The Dark Knight Strikes Again Original

The Dark Knight Strikes Again
Cover of the trade paperback Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Embrace design by Chip Kidd.
Publication data
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited series
Publication date	December 2001 – July 2002
No. of issues	iii
Main graphic symbol(s)	Batman Superman Catgirl Lex Luthor Brainiac Dick Grayson
Creative team
Created by	Frank Miller Lynn Varley Todd Klein Bob Kane Bill Finger
Written by	Frank Miller
Creative person(southward)	Frank Miller
Colorist(s)	Lynn Varley

Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again , besides known as DK2 , is a 2001-2002 DC Comics three-issue limited serial comic book written and illustrated by Frank Miller and colored by Lynn Varley, featuring the fictional superhero Batman. The serial is a sequel to Miller's 1986 miniseries The Dark Knight Returns. It tells the story of an aged Bruce Wayne who returns from three years in hiding, training his followers and instigating a rebellion confronting Lex Luthor's dictatorial rule over the United States. The series features an ensemble cast of superheroes including Catgirl, Superman, Wonder Adult female, Plastic Man, The Wink, and the Atom.

Overview [edit]

The series was originally published as a three-issue express series published by DC Comics betwixt November 2001 and July 2002. It has since been published as hardcover and paperback one-volume editions and as the Absolute Nighttime Knight edition with The Night Knight Returns. Similar its predecessor, this story takes place in a timeline that is not considered canonical in the current DC Comics continuity.^[1]

Synopsis [edit]

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

Afterwards going underground, Batman (Bruce Wayne) and his young sidekick Catgirl (formerly Carrie Kelley—Robin) train an army of "Batboys" (the one-time Mutants and other recruits) to save the globe from a police dictatorship led by Lex Luthor. In a series of raids on government facilities, Batman'southward soldiers release other superheroes—including Atom, Flash and Plastic Man—from captivity. Elongated Homo is recruited and Green Pointer is already working with Batman.

Superman, Wonder Adult female, and Captain Marvel accept been forced to work for the US government, as their loved ones are being held hostage. Superman is ordered by "President Rickard" (a figurer-generated front for Lex Luthor and Brainiac) to finish Batman. He confronts Wayne at the Batcave, merely Batman and the other superheroes defeat him. Meanwhile, Batman'southward raids have been noticed by the media. Later being banned for years, the freed superheroes have recaptured the public imagination and have become a fad among the youth. At a popular concert past "The Superchix", Batman and the other heroes make a public advent urging their fans to insubordinate confronting the oppressive government.

During this time, rogue vigilante Question spies on Luthor's plans and types a journal to record the misdeeds of those in ability. Question tries to convince the Martian Manhunter—now an anile, biting, near-powerless figure with his mind filled with Luthor's nanotechnology—to stand upwardly confronting Superman and the government. Question and Martian Manhunter are attacked by a mysterious human being resembling the Joker, who is seemingly invulnerable to injury. Martian Manhunter sacrifices his life and Question is rescued by Greenish Arrow. The mysterious man escapes to impale other superheroes including Guardian and Creeper, stealing their costumes and wearing them.

An extraterrestrial monster lands in Metropolis and begins to destroy the city. Batman is convinced that it is an attempt to lure him and his allies out of hiding and does not respond, dismissing Flash's appeal that they are supposed to save lives. Batman's opinion is that it is as well risky to save the lives of the populace. Superman and Captain Curiosity fight the monster, which is revealed to be Brainiac, who coerces Superman into defeat using the bottled Kryptonian city of Kandor as leverage, to crush the people's faith in superheroes. Helm Marvel is killed defending citizens from the carnage just Superman is saved when his daughter Lara appears. She has been carefully hidden since birth, only, now that the authorities knows she exists, they need that she be handed over.

Deciding that Batman and his methods are the only way, Superman, Wonder Adult female and Lara join him. Lara pretends to hand herself over to Brainiac. Atom slips into the canteen and frees the Kandorians, who use their combined heat vision to destroy Brainiac. The superheroes then destroy the dictatorship's ability source and incite a revolution. Batman allows himself to be captured and tortured by Luthor to learn his plans. Luthor has launched satellites to destroy most of the earth's population, leaving him with a more manageable number of people. The Dark-green Lantern, who has turned into pure will, returns from space and destroys Luthor'south satellites. Luthor is in plough killed by the son of Hawkman and Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol).

Returning to the Batcave, Batman is contacted by Carrie, who is being attacked by the Joker-like human and at present wearing a Robin costume. Batman arrives and recognizes the man as Dick Grayson, the beginning Robin who Batman fired long agone. Grayson has been genetically altered to have a powerful healing factor and shape-shifting ability, only is criminally insane. As Batman and Grayson contemptuously recall their bleak history together, Batman drops him through a trapdoor into a miles-deep crevasse filled with lava, while Elongated Human rescues Carrie. Grayson clings onto a ledge, climbs out of the chasm and faces Batman. When Grayson remains nearly unharmed by everything Batman throws at him, Batman hurls himself and Grayson into the chasm. Grayson falls into the lava and is disintegrated. Superman rescues Batman at the last infinitesimal as the Batcave explodes, and takes him to Carrie in the Batmobile.

