the Joker and Two-Face, for the final time Batman finds himself in mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them will survive..… (more)
Media reviews
"The stories are convoluted, difficult to follow and crammed with far too much text. The drawings offer a grotesquely muscle-bound Batman and Superman, not the lovable champions of old.... If this book is meant for kids, I doubt that they will be pleased. If it is aimed at adults, they are not the
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sort I want to drink with." Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member dmcolon
There's an interesting, seemingly neofascist strain in Frank Miller's graphic novels. 300 comes to mind as the most disturbing example of this, but The Dark Knight Returns isn't far behind. The story picks up around 15-20 years after Batman's heyday and he is in retirement. The world has gone amok
This isn't a pretty vision of the world. It reminds me of a sort of Charles Bronson Deathwish universe where a solitary and borderline psychopathic hero will bring peace to the world through violence. I can't quite figure out Frank Miller's politics. He parodies Reagan and blatant militarism pretty harshly in The Dark Knight Returns, but also looks to extralegal solutions to crime and basks in ultraviolence. Miller's Gotham is hopelessly corrupt and he seems to think that only a fiery holocaust can cleanse it. He portrays liberals in a stereotypically Bronson-esque fashion -- always ready to coddle wrongdoers and let them off the hook. There are always horrific consequences to such actions. The hard-line, and only the hard-line, is the only real solution according to Miller. He recognizes the harvest of blood and terror that will ensue, but Miller feels this is necessary and justified.
Having said all this, The Dark Knight Returns warrants the praise it has received. It's storytelling is powerful and its vision of a corrupt world is appealing in a "Blade Runner" sort of way. The retelling of Batman is effective as a graphic narrative and there is a real sense of moral ambiguity. I disagree with pretty much everything Miller seems to believe in, but I felt engaged as a reader. I was willing to suspend my disbelief and horror and go along for the ride. In the end, I'm not sure that's such a good thing. I feel sort of corrupted and a bit more cynical about the world.
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and through a series of events, Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement. I won't go into the details, but by the end, Batman unites a group of street thugs into a coherent vigilante force who will "bring order" to the world. This isn't a pretty vision of the world. It reminds me of a sort of Charles Bronson Deathwish universe where a solitary and borderline psychopathic hero will bring peace to the world through violence. I can't quite figure out Frank Miller's politics. He parodies Reagan and blatant militarism pretty harshly in The Dark Knight Returns, but also looks to extralegal solutions to crime and basks in ultraviolence. Miller's Gotham is hopelessly corrupt and he seems to think that only a fiery holocaust can cleanse it. He portrays liberals in a stereotypically Bronson-esque fashion -- always ready to coddle wrongdoers and let them off the hook. There are always horrific consequences to such actions. The hard-line, and only the hard-line, is the only real solution according to Miller. He recognizes the harvest of blood and terror that will ensue, but Miller feels this is necessary and justified.
Having said all this, The Dark Knight Returns warrants the praise it has received. It's storytelling is powerful and its vision of a corrupt world is appealing in a "Blade Runner" sort of way. The retelling of Batman is effective as a graphic narrative and there is a real sense of moral ambiguity. I disagree with pretty much everything Miller seems to believe in, but I felt engaged as a reader. I was willing to suspend my disbelief and horror and go along for the ride. In the end, I'm not sure that's such a good thing. I feel sort of corrupted and a bit more cynical about the world.
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LibraryThing member wilsonknut
This is an essential read for graphic novel fans. Along with Watchmen, it helped define the dark, gritty superhero genre. This is not the Batman you know, but at the same time it is 100% Batman.
