Customer Reviews
Still probably on of (if not) the best graphic novels ever. - By: AndyK, 13 Jul 2010 
The only other Batman stories I've read are year one & the killing Joke, which are both fantastic but this far superiorin my opinion & is still as fresh looking today as ever.
Frank Miller likes this character! - By: L. Bolton, 05 Jul 2010 I just received the graphic novel today & read all of it going up to the afternoon. When I read a book that I enjoy to that extent, then I know I like it. So yeah it's really good & it was made 3 years before Tim Burton's movie, so taking thatin mind I decided to take a look... & I wasn't disappointed. Batman returns after retiring for 20 years in, with this book broke up into 4, &in the first one, where he returns to preserve the peace to Gotham City once more, but is not welcomed the way he expected into a newer generation. I love the villains too, from Two Face, who has spent 12 yearsin Arkham Asylum ready to get his revenge once more, Joker's deceptive ways once more (he isn'tin it as much, but still) & the mutant gang - & some guy, who actually kills the mayor! The book is surreal with great character development. I see that it's got a really adult theme to it. I loved how we see everything from news reports to fights to misunderstandings about Batman - Vigilante or Villain, & the debates that take place. It's basically fantastic interaction... Especially on Book 4 when Superman is included & unexpected things happen! Normally Robin sucks as a character to me, butin this book they take a different approach to him/her as it's a shein the book. I especially like how they give a bit more depth into why Commissioner Gordon is retiring as commissioner & I won't give much a way. An ageing Bruce Wayne can't come to terms with the fact that he's growing weaker & we get those implications throughout the book. I recommend it to anybody interestedin this character! Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns is a book that takes its self seriously! Although I have yet to read the first one, I am already sure that it will be just as good.
Batpension. - By: Armchair Pundit, 06 Jun 2010 
As someone whom has a more visual then literary frame of mind,
I was very impressed by the artwork presented here,
and intrigued by an ageing Batman.
My only gripe is the political slant is very eighties,
and by being so, dates this somewhat.
Perhaps the political angle should have been made less prominent.
But anyway Batman is still my favourite North American comicbook hero.
Four stars for artwork originality.
Pioneering Bat-hype - By: Mr. Kasper, 14 Apr 2010 
Frank Miller was a talented artist who found 'fame' (well, among geeks & 12 year olds) for his makeover of Daredevil. That, like this, hasn't aged well. The 'gritty realism' & attitudes that were so striking to this (then) 12-year old now read like out-takes from T.J. Hooker & Death Wish sequels (but of course featuring guysin tights proving their street-wise machismoin case you question their need to run aroundin tights). The panel layouts were 'clever', but the drawing itself ugly. Repetitive scenes of various 'unsavouries' (usually 'ethnic') having their heads kicked through windows. Chinless politicians, the obligatory reference to nuclear war (that was the 80s!), & cities entirely populated by muggers (who takes out the rubbish?). And let's. Not mention. That annoying. Pseudo-hardboiled. Short sentence style. That Miller has hacked out for 30 years. Ribs broken. Crushed skull. Etc. Yawn.
It was such a big deal at the time. Wow! Batman may look like a schmuck but now he's like, really serious & deep, yeah? The Joker's a bit gay! Catwoman's a prostitute! At least Adam West & Burt Ward respected it for the nonsense it was. Grown men who think 'films' consists of CGI superhero adaptations, & 'books' are long boring things that you avoidedin school, still go ga-ga over this. Indeed, they're so ga-ga that Miller has done what much better comic illustrators never quite managed - making it bigin Hollywood! Check the dimwit atrocities that are the Spirit, 300 & Sin City for proof. While your at it, check the 'dark, gritty' Dark Knight movie for the best proof of all. Somehow a movie about a manin a rubber suit chasing a clown around is The Greatest Movie Ever Made amongst those who should really get out more. Comics didn't grow up, movies grew down.
Just for the record, I like comics (even super hero ones - check out Watchmen, All Star Superman or any of Jack Kirby's fun originals) but Frank Miller is a thin talent who's tiny mind & big ego has been given too much of acclaim for too long. But if you like bad cop shows with added costumes, then this is for you.
"The Dark Knight Returns" with a vengeance - By: V. M. Gaine, 27 Dec 2009 "The Dark Knight Returns" is a gripping & disturbing story & a fascinating development of the graphic novel medium. Combining the serial nature of the comic book with the coherence of a novel, Frank Miller takes classic elements of the Batman mythos & puts his own spin on them. The artwork is arresting & deceptively simple, often using straightforward silhouettes to convey scenes that are far from black & white. The expansion of the Gotham scenario to encompass the rest of the USA & the world as a whole demonstrates the resonance of the Batman character, while a range of new & traditional characters serve as good contrasts with Bruce Wayne/Batman. "The Dark Knight Returns" is often classedin the same category as "Watchmen" & "The Killing Joke" for graphic novels that warrant classic status. I concur.
