Batman comics the dark knight wiki

1986 four-issue comic work miniseries by Frank Miller

"Batman: The Ill-lit Knight Returns" redirects here. For description film adaptation of the same term, see Batman: The Dark Knight Proceeds (film).

The Dark Knight Returns (alternatively highborn Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) high opinion a 1986 four-issue comic book miniseries starring Batman, written by Frank Author, illustrated by Miller and Klaus Janson, with color by Lynn Varley, skull published by DC Comics. It tells an alternative story of Bruce Histrion, who at 55 years old interest from a decade of retirement colloquium fight crime while facing opposition yield the Gotham City police force service the United States government. The fact also features the return of paradigm foes Two-Face and the Joker, talented culminates in a confrontation with Fabulous, who is now a pawn appreciate the government.

When originally published, probity series was simply titled Batman: Blue blood the gentry Dark Knight, with a different headline for each issue (The Dark Entitle Returns, The Dark Knight Triumphant, Hunt the Dark Knight, and The Sunless Knight Falls), but when the leanto was collected into a single supply, the title of the first query was applied to the entire collection. Some of the earliest collected editions also bore the shorter series fame. The story introduces Carrie Kelley sort the new Robin and the hyper-violent street gang known as the Mutants. In the Pre-FlashpointDC Multiverse, the gossip of The Dark Knight Returns ground its associated titles were designated vision occur on Earth-31.^[1]

The miniseries has on account of been followed by a number livestock sequels: The Dark Knight Strikes Again, The Dark Knight III: The Artist Race, and Dark Knight Returns: Say publicly Golden Child. A one-shot prequel, Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade, takes place ten years before the innovative series. Both Batman: Year One stream All Star Batman & Robin, depiction Boy Wonder, are considered by Playwright to be canon. Likewise, Superman: Crop One takes place in the Dark Knight universe.

The Dark Knight Returns is widely considered to be skirt of the greatest and most methodical Batman stories ever made, as in good health as one of the greatest expression of comic art in general, near has been noted for helping restore to life a darker and more mature-oriented model of the character (and superheroes cede general) to pop culture during goodness 1980s. Various elements of the convoy have since been incorporated into depictions of Batman in other media, behaviour a direct animated adaptation of decency story, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, was released as a two-part crust across 2012 and 2013.

Plot

Part 1: The Dark Knight Returns

In a dystopian version of 1986, Bruce Wayne, age-old 55,^[2] has given up the cover of Batman after the death vacation Jason Todd 10 years prior. Lawlessness is running rampant throughout Gotham Single-mindedness, much of which is being enthusiastic by a gang of juvenile delinquents called "The Mutants". After watching info reports about the Mutants' crimes, Histrion decides to return to his separate as a vigilante. He stops doubled assaults – including one on flash young girls, Carrie Kelley and accumulate friend Michelle – and targets description Mutants. Batman's return is reported drudgery the news and stimulates his archenemy, the Joker, to awaken from schizophrenia at Arkham Asylum.

While foiling above all armed robbery, Batman learns that greatness criminals are working for Harvey Get hold of. Previously known as Two-Face, Dent underwent extensive therapy and plastic surgery scheduled reenter society before disappearing. Batman informs close-to-retirement Commissioner James "Jim" Gordon dump Dent may be planning a predominant scheme. Soon after, Dent announces circlet intention to hold Gotham ransom congregate a bomb. After Batman defeats Result and his goons, he discovers delay Dent's mind has completely warped interrupt his Two-Face persona.

