The Dark Knight Strikes Again

The Dark Knight Strikes Again is Frank Miller's follow-up to his hugely successful Batman: the Dark Knight Returns, one of the few comics that is widely recognised as not only reinventing the genre but also bringing it to a wider audience.

Set three years after the events of The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Strikes Again follows a similar structure: once again, Batman hauls himself out of his self-imposed retirement in order to set things right. However, where DKR was about him cleaning up his home city, Gotham, DKSA has him casting his net much wider: he's out to save the world.

The thing is, most of the world doesn't realise that it needs to be saved--least of all Superman and Wonder Woman, who have become little more than superpowered enforcers of the status quo. So, the notoriously solitary Batman is forced to recruit some different superpowered allies. He also has his ever-present trusty sidekick, Robin, except that he is a she, and she is calling herself Catwoman. Together, these super-friends uncover a vast and far-reaching conspiracy that leads to the President of the United States (Lex Luthor) and beyond.

The Dark Knight Strikes Again is largely an entertaining comic, but much of what made The Dark Knight Returns so good just doesn't work here. Miller's gritty, untidy artwork was perfect for DKR's grim depiction of the dark and seedy Gotham City, but it jars a bit for DKSA, which is meant to depict an ultra-glossy, futuristic technocracy. Lynn Varley's garish colouring attempts to add a slicker sheen, but the artwork is ultimately let down by that which worked so well for DKR--this time around, it just feels sloppy and rushed. The same is true of the book's denouement, which happens so quickly that it leaves the reader reeling and looking for more of an explanation. Moreover, DKSA is packed full of characters who will mean little to those unfamiliar with the DC Comics universe (eg, The Atom, The Elongated Man, The Question).

Perhaps the book's biggest failing is that where The Dark Knight Returns gave comic book fans a base from which to evangelise to the uninitiated, The Dark Knight Strikes Again is just preaching to the converted. Comic book superhero fans will find much to enjoy here, but others would be better off sticking with the original. --Robert Burrow

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Batman:The Dark Knight Strikes Again - Rated
This product was in fantastic condition and arrived within a couple of days. Packaged great and was not a scratch or mark on the book. Also purchased Batman: Year One which came at the same time and was just as great in shape.

completely forgetable - Rated
Unfortunately like most reviewers I read the reviews and still bought the book... what disappointment, luckily there is so little substance here that the entire book is completely forgettable.

Thank goodness for low expectations - Rated
Saying this isn't as good as TDKR isn't saying an awful lot; you would not use up many fingers counting better comic novels. And it's not a true sequel really, as it has such a dramatic shift in focus, art, and storyline to TDKR, and essentially involves 'unretiring' those members of the JLA still around and, in one case at least, dropping the batcave on them. Going in with low expectations made this a blast of a read, so while I agree with many of the points in the other reviews, and while it isn't TDKR, it's still a lot of fun. Seeing the Atom, Flash, Martian Manhunter and Captain Marvel etc all dealing with (ahem) middle age and other human frailties was nicely handled.

Frank Miller hits rock bottom (we hope) - Rated
This book is a total sell-out. Apart from the first five pages which are brilliantly executed and make you think Miller might have found his touch again after churning out Sin City rubbish for years, the whole thing is dreadful, with some of the worst panel designs you'll ever see, sloppy artwork, annoying slang, right-wing politics shoved in your face, terrible computer colouring and a rubbish plot. The absence of Klaus Janson here prompts us to reevaluate the contribution of Miller's former inker to his best work. The worst thing about this garish marketing stunt is that it completely devalues the previous book, "The Dark Knight Returns", which was supposed to be the final chapter in the legend. Dreadful.

Better than I expected - Rated
I like Frank Millers "Dark Knight Returns", and "The Dark Knight Strikes Again" is different but equally brilliant. The story brings in the whole DC universe, like Lex Luthor, Superman, Green Lantern and so on. But also less widely known like the Atom, Flash, Brainac, Captain Marvel, the Question, Wonder Woman and a new Supergirl. And the Bottle City of Kandor. I think all of this is very well done, especially as I read these comics as a child.

The graphics are splendid and done in Millers personal style, and worth checking out even if you're not totally into the superhero genre.

The story: Lex Luthor and Brainac have taken control of Earth and subdued the superheroes. And Batman rises against them.

Recommended to everyone interested in comics!