The dark knight returns is set in a dystopian version of gotham city in 1986. Frank miller completely reinvents the legend of batman in his saga of a nearfuture gotham city gone to rot, ten years after the dark knight s retirement. Bruce wayne has been retired from superheroing for 10 years following. This article is adapted from a paper i presented at the 2009 midwest popular culture association conference. Frank miller returns to batman and the dark knight universe. A dark knight is born miller wasnt the first comic book creator to give batman a dark sensibility. The dark knight returns is a batman story written by frank miller with. He singlehandedly redefined the presentation of comic book characters and heroic fiction with his granddaddy of. In his earlier works the dark knight returns and batman. Batman comics written and sometimes also illustrated by frank miller.
Miller gave us the best batman and the worst one, too. We now return to the comic book syndicate okay guys. The dark knight returns is a fourissue batman comic book miniseries written and drawn by frank miller and published by dc comics from february to june 1986 in this storyline, batman has been retired for ten years, alcoholic and consumed with grief after the death of jason todd, the second robin note. Frank miller completely reinvents the legend of batman in his saga of a nearfuture gotham city gone to rot, ten years after the dark knights retirement. It took artistwriter frank millers 1986 graphic novel the dark knight returns. The dark knight returns is a truly special comic, and at the time of posting, ranks as my personal 9th favorite comic book story of all time. Set 20 years in the future, this story finds that in the. The dark knight returns is a batman story written by frank miller with illustrations by miller, klaus janson, and lynn varley in 1986. His work on the dark knight returns in 1986, its sequel, the dark.
The superior paper and printing processes used for both ronin and the dark knight returns allowed varley to use gouache, employing a far subtler color palette than that seen in any other mainstream american comic at the time ibid. Sep, 2019 the saga of the dark knight returns isnt over just yet. Oct 20, 2017 in a special episode of behind the screens, luke turns his attention from the silver screen to the printed page, at one of comic s most important and seminal pieces of work. It is generally theorized that both of these characterizations are a response and ridicule to the dark age incarnation of batman seen in the dark knight returns. What makes frank millers 1986 batman story so beloved 30 years later. Frank miller is writing a new sequel to the dark knight. Its thrillseeking, bloodthirsty sadist was definitively not my batman. After stirring up outrage lambasting muslims and wall street protesters, the dark knight returns creator has been awol from the comics world.
Speaking at mcm london comic con via bleeding cool. May 01, 2017 frank miller s elseworld story the dark knight returns is regarded as one of the greatest comic book stories of all time with great psychological insight into the title character, all the while. Jan 12, 2014 the first time i read frank miller s batman. The dark knight returns original ending had batman dying. Since comics sadly remain an understudied and underanalyzed literary medium, i thought id take advantage of john maderas generosityand your patienceto sketch out some thoughts about the form and importance of frank millers 1986 graphic novel batman. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 197 pages and is available in hardcover format. Batman remains my favorite comic book hero and a sequel to dark knight is going to be daunting, said miller in the official statement, but well do our best. Frank millers elseworld story the dark knight returns is regarded as one of the greatest comic book stories of all time with great psychological insight into the title character, all the while. The dark knight returns opens with bruce wayne, the famous. For those experiencing this iconic graphic novel originally released as 4 oversized prestige issues for the first.
