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Editor: Kristian Radford. Wednesday 1st September 2004.
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Batman: Dark Knight Returns Books #1 - #4<br>
by Stephen Kok
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When you hear of comic classics or someone mentioning their favourite story arc, Frank Miller's Dark Knight return mini-series will usually be mentioned. This is a piece of comic history and is well worth finding, vanishing into a room for an hour or two with and thoroughly enjoying yourself. I can hope with this review I have not sold the series short.
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After reading this you will understand why Batman is still one of the most popular characters in the comic world. This isn't the Batman of today or the campy technicolour Batman with lots of gadgets. This is Batman 10 years down, retired, battered and cynical. Here is a Batman weary of the world and the process, contemplating his own life.
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[Please note although there will be certain plot references, this review will contain no spoiler information.]
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The review has been split into:
<br>
<UL>
<LI>Issue</LI>
<LI>Title</LI>
<LI>Credits</LI>
<LI>Plot Synopsis</LI>
<LI>Review</LI>
</UL>
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<b>Book One</b><br>
<I>The Dark Knight Returns</I><br>
Story and Art by Frank Miller
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<I>After years of retirement, Bruce Wayne (Batman) returns to a new Gotham City to stop Two Face who has been released.</I>
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Frank Miller has a very crisp and distinct art style using lines to their full effect. The series itself is almost 20 years old so the colours may not match its modern counterpart, however the story does. The first book delves into the origin of Batman (great for new readers) and sets the scene for the rest of the series.
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<b>Book Two</B><br>
<I>The Dark Knight Triumphan</I><br>
Story and Art by Frank Miller
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<I>Everything has changed with a new breed of mutants imposing their will. Batman must stop the mutant leader before they rampage through Gotham City.</I>
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The story does not its fantastic pace. Frank Miller brings his awesome pencils into another great story. Without giving too much away, you get the feel that Batman isn't as young as he used to be and has to both out-muscle and out-think the mutant leader. How he does it, I leave it to you to read.
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<b>Book Three</B><br>
<I>Hunt the Dark Knight</I><br>
Story and Art by Frank Miller
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<I>Joker is released from incarceration into the community. After the Joker massacres hundreds, Batman faces Joker in a final confrontation.</I>
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The Joker has always been the ultimate villain in the Batman mythos. It is a weary game that they play, Batman continually apprehending the Joker and the Joker continually escaping to kill again. At their final confrontation this story will blow you away and the ending will be one of the most incredible you will come across.
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<B>Book Four</B><BR>
<I>The Dark Knight Falls</I><BR>
Story and Art by Frank Miller
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<I>Ordered by the authorities Superman is faced with the task of capturing Batman.</I>
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There have been many famous fights between characters: Wolverine vs. Sabretooth, Galactus vs. the Fantastic Four. The final battle between Superman and Batman deserves to be said in the same breath. There have been great Superman/Batman battles, with the recent one in Batman #612 (pencilled by Jim Lee) coming to mind. Frank Miller's iconic fight in this issue set the scene for all of them. 
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In terms of story here was an alien (Superman) who had the powers of flight, invulnerability, super strength and heat visions. How would a normal human stand up to that?
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<B>Final Analysis</B><BR>
These stories are incredible in the effect that the end is near. Each closes off an important chapter of Batman's life (e.g. Joker) while still leaving the reader in awe. It gives an epic feeling of the incredible character and history of Batman. Each book contains its own central storyline and can be read independently. However to truly enjoy it, I would not advise missing any chapters.
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The art, sometimes very real and sometimes cartoony, creates a real juxtaposition of themes in the series. For example, Batman who lives in darkness and Superman who feeds off the sun for his energy. 
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FrankÕs art style includes little television boxes which are extremely effective in conveying how everything has changed and also the current situation in the world. If read properly, Miller creates a bleak and cynical world which helps set the tone for the rest of series. 
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Miller knows which buttons to push, and as the reader you are brought on a roller coaster ride. The anger in the writing is perfect at this point to convey Batman's psyche. You may not agree with all of Miller's views on society but it will not leave you detached. Instead it creates emotion whether you believe in the possibility of a better world or walking the fine line of a world about to push itself over the edge. This is story telling at its best.
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<b>Collecting Comics</b><BR>
In terms of collecting, the original four issues are very hard to find and harder to pull from that particular person's hands. The curious thing is that the 1st printing of the Trade Paperback actually retains and increases in value, something very rare in the comic collection world.
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Just a short note with comic collecting:<BR>
(1) Ensure it is the right edition. Second printings rarely retain value.<BR>
(2) Condition is extremely important, bad conditions will devalue the item.
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However if you are in for a good read, finding a recent TPB shouldn't be too much of a problem.
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<B>The Sequel</b><BR>
The powers-to-be at DC Comics decided to commission a sequel to this story arc. At the time the hype surrounding it was immense and the first issue flew off the shelves, however there were many complaints about the poor art and the ridiculous storyline. In this reviewer's opinion, stick to the original and just pretend you didn't hear anything about a sequel. Now what was I talking about?
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