LibraryThing member Snakeshands
Completely revitalized the genre, yes. Superman as fascist enforcer for Reagan, amazing. Batman vs. Superman in an actually conceivable battle, makes the 14 year old in me jump for joy while the adult goes "oh CRAP!"But I just can't stop being creeped out by Frank Miller and his moral universe,
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which seems to think psychotic vigilantism is actually pretty okay compared to the Evil Namby Pamby Liberals who Don't Mind Letting Psychos Chop Good Citizens To Pieces. Somehow I really, really don't think the 80s crime wave was caused by that, and it gives me a real ugly feeling in the stomach.Still, a complete page-turner, though the art is a bit samey. No Batman is as creepy as this, and the pathetic vision of an aging misanthrope who gets his *ss handed to him a couple times is beyond belief. I just wonder how much the author identifies with him, and that disturbs me. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jonathan_Walker
“Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” is a fictional graphic novel written by Frank Miller. This graphic novel contains four books: Book 1: The Dark Knight Returns, Book 2: The Dark Knight Triumphant, Book 3: Hunt the Dark Knight, and Book 4: The Dark Knight Falls. This novel is of course about
If you have every had someone turn you back on you even though you do so much for them and expect nothing in return, then imagine if a whole city treated you like that. After a decade of hiding in the shadows, Batman finally resurfaces in order to bring Gotham out of its slump. But he will not have to fight alone; a new Robin is born, Dick Grayson is no longer Robin, now the red and yellow “R” suit is filled out by Carrie, a high school teenage girl. Batman is angrier more now than ever, the darkness inside his soul is finally revealing itself, but will Batman let the darkness escape or will he be able to keep it at bay like he has done for so many years?
I, personally, was very disappointed in this graphic novel. It is hard to follow, the artwork works more against the story than the actual storyline. Batman has always been the loner in the “Justice League,” but this Batman, I do not know where he came from. I cannot believe this book is considered to be suitable for adolescents, every other word on the page is a cuss word, and we wonder why so many adolescents talk “like a sailor.” The only issue that this book can raise is the fact it’s cool to be a rebel. I have read my fair share of graphic novel, Superman is by far my favorite superhero and I have several graphic novels that are about Superman. One graphic novel that I have read before “The Death of Superman” by Dan Jurgens is wonderful. I cannot remember a single ‘bad word’ in the book, and the artwork is outstanding. Like any Superman comic (graphic novel) the moral is to stand up for what is right and always be the best you can be. As for “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” I cannot say anything positive about it. After reading the novel, I am shocked at how Miller took the one superhero that has no super-power and made him in a sense be a villain.
Concerns
- Why are we allowing adolescents to read material with such graphic language in school?
- In school, we can monitor what students do; out of school is what we have no control over. If we show them that it is cool to be a rebel by allowing them to read material like this then what are we saying about how they should act outside or inside of school?
I was disappointed in the book, and I will not recommend it to any adolescents to read. Also, when I am a teacher, I will not allow this book to be read in my classroom, unless it is required, and I will not fight for this book to stay in schools. If you are okay with letting you children read something with graphic language and material, by all means let them read this book, but I advice any parent to read it before you let you children read it.
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Batman, aka Bruce Wayne, and the scene is Gotham City.If you have every had someone turn you back on you even though you do so much for them and expect nothing in return, then imagine if a whole city treated you like that. After a decade of hiding in the shadows, Batman finally resurfaces in order to bring Gotham out of its slump. But he will not have to fight alone; a new Robin is born, Dick Grayson is no longer Robin, now the red and yellow “R” suit is filled out by Carrie, a high school teenage girl. Batman is angrier more now than ever, the darkness inside his soul is finally revealing itself, but will Batman let the darkness escape or will he be able to keep it at bay like he has done for so many years?
I, personally, was very disappointed in this graphic novel. It is hard to follow, the artwork works more against the story than the actual storyline. Batman has always been the loner in the “Justice League,” but this Batman, I do not know where he came from. I cannot believe this book is considered to be suitable for adolescents, every other word on the page is a cuss word, and we wonder why so many adolescents talk “like a sailor.” The only issue that this book can raise is the fact it’s cool to be a rebel. I have read my fair share of graphic novel, Superman is by far my favorite superhero and I have several graphic novels that are about Superman. One graphic novel that I have read before “The Death of Superman” by Dan Jurgens is wonderful. I cannot remember a single ‘bad word’ in the book, and the artwork is outstanding. Like any Superman comic (graphic novel) the moral is to stand up for what is right and always be the best you can be. As for “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” I cannot say anything positive about it. After reading the novel, I am shocked at how Miller took the one superhero that has no super-power and made him in a sense be a villain.