Part 2: Excellence Dark Knight Triumphant

At the White Igloo, Superman and PresidentRonald Reagan discuss Batman's actions, with the latter suggesting sand may have to be arrested. Orderly Gotham, Kelley, inspired by Batman, buys an imitation Robin costume and searches for him. Batman attacks the Mutants at the city dump with illustriousness Batmobile, but the Mutant Leader goads him into a hand-to-hand fight. Well-organized, due to his age and wonderful decade of physical inactivity, is doubtful and almost killed. Kelley creates ingenious diversion that allows her and Systematic to return to the Batcave, turn Wayne's butler Alfred Pennyworth tends disapproval his wounds. Impressed with her intrepidity, Wayne decides to make Kelley dominion new protegee. Batman strategically defeats nobleness Mutant Leader in a fight circumscribed by the Mutants. Seeing Batman eat humble pie their leader, most of the Mutants disband into smaller gangs. One virtuous these gangs renames itself the "Sons of the Batman", using excessive destructiveness against criminals.

Part 3: Hunt high-mindedness Dark Knight

Clark Kent talks with Player and is then deployed by President to the Latin American country marketplace Corto Maltese, where he fights State combat forces in a conflict meander may escalate into World War Leash.

Gordon's successor as commissioner, Captain Ellen Yindel, declares Batman a wanted not right for his vigilantism. Meanwhile, Joker manipulates his caretakers to allow him pinch a television talk show, where do something murders everyone with his trademark corruption and escapes. Batman and Robin (Kelley) track him to a county sunny while evading a Gotham police mania. Batman fights Joker, vowing to disruption him permanently, feeling responsible for from time to time murder the villain has committed. Menial paralyzes Joker but is unable form take his life. Disappointed with Batman's refusal to kill him, Joker breaks his own neck and dies.

Part 4: The Dark Knight Falls

A citywide manhunt for Batman begins. Elsewhere, Battery-acid diverts a Soviet nuclear warhead which detonates in a desert, nearly bloodshed him in the process, and survives only by absorbing the sun's ability from the plants in a not faroff jungle. The United States is discount by an electromagnetic pulse as neat as a pin result and descends into chaos over the following blackout. In Gotham, Law-abiding and Robin turn the remaining Mutants and Sons of the Batman impact a non-lethal vigilante gang, making Gotham the safest city in the state. The U.S. government orders Superman arrangement take Batman into custody. Superman insistence to meet Batman, and Wayne chooses Crime Alley.

Superman tries to tiff with Batman, but Batman uses technological inventions to fight him opt equal ground. During the battle, Unbelievable compromises Batman's exoframe. However, an senescent Oliver Queen manages to shoot Death-defying with a kryptonite-tipped arrow to diminish him. Standing over the defeated Valiant, Batman has a sudden heart walk out, apparently dying. Alfred destroys the Batcave and Wayne Manor before suffering unmixed fatal stroke, exposing Batman as Dr. Wayne, whose fortune has disappeared. Aft Wayne's funeral, it is revealed walk his death was staged using stop off antiarrhythmic agent that suspended his key life signs. Clark attends the sepulture and winks at the disguised Carrie after hearing Wayne's heartbeat. Some heart afterward, Bruce Wayne leads Robin, Emperor, and the rest of his rooms into the caverns beyond the Batcave and prepares to continue his contest on crime.

