Just bought the Dark Knight Returns

[Nathan Petrelli]

I promised myself I would no longer buy graphic novels from anywhere else but Ebay. But I wanted to read this so badly, I couldn't help myself.

I haven't read it yet, but I'm going to read it later on, whats with the art? Is it kind of like TLH and it grows on you? And what does everyone think of the story line without giving away too much.

 

[Axtech]

Frank Miller's art is ... well, a lot like the rest of Frank Miller's work. Some of it creates an iconic image with a unique feel. Some of it looks like he scribbled some rough panels and was too lazy to go back and draw them for real.

The storyline is great. I found that the "talking head" newscast thing (with which you will become quite familiar) sometimes dragged on a bit and slowed the pace of the novel. But all in all it's definitely a worth-while read.

A lot of people criticize his take on The Joker, but without giving anything away, I will say that more than anything else I loved the way that part of the storyline came to a close.

 

[adhokk7]

I promised myself I would no longer buy graphic novels from anywhere else but Ebay. But I wanted to read this so badly, I couldn't help myself.

I haven't read it yet, but I'm going to read it later on, whats with the art? Is it kind of like TLH and it grows on you? And what does everyone think of the story line without giving away too much.

The art took some time to grow on me, but the story hooked me from the very start and, to this day, is one of my favorite books (comic or otherwise) of all time. I am a total fanboy when it comes to DKR. t:

 

[Nathan Petrelli]

What about the mutants thing? Is that stupid

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

What about the mutants thing? Is that stupid

I think the mutant menace is a terrific touch to the story, in the violent future that Miller writes for Batman you can't just have Bats fight a common thief but a borderline group of psychos as a warm up for when Bats gets to really handle later on with the Joker.

Concerning the art, yeah it takes a while to get used to especially when you see Selina Kyle as a fat cow, yes she's older but damn woman! now if Brian Bolland were to re-do this story that would be sweet.

For me personally I consider DKR as a seminal epic masterpiece and a fine way for the Batman to go out in style.

Just don't bother with it's sequel The Dark Knight Strikes Again, search anywhere in these forums and you'll hear it sucks.

 

[Nathan Petrelli]

nah I won't touch that.. I'm worried about reading it and disliking it if it sucks, since I spent my last $25 on it and have no more money until late next week lol

 

[BubbaGump]

DKR is epic! Terrific writing and art. Miller is a legend no matter how overblown and hyped he's gotten over the years.

The man has talent. There is no denying it.

 

[BubbaGump]

now if Brian Bolland were to re-do this story that would be sweet.

I don't think it would. DKR is DKR because of Miller's drawings. I don't think Bolland is fitted for Frank's gritty, sketchy style of rendering. His lines are too clean.

And why would anyone even bother re-doing DKR--or any comic for that matter? The old Kane comics are okay for a contemporary updating here and there (TMWL, Monster Men) but DKR is timeless. In over 2 decades, it's proven that.

 

[Nepenthes]

DKR is one of, if not THE greatest batman story of all time and it definitely needs to grow on you. I was very underwhelmed the first time I read it but after a few years it begun to get better every time I picked it up.

and don't listen to Lazlo Dark Knight Strikes Again is great as well. It's not on the same technical or historical level of course and it's themes and style are very different from DKR, but that doesn't mean it's not good. It's just different.

 

[Nathan Petrelli]

I like it so far, I just read the first part of it when Bruce gives in and becomes Batman and I enjoy it

 

[Qoèlet]

It's a damn good read. I was never very fond of the "Batman is a voice in Bruce's head" angle from the first chapter, the talking heads and over the top satires on politics can wear on you, and the occassional panel is drawn in such an unpleasant manner that it's genuinely distracting, but aside from that the overall themes and the manner in which they are executed were excellent. Especially Superman and Commissioner Gordon are portrayed very well to get points across. Also, Oliver Queen's small role always pleases me when I read it.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

I'm slightly biased, since it was the first comic I bought and was what got me into Batman and comics in general as a teen/adult, but it truely is a great story.

 

[The Joker]

I loved DKR. As others have said, the art takes a little getting used to at first, but once you get past that it's all good.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

I liked it with the exception of his take on Superman. And ever since most of his stuff has been him ****ting on Supes.

 

[Nathan Petrelli]

Haha good! I HATE Superman

 

[TruerToTheCore]

Haha good! I HATE Superman

pre-crisis Superman Rules

 

[Cain]

pre-crisis Superman Rules

He is king but cause of my age I also like post-crisis Supes he's the Superman from my childhood in the late 80's early 90's. He's the one that died, gained electrical powers etc. My ideal Supes interpretation is a medium between both which is why I really like Geoff Johns' work on Action Comics post-IC.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

He is king but cause of my age I also like post-crisis Supes he's the Superman from my childhood in the late 80's early 90's. He's the one that died, gained electrical powers etc.

The early days of him were well-executed and "Exile" was a great arc, but then it became worse and worse. And, the marriage. Noooooo!!! But I could never stand the post-crisis Superman's character. He was whiny and weak.

My ideal Supes interpretation is a medium between both which is why I really like Geoff Johns' work on Action Comics post-IC.

That's correct. Johns does good work. His Brainiac arc (so far) is great stuff!

 

[Mee]

I wouldn't say the art grows on you, cause it gets worse as the book goes on. The storytelling is top notch, but his actual style...bleh.


Still a great book though.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

We must not forget that DKR basically ripped off a lot of the British 2000AD comics, notably Judge Dredd.

 

[BubbaGump]

We must not forget that DKR basically ripped off a lot of the British 2000AD comics, notably Judge Dredd.

That is all very true.

But doesn't make it any less great.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

That is all very true.

But doesn't make it any less great.

One contribution of Frank Miller was definitely that he brought some foreign elements to the lagging American comic book industry.

 

[MysterioMenace]

I've always felt DKR's is amazingly overrated. It's not a great story. It's art is sub par. It's Joker doesn't seem like Joker whatsoever. His Batman is too insane. I don't get how this was so popular. The only thing Frank Miller has done on Batman that I actually enjoy would be Year One. Otherwise I'd rather gag.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

I love this graphic novel, I mean who dosent?

 

[Johann Krauss]

apparently mysteriomenace