Concerns
- Why are we allowing adolescents to read material with such graphic language in school?
- In school, we can monitor what students do; out of school is what we have no control over. If we show them that it is cool to be a rebel by allowing them to read material like this then what are we saying about how they should act outside or inside of school?
I was disappointed in the book, and I will not recommend it to any adolescents to read. Also, when I am a teacher, I will not allow this book to be read in my classroom, unless it is required, and I will not fight for this book to stay in schools. If you are okay with letting you children read something with graphic language and material, by all means let them read this book, but I advice any parent to read it before you let you children read it.
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LibraryThing member StefanY
I didn't think that this was bad by any means, but it didn't even come close to my expectations.
Overall, the artwork throughout the book ranges from very good to excellent. Where I found this book to be lacking was in the dialog and to some extent the storyline. Things just seemed very long and
Either way, I did enjoy the book for the most part. I just don't think that I'm ever going to be one of those people to whom the graphic novel is the best way to go for my reading preferences.
Overall, the artwork throughout the book ranges from very good to excellent. Where I found this book to be lacking was in the dialog and to some extent the storyline. Things just seemed very long and
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drawn-out and there were times where I was a bit confused as to what exactly was going on. I have previously 300 (another graphic novel by Frank Miller) and it also got me lost a couple of times along the way, forcing me to re-read sections so maybe it's just the way Mr. Miller writes or maybe it still has something to do with the graphic novel medium (although I read a lot of comics as a kid, so I don't think that is my problem.) Either way, I did enjoy the book for the most part. I just don't think that I'm ever going to be one of those people to whom the graphic novel is the best way to go for my reading preferences.
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LibraryThing member nosajeel
Deserves its classic status for the transformative concept of an aging Batman returning to duty in an ambivalent city while suffering from the aches and pains associated with his age. The images are distinctive and beautiful and the overall atmosphere created by these comics/graphic novel is unique
In telling its stories, the Dark Knight Returns traverses a wide range from Gotham's villains to the President of the United States and much in between, with large sections narrated by a Greek chorus-like device of newscasters or arguing talking heads on TV screens.
But, at least for me, it still suffers from plots that at times are overly elaborate and hard to follow, drawing on comic book mythologies I'm not familiar with, and has cartoonish set piece battles. It seems like it is just about as good as a comic book can get, but (apologies to fans of the genre), it is still a comic book.
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and exciting. In two of the chapters it also creates a fascinating Superman character who is an ambivalent tool of the U.S. government activated to fight cold war battles while doing minute calculations of how his actions will minimize the threats to human (and animal) life.In telling its stories, the Dark Knight Returns traverses a wide range from Gotham's villains to the President of the United States and much in between, with large sections narrated by a Greek chorus-like device of newscasters or arguing talking heads on TV screens.
But, at least for me, it still suffers from plots that at times are overly elaborate and hard to follow, drawing on comic book mythologies I'm not familiar with, and has cartoonish set piece battles. It seems like it is just about as good as a comic book can get, but (apologies to fans of the genre), it is still a comic book.
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LibraryThing member GeorgMayer
Madness in its best form. Frank Miller sends Batman on his last (?) crusade and he is darker than ever. He is human, he is extreme, he is a living myth. Miller is a genius - I do not agree to all his points of view, but he knows not only how to tell a story, but he is able to give it the twists and
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turns, that make is perfect. Show Less
LibraryThing member danconsiglio
One of the most satisfying experiences of my comic book reading life is watching Batman pound the living hell out of Superman. So good! This one deserves all the fanboy love it gets.