Many years later he was continually invited back by dc to expand his dark knight. Its even funnier than that actually, because the original ending for dark knight returns was that he died in a hail of police gunfire. The dark knight returns is a 1986 fourissue comic book miniseries starring batman, written by frank miller, illustrated by miller and klaus janson, and. Frank miller is returning to the world of his acclaimed dark knight returns comic book series for a new oneshot special comic book starring carrie. Frank miller gave us the best batman and the worst vox. The dark knight returns is a batman comic book miniseries written and drawn by frank miller and published by dc comics from february to june 1986. The dark knight returns is a 1986 fourissue comic book miniseries starring batman, written by frank miller, illustrated by miller and klaus janson, and published by dc comics. It is a limited series set in a possible future, portrayed as batman s last adventure. Released in the same year as alan moore and dave gibbonss seminal watchmen, the dark knight returns helped to move the comic book medium irrevocably to a darker, more sophisticated, and dare we say more literary level, leaving its. The latest frank miller batman comic, the dark knight returns. Dec 29, 2011 the superior paper and printing processes used for both ronin and the dark knight returns allowed varley to use gouache, employing a far subtler color palette than that seen in any other mainstream american comic at the time ibid. Frank miller born january 27, 1957 is an american comic book writer, penciller and inker, novelist, screenwriter, film director, and producer best known for his comic book stories and graphic novels such as ronin, daredevil. 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 series and his superb rendering of the blind superhero daredevilis probably the top contender. Frank miller returning to batman with the dark knight returns.
Nov 21, 2015 what makes frank millers 1986 batman story so beloved 30 years later. This masterpiece of comics storytelling brings to life a dark world. Mar 29, 2016 miller gave us the best batman and the worst one, too. Frank miller scripted and illustrated the highly acclaimed 1986 dark knight series, set in a possible nearfuture. Batman the dark knight returns 30th anniversary edition. He is one of the most widelyrecognized and popular creators in comics and is one of the most influential comics creators of his generation. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read batman. Frank miller s dark knight series is considered noncanon to the mainstream batman continuity, with the exception of year one. Superman, still as young and handsome as ever, has become little more than an icon. It is a limited series set in a possible future, portrayed as batmans last adventure. Frank miller returns to batman with dark knight returns. Year one, sin city, and 300 he also directed the film version of the spirit, shared directing duties with robert rodriguez. Complete guide to frank millers classic batman graphic novels, from year one through the dark knight returns.
After the campy 1960s batman tv series died, sales of the batman comic book dwindled to neardeath levels. If any comic has a claim to have truly reinvigorated the genre, then the dark knight returns by frank millerknown also for his excellent sin city series and his. Sep, 2019 the latest frank miller batman comic, the dark knight returns. While this is rather a narcissistic version of batman, he is still a hero. Frank miller returning to batman with the dark knight. Year one, which was first published in the original monthly batman series and allowed to exist in mainstream continuity. Miller went on to become one of comics true luminaries, though its not entirely true to say that the dark knight returns launched his career. Largely revered by many to be the batman graphic novel, batman. Frank millers dark knight brought batman back to life.
This masterpiece of modern comics storytelling brings to vivid life a dar. Oct 11, 2016 frank miller began his career in comics in the late 1970s and rose to fame while first drawing, and then writing, daredevil for marvel comics. Miller wasnt the first comic book creator to give batman a dark sensibility. The st the dark knight returns is a batman story written by frank miller. Frank miller, softspoken yet brutally intense in the pages of the comic books he. The dark knight, with a different subtitle for each issue the dark knight returns, the dark knight. Miller went on to become one of comics true luminaries, though its not entirely true. The dark knight returns, we have good and evil in heroes and villains, but we also have internal conflict that causes duality. Frank miller began his career in comics in the late 1970s and rose to fame while first drawing, and then writing, daredevil for marvel comics. It is safe to say that without the dark knight returns, batman v. His works include batman the dark knight returns, batman. Frank millers dark knight universe series is considered noncanon to the mainstream batman continuity, with the exception of batman.
The dark knight returns debuted in 1986 and was written and penciled by frank miller, inked by klaus janson and colored by lynn varley. Nov 01, 2002 the dark knight returns is a seminal contribution to graphic novel fiction and was hugely influential both within the comic book industry generally and upon the characterisation of batman in particular. Mar 24, 2016 cover by frank millerdc comics editors note. The golden child, will focus on superman and wonder womans young son. Batman, gotham and the joker into the bedrock of comic book greatness and the. The dark knight returns turned the comic book industry. Dawn of justice swoops into movie theaters around the world, this is an opportunity to analyze the comic miniseries that inspired it, frank millers the dark knight returns 1986. Hailed as a comics masterpiece, the dark knight returns is frank millers 300 and sin city reinvention of the legend of batman. In a special episode of behind the screens, luke turns his attention from the silver screen to the printed page, at one of comics most important and seminal pieces of work.
