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Batman Hardcover – November 1, 2002

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,569 ratings

After ten years away from the public eye, a wave of violence in Gotham City brings Batman back as a vigilante.
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dc Comics; Gph edition (November 1, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 156389341X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1563893414
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.5 x 10.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,569 ratings

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Frank Miller
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Frank Miller is one of the seminal creative talents who sparked the current gigantic sub-industry of motion pictures featuring comic book- initiated product. A sub-industry which had become a super-industry. This most profitable aspect of this millennium’s film production, now producing an annual flow of box office profits in the Billions of dollars, was launched when Frank Miller’s graphic novel re-take on the classic comic book hero, Batman, resulted in an entertainment industry-wide reconsideration of the genre in the deeper and darker vision Miller brought to it.

Miller re-defined the presentation of comic book characters and heroic fiction with his grand-daddy of graphic novels, “The Dark Knight.” This revolutionary work

not only kicked off the series of Batman films based on his redefinition, but a craze for such material that has thrown dozens of such heroes into multiple film franchise heaven. Certainly chief among these has been Miller’s uniquely classical take on superheroic narrative, “300,” and his “Sin City” books, each of which entered motion pictures with historic successes, and each now in Miller's creative phase of achieving its highly-anticipated sequel. Miller’s co-direction of “Sin City” has made him one of the hottest

directors… as well as a guiding creative force…for the new genre. Or one might say “super genre.”

Miller's latest graphic novel, Holy Terror, is his first original graphic novel in ten years. Join The Fixer, a brand new, hard-edged hero as he battles terror in the inaugural release from Legendary Comics.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
2,569 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable for comic enthusiasts. They appreciate the story's quality, character development, and graphic novel format. Many mention it's one of the best Batman stories ever told. The dark tone is praised as well-crafted and complements the characters' personalities. Readers praise the writing as great and intelligent. However, opinions differ on the art quality - some find it good, while others dislike it.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

366 customers mention "Readability"344 positive22 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They describe it as a perfect piece of modern literature, with an expanded literary comic that is intended to be read. The characters are well-developed and the story draws readers in from the beginning.

"...Returns he'd be more convinced that this is indeed a perfect piece of modern literature; and comics, American comics most of all, very rarely got..." Read more

"...Frank Miller has published here a brilliant novel. If the Gods of Hollywood are truly kind, perhaps one day this will be converted into a movie...." Read more

"...serving as the first serious "graphic novel" - an expanded literary comic that was intended to be read by adults and to have included in it serious..." Read more

"...reinterpretation of well-known superheroes and characters, entertaining and brave move dealing with an aged Caped Crusader, immersive sense of the..." Read more

312 customers mention "Story quality"293 positive19 negative

Customers find the story fantastic with a few important subplots that become part of the main story. They appreciate the sequential storytelling and gripping art that accents the story perfectly. The blend of artwork and storytelling makes the reader feel the action and truly make this a page-turner.

"...Through countless minor characters and little stories, each one rounded and well-constructed by its own right, Frank Miller creates a Gotham City we..." Read more

"...In one really powerful scene, Batman realizes he is equally as tortured as Two-Face, but with one difference: Two-Face feels remorse and despair..." Read more

"...are some solid points to Frank Miller's story--interesting reinterpretation of well-known superheroes and characters, entertaining and brave move..." Read more

"...Perhaps this story is still very relevant today? Great influential story in a very good hardcover release makes this an easy review...." Read more

55 customers mention "Character development"48 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the character development in the book. They find it treats its characters well, revealing more personality and fun as the story progresses. The book complements Batman's personality and tactics beautifully. Readers appreciate the real insight into dark character issues and grotesque designs. It raises good questions regarding the individual vs. collective group to operate within society.

"...Through countless minor characters and little stories, each one rounded and well-constructed by its own right, Frank Miller creates a Gotham City we..." Read more

"...'s story--interesting reinterpretation of well-known superheroes and characters, entertaining and brave move dealing with an aged Caped Crusader,..." Read more

"...This is both a change in character and a consistency in character at the same time, and I found it tremendously engaging...." Read more

"...The characters also depict their strength and their importance in the plot: batman and his direct enemies and allies are physically gigantic and the..." Read more

46 customers mention "Graphic novel"46 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the graphic novel. They find it an excellent choice for graphic novel enthusiasts, with a great setting and development. Readers appreciate that the book is supported by Kindle Fire.

