I picked this book up in an earlier edition when I was in high school. I was a semi-fledgling to the world of the Bat, but I found myself easily drawn into the story. It's easy to read even if you aren't as knowing of everything as others are.

The idea of a semi-apocalyptic future with no real superheroes is a grim one. The only superheroes that exist are there merely to look good and even Superman is strangely muted in this world. Nearly everything is corrupt, whether people realize it or not. It's into this that Wayne decides to take up the mantle of Batman once more & free Gotham from the crime sprees. However he's not the only one who has once again taken up his old job...


I REALLY enjoyed this book. It's one of my favorites & always will be. I loved the female Robin, the neat artwork, and the story... the story was just about perfect!

You hear so much hype from so many people about Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns', it makes you apprehensive. But you have no idea as to how right they are until you find yourself catapulted into the heart of Gotham City; a decade after the Dark Knight has hung up his cape & cowl for the last time. In my opinion, all the praise it has recieved over the ages cannot do this book justice.
In this groundbreaking epic, Frank Miller brings together an astounding story line & admirable comic-style artwork; in which he portrays an aging Bruce Wayne forced to, once again, don the familiar uniform of the Batman, to cleanse the decaying city of Gotham.
Miller deals with the rebirth of some of the Dark Knight's arch enemies, while at the same time, introducing the new menace of the Mutants; a vicious gang of criminals which had thrived & flourished in the absence of justice.
Also dealt with within its pages are essential, critical & controversial issues to the Batman universe, such as the enlisting of Carrie Kelly, the new Robin of that age, the retirement of police commissioner Gordon & the death of the Joker.
You need not be a fan of the Batman to truly admire the work of Frank Miller & this book is recommended & suitable for anyone with a craving for a good story. For Dark Knight devotees, however; Look no further, this is the undisputed holy grail of graphic novels...

Even though this was written a long time ago, it is a great read for any Batman fan. It has an amazing story and the artwork is very detailed. You can see some of the ideas from the movie Batman Begins in this novel even though it's a different story. It is something I'd also recommend to a non-Batman fan as well.

Although originally published in a monthly serial format, this compilation, or Graphic Novel, started the generation of Graphic Novels being sold at local bookstores and Amazon. It's dark, gritty, and keeps your attention throughout. Certainly not suitable for young readers, we're introduced to Batman as being truly a Dark Knight, a vigilante protecting our future by any means necessary. If you're new to the genre, here's a great place to start. I've been a Frank Miller, Batman, and overall comic book fan since the first moment I picked it up.

"This book got me back into comics..." I'm not the only one who's said those words over the last 22 years. It was 1989 and the first Batman movie was about to be released when I read it. I was blown away and realized that in my time away from comics, I'd grown up and so had comics...

Now, for anyone who has never read this... comics have continued to grow up since this was first published in 1986, so for those readers it might seam over-rated. Please realize though that at the time no one had ever done anything like this with Batman. It was groundbreaking and it's effects have "darkened" the superhero genre to this very day. Read this and then compare it with any mainsteam comic from 1986 and you will see it's superiority.

The young modern reader has read and enjoyed the waves left by Miller's Dark Knight Returns, and this IS a must read for anyone who spends too much time and money at a local comic book shop. MUST READ.

Some of the sequences are classic and well drawn, but as soon as the mutants become the major villains the book becomes too ludicrous for its own good.

I immediately stopped caring. Yes, it's gritty, but Alan Moore's killing joke is much better.

Heck, Batman: Year One is much better.

If you want good Miller read Daredevil: Born Again, Sin City Vol. 1 or Daredevil: Man Without Fear.

I gave up after about 20 pages of not being able to tell what was going on because of how terribly sloppy the drawings are.

it's not worth the time or the $.

A great storyline and take on the batman mythos, not to mention the other DC characters featured. I've never been a huge fan of Miller's art, or it would have gotten 5 stars from me.

Miller's version of Batman reflects Bob Kane's concept about the Dark Knight: a brooding, lonely crimefighter, obsessed by his parents' death.
"The Dark Knight Returns" is a cornerstone: it redefines the essence of the character, finally obliterating the facetious side of the 60's tv show.
This book inspired the first Batman movie, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton as Batman, Jack Nicholson as The Joker and Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale!

