History ComicBook / TheDarkKnightReturns

* StockSubtitle: "Returns".

* YouAreTheNewTrend: The "mutant" gang members start dressing like Batman after he defeats their leader, and murder and mutilate people in his name. Rather than ignoring them, he recruits them as his own personal army after disarming them and all but calling them out for being fools in their old tactics. Admittedly, he had stopped them from following their previous leader was claimed that "This is our chance to [[KillItWithFire raze Gotham]].

Though a movie deal has been kicking around DevelopmentHell for a long time, the only real adaptation as of yet is a ten-minute segment in the DCAU, considered to be among the best adaptations of a FrankMiller work. Carrie Kelly also made a very brief cameo as a future Robin in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', fighting mutants in a "what-if" story. Recently, it's been announced that the DCUniverseOriginalAnimatedMovies line is adapting the story in a two-part adaptation.

-->'''Mutant Leader:''' "Batman! Face me, fool! I kill you! I eat your heart! I show you who rules Gotham City!"

--->'''Batman:''' [''to Bat-Copter''] Thrusters! [''nothing happens''] '''Thrusters!''' [''nothing happens''] What in the--?\\

[''cue Thrusters'']

** There is also a reference to a porn star named "Hot Gates". In Greek, "Hot Gates" is translated "Thermopylae," the setting of [[ThreeHundred another]] of Frank Miller's creations. However, since ''300'' wasn't released for another twelve years, the reference ''here'' is to The300Spartans, an older film that was a favorite of Miller's, and inspired him to write ''[=~300~=]''.

** That being said, he will use them when they're necessary. In the first issue, he uses a rifle to shoot a grappling line between the Gotham Towers to [[spoiler:confront Two-Face and his henchmen]]. In the fourth issue, he uses [[spoiler:Commissioner Yindel's]] gun to shoot some plastic explosive. He also gets pushed into using one when taking on [[spoiler:three Mutant kidnappers who have a toddler as a hostage. The confrontation culminates with Batman pointing one of the Mutant's guns at the last kidnapper, who is holding the hostage at gunpoint.]]

[[spoiler:'''Batman''': (Shoots him and rescues the child) I believe you.]]

* BrassBalls: There is a character that literally has this as a last name.

--> Lucky. \\
This would be a ___ death.

* HeroicSociopath:
** One interpretation of Batman in this story, especially in the later chapters. AlanMoore's introduction in one printing of the TPB specifically noted that one interpretation of Batman was "revenge-driven psychopath."
** A '''very''' generous interpretation of the Sons of Batman.

* BadassGrandpa: Batman, obviously, but also Jim Gordon, Green Arrow and even Alfred to some extent. And less sympathetically, the Joker too.

In this storyline, Batman has been retired for ten years, alcoholic and consumed with grief after the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin[[hottip:*:a full ''two years'' before ''A Death in the Family'', mind you]]. Superman, still as young and handsome as ever, has become little more than an icon, answering to the government and trying to stay as neutral as possible. Commissioner Gordon is weeks away from retirement, the Joker has been silently locked away in Arkham for years, and Two-Face is about to be released back into the world with a brand new skin. In Batman's absence, and in the midst of a killer heat wave, Gotham City is overrun with crime, plagued by a monstrously violent gang known as The Mutants. After encountering a Mutant gang in the alley where his parents were murdered, Bruce Wayne resurrects Batman, aided in his renewed crusade by Carrie Kelly, a 13-year-old girl who becomes the third Robin. Defeating the Mutants, though, turns out to be child's play compared to what Batman faces next...

* AirVentEscape: The gigantic leader of the Mutant gang is behind bars awaiting trial. Batman knows that being in prison won't hurt his gang cred one bit (it helps that the Mutant leader spends his free time annoying the prison guards and bragging about what kind of havoc he will make when he gets out, instead of showing remorse) -- to break the Mutant gang, you must literally ''break'' its leader. Thus, he and Gordon arrange for the leader to escape via the prison air vents and meet Batman for a mud pit duel.

* DependingOnTheWriter: Happens to Batman and Superman a lot but Batman's X Ray seeking missiles wouldn't be able to tell Superman from anyone else normally because Superman's X-Ray Vision doesn't actually emit X-Rays [[tooltip: not since the GoldenAge when they pulled double duty as his EyeBeam attack.]]

* In 2001 and 2002, Miller produced a [[YourMileageMayVary controversial]] sequel, ''TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain''. It was more set ''around'' Batman than ''about'' Batman, being closer to a JusticeLeague story or even a Superman story than a Batman story.

** The...ill-tempered (to put it mildly) Byron Brassballs, who both encounters Superman (who saved the handicapped man Byron had ''knocked onto the train tracks'') and later plays a role in the Gotham riots...[[spoiler:and in a nice bit of Karmic retribution, gets his ass profoundly kicked by Batman.]]

* {{Deconstruction}}: Batman's tactics spur debates on toughness on crime, while Superman's idealism makes him an ideal government cat's paw. The story also deconstructs many elements of Batman's mythos, particularly Batman's potential craziness.

:::That being said, he will use them when they're necessary. In the first issue, he uses a rifle to shoot a grappling line between the Gotham Towers to [[spoiler:confront Two-Face and his henchmen]]. In the fourth issue, he uses [[spoiler:Commissioner Yindel's]] gun to shoot some plastic explosive. He also gets pushed into using one when taking on [[spoiler:three Mutant kidnappers who have a toddler as a hostage. The confrontation culminates with Batman pointing one of the Mutant's guns at the last kidnapper, who is holding the hostage at gunpoint.]]

:::What makes this scene even more powerful is that Two-Face is the only one of Batman's enemies in the story that he is sympathetic to, as he funded Harvey's surgery and rehabilitation efforts and knows what it's like to be living a dichotomy (Bruce Wayne/Batman vs. Harvey Dent/Two-Face). For bonus points, in ''Batman: Year One'' which occupies the same universe as this book, it's made clear that Harvey Dent was one of Batman's closest allies and friends early in his career.

Though a movie deal has been kicking around DevelopmentHell for a long time, the only real adaptation as of yet is a ten-minute segment in the DCAU, considered to be among the best adaptations of a FrankMiller work. Carrie Kelly also made a very brief cameo as a future Robin in ''BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', fighting mutants in a "what-if" story. Recently, it's been announced that the DCUniverseOriginalAnimatedMovies line is adapting the story in a two-part adaptation.

* BadassNormal: [[{{Batman Do you need to ask?]]

TDKR is a seminal comic book work, with a gritty, unique style that's draped in the best of FilmNoir techniques. It is often considered as influential as ''{{Watchmen}}'' in demonstrating the possible "maturity" of the comic book medium, and, along with ''Watchmen'', it ushered in TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks (for good or bad). It was also highly influential in the DCU's recasting of Batman and Superman's relationship: no longer are they perfect friends, The World's Finest, but rather somewhat distant and distrusting (if respectful) of each other.

In this storyline, Batman has been retired for ten years, alcoholic and consumed with grief after the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin (''A Death in the Family'' struck two years later, mind you). Superman, still as young and handsome as ever, has become little more than an icon, answering to the government and trying to stay as neutral as possible. Commissioner Gordon is weeks away from retirement, the Joker has been silently locked away in Arkham for years, and Two-Face is about to be released back into the world with a brand new skin. In Batman's absence, and in the midst of a killer heat wave, Gotham City is overrun with crime, plagued by a violent, monstrous gang known as The Mutants. After encountering a Mutant gang in the alley where his parents were murdered, Bruce Wayne resurrects Batman, aided in his renewed crusade by Carrie Kelly, a 13-year-old girl who becomes the third Robin. But defeating the Mutants turns out to be child's play compared to what Batman faces next...

TDKR is a seminal comic book work, with a gritty, unique style that's draped in the best of film noir techniques. It is often considered as influential as ''{{Watchmen}}'' in demonstrating the possible "maturity" of the comic book medium, and, along with ''Watchmen'', it ushered in TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks (for good or bad). It was also highly influential in the DCU's recasting of Batman and Superman's relationship: no longer are they perfect friends, The World's Finest, but rather somewhat distant and distrusting (if respectful) of each other.

In 1987 Frank Miller did ''BatmanYearOne'' with David Mazzucchelli during his one Arc long run in the main ''Batman'' book. Though it was supposed to be the origin of New Earth's Batman, WordOfGod says that it was written so that it could also serve as a prequel to DKR.

In 1994 the much ignored ''Spawn/Batman'' came out written by Miller and drawn by Todd [=McFarlane=]. It was an (ill-advised) crossover between the Spawn Universe and the Dark Knight Universe and Canon to both. Unlike every other prequel, it did not add anything even remotely worthwhile to the story besides showing where Batman got the Tech that he would use to build his power suit in DKR (and that's only a couple of pages). Considered the worst in the series and most fans just [[FanonDiscontinuity forgot it ever happened]].

