Batman

Time to put aside the history and cultural analysis. How could I understand the modern Batman phenomenon without delving into Miller’s classic reimagining of Batman? By his own account, Miller wanted to take Batman and the whole superhero genre out of the realm of kid stuff. Boy, did he ever! This Batman has been called dark and gritty, though Miller supposedly didn’t care for that description. But there’s no question Miller’s work influenced the movies that followed. The book includes the four issues that were originally published separately. 

A seminal work in the graphic novel medium, The Dark Knight Returns is an excellent and deep character study into the psychology and world of Batman. Years after retiring due to tragedy, an older restless Bruce Wayne finds his city plunged into chaos. He returns as The Dark Knight, stepping into a violent new world order. Frank Miller is at the top of his game here. The running inner monologue from Batman throughout the series is one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of using narration without it feeling like empty exposition. The grime of Gotham is portrayed in… show more.