In other words: this is a definitive "must-have" for true Batman fans!!

As a high school student, this was my first encounter with Frank Miller's unique style. I continue to appreciate the grit and grumble that this issue exudes from every spread. This treatment of the Dark Knight really does make him seem like a dark knight. I would credit this among the most effective proponents of the wave of change that swept the Batman universe making it more insightful of the man behind the mask.

The Dark Knight Returns is my least favorite of IGN's "Top 5" greatest Batman graphic novels; the list also includes The Long Halloween, Arkham Asylum, The Killing Joke, and Batman: Year One. I usually love Frank Miller's work, but this one just didn't cut it for me, for a few reasons. I didn't think the artwork was revolutionary, I thought it was a mess. The storyline was convoluted and tangential, and I never really felt invested in it. This was more of a Cold War Era "Batman is old and Superman takes on the Russians" than anything else. The thread devoted to the media's vilifying of Batman grew annoying about halfway through. Overall, I think it's a weak effort by Miller.

Having been a Marvel reader my whole life, when some one said Batman, I thought Adam West.
That changed the day(some 20 years ago now) a friend passed me his copy 'Dark Knight'.
The gritty, unapologetic writing with shades of the depression era crime novels that first inspired Batman's creation, mesh perfectly with the dark, shadowy art work to create a mood of suspense and drama rarely seen it this underappreciated medium.
The only possible complaints could be that it was such a limited run, and it has been too long with out an equally good sequel.

I read about this comic book online, and decided to pick it up.
I usually dont decide to buy things online, but took a chance on amazon, and i gotta say i dont regret a thing, i recieved it before the date was giving to me, which scored big points in my book. The seller was prompt and curtious in any questions i had. And the price was more than resonable.

Miller really blew the lid off with this one. This Novel was groundbreaking in every way. The Story and Ideas laid out here are captivating, as well as the artwork, they are quite coherent. The characters are so well developed along with the moral fiber tying it all together. I was so impressed with my first read, I've been chasing millers career ever since, and he doesn't disappoint. This Graphic Novel is a must for every person who is interested in Batman, Justice/moral struggle and or just a great story.

I'll admit at first I had my doubts about this book since I'm not such a big dc reader but once I finally started to give this book a chance I became addicted to it. Filled with great action sequences solid artwork and one downright entertaining storyline DKR will definitely quill your hunger for an awesome strange and groundbreaking storyline that is too unforgettable to miss. If you don't have this book make it yours.

The story was excellent and most of the artwork was solid. But there were several pages where the art was very poor and did not look good thats why I had to take off a star.

This is my favorite legend of the dark knight, I mean what's better than a 55 year old Bruce Wayne coming out of retirement to be batman again to take on a new set of problems like the mutants. Frank Miller created a classic that's engaging. A must buy!!!!!

I was reading the Watchmen at the same time and while I liked the story of Watchmen a hair better the art in this one kept me coming back. The story is great as well but...well I won't ruin the story...suffice to say that it left me wanting a bit more but maybe that comes in the next novel (Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again).

Frank Miller's depiction of Batman is everything I had hoped for when I ordered the book. A dark man hell bent on punishing criminals for tainting gotham city.

The story shows a different kind of Batman. He has retired since the death of his partner. After years of watching the news show a daily reminder of how the justice system fails its citizens, his comtemplation of returning is finalized by the scheduled release of Harvey Dent (Two-Face)

Batman returns fueled by rage. He knows that simply handing criminals to the police like your typical, cheesy superheroes would not make them have second thoughts about their career choices. When the police arrive to these crime scenes they find nothing but bad guys that have been reduced to piles of broken bones.

The media, who once praised the dark knight, labels him a menace for his brutality towards criminals. His return also motivates civilians to take to the street and punish petty criminals, causing civil unrest, which is also blamed on our hero.

Batman now has to take on criminals in his path and avoid the police that are hot on his trail after his arrest is demanded.