In 2001 and 2002, Miller produced a [[YourMileageMayVary controversial]] sequel, ''TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain''. It was more set ''around'' Batman than ''about'' Batman, being closer to a JusticeLeague story or even a Superman story than a Batman story.

In 2005 to 2008, Miller wrote a prequel, ''AllStarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder,'' which was even more controversially received than ''Strikes Again''. Though it's been on hiatus the series will return under the name ''Dark Knight: Boy Wonder''.

* AirVentEscape: The gigantic leader of the Mutant gang is behind bars awaiting trial. Batman knows that being in prison won't hurt his gang cred one bit (it helps that the Mutant leader spends his free time annoying the prison guards and bragging about what kind of havoc he will make when he gets out, instead of showing remorse) -- to break the Mutant gang, you must literally BREAK its leader. Thus, he and Gordon arrange for the leader to escape via the prison air vents and meet Batman for a mud pit duel.

* AntiHero: Batman [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes type IV]] and The Sons Of Batman are [[SlidingScaleOfAntiHeroes Type V]].

** The Mutants, especially their leader, and The Sons of the Batman once The Mutants are no more

* BadFuture: Batman is gone for ten years and EVERYTHING goes to hell.

* BreakTheCutie: This is essentially what happens when [[spoiler:Carrie sees the bodies of the Cub Scouts who took the poisoned cotton candy from the Joker.]]

* CasaLaneParenting: Carrie Kelly's parents seem to have trouble remembering that she even exists.

* CombatPragmatist: Batman becomes one in [[spoiler:his second fight with the Mutant leader]], since brute force failed spectacularly the first time.

* CoolOldGuy: C'mon on now. Batman, Alfred for being so up in the years, still serving AND snarky, Jim Gordan, and even the Joker in a dark and nasty way.

* DeathSeeker: Batman has become one by the start of the story.
* {{Deconstruction}}: Batman's tactics spur debates on toughness on crime; Superman's idealism makes him an ideal government [[strike: figurehead]] cat's paw. The story also deconstructs many elements of Batman's mythos, particularly Batman's potential craziness.
* DoesntLikeGuns: Batman, still. In issue 4, he invokes the trope in his speech to the Sons of the Batman:

** That being said, he will use them when they're necessary. In the first issue, he uses a rifle to shoot a grappling line between the Gotham Towers to [[spoiler:confront Two-Face and his henchmen]]. In the fourth issue, he uses [[spoiler:Commissioner Yindel's]] gun to shoot some plastic explosive. He also gets pushed into using one when taking on [[spoiler:three Mutant kidnappers who have a toddler as a hostage. The confrontation culminates with Batman pointing one of the Mutant's guns at the last kidnapper, who is holding the hostage at gunpoint.]]

* GoodNewsBadNews: [[strike:Ronald Reagan]] The President has a very cheerful way of telling the American People about the dangers of nuclear fallout.

* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler: Joker, in one of the most disturbing Examples.]]

* HeroicBSOD / DespairEventHorizon: In the first part, Bruce, lost in thought, wanders to the spot where his parents were killed and is confronted by Mutants. Their dialogue, casually referring to killing Bruce, having a ''quota'' for murders, and then dismissing Bruce as their target because he's "into it", shakes Bruce to his core, as he's been equating them to his parents' killer up to that point.

* IFightForTheStrongestSide: Once the Mutant leader is defeated, the gang's splinter groups define themselves by whatever figurehead they're following; the only thing that remains consistent is their use of violence.

---> '''Batman''' (internal): It was tough work carrying two hundred and twenty pounds of sociopath to the top of one of Gotham's Twin Towers. The scream alone is worth it.
* JekyllAndHyde: Two-Face, as usual, but turned on its head here. [[spoiler:Recent breakthroughs in plastic surgery restore his appearance, but at the unforeseen cost of forever destroying the good-natured "Harvey" half of the personality and leaving the criminal "Face" in complete control.]]

'''Batman (internal)''' : The scars go deep... too deep. Not fooled by sight, I see him... as he ''is''. (the panel shows Dent with his entire head a monstrous ruin)\\
'''Batman:''' I see... a reflection, Harvey. A reflection. (the next panel shows a bat's snarling face).
** What makes this scene even more powerful is that Two-Face is the only one of Batman's enemies in the story that he is sympathetic to, as he funded Harvey's surgery and rehabilitation efforts and knows what it's like to be living a dichotomy (Bruce Wayne/Batman vs. Harvey Dent/Two-Face). For bonus points, in ''Batman: Year One'' which occupies the same universe as this book, it's made clear that Harvey Dent was one of Batman's closest allies and friends early in his career.

