Blurb

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now as his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory.

Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest enemies, the Joker and Two-Face for the final time, Batman finds himself in mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them will survive. This collection is hailed as a comics masterpiece and was responsible for the launch of the Batman movies.

This volume collects Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1-4.

Review

I usually don’t count comics in my book count, except for graphic novels or collected works. At four extended issues, I’m counting this one. That is largely due to the place it holds in comic history. Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns is ranked by many as the greatest comic story of all time.

It may not hold up as well now now, but it made a splash at release. It is easy to see why the above claim is made. At the time of release, this book turned a mostly campy character into a dark figure. The artwork is perfectly fine, although the layout with Bubble/Art throughout was not to my taste.

I would put this in the comic book realm as Pliny The Elder for beer drinkers. Better options have come along since. Still, you have to respect the impact it made on the industry when it was released.

4 of 5 stars.