LibraryThing member stephmo
What does a superhero who is human, aging and without real super powers do when time is catching up with him? In this volume, we meet an older Batman who has been out of the limelight for ten years while Gotham has been overrun by the Mutant Gang. A brief turn out of retirement is possible, but not
In this volume, Miller manages to weave familiar foes and friends together in a volume that deals with the end of the run for our hero. Age, of course, is the least of our hero's issues. Our hero is a vigilante in the age of media, so while his battles are very real, the talking heads endlessly debate the merits of the legality of his actions. While our hero has chosen a path against the grain, another hero has chosen the path of assimilation and cooperation with civic leaders and this story is played out between the two of them. Miller even has room for gender politics.
Most impressive is the inking and coloring for Miller's already expressive drawings. I found myself going over some panels multiple times just to admire the work.
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sustainable.In this volume, Miller manages to weave familiar foes and friends together in a volume that deals with the end of the run for our hero. Age, of course, is the least of our hero's issues. Our hero is a vigilante in the age of media, so while his battles are very real, the talking heads endlessly debate the merits of the legality of his actions. While our hero has chosen a path against the grain, another hero has chosen the path of assimilation and cooperation with civic leaders and this story is played out between the two of them. Miller even has room for gender politics.
Most impressive is the inking and coloring for Miller's already expressive drawings. I found myself going over some panels multiple times just to admire the work.
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LibraryThing member aethercowboy
If you only have one Batman graphic novel, it MUST be this one.
Miller, whose comics evoke darker worlds than their creators had envisioned, takes the helm of this project to envision a future in which Batman has retired.
Criminals run amok, and some of Batman's rivals have returned to crime, even
At his side is a self-appointed Robin, the 13-year-old Carrie Kelly, who manages to save Batman just as many times as he manages to save her.
This darker future Gotham seems to fit the Batman mythos, especially in wake of the Burton Batman films. Miller gives us the gritty future, and while it may be bitter, it tastes the way it should.
As I said: If you only have one Batman graphic novel, it MUST be this one. So, if you don't have it yet, go out and get it right now.
Miller, whose comics evoke darker worlds than their creators had envisioned, takes the helm of this project to envision a future in which Batman has retired.
Criminals run amok, and some of Batman's rivals have returned to crime, even
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though they've been supposedly "cured." Bruce Wayne, now in his silver years, resumes the cowl of Batman, coming out of retirement, to fight the new waves of villains.At his side is a self-appointed Robin, the 13-year-old Carrie Kelly, who manages to save Batman just as many times as he manages to save her.
This darker future Gotham seems to fit the Batman mythos, especially in wake of the Burton Batman films. Miller gives us the gritty future, and while it may be bitter, it tastes the way it should.
As I said: If you only have one Batman graphic novel, it MUST be this one. So, if you don't have it yet, go out and get it right now.
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LibraryThing member schatzi
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.
LibraryThing member francomega
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.
LibraryThing member TiffGabler
The Dark Knight is the better of the Frank Miller series, he is pretty much like the Rembrandt of Comic Makers; Batman and Joker are no longer hokey but realistic and even sinister to a degree.
This issue is a look at Bruce Wayne hardened and hammered by age and years of crime fighting. This issue
We get a deep sense of the psychological themes and symbols of dual nature that Miller masterfully executes. If you are a Batman fan, you will enjoy this read.
This issue is a look at Bruce Wayne hardened and hammered by age and years of crime fighting. This issue
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really gives you the essence of the Batman in comparison to all the supercharged, super powered superhero. We get a deep sense of the psychological themes and symbols of dual nature that Miller masterfully executes. If you are a Batman fan, you will enjoy this read.
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LibraryThing member EvilJohn
This is one of the most influential comics ever written, and holds up remarkably well after almost twenty years.
LibraryThing member TheWellRegarded
Kinda disappointing! I didn't like superman's appearance (THERE'S NO PLANET KRYPTON IN THE BATMAN UNIVERSE, errr shouldn't be). No matter how much of a pussy he was.