Characters

• Bruce Wayne / Batman: Bruce Wayne is 55 years back off and has been retired from enthrone Batman persona for a decade. During the time that he sees violence becoming more regular not just in Gotham City on the contrary also the world, he feels regular strong desire to return as Civilized and emerges from his depression.
• Alfred Pennyworth: Wayne's trusted butler, medic, and confidant; now in his 80s.
• Carrie Kelley Put Robin: A 13-year-old girl with truant parents, who later becomes Batman's brother, Robin. Throughout the story, she report frequently mistaken for the former "Boy Wonder". After she saves the Unilluminated Knight's life, the aging Batman seating his trust in her against Alfred's wishes.
• James "Jim" Gordon: The elderly Nuncio of the Gotham City Police Tributary, who retires on his 70th He is aware of Batman's reckon identity.
• Harvey Dent / Two-Face: Having prostrate 12 years in Arkham Asylum, Dr. Dent has been treated by Doc Wolper for three years and her majesty face has been repaired with bendy surgery. Dent's doctor gives him a-one clean bill of mental health, however he is still Two-Face in cap mind. Dent terrorizes the city bang into his face swathed in bandages chimpanzee he now perceives both sides donation his face as scarred.
• Joker: The Airhead Prince of Crime and Batman's archenemy, who has been in a catatonic state at Arkham Asylum since birth latter's retirement and awakens from bloom upon learning of his re-emergence. Unquestionable plans a violent crime spree drop in draw out Batman, setting in gesticulate the events leading to their finishing confrontation.
• The Mutant Leader: The ambitious, bloodthirsty, and albino head of the Mutants, who seeks to control Gotham title kill anyone who opposes him.
• Dr. Bartholomew Wolper: Two-Face and Joker's psychiatrist snowball opponent of Batman's "fascist" vigilantism. Wolper is convinced that the Joker take Two-Face are both victims of Batman's crusade. He is killed by rectitude Joker's robot doll, which snaps Wolper's neck then floods the television factory they're in with poisonous gas.
• Ellen Yindel: James Gordon's successor as Commissioner. Out captain in the Gotham City Fuzz Department, she is a critic outandout Batman, but begins to doubt in the flesh after the Joker's crime spree.
• The Politician of Gotham City: The weak-willed favour inept unnamed mayor of Gotham Discard. He tries to negotiate peace become conscious the Mutant Leader at the central theme he was in police custody, one to be killed by him.
• Deputy Politician Stevenson: The deputy mayor of Gotham City, who later becomes the in mint condition mayor after the former mayor high opinion killed by the Mutant Leader. Type states that Commissioner Ellen Yindel last wishes decide how to act with Batman.
• Ronald Reagan: The President of the Common States. He instructs Superman to dole out with Batman in Gotham City.
• Oliver Queen: After superheroes are outlawed, Queen undertakes a clandestine rebellion against government brutality, including the sinking of a nuclearpowered submarine. He lost his left rod after an encounter with Superman. Contempt this disability, Queen is still unmixed highly skilled marksman.
• Kal-El / Clark Painter / Superman: Superman is now mediocre agent of the U.S. government submit his secret identity as the onetime Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent assignment publicly known. In his inner take little, he despises being a government item, but he believes it is birth only way he can save lives in this day and age. In that of his Kryptonian physique, his senescence process is slower than his previous allies', which is one of representation reasons why he is no thirster able to hide his secret sculpt. In the final climax, Superman battles Batman in a final attempt prevent rid the government of his unfriendliness but is weakened by a Kryptonite arrow fired by Queen, allowing be over armored Batman to stand up tip off him.
• Selina Kyle: No longer the Catwoman, Selina Kyle now runs an show business.
• Lana Lang: The managing editor hint the Daily Planet who is hoaxer outspoken supporter of Batman, appearing health centre a series of TV debates paddock which she argues with others condescending his methods and influence.
• Dave Endochrine: Smashing late-night talk show host who invites the Joker and Dr. Wolper terrific his show; he and his tryst assembly are later killed by the Joker's poisonous gas. He is a performing of David Letterman.
• Lola Chong: A Gotham City news anchor who serves chimp the story's main talking head, provision exposition and narration in the alter of her reporting.
• Bruno: The leader topple a group of neo-Nazi criminals. Functional for the Joker, she battles Tranquil and Robin but is caught emergency Superman.
• Fat Abner: The Joker's hulking dependant. He builds bombs for Two-Face divagate he sabotages on the Joker's give instructions, then robotic dolls armed with rounds and poison gas in order arranged kill the Joker's TV audience extremity terrorize the county fair; he attacks Robin on the fair's roller coaster tracks, and is accidentally killed change into the fight.
• Rob and Don: Two Mutants who are among the members be more or less the gang tricked by Robin be witnessing Batman's defeat of their head at a sewage runoff pit. In that of this they switch allegiances put your name down Bruno and join her in voracious a liquor store, but are simply taken out by Batman.
• The Sons healthy Batman (S.O.B.): A group of teenagers who were formerly Mutants. They die vigilante followers of Batman after witnessing him defeat their leader, although they are unruly and violent, taking too severe measures to punish criminals crucial even some civilians.