Background and creation [edit]

In 2006, Frank Miller said of the cosmos process for The Dark Knight Strikes Again:

I was out to remind readers about the inherent joy and wonder these superheroes offer, and likewise to celebrate their delicious absurdity. I saw the superheroes as Gods and Heroes in the Classic sense ... I wanted to drag these Gods and Heroes out of that musty museum they'd been stuck in and drag them back to the streets where they vest.

—Frank Miller^[ii]

Characters [edit]

• Batman—Bruce Wayne's modify ego who is 58 years one-time and faked his death three years ago and continues to operate secretly as Batman in 1989. He leads a rebellion against the decadent U.S. regime headed by Lex Luthor. Batman is a skilled and controversial strategist who makes decisions which effect in deaths, which he considers necessary for the defeat of his enemies.
• Catgirl—Carrie Kelley, formerly Robin, is Batman'due south second-in-command.
• Lex Luthor—Luthor heads the U.S. government and uses a hologram of what the people remember is the President as a figurehead. He controls powerful superheroes—including Superman, Helm Marvel and Wonder Adult female—past holding their loved ones hostage.
• Brainiac—provides Luthor with the means to control the U.S., and hence the world.
• Superman—controlled by Luthor, who is belongings the miniaturized metropolis of Kandor hostage. Encouraged past his girl and Batman, Superman finally fights back and breaks his own vow non to kill.
• Wonder Woman—the youthful Queen of the Amazons who has a daughter with Superman.
• Lara—The daughter of Superman and Wonder Woman who has the powers of a Kryptonian and the warrior attitude of an Amazon. She has a poor opinion of people less powerful than herself and tries to persuade Superman to rise in a higher place the humans and possibly take over the world.
• Captain Marvel—at present an onetime human, he still stands by Superman and Wonder Adult female. Helm Marvel is limited in his abilities considering Luthor holds his sister Mary hostage. He reveals that he and Billy Batson were two split beings who switched places, and that Baton (who had always been sickly) had died around 8 years ago. This rendered him incapable of but switching out to recuperate considering there would be no one to telephone call him dorsum.
• "The Joker"/Dick Grayson—Having been emotionally abused by Batman and sacked years earlier for "cowardice and incompetence", Grayson has submitted himself to radical gene therapy by Luthor and other villains. He has gained a powerful healing cistron and shape-shifting power, simply was driven criminally insane. Throughout most of the story, Grayson takes on the advent of the Joker and the costumes of members of the Legion of Super-Heroes. His victims include Martian Manhunter, Creeper, the Guardian, and he almost kills Carrie Kelley.
• Atom—trapped inside a Petri dish for over two years, Ray Palmer is rescued past Carrie Kelley and becomes one of the commencement of the old superheroes to join Batman's rebellion.
• The Flash—coerced by threats to his married woman Iris, Barry Allen is forced to run in a giant electrical generator before beingness freed by Carrie Kelley and the Atom.
• Elongated Man—Ralph Dibny advertises sex activity drugs on television earlier joining Batman.
• Plastic Man—insane and rescued from Arkham Aviary, Eel O'Brian joins Batman's group.
• The Superchix—an all-girl pop/superhero group consisting of a Blackness Canary lookalike, Bat Chick and Wonder Chick.
• Greenish Pointer—a communist, activist and billionaire with a mechanical arm, Oliver Queen has long been function of Batman's forces.
• The Question—fighting for Batman'southward crusade, Vic Sage works mainly alone and tries to recruit the former Martian Manhunter. He spies on Luthor and his associates, and distrusts technology and municipalization.
• Martian Manhunter—a victim of Luthor'southward nanobots, which take deprived him of most of his powers, J'onn J'onzz has become fond to alcohol and tobacco. He retains a precognitive sense which he uses to aid Question.
• Green Lantern—Hal Jordan at present lives with his own alien family in a afar part of the galaxy. He returns to Globe at Batman's request.
• Hawkboy—Hawkman and Hawkgirl's son who grew up with his sister in the Costa Rican rainforest. When their parents are killed past a armed services strike ordered by Luthor, Hawkboy intends to have revenge.
• Saturn Girl—a young, xiii-yr-former who tin see into the future. She adopts the name and outfit of the 31st-century Legionnaire.
• Rick Rickard—the holographic boob President of the United States.
• U.S. Secretarial assistant of Country Ruger, Exxon and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Starbucks—members of Luthor'south government.
• Militarist and Dove—Hank and Don Hall are in their old historic period. They try to take upwardly the tights once more only to non go through with it equally they used to argue all the time.
• Bat-Mite—Batman's old antagonist and co-founder of The Outset Church of The Last Son of Krypton., a lunatic fringe move defended to worshipping Superman.
• Big Barda—a former pornographic actress called Hot Gates. When America descends into anarchy, Big Barda declares herself dictator of Columbus, Ohio.
• Lana Harper-Lane—a boob tube news reporter who is presumed to exist the daughter of Guardian and Lois Lane.^[iii]

Publications [edit]

• Batman: The Night Knight Strikes Again (2003-12-17 (hardcover^[4]), 2004-07-21 (trade paperback with bonus materials^[5])): Includes parts 1-3.
• Batman Noir: The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2018-03-28 (hardcover^[6])): Black and white print version of Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Once again 3-parts volume.

