BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS

COVER PRICE: $2.95 |

CURRENT ESTIMATED VALUE: $150 (DEPENDENT ON CONDITION)

Retro Review

What most modern fans will refer to as Frank Miller’s magnum opus graphic novel originally was published as a four issue limited series in 1986. The Dark Knight Returns was the name of the first issue that was applied to the entirety of the series upon its collection as a single graphic novel. Whereas the Killing Joke feels both fresh and timeless, The Dark Knight Returns is most definitely a product of its time and of its dark and twisted creator. Any semblance of campiness was eradicated with the publishing of the Dark Knight Returns. Whatever grittiness/darkness was reintroduced into the world of Batman by O’Neill and Moore, Miller’s book amplified exponentially. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns focuses on Bruce Wayne/Batman to come to grips with who his is as a person to overcome his conflicted nature. A retired Bruce Wayne is forced back into the life that he had retired decades previously. The conflict emerges in the form of the duality of Batman and Bruce Wayne. The conflict exists on an internal level as Batman comes to realize that he can either be Bruce Wayne or Batman, not both. In the end, after faking the death of Bruce Wayne, he continues his work as Batman underground, undisturbed and more determined than ever. This is the first Batman graphic novel I read as a child. Like many, I was unaware of its existence as a limited series and discovered it as a collected graphic novel. In the years to follow DC and Frank Miller produced multiple sequels, tie-in and spiritual sequels but nothing has touched the original and I doubt anything ever will.

VERDICT

9.5/10