LibraryThing member the_terrible_trivium
I read this right after Watchmen, which covers some of the same area. This is good, but suffers by comparison. Perhaps read this one first, or separated by a few months.
LibraryThing member woodshopcowboy
An example of exactly how good a comic book can be and exactly how hard it is to achieve.
LibraryThing member theboylatham
Seven out of ten. CBR format.
Bruce Wayne has retired as Batman after the death of the second Robin, Jason Todd (see 'Batman: A Death In the Family'). Ten years pass and Gotham City is overwhelmed with crime and plagued by a gang called "The Mutants". Batman returns to deal with this menace which
Bruce Wayne has retired as Batman after the death of the second Robin, Jason Todd (see 'Batman: A Death In the Family'). Ten years pass and Gotham City is overwhelmed with crime and plagued by a gang called "The Mutants". Batman returns to deal with this menace which
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only serves to tempt the Joker out of retirement as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member jediphil683
The only reason this work of illustrated brilliance doesn't receive five stars is a piddling little complaint of mine: the artwork. I realize that, having read it as many times as I have, Miller's art is not a point of complaint, but someone that's not as addicted as me might find it difficult to
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get into. It may even be enough to prevent them from reading it, and appreciating one of the best leveled stories I've ever read. DKR does so much so well, almost anything that you could possibly want to see as a reader (or a fan) is there. Miller helped reinvigorate comics with this story, and it's easy to see why. Show Less
LibraryThing member MichelleHudon
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, written by Frank Miller, is a graphic novel that includes four separate books. The novel features Batman who has been in retirement for the past ten years. Since Batman’s retirement Gotham City has been overrun by an organized crime gang called the mutants.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is the first graphic novel I have ever read. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the story. I thought that this novel was really well written and flowed nicely from scene to scene. Frank Miller did a great job of describing the scenery and the mood of the characters, as well as Gotham City. Although the pictures helped set the mood for the story the writing had more of an effect for me. Sometimes I found the novel a little hard to follow because it is so detailed and written in a format that I’m not used too. Overall I was pleasantly surprised and would recommend this graphic novel for a young adult.
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Against the police commissioners advice Howard Dent, otherwise known as Two-Face, has been discharged from the mental institute. Although Howard Dent’s physiatrist believes that he has been rehabilitated, he quickly settles into a life of crime once more. With Gotham City in such turmoil Batman is forced out of retirement to try and save his city. With the crime rate so high Batman must be more vicious than ever before and this is not received well by the media and police force. With the news that Batman has returned The Joker reappears onto the scene and all hell breaks loose.Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is the first graphic novel I have ever read. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the story. I thought that this novel was really well written and flowed nicely from scene to scene. Frank Miller did a great job of describing the scenery and the mood of the characters, as well as Gotham City. Although the pictures helped set the mood for the story the writing had more of an effect for me. Sometimes I found the novel a little hard to follow because it is so detailed and written in a format that I’m not used too. Overall I was pleasantly surprised and would recommend this graphic novel for a young adult.
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LibraryThing member HeikeM
Very good story, enjoyed that a lot, but I did not get on with the graphics in this one, the frames where too small and too fussy.
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
After the death of a Robin, Bruce Wayne has gone into retirement for some time but finds himself constantly fighting with himself to release the Batman again. Meanwhile, Commissioner Gordon is about to forced into retirement, a fact that hasn't stopped a gang of teenage mutants from threatening to
This book is considered one of the highlights of the comics medium and has been much lauded by many. Having heard about how wonderful it is for so many years now, I was severely disappointed by it. This was not simply a matter of "oh, I see how this was groundbreaking at the time, but now it's so passé." I honestly couldn't see how this book was so great. I found there was so much going on in it that most of the subplots did not get a chance to be fully fleshed out. Bruce Wayne just seemed far too old at this point and so many years removed from the game to be able to jump so quickly back into fighting all kinds of different enemies with relative ease. Personally, the crossovers in comics has never been something that appeals to me much, so the whole addition of Superman in a book that's meant to be all about Batman/Bruce Wayne's inner turmoil just seemed out of place.