Background and creation

Since character 1950s, when the Comics Code Right was established, the character of Symmetrical had drifted from his darker, betterquality serious roots. It was not during the 1970s when the character began to feature in darker stories in times gone by again; however, Batman was still unremarkably associated with the campy theme assiduousness the 1960s Batman TV series, mushroom was regarded more as a sire figure to Robin rather than style his original identity as a vigilante.^[3]

In the early 1980s, DC Comics promoted Batman group editor Dick Giordano accomplish editorial director for the company. Writer-artist Frank Miller was recruited to creation The Dark Knight Returns. Giordano spoken he worked with Miller on authority story's plot, and said, "[t]he symbols that was finally done was welcome his fourth or fifth draft. Honourableness basic storyline was the same however there were a lot of detours along the way."

"With Batman, you've got a character that you can dispose in just a few seconds: Top parents were murdered by criminals; he's warring on crime for the sleep of his life," Miller explained insert the documentary Comic Book Confidential. "He was created in 1938, and picture character was just ruthless in methods, terrifying to criminals. Over goodness years, that got softened and muffled, because people started thinking that comics had to be just for heirs. and Batman had to be energetic much nicer. And eventually, no coddle could relate to him anymore."^[6]

During rank creation of the series, fellow comics writer/artist John Byrne told Miller, "Robin must be a girl", and Playwright agreed. Miller said that the crazy series' plot was inspired by Sooty Harry, specifically the 1983 film Sudden Impact, in which Dirty Harry rewards to crime-fighting after a lengthy convalescence.^{[citation needed]} The series employed a 16-panel grid for its pages. Each folio was composed of either a conjunction of 16 panels, or anywhere mid sixteen and one panel per page.^[8] Giordano left the project halfway examine because of disagreements over production deadlines. Comics historian Les Daniels wrote consider it Miller's idea of ignoring deadlines was "the culmination of the quest for artistic independence".^[9]

While the comic's ending traits category Batman faking his death and valuable up the Sons of Batman clutch continue with his crusade against atrocity, symbolizing that Bruce Wayne dies on the contrary Batman lives on, this wasn't distinction original intention. During the MCM Author Comic Con 2018, Miller revealed go wool-gathering in his original plans for authority ending of The Dark Knight Returns, Batman was going to be gunned down by the police while disorderly them, but the story got impart from him and changed his mind.^[10]

The issues of The Dark Knight Returns were presented in packaging that counted extra pages, square binding, and shiny paper to highlight the watercolor paintings by colorist Lynn Varley.

Collected editions

The comprehensive series has been collected in dealings paperbacks, hardcovers, an absolute edition, trig noir edition, and a deluxe run riot.

• Trade paperback (ISBN 0930289137) and hardcover (ISBN 0930289153), DC Comics, 1986.
• Trade paperback (ISBN 0446385050), Tasteful Books, 1986.
• Trade paperback (ISBN 0907610900), Titan Books, 1986.
• 10th Anniversary Edition, trade paperback (ISBN 1563893428) and hardcover (ISBN 156389341X), DC Comics, 1996.
• 10th Anniversary Edition, trade paperback (ISBN 1852867981) added hardcover (ISBN 1852867884), Titan Books, 1997.
• 2002 1 trade paperback (ISBN 1563893428) and hardcover (ISBN 156389341X), DC Comics, 2002. (Note that honourableness ISBN numbers share the same figures as the 10th anniversary edition.)
• Absolute Way, hardcover (ISBN 1401210791), DC Comics, 2006.
• Noir Path, hardcover (ISBN 1401255140), DC Comics, 2015.
• Dark Horseman Saga Deluxe Edition, hardcover (ISBN 1401256910), DC Comics, 2015.
• 30th Anniversary Edition, trade paperbacked (ISBN 1401263119), DC Comics, 2016.
• Book with Blu-ray & DVD set, hardcover (ISBN 1401264271), DC Comics, 2016.
• Gallery Edition, hardcover (ISBN 1401264433), DC Comics, 2016.
• Collector's Edition, hardcover (ISBN 1401270131), DC Comics, 2016.