My description of the story is only the beginning. There are many twists and turns leaving you on the edge of your seat, I really didn't want to spoil the book. There are also apearances from another dc comics superhero. The novel also marks the return of Batman's arch nemesis.

You know, when talking about superheroes you always wonder why they do not have any problem such as a short suit with years or why if one is bulletproof, his boots automaticly turn bulletproof as well.

This Frank Miller Batman is really into his bad days, and has to live with his age and his weaknesses. The irony in the novel is like a warm irish cooffe that drives you through its pages slowly and kindly till the end.

Simply the best Batman I have read.

...except this is a great graphic novel. I honestly wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. Definately one of the best I've ever read.

Batman The Dark Knight Returns is important primarily for what it meant for graphic novels in general, and how it reinvented the Batman cliches in particular. Miller took the essence of the Batman character, originally children's entertainment about a superhero vigilante exercising his own brand of justice on evil, and turned it into a much more gritty and dark story for adults. Miller works within the parameters of the traditional Batman conventions, but reshapes them to create a much darker and adult work. As a result, it's not just Batman that matures, but the comic genre itself. Batman The Dark Knight Returns is regarded as a key work (along with Alan Moore's "Watchmen") that helped establish the credibility of the graphic novel as a legitimate literary medium, thus marking a new stage of development and maturity from the world of children's comics. In that respect, Miller not only redefined Batman, but he helped define the graphic novel, by bringing adult oriented superhero comics into the mainstream.

The story-line itself sees an aging Batman, now 20 years older, do battle with the Gotham City crime scene. His enemies include the gang of Mutants, the evil Joker, but also the authorities who find his methods questionable and issue an order for his arrest. Embarrassed by Batman's success, the US government commissions Superman to take down Batman, and the story ends with an epic final battle between the two superheroes - and a clever twist, as Batman's heart-stopping death is not quite what it seems.

There are many references to contemporary culture and issues, with subtle allusions to modern TV personalities (David Letterman, Dr. Ruth), and more important themes relating to law and order, the role of the government, the cold war, the conflicts in our own inner self, and the public fascination with heros and villains. I appreciated the satire of "criminal-coddling pop psychology" and the mass media, although in the end I can't quite see this as being quite as serious a work as some make it out to be. Surely Batman is more about a gritty story than a social commentary, and perhaps it gets more credit than it deserves. Furthermore, to some extent an appeal for Batman is a matter of personal taste. Being unfamiliar with the genre and characters, I found the story hard to follow at times - although as others have argued, much is lost upon first reading, and it's best appreciated and understood the second time around. But the gritty artwork and violent narrative didn't always make obvious sense, and for the most part just didn't grab me, and in addition the numerous instances of blasphemous language certainly did nothing to enhance my appreciation for it. But while I didn't find Miller's Batman particularly enjoyable personally, I can see why it is an important work, both in terms of what it did for Batman, and for the graphic novel. Batman has grown up, and comics are no longer just for kids. - GODLY GADFLY (2007)

I'll admit, at first, I was a little put-off by this book. I enjoyed it, but it didn't set off any sparks. When I read it again a few days ago after some years gone by, then I finally realized what exactly I had in my hands. TDKR is a classic, and Frank Miller, et al, have created an epic for the ages. It features everything that is great about Batman and his world, and takes it up a notch or two. Now, TDKR is not for everybody, and I understand and respect that. I was one of those people, until I decided to give it a second chance. Now, I'm glad I did.

Check this graphic novel out. It's way cool. Awesome.

This graphic novel was a delight. I hadn't read any batman comics before this, but watched the old tv shows, live and animated versions, and the movies. This graphic novel is very deep and hooked me after the first couple of pages - as opposed to The Watchmen which took a while to get into. The story and art is very dark but interesting and involving all the same. The style of artwork is unique and stylized; I love it.

Highly recommended. Holds many surprises and monumental moments!

For anyone caught up in the excitement of the latest movie creations based from Frank Miller's brilliant mind then the Dark Knight is one for your bookshelf.
To be made into the next Batman movie in the year or so, 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns' covers Bruce Wayne's alter ego coming out of retirement to once again fight the evils that plague Gotham city.
A must for any die hard graphic novel fan or newbie to the world of comics.
A brilliant novel.

With the exception of Alan Moore's "Watchmen", "The Dark Knight Returns" is the most highly praised work in the history of comic books. What is left to be said about this book that hasn't already been said by countless others? Everyone from comic geeks to erudite critics of popular culture hail "The Dark Knight Returns" as a landmark, a watershed, a masterpiece, and any number of other words of similarly high praise. But the thing is, they are all completely correct in these assessments. Even over twenty years later, this book still holds up as an incredible, even brilliant, work.

"The Dark Knight Returns" is not without its flaws. Admittedly, Frank Miller does occasionally enter some pretty bizarre, even surreal, territory at times with the story (particularly towards the end); the character of Batman himself is pretty much restricted to being a one-note psycho that is pretty hard to sympathize with or root for; much of the 1980s social and political commentary does indeed date the work; and finally, it's not exactly the most accessible book in the world. Those without at least a basic knowledge of Batman comics, or how graphic novels operate in general, will likely be confused and put off by the book.

However, these are all fairly minor criticisms that do little harm to the book itself, especially when one considers all the things Miller got so amazingly right. There are a thousand other reviews that summarize the amazing strengths and groundbreaking innovations of this book far better than I ever could, so I won't even attempt to do such a thing.

"The Dark Knight Returns" is easily the greatest thing Frank Miller has ever done. It is a great example of the brilliant talent he once posessed, before he became the bitter, cynical, and generally nasty artist he is today. It's unfortunate that Miller now seemingly has devoted his career to tearing down his past, and seems to go out of his way to sneer at and mock the very projects and ideas he has built his career on...but that's neither here nor there.

In short, "The Dark Knight Returns" is, in a word, essential. Essential reading for any fan of Batman, comic book fans, or enthusiasts of popular culture in general. I personally don't find this book to be the most enjoyable incarnation of Batman, or even the truest, but there is simply no denying the immense significance of this book, nor the talent and passion behind it. Simply put, a must-have.

Frank Miller's Batman has been out of circulation for ten years. He is getting old, creaky and tired. Commissioner Gordon is on the verge of retirement. A new gang of mutants has taken to the street while Gotham city is locked in interminable debates about civil rights and the place of vigilantes in society. The Soviets are menacing a small island nation, nuclear war looms and the US President (modeled closely on Ronald Reagan) dodders along. Sounds like a planet near you. Frank Miller takes all of these threads and weaves a master work of psychological insight, compelling character development and a plot full of terror and even humor. Miller and the artists who worked on this piece have reinvented Batman for adults. By letting us share in Bruce Wayne's thoughts, we get to experience the inner world of torment in which he lives. Haunted by flashbacks of his parents' the violent death and by a frightening encounter with a bat in what would become the Batcave, Bruce is a brooding, vengeful mess bursting with a deep-seated, and positively unhealthy, need to destroy evil. Yet there are some lines he will not cross. Though he will gladly break bones, nearly cripple, and even put out the eyes of his foes, he will not kill them. But his evident satisfaction at inflicting pain on evildoers is creepy, if understandable.

Other characters get the same makeover. Robin is a 13-year-old superhero wannabe with real bravery and real acrobatic skills who takes on the identity of the previous Robin (the Dick Ward who was killed in a previous incarnation of Batman) to help the Caped Crusader battle the bad guys. The Joker is a menacing figure of utter and implacable evil whose "humor" comes in the form of making people laugh...to death. Commissioner Gordon, having made his peace with Batman's out-of-the-box policing, desperately tries to pass his insights to his replacement, a by-the-book type who wants Batman behind bars.

I loved "The Dark Knight" all the way through. There is plenty of action on every page. The plot twists are generated by the B-man himself, with the reader in on the plans. Miller is respectful enough to make Batman the embodiment of all that is noble and good. But Miller is realistic to know that no man is pure, and that good deeds can sometimes flow from very dark and messy impulses. Batman, as Miller suggests, is a force for good that is both salvific and fascistic. While Miller seems antagonistic toward a civil liberties focus on crime fighting, he is not completely blind to the citizen impulse to embrace fascistic solutions to difficult problems.

The Dark Night returns is a fascinating tale that brings Batman to a new level of complexity. In this sense, Miller reflects the same point of view as Allan Moore in Watchmen, publishes about the same time inn 1986. Both works mused on the vapidity of the news industry, on heroes with conflicted psyches, on aging, on the ethics of vigilantism and on the morality of superheroes with nationalistic inclinations. There's plenty here for anyone who loves action, loves Batman and is willing to allow a master storyteller recraft their favorites hero and villains into a tales that is entertaining and thought-provoking.

Can't say I understand the whole Batman story entirely yet, but it is very compelling and well written. Very helpful for my Comic Writing Class schoolwork.

Well, it really doesn't get any better than this. I was hooked on hits from the first time I saw the cover image in a comic shop.

The news media scenes now, are pretty much right out of today, with screaming pundits on the television, American style.

The fascism and violence prompts Bruce Wayne out of retirement. Heartened by the assistance of a young girl, he plans his strategy.

He has one major obstacle.

Superman, who is now a covert special forces operative lapdog.

This book tells the return of Batman in an future where Gotham City is in peace but sudenly appears a new threat, mutants, and they are powerfull and they work like a gang of destruction, you will see the Joker, Superman, Catwoman, Two Face, etc all of them older, cracier and pitiless. Fank Miller give power to the history he is a genius, and the drawing is strange but with a lot of impact and action. If you like batman, you must have this book, and if you never read a batman comic, then when you read this one you will change your mind.

I will start by saying that I have enjoyed DC Comics and their heroes for almost twenty-five years. In particular, I have always loved reading about Batman, Robin, NightWing, and anything that was related to the Gotham crime fighting circuit. I couldn't believe that after all these years, I had yet to read what was regarded as one of the best graphic novels of all time. While on vacation this summer, I decided it was time to finally read this classic.

First, the artwork doesn't appeal to me. I know others love it and will defend how wonderful it is. That's fine, it just doesn't suit my tastes and I can get over it provided the story is good. So, is the story good? It's okay. I can definitely see why other people like it, and I appreciate the different approach Miller took to the time and setting, I felt that it was too over the top though. I found myself wondering if this was suppose to be ten years after Bruce's retirement, or forty. I also didn't care for some of the assumptions that are made throughout the story in regards to several characters' pasts. The development and appearance of "Robin" in this novel was weak and pointless, other than to provide a cheap reason for an event (that I won't spoil) that takes place near the conclusion of the book.

Finally, I felt like the book drug on way too long. The brutality of Gotham City and the Bruce Wayne vs. Batman ego struggle was beat to death in my opinion. I could have cared less about the politics of Gotham, which also was repeated time and time again. I didn't feel as though there was a decent balance between those storylines and the ones involving Two Face and Joker.

To wrap this up, I will be honest and say that I did not enjoy this masterpiece the way almost everyone else has. The futuristic story and excessively "dark" setting feel like paths I've been down too many times in too many other books. I am glad though that most seem to have enjoyed the story, it just isn't for everyone.

A friend of mine let me borrow his copy of this and I read the whole thing straight through. Now a year or so later I am buying The Watchmen and this book comes up as recommended. I can't help but buy it. Frank Miller paints an incredible revision of the idea of Batman. His art and story flow so well together. This book has helped to re-define the current definition of a graphic novel. I can't recommend this enough.

This is without a doubt, one of the finest graphic novels you will probably ever read, if not the absolute best. If you ask me, this is as honest a portrayal of Batman/ Bruce Wayne as we're ever going to get. A vigilante in every sense of the word, this older, darker Batman is preoccupied with his age and the persistent belief that he can die at any given moment. There's a believability to his internal thoughts and actions that strikes one as being completely realistic. I think that's what makes this project work so well, the fact that all of the characterizations in the book are spot on and make perfect sense. The Joker is a homicidal maniac, not some clown. Commissioner Gordon is a man who's been around for a long time and knows that once they get him out of his position, there may be no one else who can keep Batman out of trouble. Superman becomes a weapon for the government. Some other familiar faces show up and some may or may not be how you remember them to be but Miller manages to keep everything fresh and interesting.

