The Dark Knight Returns

My second favorite tool for finding new things to read is Amazon.com. I just hop on, go to the page of a book I love, and check out the "Customers Who Bought this Also Bought" section. It's a goldmine of good stuff that I know is going to be similar to things I already like. Second only to V for Vendetta on Amazon's Watchmen page was The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller. Though I was initially skeptical to read a graphic novel based on more traditional comic book characters, this book proved to be a superbly written glimpse into psychology of heroism, and how that psychology can become as much a liability as an asset when the flesh becomes weaker than the spirit.

Set in a rapidly deteriorating Gotham that has been without Batman's influence for ten years, TDKR follows Bruce Wayne as he struggles to control the personae of the Batman inside of him. Unlike modern interpretations on the Batman story, TDKR looks at Batman almost as a separate entity that exists within Bruce Wayne, one that he initially fights against and ultimately succumbs to. Batman doesn't choose to come out of retirement because the city needs Batman, but because Bruce Wayne needs Batman. It's as if Wayne is a junkie, and Batman is his drug of choice. This book simply portrays Wayne having a relapse after ten years of sobriety.

An example of the epic full-page frames
that abound in TDKR.

The psychological implications of Batman coming out of retirement are augmented by the unavoidable fact that he's old. Bruce Wayne is in his late fifties, and though his return to action seems as unlikely as Rocky Balboa's, it really works. Rather than glossing over his age, the novel uses it as a central theme. Batman is constantly aware that he's slower, has less stamina, and isn't nearly as invincible as he used to be. Yet despite his awareness of his mortality, he has to keep fighting. He realizes that he's on a self-destructive course, but he doesn't even want to change his trajectory.

But just because this graphic novel deals with serious issues of personal psychology and aging, don't think that it's not a Batman book at heart. We've still got Robin shouting out cheesy one-liners, ridiculous villains in masks and face-paint, impossible gadgets that are so improbable they're cool, and of course the unflappable butler who remains unfazed regardless of how beat up Bruce Wayne is when he comes home in the morning. Though I expected these elements of the absurd to distract from the novel, they ended up giving it a sense of flavor and flair that lent a whimsical quality to an otherwise dark book. I wouldn't change a thing about it.

Although novels based on comic books aren't for everybody, I feel that people who are fans of the Batman films or comics would really enjoy reading this book. In a general sense graphic novels allow readers to embrace their inner child while still consuming media that is meaningful and complex. TDKR easily fits the bill. It has enough sense of wonder and fantasy to keep anyone enjoyably engaged, but also provides some serious commentaries on the psychology of aging and the need to feel useful. If you like Batman stuff, definitely read this book. It's easily as good as any Batman movie, and is worlds better than most of them. Beyond that, though, it's just a dang good book in its own right.

Score: 9/10
Read this book if: You like Batman, graphic novels, or want to read a story about aging that has cool pictures too.
Don't read this book if: You think comics are just for kids (but you'll be missing out).