The constant use of TV news anchors delivering headlines or hosting point-counterpoint arguments about the Batman started to feel old quickly. However, they did bring up interesting points about how the Batman was viewed by the general public and in that way also serve to question the reader about how he/she should react to the vigilante's actions. This was an interesting twist, as I feel like most Batman comics just automatically assume for the reader that one should blindly root for Batman and never question his motives as anything but honorable while if a similar vigilante character were to exist, most of us would not be as fond of him as in real life as we are in fiction. But Miller's Batman here is so very dark that this question ends up becoming unnecessary. I'm not sure that many are still rooting for Batman by the end of this comic. But perhaps that is just my take on it.
Despite the addition of a female police commissioner and a teenage girl as Robin, there was such an undercurrent of misogyny throughout the book that it left a bad taste in my mouth. In some ways these more subtle cuts toward women were far worse than the almost laughable ridiculous portrayal of women in Miller's Sin City comics, where the female characters were almost always all naked or half-naked and had hardly any role to play beyond prompting the male "hero" to act.
All in all, I was disappointed by this book as I had really been hoping for something amazing. Instead, I found it rather subpar, and I would recommend a variety of other Batman comics over this one.
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kill him. Over at Arkham Asylum, Harvey Dent is getting ready to face the outside world again as a rehabilitated citizen while the Joker is quietly plotting something nefarious. And, Superman is working behind the scenes with the government, purportedly to prevent the Cold War from breaking out into a full-scale war. Against all of this backdrop, Bruce Wayne finds he cannot continue to fight the battle within him for the Batman to re-emerge and he once again take the streets of Gotham City, enacting his own sense of justice as the caped crusader.This book is considered one of the highlights of the comics medium and has been much lauded by many. Having heard about how wonderful it is for so many years now, I was severely disappointed by it. This was not simply a matter of "oh, I see how this was groundbreaking at the time, but now it's so passé." I honestly couldn't see how this book was so great. I found there was so much going on in it that most of the subplots did not get a chance to be fully fleshed out. Bruce Wayne just seemed far too old at this point and so many years removed from the game to be able to jump so quickly back into fighting all kinds of different enemies with relative ease. Personally, the crossovers in comics has never been something that appeals to me much, so the whole addition of Superman in a book that's meant to be all about Batman/Bruce Wayne's inner turmoil just seemed out of place.
The constant use of TV news anchors delivering headlines or hosting point-counterpoint arguments about the Batman started to feel old quickly. However, they did bring up interesting points about how the Batman was viewed by the general public and in that way also serve to question the reader about how he/she should react to the vigilante's actions. This was an interesting twist, as I feel like most Batman comics just automatically assume for the reader that one should blindly root for Batman and never question his motives as anything but honorable while if a similar vigilante character were to exist, most of us would not be as fond of him as in real life as we are in fiction. But Miller's Batman here is so very dark that this question ends up becoming unnecessary. I'm not sure that many are still rooting for Batman by the end of this comic. But perhaps that is just my take on it.
Despite the addition of a female police commissioner and a teenage girl as Robin, there was such an undercurrent of misogyny throughout the book that it left a bad taste in my mouth. In some ways these more subtle cuts toward women were far worse than the almost laughable ridiculous portrayal of women in Miller's Sin City comics, where the female characters were almost always all naked or half-naked and had hardly any role to play beyond prompting the male "hero" to act.
All in all, I was disappointed by this book as I had really been hoping for something amazing. Instead, I found it rather subpar, and I would recommend a variety of other Batman comics over this one.
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LibraryThing member Radaghast
This is some of Miller's finest work. If you love Batman, there's no comic that makes him more the hero than this one. Or gives him a harder time. The world is so against Batman, you begin to wonder if he isn't the villain. But for Miller there's no doubt Batman is the only thread of justice the
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world is clinging to. Be warned, this will paint your other favorite heroes in a negative light, if it even bothers to mention them. But if you look past that, you are in for a great ride. Show Less
LibraryThing member wikiro
It was a desent story but it didn't really get me into it. I've read disutopiatic books before and this one just seemed too focused on fighting. Which is cool and all, but they made the fighting sequenced to "dragonball z ish" in dialogue.