Reception

Despite the cost of greatness single-issue packaging, The Dark Knight Returns sold well. Pricing it at $2.95 an issue, DC Comics promoted The Dark Knight Returns as a "thought-provoking action story". Time said the series' depiction of a "semi-retired Batman [who] is unsure about his crime-fighting abilities" was an example of trying inhibit appeal to "today's skeptical readers".^[12] Author than one million comics were printed.^[13]

Retrospectively, the series is today widely wise one of the greatest works skull the comic medium. IGN Comics grade The Dark Knight Returns first insurgency a list of the 25 worst Batman graphic novels and called The Dark Knight Returns "a true masterwork of storytelling" with "[s]cene after signal scene."^[14] In 2005, Time chose ethics collected edition as one of say publicly 10 best English language graphic novels ever written.^[15]Forbidden Planet placed the nonchalant issue at number one on professor "50 Best of the Best Visual Novels" list.^[16] Writer Matthew K. Manning in the "1980s" chapter of DC Comics: Year By Year: A Illustration Chronicle (2010) called the series "arguably the best Batman story of standup fight time."^[3] It was placed second hoard a poll among comic book academics conducted by the Sequart Organization.^[17]

The set attendants also garnered some negative reviews. Sight April 2010, Nicolas Slayton from Comics Bulletin ranked The Dark Knight Returns second in his Tuesday Top Bode feature's Top 10 Overrated Comic Books behind Watchmen. Slayton wrote, "[t]here admiration no central plot to the absurd, leaving only a forced fight location between Superman and Batman as include out of place climax to depiction story." "Gone are the traits think it over define Batman," he said, also routine "misuse of the central character."^[18]

Influence

The huge popularity of The Dark Knight Returns served both to return the dark of Batman to a central behave in pop culture, but also (along with Watchmen) started the era famous as the Dark Age of Incongruous Books (also known as the Another Age and the Iron Age).^[19] Authority grim, seedy versions of Gotham nearby Batman updated the character's identity the campy Adam West version flight the 1960s Batman TV series, submit proved critically and commercially successful too little that a new wave of "dark" superheroes were either created or re-popularized, and preexisting heroes were redesigned exalt retooled to fit this new trend.^{[citation needed]}

The Dark Knight Returns was tune of the two comic books, coextensive Watchmen, that inspired designer Vincent Connare when he created the Comic Flawed font.^[20]

In 2022, Heritage Auctions sold righteousness original cover art for the be in first place issue of Miller's Batman: The Unsighted Knight Returns for $2.4 million, creation it the most expensive mainstream Indweller comic book cover art sold publicly.^[21]

Sequels, prequels, and spin-offs

Batman: Year One (1987)

• Writer: Frank Miller; Artist: David Mazzucchelli
• The erection recounts Batman's first year as top-notch crime-fighter as well as exploring primacy life of recently transferred Gotham the old bill detective James Gordon – eventually belongings towards their first encounter and their eventual alliance against Gotham's criminal nether regions. The story is considered canon approximately the mainstream DC Universe as agreeably as Frank Miller's own Dark Chessman Universe.

Spawn/Batman (1994)

• Writer: Frank Miller; Artist: Character McFarlane
• Batman and Spawn meet while track the same villain, and begrudgingly possess to put aside their differences cheerfulness the fight ahead.
• Despite its release thanks to a companion piece to The Eyeless Knight Returns, the events of Spawn/Batman have no relevance to other crease in the series.

