|
| Title |
Batman: The
Dark Knight Returns |
| Format |
miniseries |
| Binding |
prestige, tpb,
hardcover |
| Date |
1986 (original
issues), plus various re-issues |
|
Writer(s) |
Frank Miller |
|
Artist(s) |
Frank Miller,
Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley |
| Collects |
The Dark Knight Returns 1-4 |
| Storyline |
It was been ten years since
the last Batman sighting. Seventy year old Commissioner Gordon had a drink
with Bruce Wayne. He was on the verge of retiring and they discussed the
good-old-days. Bruce confided that he'd not spoken to Dick in seven years.
Harvey Dent, who'd been in Arkham for twelve years, was set free. After
complete reconstructive surgery and a good psychiatrist, he was deemed
society worthy. Feeling less and less alive, and finally giving into his
demons, Bruce put on the costume and went hunting. Suspecting Dent had
gone bad again, Batman tracked him down and stopped him from destroying
two buildings. Batman's next task was to take down the Mutants - a gang of
kids who are attempting to take over the city first, then the world. Up
against the Mutant leader, Batman was defeated. He would have died if
Carrie Kelley, the new self-appointed Robin, hadn't saved him. Bruce took
her back to the cave and began training her as he recovered. Together they
converted the Mutants to their side, the gang calling itself afterwards
the "Sons of Batman." Gordon was forced into retirement and was
replaced by a woman staunchly apposed to Batman. The President asked
Superman to talk to Batman. Joker was released, and did a TV interview,
where he killed everyone in the studio. Batman and Robin tracked the Joker
down to a county fair, where he was giving out tainted cotton candy.
Batman was shot and stabbed, but the Joker didn't survive the ordeal. A
nuclear warhead fired by Russians was diverted by Superman, but it still
detonated. The blast sent out magnetic interference, causing all things
mechanical to fail. Batman rallied the S.O.B.'s into action. Superman and
Batman set up a final battle. Batman defeated him, but staged his death,
along with the death of his cave (detonated). Alfred had a stroke during
the blast and died as well. At Bruce's funeral, Clark heard his heart
start beating. Robin later dug him up and they began training their army. |
|