"The mid 1980s saw the release of two classic graphic novels: Alan Moore's Watchmen and Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns...." Read more

"...TDKR is one the greatest graphic novels ever written, and without a doubt, the greatest Batman story ever told(with Year One right behind it) The..." Read more

"...This series started the graphic novel craze and is one of Miller's best...." Read more

"...I'm glad Kindle Fire supports graphic novels, but they're not there yet, and likely will not be until larger screens arrive...." Read more

38 customers mention "Dark tone"33 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the dark tone of the book. They say the writing and art work complement each other well, revealing the darker side of Batman.

"...So is Lynn Varley's coloring, which is subtle and pale and may seem somewhat outdated to modern readers...." Read more

"...Miller's artwork reflects his story perfectly. It's dark and gritty when Batman has to get his hands dirty and page dominating when Batman makes a..." Read more

"Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns offers a dark, compelling story with a cast of broken people living in a world of hurt...." Read more

"...It displays a much darker, almost maniacal Batman who is brutal and wise in his fight on crime...." Read more

33 customers mention "Writing quality"28 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing. They praise the author's heartfelt writing style and find it an easy read with engaging dialogue and narration. The book offers a different perspective on Batman and is appreciated for its noir dialogue.

"...Each page of this precious work is chocked full of words and intelligently written dialogue, historically serving as the first serious "graphic novel..." Read more

"...The artwork is engaging and dramatic, and the writing is sharp and vicious...." Read more

"Wow. Frank Miller is a genius. I was really blown away by his noir dialogue this time around. You thought his Sin City stuff was good?..." Read more

"...doesn't matter, because TDKR can still fall back on being exceptionally well written in its own right...." Read more

195 customers mention "Art quality"132 positive63 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the artwork. Some find it enjoyable and well-presented, with wonderful coloring by Lynn Varley. Others describe the drawings as rough and not worth revisiting. The portrait format is frustrating for some readers.

"...Knight Returns Miller had the benefit of not only the wonderful coloring of Lynn Varley (who also collaborated on Ronin) but also one of the finest..." Read more

"...drawn and inked, but this fact is irrelevant as the graphics are well enough to keep our interest drawn to the engrossing moral lessons and satire...." Read more

"...That said; I'm sure some people enjoyed the artwork, and there were definitely some high points, when the artist actually took time to sit down and..." Read more

"...The excessive use of Batman-as-narrator increases the difficulty of writing a screenplay, but the plot is not only flawless, it is still relevant...." Read more

34 customers mention "Pacing"18 positive16 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing. Some find it fascinating, dark, and challenging, similar to Watchmen. Others feel it's confusing and unsettling, with a cliched world and existential stages.

"...twenty years, is an important part of the story, and his part in it is fascinating, although more thought would be given to him on Miller's second..." Read more

"...caricatures of pop culture figures and lingering, desolate existential stages...." Read more

"...Miller has us realizing we have experienced a story that explains obsession, public perception, conscience, mortality, and what it truly means to be..." Read more

"...There's an unsettling vibe in the story of living under the incessant dread of catastrophe...." Read more

