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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I'm not a fan of this art style, but gave it four stars anyway, which should tell you how great the story is here.
I particularly enjoyed the last book where a final confrontation between Superman and Batman takes center stage.
I particularly enjoyed the last book where a final confrontation between Superman and Batman takes center stage.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What can I say it’s a classic
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Grief, Death of parent, Classism
There are some deeply problematic assertions Miller makes about where 'crime' comes from and how 'justice' should respond accordingly. I know this is a seminal work in comics, but it's a total nightmare philosophically. Yikes.
So I wasn't enjoying this one as much as Year One to start with, and part of that was the art style, which was getting even smaller and scribblier. Very 1970s newspaper, or so it seemed. And then the story wasn't even holding me and I was fairly unenthused on it overall, but then it picked up perhaps around the 2nd part and was getting really good in the 3rd and was strong all the way to the end.
Reading the prose section afterward on the description of the final section of the book was quite interesting too, giving a new perspective.
Reading the prose section afterward on the description of the final section of the book was quite interesting too, giving a new perspective.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
I've been wanting to read The Dark Knight Returns for years. It's one of those graphic novels that people speak of in tones of hushed reverence, regarded as one of the heights of the genre and one of the greatest Batman stories.
It's not surprising that I was disappointed.
I often am when I read "acclaimed" graphic novels. I've never understood the appeal of Alan Moore, and now I'll add Frank Miller to that category. There are such amazing possibilities for the graphic novel medium, but if this is as good as it gets, then something is wrong. Miller creates a gritty, dark vision of urban American streets, but I find little of interest beneath the surface. Bruce Wayne is tormented by memories of his parents' murder. Is this enough to motivate a life of Batman? Many people in the world witness much more horrific acts during childhood, but they grow to embrace life and even find joy amidst seemingly inexplicable chaos. Bruce's struggles just don't interest me, because they seem one-dimensional and selfish.
This isn't helped by the nearly constant clunky, expositional, internal dialogue from most of the main characters (Bruce especially). Most of that internal speechifying could be adequately summed up as: "I'm depressed and hopeless. Stupid bleak world. Time to end everything?"
More annoying than this exposition, however, is the use of little TV screens on nearly every page, showing us how strange the world has become in its reliance on the media to tell us what to think. It's hard for me to believe that this was a new idea even in 1986, but it certainly isn't very innovative now, almost 30 years later. The use of the TV screens is a gimmick that does little to enhance or advance the story.
For reasons I don't really understand (I've always been more of a Marvel guy, and I don't know as much about DC), the story builds to a climactic battle between Superman and Batman, in which Superman and Batman .
Again, because I don't know much about the DC world, maybe I'm missing something--but I really dislike the weird Robin character in this story. She (?) looks a bit like Velma from Scooby Doo, and I just don't get the character at all.
One of the things that most attracts me to graphic novels is bold, vibrant artwork. The artwork in The Dark Knight Returns is washed-out and dull. Occasionally there's a bold graphic image that I liked--the top of p. 55, or the silhouette of Superman on p. 164. But most of pages are not appealing to me.
I don't know how old Miller was when he wrote this story, but I sense that he was fearful of middle age. I assume he has now successfully navigated those years and found them to be not as dismal as he'd feared.
It's not surprising that I was disappointed.
I often am when I read "acclaimed" graphic novels. I've never understood the appeal of Alan Moore, and now I'll add Frank Miller to that category. There are such amazing possibilities for the graphic novel medium, but if this is as good as it gets, then something is wrong. Miller creates a gritty, dark vision of urban American streets, but I find little of interest beneath the surface. Bruce Wayne is tormented by memories of his parents' murder. Is this enough to motivate a life of Batman? Many people in the world witness much more horrific acts during childhood, but they grow to embrace life and even find joy amidst seemingly inexplicable chaos. Bruce's struggles just don't interest me, because they seem one-dimensional and selfish.
This isn't helped by the nearly constant clunky, expositional, internal dialogue from most of the main characters (Bruce especially). Most of that internal speechifying could be adequately summed up as: "I'm depressed and hopeless. Stupid bleak world. Time to end everything?"
More annoying than this exposition, however, is the use of little TV screens on nearly every page, showing us how strange the world has become in its reliance on the media to tell us what to think. It's hard for me to believe that this was a new idea even in 1986, but it certainly isn't very innovative now, almost 30 years later. The use of the TV screens is a gimmick that does little to enhance or advance the story.
For reasons I don't really understand (I've always been more of a Marvel guy, and I don't know as much about DC), the story builds to a climactic battle between Superman and Batman, in which Superman
Spoiler
doesn't dieSpoiler
doesn't dieAgain, because I don't know much about the DC world, maybe I'm missing something--but I really dislike the weird Robin character in this story. She (?) looks a bit like Velma from Scooby Doo, and I just don't get the character at all.
One of the things that most attracts me to graphic novels is bold, vibrant artwork. The artwork in The Dark Knight Returns is washed-out and dull. Occasionally there's a bold graphic image that I liked--the top of p. 55, or the silhouette of Superman on p. 164. But most of pages are not appealing to me.
I don't know how old Miller was when he wrote this story, but I sense that he was fearful of middle age. I assume he has now successfully navigated those years and found them to be not as dismal as he'd feared.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No