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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I decided to read this after I saw that the next Man of Steel movie is "inspired/influenced" by this graphic novel. This is the first dc comic I've ever read, so my perspective is from someone unfamiliar with this format. I got a little confused at times, due to my casual knowledge of the characters and story arcs. I didn't always know what the characters were referring to or talking about. I guess that's to be expected when something is part of a larger story. Overall, I thought the plot was good, though the super dark world view made me a bit depressed. I don't think I'll make reading Batman a habit, but I am glad I read this story arc.
I fully understand that The Dark Knight Returns was revolutionary when it came out and is pretty much directly responsible for Batman's continued relevance in this day and age. And yet I find myself with mixed feelings regarding Miller's masterpiece. The older Batman is fascinating, sure, but also depressing. The increasing desperation of Batman's fight is powerful, but when I finished the volume I felt no sense of redemption and no hope. It was as if I was witnessing Batman's descent from anti-hero into something even more primal and unsettling. (Though literature making me uncomfortable and defying expectations is by no means always a bad thing).
Also, I was disappointed by Robin's lack of backstory and relevance to the plot (to the point where I almost wondered why she was included). Jim Gordon was definitely my favourite character this time around as he was one of the few other secondary characters who was paid any significant attention. Gordon lends humanity to the story, as Bruce is apparently batshit crazy at this point.
The 4 stars is honestly out of respect more than anything else, but I did still enjoy the comic and I intend to read more (I'm especially intrigued by Year One). I certainly enjoy my Batman dark, but also...sane.
Also, I was disappointed by Robin's lack of backstory and relevance to the plot (to the point where I almost wondered why she was included). Jim Gordon was definitely my favourite character this time around as he was one of the few other secondary characters who was paid any significant attention. Gordon lends humanity to the story, as Bruce is apparently batshit crazy at this point.
The 4 stars is honestly out of respect more than anything else, but I did still enjoy the comic and I intend to read more (I'm especially intrigued by Year One). I certainly enjoy my Batman dark, but also...sane.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
W book
I don't particularly care for the art or the story. I find it both repetitive and cluttered.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i can tell its a good story but it really just takes all the grossest ickiest most problematic parts of the batman mythos and shoves in all into one book. bruce’s behavior towards carrie feel incredibly groomy and has a complete lack of care to her wellbeing especially considering all the vague references to jasons death and him being entirely out of contact with dick you would think he would at least have some regard for her safety. bruce is actually just god awful the whole time hes this hypermasculine hypocritical fascist sadistic shithead and genuinely dont know if the book was trying to convince me to root for him or not because if it was it failed miserably. the portrayal of the joker and him being queer coded as a way to depict him as crazy but you know it was written in the 80s so im not entirely surprised. a lot of people say that they dont like the artwork, i had no problem with it, its more so the paneling thats very boring and not dynamic. i appreciate frank millers work and its influence in modern interpretations of batman but like plz stop
So far really enjoying this.The artwork is different from what I'm used but I like it.
The clash between Batman and Superman is hands-down, Frank Miller's best sequence of all time. A worthy conclusion to the long-running conflict. But what a bloody over-kill ending to the novel in the last two pages. Batman should have stayed dead. Instead, what we get is a dead Alfred. What the hell? A perfect mood-killer.
Clearly inspiration for the recent Batman v. Superman flick, this story follows the aftermath of Batman's retirement, ten years after the fact. Gotham City is run by criminal gangs, but Two-Face and the Joker remain locked up at Arkham. But of course, Bruce Wayne feels the call to action that made him Batman in the first place, so he dons the cape and cowl and stumbles upon a new Robin, too.
This functions as a time capsule into late '80s culture as well, with pop psychology, Cold War fears, and attention-whoring media front and center.
The art is a little too rough for my taste, but the strength of the story more than makes up for it. This is a classic.
This functions as a time capsule into late '80s culture as well, with pop psychology, Cold War fears, and attention-whoring media front and center.
The art is a little too rough for my taste, but the strength of the story more than makes up for it. This is a classic.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced