book data
5,288 ratings,
4.34
average rating, 481 reviews
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published
May 1st 1997
by DC Comics
binding
Paperback, 224 pages
characters
setting
The United States
isbn
1563893428
(isbn13: 9781563893421)
description
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 se...more
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5 stars (2749)
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3 stars (610)
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1 star (36)
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avg 4.34
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in January, 1986
When I was young, I was the dutiful Good Daughter. No smoking, no drinking, no sex, good grades. Comic books were frowned upon in my household, but I read them anyway, in a rare burst of defiance. X-Men, to be precise, because, OMG, Jean Grey was smart AND had both Scott Summers and Wolverine in love with her. Batman was a joke back then, thanks to that moronic TV show. But Batman, the real Dark Knight, wasn't a joke--if Superman is who America yearns to be; Batman is who we're afraid we are.
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Read in July, 2008
I know I'm alone in this, but I didn't really like The Dark Knight Returns. I struggled with the story structure -- all the perspective switching left me frequently scratching my head to figure out who was speaking, where we were, and what the Heck was happening. I was confused by some characters (the guy with the freaky flying baby bombs?). I was bothered that there was no discussion of Ellen/Robin's family -- we have VERY little information on her or why she wants to join Bats, how she really ...more
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Oh Frank Miller you might now be a batshit looney whose books are entertaining only because of how unbelievably stupid and gonzo they are. But once you where golden.
Nobody writes the apocalypse better then Frank Miller, he captures a horrifying feel as society destroys itself with a mix of apathy, anarchy, and entropy which no one can or even cares to stop. Ronin, Martha Washington, and Sin City all capture this elusive, terrifying, and strangely beautiful tone. But DKR did it the ...more
Nobody writes the apocalypse better then Frank Miller, he captures a horrifying feel as society destroys itself with a mix of apathy, anarchy, and entropy which no one can or even cares to stop. Ronin, Martha Washington, and Sin City all capture this elusive, terrifying, and strangely beautiful tone. But DKR did it the ...more
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Read in January, 1986
I read this way back in the 80's, I think it was released as a four-part. Miller was just coming off of his Marvel Comics years, having gained fame for his Daredevil & Wolverine strips, and I was a huge fanboy of his film-noir approach, but this was a major step forward for him & the genre.
Now, 20 years later, everything Miller had to say about Batman and the ugly side of heroism has more or less been re-absorbed into Hollywood and comics in general. But at the time it was part o...more
Now, 20 years later, everything Miller had to say about Batman and the ugly side of heroism has more or less been re-absorbed into Hollywood and comics in general. But at the time it was part o...more
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I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I know that this is one case where there must be something wrong with *me* and not with the book, because it's been lauded as one of the greatest graphic novels in superhero history, and I thought it sucked.
The story is very difficult to follow - and this coming from someone who is well-versed in Batman lore, and who is used to the comic book medium for storytelling. Poor writing.
The pictures are sometimes difficult to interpret - it's hard...more
The story is very difficult to follow - and this coming from someone who is well-versed in Batman lore, and who is used to the comic book medium for storytelling. Poor writing.
The pictures are sometimes difficult to interpret - it's hard...more
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Read in August, 2008
I can't really see why this is considered one of the best Batman stories ever. There's nothing here that really makes it special. It has a slow-moving, weak plot and less than stellar artwork. There is too much word repetition - you already said that 10 pages back, I did not forget already. Along with the stupid repetition are phrases which make absolutely no sense whatsoever. I guess it was an attempt at future slang, but it failed miserably. "Balls rad"? What the HELL does that even ...more
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For 30 straight years, the Batman has battled the enemies of Gotham City. For the next 10 years, Bruce Wayne, the Batman’s alter ego, has watched from the sidelines as he struggles to enjoy his “retirement” and purge himself of the guilt he feels over all that he had to sacrifice to clean up Gotham. Now, with Commissioner Gordon on the verge of retirement, Harvey Dent (AKA Two Face) about to be released from Arkham Asylum, and the Joker ready to explode at any moment, Wayne feels himself b...more
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Read in January, 2008
Oh my lord. What I learned is that Frank Miller is an effing nutjob. I should have learned that earlier, and it doesn't mean he's not talented or that this isn't a good book, but there is something quite messed up in his head. The art is a bit lumpy throughout and just sort of not clean enough, and it feels like there are panels missing that could provide a little more exposition (thank god for the script of the last issue that's provided at the end of this edition, or I would have definitely mi...more
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recommends it for:
comic fans, geeks, libertarians
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, 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 re...more
But I just can't stop being creeped out by Frank Miller and his moral universe, 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 re...more
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Read in January, 1986
I originally read the comics when they were released in 1985, and they were a ground breaking piece of work. Taking place during the Reagan era, all the heroes have been driven into retirement, some by force. No one has seen Batman for a decade, till he mysteriously returns.