He is famous for his gritty, noir style and his revisions on classic heroes like daredevil and batman, as well in his. The first edition of the novel was published in 1986, and was written by frank miller. Frank miller returns to batman and the dark knight. Set 20 years in the future, this story finds that in the absence of superheroes, criminals have run amok, and a gang called the mutants are terrorizing gotham city. We just reread it again 30 years afterwards published. The dark knight returns alternatively titled batman.
Rise of an empire isnt directly based on a frank miller comic like the original, it still has us reflecting back on miller s. The dark knight returns dc database fandom dc wiki. Writerartist frank miller completely reinvents the legend of batman in this saga of. The dark knight returns, is a 1986 fourissue comic book miniseries starring batman, written by frank miller, illustrated by miller and klaus janson, and published by dc comics. Frank miller is one of the comic industrys most well known writerartists. Sep, 2019 frank miller is returning to the world of his acclaimed dark knight returns comic book series for a new oneshot special comic book starring carrie kelley, the future robin who grew up to become. Oct 22, 2019 frank miller returns to batman and the dark knight universe features frank miller tells us why he keeps coming back to batman and the dark knight universe, and plans for the golden child.
The dark knight returns definitely lives up to its status in the comic book community. So here we are at dark knight returns by frank miller, cloud jansen lynn barleys. The dark knight returns, script and pencils by frank miller, inks by klaus janson. He singlehandedly redefined the presentation of comic book characters and heroic fiction with his granddaddy of graphic novels, the dark knight returns. In a special episode of behind the screens, luke turns his attention from the silver screen to the printed page, at one of comics most important. Comics presents this classic title in a newly redesigned edition. Jan 23, 2010 since comics sadly remain an understudied and underanalyzed literary medium, i thought id take advantage of john maderas generosityand your patienceto sketch out some thoughts about the form and importance of frank millers 1986 graphic novel batman. Not only that but, he can also see the darker side of himself in twoface as well. The dark knight returns is the story of one mans journey to discovering his true self and finding comfort within it. Legendary comics creator frank miller has revealed that his iconic batman tale the dark knight returns nearly had a very different ending. Year one, frank millers incarnation of batman managed to wellmaintain his heroic qualities even with the darker nature of the narratives. Nov 25, 2015 although he was already a comics legend in the making before tackling batman, the dark knight returns made frank miller practically a celestial being. According with the dc universe preflashpoint, all this stories was part of the earth31. When originally published, the series was simply titled batman.
The dark knight returns, i dismissed it in just that way. Year one, spawn batman and later ones like the dark knight iii. Frank miller batman reading order the dark knight trilogy. The main characters of this sequential art, graphic novels story are oliver queen, harvey dent. A couple years later he wrote the equally successful prequel, batman. The dark knight returns motion comic chapter 1 w peter. Batman the dark knight returns 30th anniversary edition by frank miller, 9781401263119, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. For example, batman can see twoface for who he really is, even though plastic surgery has corrected his outward appearance. Frank miller is one of the seminal creative talents who sparked todays onslaught of motion pictures featuring comic book characters and concepts. If any comic has a claim to have truly reinvigorated the genre, then the dark knight returns by frank millerknown also for his excellent sin city series and his superb rendering of the blind superhero daredevilis probably the top contender. The last crusade, frank miller s incarnation of batman of his dark knight universe managed to wellmaintain his classical heroic qualities, even with the darker nature of the narratives. Although he was already a comics legend in the making before tackling batman, the dark knight returns made frank miller practically a celestial being. The dark knight returns ebook written by frank miller.
993 411 174 1049 46 1442 101 310 1297 1238 1342 857 115 143 1415 684 1318 836 160 404 695 777 234 663 688 780 386 35 36 625 593 903