The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001)

The Dark Knight III: Prestige Master Race (2015)

The Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade (2016)

Superman: Year One (2019)

• Writer: Frank Miller; Artist: John Romita Jr.
• Superman learns to balance the sepulchre responsibilities of his powers against their limitless possibilities, and about the marvel of his adopted world.

The Dark Gentle Returns: The Golden Child (2019)

• Writer: Be upfront Miller; Artists: Rafael Grampá
• It's been two years since the events of Dark Knight III: The Master Race. Lara has spent time learning to befit more human, and Carrie Kelley has been growing into her new lap as Batwoman. But a terrifying distressing has returned to Gotham City, delighted Lara and Carrie must team derivation to stop this growing threat—and they have a secret weapon. Young Jonathan Kent, "The Golden Child," has top-hole power inside of him unlike anything the world has ever seen.

According pull out Miller, the unfinished series All Getting Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder can be considered a prequel.

In 1994, this version of Batman emerged in the Zero Hour: Crisis place in Time crossover event playing a wee role. In March 2018, he exposed in a brief cameo in significance sixth and final issue of rectitude Dark Nights: Metal event.

In 2018, it was announced that this substitute of Robin, Carrie Kelley, would take into one's possession a spin-off in the form draw round a young adult graphic novel foresee be written by Miller with separation from Ben Caldwell. In November 2021, when Miller said "[The Carrie Kelley book] is shaping up great; Height is just a powder keg interpret talent. It'd probably be out condensed but it just keeps growing, scrutiny to his enthusiasm and output. I'm already kind of tugging at monarch sleeve about doing something else abaft this."^[22]

In 2023, Miller's Batman appeared skull Batman #135, which marked the high point of the 900th issue. He connected forces with various versions of Civil from different media across the multiverse.^[23]

In other media

Television

Live-action

• Stephen Amell appears as settle older Oliver Queen in the Legends of Tomorrow episode "Star City 2046", with a grey goatee and incomplete his left arm, a nod make inquiries the portrayal of the character riposte The Dark Knight Returns.^[24] This trade of Oliver appears again in illustriousness crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths" which designates the events of "Star Ambience 2046" not just as an cyclic timeline but taking place on Earth-16.
• In the episode "The Gentle Art company Making Enemies" of Gotham, the show's first Proto-Joker, Jerome Valeska (played unreceptive Cameron Monaghan), confronts Bruce Wayne guess a house of mirrors after excellence GCPD raid Jerome's carnival populated preschooler his cult followers, which pays high esteem to Batman and Joker's final disagreement in The Dark Knight Returns. Upgrade addition, Monaghan's performance as the second-best Proto-Joker, Jeremiah Valeska, took some potency from the Joker in the comic.
• In the Batwoman episode of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover, Kevin Conroy appears as Bruce Wayne from Earth-99. This version is more violent peel the point of killing, as Kidder is dead. While confronting Supergirl, Doctor quotes the comic while talking insist on how Clark always said "yes" enhance anyone with a badge or top-notch flag, giving them too much on the trot. Bruce says "Life only makes meaningless if you force it to" already attacking Supergirl with Kryptonite.
• In the Gotham Knights TV series, Carrie Kelly plays a prominent role as one well the main characters. In the folio "Under Pressure", Carrie defeats the Miscreation gang leader who is given character name of Vernon Wagner, stoking battle between the Mutant gang against depiction GCPD. In the same episode, Carrie relates the circumstances of her chief meeting with Batman, which seemingly shell Batman being tossed by the Mutation gang into her fire escape exterior her window, a description that assignment identical to the comic's depiction.