Brilliantly written, Frank Miller questions not only what it means to be a hero, but also what price we are willing to pay for our own security. It also asks the question, what woul we as people think, if we knew t...more
Brilliantly written, Frank Miller questions not only what it means to be a hero, but also what price we are willing to pay for our own security. It also asks the question, what woul we as people think, if we knew t...more
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Read in January, 2005
I know a lot of people crap on Frank Miller. And I'm not really sure why. I mean, yeah, his art isn't that sophisticated nor is his writing really. But he gives Batman, Marv, Dwight, whoever he is writing for a more of a brutish, hard boiled, blue collar appeal. Which sometimes, after seeing Batman jump around like an acrobat and battle tigers and whatnot for so long, we need to see him return to a more solid root of being that noir, haunted character we know him as. The writing for this, with t...more
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Read in May, 2009
I can check this one off the "what, you haven't read that yet?" list.
I have to admire the ambition and craft of this book; even if all those sixteen-panel pages are headache inducing at times, the amount of detail and character conveyed in those small panels is something to see. I particularly love the way Miller draws Jim Gordon, and the inking and coloring help to give this book an amazing and unique look.
I also have to admire the way Miller tackles the super...more
I have to admire the ambition and craft of this book; even if all those sixteen-panel pages are headache inducing at times, the amount of detail and character conveyed in those small panels is something to see. I particularly love the way Miller draws Jim Gordon, and the inking and coloring help to give this book an amazing and unique look.
I also have to admire the way Miller tackles the super...more
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4 comments
Read in January, 1987
This book blows me away each time I look at it. Frank Miller is a master at the comic book form. His Batman is both hero and villian. He even says in one of the best lines from a book full of great lines, "Sure we are crooks, we have to be." Miller is a provactour of both liberals and conservatives. His spin on the Arthurian search for the Grail is possibly one of the best hero stories ever. Batman alone and now a drunk hates his retirement and finally comes out to fight crime. ...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
recommends it for:
Humans
I've noticed several of the very few negative or mediocre reviews almost always comment on the rapid change of perspective and "difficult to follow" storyline. In fact, this is as much a part of the story as the starkly drawn artwork and choice of details exaggerated. The nature of modern life, and especially Miller's borderline apocalyptic setting is a jumble of views and perspectives. Take a look around, modern life is difficult to follow. The nature of modern media in our time is ...more
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Read in January, 1988
This is the capstone to Batman, the end of the story. We learn what Batman is about, and what he means to this city and what happens to this city when Batman is gone. Gotham is a festering sore of crime and corruption. Only the Batman keeps the city from descending into total anarchy. Does he draw the nut jobs? Maybe, but they are just a different manifestation of the crime that lives in Gotham's gutters and floods the streets each night.
In the end, batman can take it no longer....more
In the end, batman can take it no longer....more
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Read in May, 2009
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Read in March, 2009
AWESOME!
i absolutely loved this comic. i've always been a Batman fan, so i'm not really sure why i JUST (finally) finished reading this. now, i've heard a lot of hype about this--you've heard it too, i'm sure--but this really does live up to it. you can see why all of good Batman movies--even the cartoon series--have been inspired by this book. certainly the newer Chris Nolan ones have.
for people who love the Batman movies, there's really something on every page that you...more
i absolutely loved this comic. i've always been a Batman fan, so i'm not really sure why i JUST (finally) finished reading this. now, i've heard a lot of hype about this--you've heard it too, i'm sure--but this really does live up to it. you can see why all of good Batman movies--even the cartoon series--have been inspired by this book. certainly the newer Chris Nolan ones have.
for people who love the Batman movies, there's really something on every page that you...more
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2 comments
recommended to Peter by:
Someone who is no longer in my life for wasting my time
recommends it for: No one
recommends it for: No one
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i absolutely loved this comic. i've always been a Batman fan, so i'm not really sure why i JUST (finally) finished reading this. now, i've heard a lot of hype about this--you've heard it too, i'm sure--but this really does live up to it. you can see why all of good Batman movies--even the cartoon series--have been inspired by this book. certainly the newer Chris Nolan ones have.
for people who love the Batman movies, there's really something on every page that you'll love. for the ha...more
for people who love the Batman movies, there's really something on every page that you'll love. for the ha...more
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Frank Miller is often credited with evolving the state of comic books. Some say the it was Miller and Alan Moore that gave our superheros a darker tone. Frank Miller did this with daredevil in the 70's and evolved him into the next stage. Batman, the dark knight, is a hero looking to correct the injustices by going above the law. He's is essentially a good cop/bad cop rolled into one. It is no surprise that when Miller got his hand to write a novel about Batman we would see the dark, evil, twist...more
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