* MisBlamed: In-universe example - Batman is accused by the media of inspiring a number of incidents, from a mentally-ill mob enforcer turning on his boss, to a very disturbed man's religiously-motivated shooting up of a porn theater. Meanwhile, a shop owner who actually WAS inspired by Batman chases off a purse-snatcher attacking an old lady. No one is hurt enough for this to make the news.
** Said enforcer WAS wearing a Batman costume at the time...

* ServileSnarker: Alfred has always been this, but in DKR he takes it UpToEleven.

** Batman's sarcastic internal monologue describing Superman quotes, of all things, MontyPythonsMeaningOfLife.

* SplitPersonalityTakeover: Happens to [[spoiler:Two-Face after getting re constructive surgery]].
* SpotlightStealingTitle: ''The Dark Knight Returns'' was originally released as ''Batman: The Dark Knight.'' "The Dark Knight Returns" was the first issue's title for "Batman: The Dark Knight".

* TankGoodness: Miller's version of the Batmobile shames both Tim Burton's and Christopher Nolan's. It's got treads. It's got armor strong enough that "the only thing I know of that can cut through its hide isn't from this planet." [[hottip:*:He's referring to Superman, who proves the point in short order]]. It's got machine guns. [[spoiler:"Rubber bullets. Honest."]] It's got at least two decent-sized artillery pieces. It takes up three lanes on the highway. It even has a gyro-stabilized medical bed and can be piloted home by Alfred. It's a god-damned Bat-Tank.

* ThouShaltNotKill: Also behind Batman's refusal to use a gun. Gruesomely played with when [[spoiler:Batman has the perfect chance to kill the Joker but still refuses to. The Joker notices... and kills himself just to screw with Batman.]]
** For the most part true however Batman does use an M60 to kill a punk whose threatening to kill a child earlier on, making his speech about not using guns somewhat odd.
** WordOfGod says that Batman doesn't kill anyone in DKR, so presumably the punk was only wounded.

* NecessaryEvil: During the transition between retiring Commissioner Gordon and his incoming replacement, Yindel, she asks him how he could stand by as a vigilante operated in Gotham. He replied referring to the speculation that [[FranklinDRoosevelt FDR]] might have let PearlHarbor happen in order to get the US into WWII and defeat the greater evil. He said he gave up thinking on it when he realized the whole thing was 'too big' for him to contemplate. [[spoiler:During the riots after the bomb, Batman rallies the rioting ex members of The Mutants outside the jail by sheer force of will, and harnesses them to help bring order to the chaos. When one of the officers present asks Yindel if they should do something, she replies, "No. He's too big." realizing that his actions were better than letting them run wild.]]

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: While Batman's return defiantly helps Gotham from the CrapsackWorld It has become in his absence. It also causes Joker to snap from his 10 years of treatment and give him a motive to return to crime.

--> '''Batman (internal monologue)''': No, Joker. You're playing the wrong game. The ''old'' game. Tonight you're taking no hostages. Tonight I'm taking no prisoners.\\

'''Joker''': Out of your ''mind--''

In this storyline, Batman has been retired for ten years, alcoholic and consumed with grief after the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin. Superman, still as young and handsome as ever, has become little more than an icon, answering to the government and trying to stay as neutral as possible. Commissioner Gordon is weeks away from retirement, the Joker has been silently locked away in Arkham for years, and Two-Face is about to be released back into the world with a brand new skin. In Batman's absence, and in the midst of a killer heat wave, Gotham City is overrun with crime, plagued by a violent, monstrous gang known as The Mutants. After encountering a Mutant gang in the alley where his parents were murdered, Bruce Wayne resurrects Batman, aided in his renewed crusade by Carrie Kelly, a 13-year-old girl who becomes the third Robin. But defeating the Mutants turns out to be child's play compared to what Batman faces next...

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: [[Invoked]] Gordon's internal commentary about [[spoiler:seeing the Mutant leader kill the mayor]].
-->I hear a nervous giggle and an animal growl. I hear handcuff links snap. I see something I'll take to my ''grave''.

* {{Deconstruction}}: Batman's tactics spur debates on toughness on crime; Superman's idealism makes him an ideal government [[strike: figurehead]] cat's paw.