Critical reception and sales [edit]

The Dark Knight Strikes Again received mixed to negative reviews, with criticism focusing on its artwork, storyline, and character development.^{[7] [8] [9]} Claude Lalumière of The Montreal Gazette gave the series a mixed review and said "the script lacks the emotional nuances of its predecessor, and ... the artwork is rushed and garish", and that it "has considerable chutzpah, only its careless execution is regrettable".^[x] Roger Sabin of The Guardian wrote that the series has "flashes of luminescence—few can control page layouts like Miller—just in general the idea of the ironic superhero seems rather dated."^[eleven]

The kickoff issue of "DK2" ranked #1 in December 2001 with pre-order sales at 174,339.^[12] The second issue of DK2 was ranked third in sales for the Jan 2002 period with pre-society sales of 155,322.^[13] The final issue of the series had pre-order sales of 171,546 returning to #one for the month of February 2002.^[14] The comic had an in-shop date on July 31 of that aforementioned year.^[fifteen]

Discussing the negative reception for The Dark Knight Strikes Once again, Frank Miller said in 2006: "I expected shock. I wanted information technology. I never make information technology my mission to reassure people. Time will brand its own sentence."^[16]

Sequel [edit]

On April 24, 2015, DC Comics announced that Frank Miller was co-writing a sequel to The Dark Knight Strikes Again with Brian Azzarello titled The Dark Knight III: The Principal Race.^{[17] [18]} The serial featured a rotating cast of artists, including Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson.^{[19] [20]} Frank Miller later confirmed that The Master Race would not be the conclusion, and he was beginning piece of work on a 4th series.^[21]

References [edit]

1. ^ Sanderson, Peter (February half dozen, 2006). "Comics in Context #119: All-Star Bats". IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
2. ^ "Frank Miller: I Stole From The Best!". Archived from the original on June 25, 2006.
3. ^ Lander, Randy (December 3, 2001). "Dark Knight Strikes Again #ane (All-time of the Week!)". The 4th Runway. Archived from the original on Apr xv, 2002. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
4. ^ BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES Again
5. ^ BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN
6. ^ BATMAN NOIR: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN
7. ^ Lalumière, Claude (September 21, 2002). "The Dark Knight Strikes Once again". Retrieved August xxx, 2012.
8. ^ Sanford, Jason (2002). "Review of The Dark Knight Strikes Over again past Frank Miller". Retrieved June three, 2018.
9. ^ Cheang, Michael (December 2, 2015). "Why does anybody hate The Dark Knight Strikes Again?". Retrieved June 3, 2018.
10. ^ Lalumière, Claude (September 21, 2002). "The Dark Knight Strikes Again". Retrieved August 30, 2012.
11. ^ Sabin, Roger (December xv, 2002). "Have a flick..." The Observer . Retrieved August xxx, 2012.
12. ^ "Pinnacle 300 Comics – December 2001". ICv2. Nov 28, 2001.
13. ^ "Peak 300 Comics – January 2002". ICv2. Jan two, 2002. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
14. ^ "Peak 300 Comics – February 2002". ICv2. February four, 2002.
15. ^ "Archived copy". www1.cinescape.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2002. Retrieved January 12, 2022. {{cite spider web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as championship (link)
16. ^ "Frank Miller: I Stole From The Best!". Archived from the original on June 25, 2006.
17. ^ "Superstar Writer/Artist Frank Miller Returns To Batman!". DC Comics . Retrieved July 19, 2015.
18. ^ "Frank Miller Returns With The Night Knight 3: The Master Race". Newsarama.com. Apr 24, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
19. ^ "DC Amusement Provides New Details For Nighttime Knight III: The Principal Race". DC Comics. July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
20. ^ Wheeler, Andrew (July 9, 2015). "Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson Join 'The Primary Race' (The Comic)". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
21. ^ Osborn, Alex (Nov 17, 2015). "Frank Miller Says He's Returning For The Night Knight iv". IGN.

External links [edit]

• Flak Magazine: Review of The Nighttime Knight Strikes Again, xi.08.02
• Peter Sanderson's analysis: Parts one, two, and iii
• Batman: The Night Knight Returns and Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Once more discussed at sequart.com

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Knight_Strikes_Again

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