The art takes a little getting used to but I think for the most part it works. I'm not sure how I feel about the whole mutant gang thing but those are my only trifles with the book.

In the end, I feel that this is the best Batman story I've ever read or will ever read.

Frank Miller raised the bar for comics when he released this 4-issue prestige format mini-series in 1986. It's collected here in paperback. If you're a comic book fan, this is one of two books that redefined comics for the 21st century (the other is Alan Moore's Watchmen).

There's also an "Absolute Edition" hardcover available. While it's a great-looking book, it unfortunately also includes the less-than-spectacular sequal, "The Dark Knight Strikes Again." The sequel is much more standard capes-and-tights super-hero action than the darker "Dark Knight Returns," and can be avoided by all but the most diehard fans.

This is the best Batman comic I've ever read. This book is dark,mysterious,and filled with action. This Batman is old and even more Lethal than ever. If you read Frank Miller's other work like 300 or Sin City you will love this book and read it over and over again.

if you like batman you have to read this it is cool and has a good story.
the dark knight returns is what give batman his look

I won't reiterate what other (positive) reviews have said, other than to say this: If you only ever buy one Batman book, buy Batman: Year One. If you buy two, buy Year One and this item, Dark Knight Returns. They both represent very different approaches to the character, both by Frank Miller. Miller has nailed the best of this character in two (relatively) short books, and with Super-Saver shipping you can take home both for twenty bucks or so... well worth it.

I read, read, and re-read these two over years, and like great novels they never get old.

Yep, that's right. With The Dark Knight Returns Frank Miller led legions of Batman fans into a land (long promised but never delivered) where the no-holds-barred character of Batman could be explored to its fullest extent. Miller asked the questions: What would Batman do when age and time finally turned against him, when the chips were down and his back's up against a wall, when his worst enemies have been set loose and new ones await him on the streets, when even Superman has turned against him? Here we see a Batman that takes no prisoners and fights to save the city he loves from anarchy and the annihilation of values on a grand scale. The stakes are high, higher than they've ever been before, and the Dark Knight has to draw upon all his experience and resources merely to survive. At the time that DK Returns came out Watchmen was also making the rounds, and while I might not always agree that these two comics alone heralded the New Age of Comics, I would certainly agree that their authors, Alan Moore and Frank Miller, had with their earlier seminal works (Miller on Daredevil, Moore on Swamp Thing) paved the way for dozens of literate young writers to share in the glory of the comics revolution. DK Returns contains some of my favorite hero/villain encounters, such as the confrontation between Batman and the Mutant leader, the final fight with the Joker, and even the legendary brawl with Superman (where precisely who was the hero and who the villain was unclear). Everyone who is even remotely interested in sequential storytelling and beautiful gripping art should read this, or consider yourself robbed of everthing this life has to offer. Frank Miller is a pillar of flame in the comics industry... and we his ungrateful followers.

Until I read this book, I was somewhat underwhelmed by Frank Miller's work. Year One was good, but nothing I would call spectacular. His artwork, while excellent, was not my top pick. Then I read this book. I know it's an overused phrase, but I was blown away.

This is the best graphic novel I have ever read. The story is brilliant, groundbreaking, and thoroughly enjoyable. The action is all there, but so is the drama. It plays with the questions: Can the world accept the return of its greatest crime fighter? And how does the Dark Knight handle the return himself? What are the consequences of his actions? All these questions are answered brilliantly.

The artwork here is superb. The coloring matches the overall tone of the book wonderfully. It's fast-paced, clear, and gets your heart pounding.

If you read comics (or even if you don't), buy this book. You won't regret it.

This is nice dark tale of pulp noir and crime. Frank Miller is awesome for making Batman very cold and grim. Miller shows us a new Batman with different styles and personalites. I recommend reading this graphic novel at least once. You won't be disappointed.