LibraryThing member adpaton
Batman, old, depressed and reviled, more or less forced into retirement by a general public dissatisfaction with his brand of vigilante justice: as in the Watchmen, the world has moved on and caped crusaders are regarded more as villains themselves than as saviors.
And Police Commissioners James
Harvey is not cured, far from it, and Batman is forced back into active life in an attempt to deal with the crime wave Two Face unleashes: add Superman – who saves the world from a nuclear warhead, Bruce Wayne’s fuck-buddy Selina Kyle [aka Cat Woman] and, of course, Batman’s nemesis and one of the most sinister villains of all, The Joker.
With Robin [a girl this time replacing Jason Kent, who died ten years previously] and the faithful butler Albert Pennyworth on his team, Batman does battle with The Mutants, a gang terrorizing Gotham City, in addition to his old adversaries and the new commissioner of police, Ellen Yindel.
It’s a gloomy, sad story full of existential angst and despair: it is impossible not to compare it in theme and content to The Watchmen, where costumed heroes have hung up their capes and been outlawed [except the Comedian who, like Green Arrow in this story, is employed by the government], and the men who used to wear masks are now displaying their wrinkles, grey hairs and pot bellies to the world.
I did not care for the art work any more than I enjoyed the theme: I suppose I just find everything more palatable in ligne Claire… It is one of the most acclaimed graphic novels of all time however, inspiring the film starring Heath Ledger and Christian Bale, and shows frank ‘Sin City’ Miller at his baleful best.
And Police Commissioners James
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Gordon, friend of Bruce Wayne and one of Batman staunchest supporters, is also due for retirement: his replacement, a young woman, has no time for the Men in Masks. To make matters worst Harvey Dent, aka Two Face, has received plastic surgery to repair his face and is being released from Arkham Asylum, pronounced ‘cured’ by his psychiatrist, Dr Bartholomew Wolper, himself a mad scum ball in whose predictable demise we delight.Harvey is not cured, far from it, and Batman is forced back into active life in an attempt to deal with the crime wave Two Face unleashes: add Superman – who saves the world from a nuclear warhead, Bruce Wayne’s fuck-buddy Selina Kyle [aka Cat Woman] and, of course, Batman’s nemesis and one of the most sinister villains of all, The Joker.
With Robin [a girl this time replacing Jason Kent, who died ten years previously] and the faithful butler Albert Pennyworth on his team, Batman does battle with The Mutants, a gang terrorizing Gotham City, in addition to his old adversaries and the new commissioner of police, Ellen Yindel.
It’s a gloomy, sad story full of existential angst and despair: it is impossible not to compare it in theme and content to The Watchmen, where costumed heroes have hung up their capes and been outlawed [except the Comedian who, like Green Arrow in this story, is employed by the government], and the men who used to wear masks are now displaying their wrinkles, grey hairs and pot bellies to the world.
I did not care for the art work any more than I enjoyed the theme: I suppose I just find everything more palatable in ligne Claire… It is one of the most acclaimed graphic novels of all time however, inspiring the film starring Heath Ledger and Christian Bale, and shows frank ‘Sin City’ Miller at his baleful best.
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Subjects
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Non-Fiction — 1987)
Kirby Award (1987)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1986-10
Physical description
250 p.; 28.2 cm
ISBN
9788868737818
Local notes
Omslag: Klaus Janson
Omslaget viser en hvid/sort tegning af batman
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra amerikansk "Batman - the dark knight returns" af John Lysmand
Omslaget viser en hvid/sort tegning af batman
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra amerikansk "Batman - the dark knight returns" af John Lysmand
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Pages
250
DDC/MDS
| 741.5973 |