The Dark Knight Returns
E794157
The Dark Knight Returns is a seminal 1986 graphic novel that reimagines an older, darker Batman coming out of retirement, widely credited with redefining the character and influencing the modern, gritty tone of superhero comics.
Observed surface forms (2)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Batman: The Dark Knight Returns | 1 |
| The Dark Knight Returns (1986) (approximate) | 1 |
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
comic book limited series
ⓘ
graphic novel ⓘ superhero comic ⓘ |
| awarded | Kirby Award for Best Finite Series NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| collectedIn |
hardcover editions
ⓘ
trade paperback editions ⓘ |
| colorist | Lynn Varley NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| continuity | non-canonical future of the DC Universe ⓘ |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| creator | Frank Miller NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| depicts | an older Batman coming out of retirement ⓘ |
| featuresCharacter |
Green Arrow
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Two-Face NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| firstIssuePublicationDate | February 1986 ⓘ |
| format | four-issue limited series ⓘ |
| genre |
dystopian
ⓘ
superhero ⓘ |
| hasSequel |
The Dark Knight III: The Master Race
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
The Dark Knight Strikes Again NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| influenced |
gritty tone of later superhero comics
ⓘ
modern portrayal of Batman ⓘ |
| inker | Klaus Janson NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| inUniverseTimeSetting | approximately ten years after Batman’s retirement ⓘ |
| language | English ⓘ |
| lastIssuePublicationDate | June 1986 ⓘ |
| mainCharacter |
Batman
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Bruce Wayne NERFINISHED ⓘ Carrie Kelley NERFINISHED ⓘ Commissioner James Gordon NERFINISHED ⓘ Superman NERFINISHED ⓘ The Joker NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| notableFor |
depiction of conflict between Batman and Superman
ⓘ
redefining Batman as a darker, more complex character ⓘ use of media commentary and news broadcasts as narrative device ⓘ |
| numberOfIssues | 4 ⓘ |
| originalPublisherImprint | DC Comics NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| partOf | Batman comics NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| penciller | Frank Miller NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| publicationType | direct market comic ⓘ |
| publicationYear | 1986 ⓘ |
| publisher | DC Comics ⓘ |
| setting | Gotham City NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| targetAudience | mature readers ⓘ |
| theme |
aging and legacy
ⓘ
authoritarianism and state power ⓘ vigilantism ⓘ |
| tone |
dark
ⓘ
gritty ⓘ |
| writer | Frank Miller NERFINISHED ⓘ |
Referenced by (4)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
The Dark Knight Returns (1986) (approximate)
this entity surface form:
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns