The Dark Knight Strikes Again (also refered to as DK2) is a Batman graphic novel by Frank Miller with Lynn Varley. It is a sequel to Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Cover of Graphic Novel Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again This image is a book cover. ... Cover of Graphic Novel Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again This image is a book cover. ... The DC Comics superhero Batman (originally and still sometimes referred to as the Batman or the Bat-Man) is a fictional character who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ... A graphic novel (GN) is a long-form comic book, usually with lengthy and complex storylines, and often aimed at more mature audiences. ... Frank Miller (born 27 January 1957 in Olney, Maryland) is an American writer and artist best known for his film noir-style comic book stories. ... Lynn Varley is an artist who has been responsible for the coloring of several comics. ... A sequel is a work of fiction in literature, film, and other creative works that is produced after a completed work, and is set in the same universe but at a later time. ... The premiere issue of the series The Dark Knight Returns (commonly abbreviated to DKR) is a superhero comic book story published by DC Comics between 1985 and 1986, starring Batman and was written and drawn by Frank Miller. ...

Overview

It was originally published in three issues (November 2001 - July 2002) by DC Comics, and has since been collected into hardcover and paperback one-volume editions. Like its predecessor, this story takes place in a timeline that is not considered canonical in the current continuity of DC Comics. The story also doesn't seem to follow any of DC's continuity after the Crisis on Infinite Earths as Barry Allen (the Silver Age Flash who died in the Crisis) is still alive. The current DC Comics logo, adopted in May 2005. ... Canonical is an adjective derived from canon. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The current DC Comics logo, adopted in May 2005. ... Crisis on Infinite Earths was a twelve-issue comic book limited series (or maxiseries) and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 in order to simplify their fifty-year-old continuity. ... The Flash. ...

DK2 was considered controversial upon its release by some comics fans, as it was considered to be a repudiation of effects that the original Dark Knight Returns had on American superhero comics (the creation of the so-called "grim n' gritty" movement), and a celebration of the surrealist and high-energy eccentricity of the superhero tradition. Colorist Lynn Varley used DK2 as a platform to experiment with computerized coloring, partially influenced by the art deco movement, and generally used a much bolder palette than in the darker Dark Knight Returns. Superman and Batman, two of the most recognizable and iconic superheroes. ... Surrealism is an artistic movement and an aesthetic philosophy that aims for the liberation of the mind by emphasizing the critical and imaginative powers of the subconscious. ... A colorist is an artist who colors comic art reading it for production as a comic book. ... Lynn Varley is an artist who has been responsible for the coloring of several comics. ... Asheville City Hall. ...

Synopsis

After going underground, Batman (Bruce Wayne) and his young sidekick (Carrie Kelly, Robin from The Dark Knight Returns) train an army of "batboys" to save the world from a "police-state" dictatorship. In a series of raids on government facilities, Batman's soldiers release from captivity aging superheroes including The Atom, Flash and Plastic Man (Elongated Man is recruited from his job as a commercials spokesman by the Flash), while Green Arrow was already working with Batman (as seen in the end of TDKR). Superman, working for the government, is ordered by the "President" (a front for Lex Luthor and Brainiac) to stop Batman. He confronts Wayne at the Batcave, but is defeated by Batman and the other superheroes. The DC Comics superhero Batman (originally and still sometimes referred to as the Batman or the Bat-Man) is a fictional character who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ... A classic image of Batman and Robin reinterpreted by painter Alex Ross. ... A classic image of Batman and Robin reinterpreted by painter Alex Ross. ... A police state is a totalitarian state regulated by secret police; the police exercise power on behalf of the executive and the conduct of the police cannot be effectively challenged. ... Dictatorship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Atom is a fictional super-hero who debuted in publisher All-American Comics same-name series All-American Comics in 1940, and was reimagined on several occasions by DC Comics, the first and most commercially successful to date seeing print initially in 1961. ... The Flash. ... Plastic Man is a fictional superhero originally published by Quality Comics during the Golden Age of Comic Books, and later acquired by DC Comics. ... The Elongated Man is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC universe. ... Green Arrow (Oliver Ollie Queen) is a DC Comics superhero. ... Superman, aka Man of Steel, is a fictional character and superhero who first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938, and for several decades has been one of the most popular and well-known comic book icons of all-time. ... Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain and archenemy of Superman. ... Brainiac is a fictional supervillain in DC Comics, most often appearing as an opponent of Superman. ... The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, (the dual identity of millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne), consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor. ...

Meanwhile, Batman's raids have not gone unnoticed by the media. After being banned for years, the freed superheroes have recaptured the public imagination, becoming a fad among youth. At a concert for the pop group "The Superchix", Batman and the other heroes make a public appearance, urging their fans to rebel against the oppressive government.

An alien monster lands in Metropolis and begins to destroy the city, but Batman, convinced it is a trap, does not respond. Superman and Captain Marvel come out of hiding to fight the threat, but the monster is revealed to be Brainiac, who coerces Superman (using the bottle city of Kandor) into losing the battle in order to crush the people's faith in superheroes. Captain Marvel is killed defending citizens from the carnage, but Superman is saved by his and Wonder Woman's daughter, who has been carefully hidden by the pair until now. She destroys Brainiac's monster body, but now that the government knows she exists they demand she be handed over. The existence of extraterrestrial life remains hypothetical though human beings continue to search Extraterrestrial life is life that may exist and originate outside the planet Earth. ... Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. ... Captain Marvel is a comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. ... Kandor is the name of a fictional Kryptonian city in the Pre-Crisis DC Universe that was shrunken and stolen by the supervillain, Brainiac. ... Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superhero. ...

Realizing Batman was right after all, Superman, Wonder Woman, and their daughter join him and assist in his plan, destroying the power source of the dictatorship and inciting revolution. Batman is captured and tortured by Luthor, who plans to use satellites to destroy Metropolis but is thwarted by the now god-like Green Lantern; Luthor is subsequently killed by the son of Hawkman. Returning to the Batcave, Batman receives a communication from Carrie: she is being attacked by a brutal psychopath who physically resembles the Joker but is seemingly invulnerable to injury. Batman recognizes the assailant as Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who has been genetically manipulated and is criminally insane. Unable to kill Grayson by any other means, Batman blows up the entire cave, igniting an underground volcano, only to be saved by Superman at the last minute and brought to Carrie in the Batmobile. It has been suggested that Revolutionary be merged into this article or section. ... Cover to Green Lantern: Rebirth #6, art by Ethan Van Sciver. ... Hawkman is a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. ... The Joker is a fictional DC Comics supervillain, widely considered to be Batmans main archenemy. ... A classic image of Batman and Robin reinterpreted by painter Alex Ross. ... A classic image of Batman and Robin reinterpreted by painter Alex Ross. ... The original 1966 Batmobile was built by George Barris from a Lincoln Futura concept car. ...

Analysis

Frank Miller's cover to The Dark Knight Strikes Again #1.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (500x760, 62 KB) Summary scan Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (500x760, 62 KB) Summary scan Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Political Themes

The graphic novel contains caricatures of several prominent members of the first administration of President George W. Bush, including John Ashcroft, Ari Fleischer, and Donald Rumsfeld. The president is revealed to actually be a hologram controlled by Lex Luthor, a satirical commentary on the controlled media image of modern politicians, as well as the common perception that Bush is somehow subservient to either Vice-President Dick Cheney or to the "corporate elites". Caricature of Alan Greenspan by Jan Op De Beeck. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States. ... John David Ashcroft (born May 9, 1942) was the 79th Attorney General of the United States. ... Ari Fleischer conducts a White House press conference Lawrence Ari Fleischer (born October 13, 1960) was the press secretary for U.S. President George W. Bush from January 2001 to July 2003. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is a US politician currently serving as the 21st United States Secretary of Defense, since January 20, 2001, under President George W. Bush. ... Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain and archenemy of Superman. ...

The novel mocks American liberals, who are depicted as ineffectual whiners, and conservatives, who are shown to be greedy and self serving. The general public is ignorant and childish, varying between condemning the superheroes, and demanding that they save them from evil. Many of the characters have strong political views, such as Green Arrow, a Marxist revolutionary, and The Question, a radical libertarian. Superman quotes Batman as saying that the superheroes "have to be criminals", and comes to agree with him at the end of the novel. Batman also says that he has been ignoring the real problem, going after petty criminals when the real monsters rose to government power. Green Arrow (Oliver Ollie Queen) is a DC Comics superhero. ... Marxism is the political practice and social theory based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ... The Question is a superhero created by Steve Ditko originally for Charlton Comics and now is owned by DC Comics. ... See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ... Superman, aka Man of Steel, is a fictional character and superhero who first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938, and for several decades has been one of the most popular and well-known comic book icons of all-time. ... The DC Comics superhero Batman (originally and still sometimes referred to as the Batman or the Bat-Man) is a fictional character who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. ...

In sum, the novel contains themes of individualism, personal freedom and advocates a strong ethical viewpoint, rather than modern, relativist views of right and wrong.

The graphic novel's conclusion can be interpreted as anti-democratic. Superman asks his daughter, "What shall we do with our world?" In other words, Luthor's dictatorship is replaced by a non-democratic oligarchy of heroes from the Silver Age of DC Comics. Oligarchy is a political regime where most or all political power effectively rests with a small segment of society (typically the most powerful, whether by wealth, family, military strength, ruthlessness, or political influence). ... Showcase #4 (September-October 1956), often thought the first appearance of the first Silver Age superhero, the Barry Allen Flash. ... The current DC Comics logo, adopted in May 2005. ...

As a Satire of the Super Hero Genre

The Dark Knight Strikes Again can also be viewed as Miller's satire of the very 'grim & gritty' movement which he helped set into motion with The Dark Knight Returns He parodies various trends that were abundant in making post-1980s comics more 'realistic' and 'adult' such as costume changes, cybernetic limbs, and extreme violence.

The book can also be seen as Miller's direct rebuttal to another graphic novel which satired similar trends in the superhero genre, Kingdom Come. However, where Kingdom Come has a more optimistic perspective on DC's heroes and superhero comics generally, Miller is far more cynical. Promotional art for Kingdom Come. ...

Controversy

DK2 concerned some comic fans due to Miller's take on Batman, seeing the character as being "unheroic" rather than the traditionally selflessly heroic superhero. Some also felt that Miller's work on Sin City had influenced DK2 too much and had turned the story into something which was not the direct sequal to DKR that some fans were expecting. Also raising concerns among comic fans were accusations of homophobia within the story, as well as suggestions of a sexualised relationship between Batman and Robin. However the sexual nature of the relationship is not something which is clear and remains just fan speculation. Cover of Sin City shows Marv walking through the rain. ... The term homophobia literally means an irrational fear of or contempt for homosexuality or homosexuals. It is derivable from the words homosexual and phobia (meaning fear or panic in Greek). ...

Trivia

The holographic puppet-President, "Rick Rickard," is a throwback to Prez Rickard, the teenage President who was elected via a constitutional amendment. Ironically, the original Prez was essentially a super-President, loved by all during his term and then suddenly vanishing from the face of the Earth, becoming immortalized in the process; a stark contrast to Miller's stereotypical suave but non-existent puppet. Prez: First Teen President was a four issue comic series by Joe Simon released by DC Comics in the early 1970s. ...

At one point during the chaos at the end of the the book an "orphanage" is blown open and hundreds of mishapen children escape. These are very similar in visual and dialogue description to the "wireheads" from Miller's "Martha Washington" series of comic books. Writing by Frank Miller Art by Dave Gibbons Story A young african-american girl from the ghetto struggles against impossible odds in near future, to save the United States wich had broken up into several extremist nations. ...

External links

• Scholarly Essay on The Dark Knight Strikes Again, 2005
• Flak Magazine: Review of The Dark Knight Strikes Again, 11.08.02