a 5 star book but a 4 star presentation
4 out of 5 stars
a 5 star book but a 4 star presentation
This is my second "comic" for my Kindle (which I read through my Note8). The first was Marvel's 1602 (also an excellent story). What hopefully shows in the pictures is that the chief difference between the two titles is the way they appear on screen - the Marvel item responds to screen rotation and (through their a-panel-or-two-at-a-time option) will fill the screen but the DC title continues to show the whole page while creating a magnified "bubble" of a portion of the page (rather than filling the screen with the panel) and does not seem to support rotation. I'm sure it will look fine on my computer but right now my eyes can't do much with what I'm getting ... still amazing art work, just wish I could read the words. =/(By the way ... I am certainly no expert, so if any one knows of a fix for my magnification / rotation problem I will gladly admit my mistake and push this up the 5 stars that I want to give it!)
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2003
    Doubtlessly one of the most talked about comic book storylines of the past twenty years, its reputation is well founded. While material that was as hyped as The Dark Knight Returns is often ultimately disappointing, or seems outdated decades later, every time one reads The Dark Knight Returns he'd be more convinced that this is indeed a perfect piece of modern literature; and comics, American comics most of all, very rarely got this good. The Dark Knight Returns is one of a handful of graphic novels (e.g. Watchmen, The Sandman and Marvels) that achieve the status of genuine and timeless classics.
    In the time of its release in the early 80s, The Dark Knight Returns was revolutionary, in every aspect. Frank Miller, already an acclaimed artist for his work on the early issues of Wolverine, already proved himself as a writer in 1984's brilliant and groundbreaking mini-series Ronin, but The Dark Knight Returns in 1986 was his break into the world of mainstream comics, and remains his most important achievement. But while his work on the series was within the world of super-hero comics, and within the financial safety of publishing under the DC Comics banner, Miller took mainstream comics to disturbing new places and super-heroes were never looked at the same way again. Taking inspiration from the groundbreaking work of the Dennis O'neil / Neil Addams team who revolutionized super-hero comics in the late 70s, and from his own former partner Chris Claremont, Miller made super-hero comics darker, more reflective and more mature than was ever made before. For that he took darkest character in the DC Universe, the Caped Crusader himself, and took him 20 years into the future, well into retirement. The new Batman is well into his 50s, sad and tired, and a much rougher kind of hero than he was before. Miller's very modern look on the Dark Knight was disturbing and discomforting to say the least; Dark Knight Returns is not an adventure story, it's a moral examination of his character and the problematic nature of his actions. Never before was Batman judged so harshly by his own author, and it's difficult for the reader to accept it - since, while Batman's actions are here presented as problematic to say the least, if not criminal, but he is also more human and more recognizable than we'd ever seen him before.
    But it's not just the view of Batman's character that makes Dark Knight Returns so disturbing - it's the view of the world. Miller's future is dark and bleak, and eerily realistic. He goes to great lengths to create a realistic and convincing world, right down to creating a new slang for the new young generation. Through countless minor characters and little stories, each one rounded and well-constructed by its own right, Frank Miller creates a Gotham City we can know, a Gotham we can relate to. It's a city living in fear, a city that's in the grip of a merciless gang more ruthless and vicious than the criminals Batman faced in his prime. In Bruce Wayne's own words, it's a city that's `given up hope, like the whole world seems to have'. And as the city lies in the shadow of the fear of the Mutants gang, so the world lives in the shadow on nuclear holocaust. It is in the middle of this reality that a real hero is proven. And despite all the doubt and all the misgivings, the Batman presented here is more heroic than he ever was. It takes one kind of hero to fight madmen on a daily basis and thwart their diabolical schemes; it takes quite a different one to face himself and the world and not give up.
    Batman isn't the only character who is given fantastic care on The Dark Knight Returns. Commissioner James Gordon, a character who had become much more important and more sophisticated in the last twenty years, is an important part of the story, and his part in it is fascinating, although more thought would be given to him on Miller's second Dark Knight expedition - Batman: Year One in 1988. The Dark Knight Returns also features a young and energetic Robin, who serves the role that Robin should have from the beginning - to provide contrast to the character of the Batman. Interestingly, though, the death of Jason Todd is often referred to, though it was released three years before Jason actually died in the comic continuity - and even then, his death was decided by a readers' poll. Hmm... Alfred Pennyworth, of course, completes the classic team. As for villains to battle - Two of Batman's most classic enemies, The Joker and Two-Face, return on The Dark Knight Returns - mainly as subplots, and to serve as reflections for Batman himself. This story is not about fighting madmen. There is, though, a grand final showdown at the end, in which Batman fights a surprising enemy...
    As for the art: Frank Miller's artwork is an acquired taste. So is Lynn Varley's coloring, which is subtle and pale and may seem somewhat outdated to modern readers. Miller's drawing on The Dark Knight Returns is not as impressive and appealing as his work on Sin City, but if you enjoyed his early artwork, especially on Wolverine and Ronin, you'll like this one too. The artwork really is brilliant, if you take the time to see its subtleties. At any rate, on The Dark Knight Returns Miller had the benefit of not only the wonderful coloring of Lynn Varley (who also collaborated on Ronin) but also one of the finest inkers in the world of comics, Mr. Klaus Janson, who contributed to the series beyond words, gave it a lot of its atmosphere and created some of the darkest and most impressive images of Batman and Gotham City. In every possible way, The Dark Knight Returns is a masterpiece. If you like comics, and not just super-hero comics, by all means read it.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2005
    It's amazing how well this story, originally written as a 4-part mini-series in 1986, has held up. This story is responsible for the re-emergence of Batman not just as a superhero, but as a tortured anti-hero with flaws that make him no less obsessed than the supervillains he hunts. Not only do we get heaping servings of the dark, obsessed Batman, we also meet an him as an older man, a true "lion in winter" who must come to grips with his mortality and the unstoppable decline of age.

    Miller allows us to use our hero to percieve the world around us, and in doing so The Dark Knight Returns also ends up as a critique of 20th century society (and 21st, for that matter). Batman is just a few public opinion points away from being considered no different than the likes of Two-Face and the Joker.

    The relationships between Batman and those he hunts is simply outstanding work by Frank Miller. Generally, there are three types of villains. The first are everyday thugs that are shallow and meaningless both in dialogue and mentality. The second is a savage gang leader. Powerfully built, full of rage and singularly focused hate often seen in the young, this character forces Batman to confront his own mortality and, in an awesome final confrontation, turn to the experience of age for victory. But the most powerful relations come with Batman and his fights with the classic supervillains Two-Face and The Joker. In one really powerful scene, Batman realizes he is equally as tortured as Two-Face, but with one difference: Two-Face feels remorse and despair for what he has once again become (One panel has him actually jumping off a skyscraper, in a possible suicide attempt). He has recieved redemption from society as well as himself, but was unable to maintain it from either. In contreast, Batman, has accepted what he has become, and revels in his darkness. And then of course, there's my favorite, The Joker. We have here an excellent portrayal of a supervillain with no conscience whatsoever, who commits evil deeds not for any agenda or flawed goal, but simply because he enjoys doing them. His ending scene with Batman is another one to remember, and I can't imagine it happening any other way.

    The supporting cast in the graphic novel are also superbly detailed. Superman is portrayed as equal parts god, innocent child, tortured soul, government flunky, dumb jock, and a lampoon of the comic industry's idea of superheroes as flawless humans. The interesting point is, Miller creates a Superman that is not to be mocked, but understood and even sympathized with. His contrast with Batman benefits the development of both characters. Other characters, including a naive yet gifted Robin, a Gordon who is more fully fleshed-out as a cop than anything you'll see on NYPD Blue or Law and Order, and Green Arrow, who has become the epitome of grizzled in a novel full of grizzled ornery old men.

    By now, I think you can guess I kind of liked it. Frank Miller has published here a brilliant novel. If the Gods of Hollywood are truly kind, perhaps one day this will be converted into a movie. The excessive use of Batman-as-narrator increases the difficulty of writing a screenplay, but the plot is not only flawless, it is still relevant. Miller, in 1986 mind you, points out how America has a love affair with celebrities (including superheroes), public perception, a fascination with criminals, and how modern media loves to praise heroes (and successful people in general) only to aid in their entertaining downfall from public grace.

    By the end of the graphic novel, with some of the most original artwork for it's time (notice how good the story is that I didn't even mention how it looks until now?), Miller has us realizing we have experienced a story that explains obsession, public perception, conscience, mortality, and what it truly means to be a hero better than any psychology textbook could, and I am including those textbooks with the pictures.
    245 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Cliente de Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars De las mejores historias de Batman en una fantastica presentacion
    Reviewed in Mexico on May 19, 2017
    El producto llego 3 dias antes de lo previsto, lo que es genial, el empaquetado estuvo correcto, no llego maltratado, la calidad del libro es buena como nos tiene acostumbrados DC y la mascara es sorprentemente mejor que la de Court of the owls, nada mas que decir es un producto "must have" si eres fan de la historia y del personaje
  • Otavio Rocha Filho
    5.0 out of 5 stars No movie will ever beat this.
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 5, 2016
    As proven by two attempts with Sin City, Frank Miller's art is just too dense, complex and perfect to fit the big screen. In the comics book, people can enjoy his work in every frame, every character's nuance, way beyond they ever could in a motion picture
  • Mitchell Heron
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book was one that i thoroughly enjoyed reading. The art style is one of a ...
    Reviewed in Canada on October 30, 2015
    This book was one that i thoroughly enjoyed reading. The art style is one of a minimalist (somewhat) and the story is one that rivals any. I have given this book to countless friends for them to read and I have had nothing but the highest of praise for the story, even from people that don't read graphic novels/comics on a regular basis. Highly recommended.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the best Batman story out there.
    Reviewed in India on April 9, 2016
    This graphic novel is the best batman story i've read so far. The idea of a broken down batman battling his urge to put on the cape and cowl again is a conflict that is gripping and makes you think about some choices that you might make in your life.The way batman's feelings are described in this novel,his thoughts,his pain,his haunting memories is all so beautifully put forth that it just makes you want to read on and on in one stretch. The art work by Frank Miller is brilliant and the tone of the comic that he has put forth is dark and gritty,and is commendable for that time.This take on the Batman is so dark you would almost be in awe of the character and would actually feel just how does he do it.how does he still carry on.The last part of the book is very very good. All in all it is not just a book but an experience i feel everyone should have be it a graphic novel reader or not.
  • Javier Don
    5.0 out of 5 stars Imprescindible
    Reviewed in Spain on March 21, 2016
    El bueno de Frank Miller dando su versión de una historia que no me canso de leer. Tapa de cartón duro y buena impresión.