This is a virtual classic among Batman fans, and with good reason. This coimc, almost single-handedly, took Batman away from the "POWS!" and "NA NA NA NA NA BATMAN!" of the 60's and put him strait back into the scary and serious character he was meant to be.

Frank Miller made very interesting use of panels in this comic. Most of the panels are small while still expressing inportant emotions and thoughts. The end result was this graphic novel is PACKED with enough action and story to make a true text novel, and it will grip you the whole time from beginning to end.

Now, let me say, that I was somewhat dissappointed with the ending. The focus went away from the mean streets of Gotham (where it should have stayed), and instead shifted towards a sort of "What if" outcome of the Cold War, which then lead into a climatic fight between Superman and Batman. Don't get me wrong, I liked the Batman vs. Superman fight, but I just felt like the whole parts with the army and the Cold War were really out-of-place. This is a story about Batman and his city, so it should have stayed in Gotham city.

Despite that flaw, the story was still one of the best I've ever read. It was a wonderful story featuring a Batman who didn't pull punches and really got the job done.

I'd recommend you read it if you haven't. Especially if you're a Batman fan.

The art was amazing the story was flawless but batman is an old man defending all of Gotham. Its a hard sell but I enjoyed it, especially the charactures of Rappin' Ronny Regan.

Frank Miller,the greatest comic book writer of our time.The Dark Knight Returns is easily his greatest and most influential work. It shows batman at his purest,a vigilante who violently suppresses crime.Many writers have taken batman's no killing rule too far,in that batman will not only refrain from killing criminals but actually protect them from death.Frank Miller throws off these shackles he understands that batman won't kill,but anything under killing is acceptable this is displayed perfectly in his final battle with the joker.The climatic final battle between batman and superman is without doubt the most exciting fight scene I have ever read in comics.This is quite possibly the greatest comic ever written.

If you do not like this, you will not like anything else that I have reviewed. This is one of my very favorite things.

This book clearly demonstrates why Frank Miller is on top in the Comic Book World.

I don't get where all the reviewers are saying that the Dark Knight Returns is the "definitive" Batman. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this is not the Batman that comic readers have come to know and love. This is also not the Batman as portrayed in the 90's films. Nor is it the Batman from Batman Begins (although you can see where Batman Begins owes Frank Miller a few nods for some ideas that definitely come from DKR).

But while Batman may be almost unrecognizable in this story, that does not take away from the fact that this is one excellent alternative-history Batman story. In this history Batman has become a burnt-out shell, regretting all the times he failed to eradicate crime rather than try to rehabilitate criminals. Batman considers himself responsible for all the murders that the Joker did because Batman just kept locking him up rather than killing him when he had the chances. And this world is far more dystopic and humanity far more depraved than any realistic view one could imagine or the DCU in general. But that's part of what makes this an absolute great read.

What if... what if Batman wasn't inhibited with any strong moral duty to be better than the crooks he fights? What if the world was so wrong that there was literally no hope for heroism left? What if in this dark vision of reality even Superman has become warped from his ideal?

The ideas of this book are compelling, and the narrative expertly crafted. There is a lot of text to read here, as each page has a dense array of mini-panels with "talking heads" from the media of Gotham explaining the back story as things are happening (yet twisted to the media's own sensationalist "truth", rather than the Truth as it really happened). The political and social satire in this book is delicious. The artwork is hit or miss. In a few places it's truly breathtaking, and in others it seems fairly primitive, but at least it does have an overall style that fits in perfectly with the story itself.

No sane comic lover should pass up on this book. Even if you don't like the world of this comic (and you shouldn't. it's not a nice place. at all.), the story told here is worth reading and thinking about.

Enjoying the cult status and rightly so for the many things it gets spot on! "The Gotham city belongs to Batman." You betcha!

Enjoying the cult status and rightly so for the many things it gets spot on! "The Gotham city belongs to Batman." You betcha!

This is simply the best, truest Batman tale ever told. Beautiful. Frank Miller once again shows his mastery of the comic art. Buy this.

Great illustrations and compelling Bat-Drama. It all comes together in a very exciting way. Also, is absolutely stunning to look at and examine.