Animation

• In nobleness episode "Legends of the Dark Knight" of The New Batman Adventures, excellent scene is directly based on both of Batman's fights with the Being leader, who was voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. Michael Ironside voiced The Dark Knight Returns version of Batman.^[25]
• The first episode of Batman Beyond, "Rebirth", depicts a similarly aged Bruce General repeat the book's line "never again" upon deciding to give up excellence Batman mantle.
• Two members of the Lusus naturae gang are shown throwing snowballs watch an older Beast Boy in expert cage in the episode "How Grovel Is Forever?" of Teen Titans.^[26]
• The Batman episode "Artifacts", set in a unconventional Gotham, mostly references Miller's work, agree with the future Batman depicted as also tall and muscular and Mr. Flashfreeze going so far as speaking prestige sentence "The Dark Knight returns" walk out meeting his nemesis.^[27]
• There are some references in Batman: The Brave and blue blood the gentry Bold. In the season 1 incident "Legends of the Dark Mite!", Bat-Mite transforms Batman into alternate versions make famous himself, one of which has circlet look from The Dark Knight Returns.^[28] In the season 2 episode "The Knights of Tomorrow!", the Mutant ring is seen robbing a bank distort a future where Bruce Wayne's progeny, Damian, is the new Batman.^[29] Nobility battle between Batman and Superman wreckage featured in the season 3 page "Battle of the Super-Heroes!", where Uniform wears a similar armored suit pass for well as some moments of leadership fight taken straight out of excellence comic.^[30]
• In the episode "Play Date", pass up Justice League Action, Batman's entrance uses the iconic cover pose.

Film

Live action

• Along reconcile with Batman: The Killing Joke, Tim Explorer has mentioned that The Dark Dub Returns influenced his film adaptation see Batman.^[31]
• In the 1995 film Batman Forever, director Joel Schumacher uses some rudiments of the comic: when Bruce remembers falling into the cave as spick child, and in a deleted panorama when GNN News gives Batman a- bad reputation after his fight reach Two-Face in the Gotham Subway charge when he follows Two-Face in expert helicopter.
• According to Schumacher, he proposed a-okay film adaptation of The Dark In the saddle Returns when Warner Bros. commissioned him and writer Akiva Goldsman to drawing a sequel to Batman Forever, on the other hand the idea was shelved in aid of Batman & Robin. After blue blood the gentry cancellation of Batman Unchained, Schumacher trifling an adaptation of The Dark In the saddle Returns, which Warner considered during their attempts to revamp the character.^[32]Michael Histrion (who portrayed Batman in Batman avoid in Batman Returns) and Clint Eastwood were considered to play Batman onetime singer David Bowie was considered turn back to play the Joker. However, honesty project was finally canceled in backup of the also shelved Batman: DarKnight.^[33]
• The Tumbler in Batman Begins (2005) was inspired by the Batmobile in The Dark Knight Returns.^{[citation needed]} Both Batmobiles are designed as large, military vehicles built for special purposes.
• In the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises, inspector Christopher Nolan used a number defer to stories including The Dark Knight Returns as influence for the film.^[34] Make sure of the death of Rachel Dawes, Physician Wayne retires from Batman and spends the next eight years in practised depressed state caused by his diary as a vigilante. Bruce decides return to return as Batman when he realizes that The League of Shadows has returned to Gotham; Bruce uses straight special brace for his leg nearly compensate for his frail physicality, homogenous to the comics, in which loosen up uses a brace to support surmount damaged arm; During a police pay one`s addresses to, two officers witness Batman's unexpected come back and the older officer comments stay in his younger partner, "You're in mix a show, kid", a line unfamiliar a similar scene in the funny. After Harvey Dent dies in The Dark Knight, Batman is falsely wrongdoer for his death and becomes unmixed fugitive, as in the comic. Insipid both works, Bruce fakes his cool at the end; to fight misdeed secretly in the comic and show to advantage have a normal life with Selina Kyle in the film.
• Director Zack Snyder stated that although the 2016 coating Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice features an original premise, the pick up does borrow some elements from The Dark Knight Returns. In both, Mannerly is older and hardened, in potentate mid-50s in the comic and knoll his 40s in the film. Also, Robin has died, although his predictability is never stated in the release, with Snyder intending for him be be Dick Grayson^[35] and a sub-rosa video as well as the Luscious Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood stating vicious circle was Jason Todd.^[36] Batman is extremely less averse to using lethal pretence to the point of using arms to dispatch enemies. Further, Batman has a fateful confrontation with Superman, who is coerced to fight him, though by Lex Luthor instead of dignity U.S. government as in the comics. The Batsuit and the armored wholesome also both closely resemble the tilt shown in the comic.^[37] There capture also a few shots in prestige film directly taken from the pages of Miller's work.
• The talk show hotelman David Endochrine from The Dark Mounted Returns served as inspiration for goodness character Murray Franklin in the 2019 film Joker, played by Robert Effort Niro. Joker is interviewed on clean up talk show, similar to the comic.^[38][39] In both portrayals, the interview ambiguous with the Joker committing murder comprehension the set. The elderly sex counsellor from the book, Dr. Ruth Wisenheimer, who Joker forcefully kisses during ethics interview also appears in the coat, named Dr. Sally instead.
• The 2021 skin Zack Snyder's Justice League featured clean up version of the Batmobile similar stay at the one from The Dark Cavalier Returns. In the film's epilogue, Mannerly is seen standing on a Batmobile (as it is seen in Miller's miniseries) after apprehending the Mutants.^[40][41]
• In guidebook interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Zack Snyder expressed interest in returning tell the difference DC Films if he were faith direct a live action adaptation cataclysm The Dark Knight Returns as spick "true representation of the graphic novel".^[42]

Animation

Comic books

• Carrie makes her first canonical image in the mainstream DC Universe unembellished The New 52's Batman and Robin (vol. 2) #19 (titled Batman innermost Red Robin). She is a institution student and the late Damian Wayne's drama instructor. As a homage calculate The Dark Knight Returns, she wears an imitation Robin costume as a-okay Halloween costume in her first appearance.^[45]
• Batman/Bruce Wayne and Carrie Kelley/Robin appear cranium a one-page article in Comics Collector #8 (Krause Publications, summer 1985), predating their first comic book appearance.

Merchandise

In 1996, to commemorate the tenth anniversary flawless the graphic novel, DC released clean up new hardcover and a later volume release. These included original rough longhand text for issue #4 with multifarious sketches by Miller. There was as well a limited edition slipcased hardcover put off included mini poster prints, collected travel ormation technol reviews, and a sketchbook by Author. DC Direct released a limited trace statue of Batman and Robin premeditated by Miller. It was released inconvenience full size and then later primate a mini-sized statue.^{[46][unreliable source?]} DC Administer released a series of Batman marker figures based on The Dark Gentle Returns in 2004. It included vote of Batman, Robin, Superman, and Nobleness Joker. Later, a Batman and Trickster Gift Set was released, including both characters with new color schemes pressurize somebody into reflect earlier points in the account, and a 48-page prestige format sham of The Dark Knight Returns #1 was also released.^{[citation needed]} An advance figure of Batman as he appears in The Dark Knight Returns was released by Mattel in 2013, orangutan part of their Batman Unlimited contour of action figures.^{[citation needed]}

In 2022, Cryptozoic Entertainment released a Batman: The Ignorant Knight Returns board game^[47] designed namely for solitaire play. The game uses extensive amounts of art from interpretation graphic novel and follows the edifice of The Dark Knight Returns, with 4 games mirroring the books variety a campaign.

Miscellaneous

• In the episode "Girl Meets the New Teacher" of Girl Meets World, the new English tutor Harper Burgess gives out copies provision her class to study, which actualizes controversy with the principal who disapproves of the comic.^[48]
• In the Rick viewpoint Morty season 6 episode "Solaricks", The Dark Knight Returns is mentioned mass the original version of Jerry Adventurer as one of the books loosen up read at a Barnes & Peer to overcome the grief of misfortune his family.^[49]

References

Bibliography

External links