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Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

post #1 of 15
1/23/07 at 11:15am
Thread Starter 
I've been on a Batman kick as of late, not surprising considering the character is one of my faves, if not my fave icon on the planet. As I watch my BATMAN BEYOND Season 2 DVD, I'm asking myself why I haven't dived into this collection yet.

There are some good offers on Ebay (or so they seem), but I want to know just what I'm getting myself into. Is this the definitive portrait of Batman (for me, that's currently Batman: The Animated Series)? And what's the best asking price that some of you have seen for the entire set?
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post #2 of 15
1/23/07 at 1:15pm
Don't bother with eBay... the trade is in print and available from just about anyone who sells graphic novels. Unless you are deadset on getting the original single issues, save your money and time and get the trade.

As for it being the 'definitive' Batman- it depends on how you look at it. While it is among the greatest Batman stories ever, it deals with an aged Batman in the future, coming out of retirement to save Gotham from rampant corruption and chaos. It is a fantastic read, but it is a particular kind of Batman/Gotham that deviates from the common 'norm' of Batman tales. That is one of it's strengths in fact.

I would also recommend Batman:Year One. Also by Frank Miller, it serves as a nice counterpoint to Dark Knight. Young Bruce's first outing as the Bat, definitely was some inspiration on the Nolan film- if not in plot, then certainly in tone.
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post #3 of 15
1/23/07 at 1:42pm
Thread Starter 
I wasn't sure if it was still in print. Thanks.
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post #4 of 15
1/23/07 at 4:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Abed
I wasn't sure if it was still in print. Thanks.
It'll pretty much always be in print so you don't even have to rush or anything like that.
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post #5 of 15
1/23/07 at 4:42pm
The Dark Knight Returns is my aboslute favorite Batman book. An aged Batman actually adopts brutal tactics, plus we get to see Two-Face and the Joker. I've always thought it would make a good movie, albeit an R-rated one. No way would it ever get a pg-13 rating. Just for the Leon: The Professional esque love that is hinted that the new female Robin has for Batman.

I also actually liked The Dark Knight Strikes Again. I loved how Batman rallies up all of the other leftover superheros, and I was surprised that he was even more ruthless in the sequel. If you pick up DKR, pick up the sequel as well.
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post #6 of 15
1/23/07 at 6:21pm
My problem with The Dark Knight Strikes Again is mainly the art and it felt too short if there were maybe 2 more issues to fleshout the story it could have been better.
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post #7 of 15
1/23/07 at 9:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Eko
The Dark Knight Returns is my aboslute favorite Batman book. An aged Batman actually adopts brutal tactics, plus we get to see Two-Face and the Joker. I've always thought it would make a good movie, albeit an R-rated one. No way would it ever get a pg-13 rating. Just for the Leon: The Professional esque love that is hinted that the new female Robin has for Batman.
It does sound like it'd make a great flick. Imagine someone like Guillermo del Toro or Zack Snyder working with the psychological fantasy/horror elements of the story. I'd be all over that like bumble bees on nectar spur.
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post #8 of 15
1/23/07 at 9:07pm
I recommend "The Complete Frank Miller Batman". It's far from complete, but it has Year One and Dark Knight Returns, and goes for about the same you would spend on both trades seperately. Check ebay. I've got it, and it's a nice looking book on your shelf to boot(leatherbound).
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post #9 of 15
1/23/07 at 9:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubWilliams
My problem with The Dark Knight Strikes Again is mainly the art and it felt too short if there were maybe 2 more issues to fleshout the story it could have been better.
The art is FANTASTIC if you can get into it. On the surface it's messy and sloppy, but I think that actually helps the sheer Eightiesness of the whole enterprise. Frank Miller's best artwork bar none, and the colouring is brilliant too.

It's the most inventive and visceral comic I've ever read. Pity it doesn't have Batman in it. Not the Batman I know and love, anyway.
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post #10 of 15
1/23/07 at 9:16pm
Thread Starter 
Well I'll be damned, Nexus-6. I found a great deal on Ebay for that collection. Thanks!
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post #11 of 15
1/23/07 at 9:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul McCartney
The art is FANTASTIC if you can get into it. On the surface it's messy and sloppy, but I think that actually helps the sheer Eightiesness of the whole enterprise. Frank Miller's best artwork bar none, and the colouring is brilliant too.
I thought it was Miller's worst artwork ever, and Lynn Varley's worst coloring job ever, but hey, to each their own. I have it on my shelf, and I guess I owe it another shot.

SPOILER(I guess)
The only thing I remember enjoying from the 3 books was that the Flash was basically enslaved and powering the entire west coast or something, running inside a hamster-wheel type turbine thing. I thought that was a really neat idea.
END SPOILER-ish comment.
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post #12 of 15
1/23/07 at 9:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Abed
Well I'll be damned, Nexus-6. I found a great deal on Ebay for that collection. Thanks!
No problem Ray, it's a great book, everyone should own it. It's even got a little ribbon bookmark sewn into it, you can't beat that with a stick.
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post #13 of 15
1/23/07 at 10:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nexus-6
I thought it was Miller's worst artwork ever, and Lynn Varley's worst coloring job ever, but hey, to each their own. I have it on my shelf, and I guess I owe it another shot.
Ah, I was mistaken, and I meant that DKR had awesome art. Yeah, DKSA can go suck a dick. Or a chainsaw, it's not important.

Although I did like the part where the Atom was shrunken down inside a Petri dish and was fighting some enormous mollusc. That was chilling.
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post #14 of 15
1/23/07 at 10:44pm
Can't do much more than add to the consensus of "DKR and B:YO fantabulous; DKSA donkey balls"
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post #15 of 15
1/24/07 at 4:35pm
DKSA gets marginally better if you approach it as an homage to Wally Wood's Superduperman, rather than a sequel to DKR. Only marginally, though.

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