"Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again" Talkback (Spoilers)

[James Harvey]

The comic of 2001 starts today, The Frank Miller sequel to the 1986 classic mini-series has been the center of a media hype campaign, but is it worth it?

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN



Written by Frank Miller; Art by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley

Written as a sequel to the groundbreaking Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, this masterful hardcover takes place three years after Batman's defeat of Superman. Faking his own death and creating an underworld civilization, Bruce Wayne has been keeping his eye on the world above. As that false Camelot reaches its breaking point, it's is up to the Dark Knight to emerge from the underground shadows and once again return order to chaos. Joined by his army of Bat-soldiers and his female sidekick Catgirl, an elderly Batman wages a final war against a diseased world in an epic tale that features Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, and the Atom.

Comments? Thoughts?

[SMiLEY]

I got your hype, right here!

http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub...ture_3744.html

[The Guard]

SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS


Very entertaining. Captures the tone of DK very well. As for the story. The Atom, Green Arrow, Barry Allen have returned. Sweet. Although The Flash's new costume sucks. Have a feeling we'll be seeing Hal Jordan.

What's up with Wonder Woman and Superman? Do they have a telepathic link?

We finally see what keeps Superman in line. Sad.

Lex Luthor looked like a damn monkey.

The scene in the cave was great.

[MattL.]

*sigh* great more Superman as a government puppet, and grim n' gritty comics.

Just what we needed.

[DerekPowers]

SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS


I thought it was great. especially the superman fight in the cave, that was awesome!!

only thing is, from what miller was saying about it, he made it seem very different from the first, in terms of story and artistic style, but it was very similar imo. very similar, i was alittle dissapointed since i was expecting something radically different from the first. but it still kicks.

yeah, whats up w/ sups and ww's telethapy??

also, whats the whole deal with luthor and the miniture kryptonian city? is that from dc back in the day??

also, lex as the puppet master behind the whole operation of the world, hmmm, it got potential to be something explosive but boarder lines on being too obvious. i mean, w/ all these dcu characters, it seemed alittle overwhelming and trite.

hey, but dont get me wrong, im just playing devils advocate, i actually loved it, and think its evil of them to make us wait, what, a month and a half, for the next issue?? noooooo!!!

one more thing, all that batboy who killed those people got was latriene duty (and a beating)??? seems like he got off alittle easy.

peace.

[Clayface]

Originally posted by MattL.
*sigh* great more Superman as a government puppet, and grim n' gritty comics.

Just what we needed.

Yep! Just the way I like 'em!

SPOILERS


Overall I liked it, though it sort of felt like a lot of set up for the rest of the story to come. The whole Illuminati-type thing is ok, but maybe has been done a few too many times already. Hopefully Miller will throw some spin on it. I liked that Supes got a good beating again - I can never get enough of that. I've got a feeling that Supes won't remain the government stooge through the whole thing though.

[The Guard]

I don't feel so angry as Superman now. Turns out he's being blackmailed...

[Heehaw]

So far, so good.

This is 3 issues, which lends itself well to three acts. This was obviously Act 1 since it introduces everybody and gets us into the universe. Act 2 should be the meat. Can't wait.

[ikari_ryou]

SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER

hmmm... i dunno'... it's funny because it's all in "thought boxes," but i think maybe Clark and Diana could have been talking. i mean, they've got a really good sense of hearing, right?

[The Guard]

Not that good.

Something no one's complained enough about.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BARRY'S COSTUME???

That is hands down, the STUPIDEST design I've ever seen.

I like the black/yellow color scheme, but SHORTS? The man runs faster than...he'll FREEZE HIS LEGS OFF!!!

And what's with Miller giving everyone giant shoes?

[ikari_ryou]

i dunno... creative license?

guess he'll have to step on some of our toes to get the thing done. oh well, it's still a valiant effort.

[Kathy Kane]

WOW!!!
I was quite surprised at this comic!
I loved it! It gave new insight to what happened to all the superheros of the DCverse. I was shocked when the Question appeared, one I didn't except to see him, two I 've only heard about this guy. Good to see him and the others in action.
the one punch fight of Supes & Bats is worth the price.

the only bad thing about the book is ...well I want MORE!!!
Say does anyone know if this is a monthy book or a bimonthy???

call me kane.

[mgibson72]

I was very surprised on how fast the action got going. With DK1, it seemed that Miller took his time to set up the story and I really didn't get that sense with DK2. I think that maybe he could have taken his time to get us informed with what's going on in the world these days.

But some questions: Does anyone else think it's a bit goofy that Luthor would have the capacity to have Superman, Wonder Woman AND Captain Marvel by the throats? And where are the scenes of Gotham, Metropolis and its people? And what's up with all of the T&A on network television?!? Sheesh!

*sigh* I know that the underlying message is that the heroes with little or no powers are the real saviors of mankind, but I really hope that Superman is redeemed by the end of this one...!

[Karkull]

Great book.

One thing caught my attention, particularly:

Spoiler:

The "pre-Crisis" Brainiac, Barry Allen, Hal Jordan, and the bottle city of Kandor.

After reading this (and the first one) do you ever get the feeling that this series picks up where the pre-Crisis DC Universe left off--if there was no Crisis on Infinite Earths? It's like it never happened and this is the end result.

Oh yeah:

Spoiler:

Catgirl was awesome. I'm also glad to see Batman pick up where he left off with Superman.

[mgibson72]

Isn't this a DK2 talkback? Why would anyone who hasn't read the book be involved with a talkback forum? Come on, guys!

[Clayface]

Originally posted by The Guard
Not that good.

Something no one's complained enough about.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO BARRY'S COSTUME???

That is hands down, the STUPIDEST design I've ever seen.

I like the black/yellow color scheme, but SHORTS? The man runs faster than...he'll FREEZE HIS LEGS OFF!!!

To be honest, it didn't bother me at all. Yeah, he runs fast, so he'd get cool from the air running across his skin, but at the same time, wouldn't he generate a ton of heat from the muscle contractions? I mean, I'm not a regular reader of Flash comics, but it seemed to make sense to me.

And what's with Miller giving everyone giant shoes?

In recent years Miller's art has taken a bit or an odd turn - he has this habit of giving everyone really big feet and hands. Not sure if its intentional by him, or if his sense of proportion is getting skewed.

[Tracer]

OK, I just read it and it is AWESOME!!

SPOILERS!!!!!

I loved that they incuded more people from DCU but I get the feeling he brought back Barry Allen to distance himself from the "Possible Future" cries of the public. Unfortunately for me that takes a lot of the magic out of it for me.

I also find it hard to believe that 3 of the most powerful people in DCU can be held at bay like this. I REALLY NEED a DK0 to explain what happened to the heroes (and the world before DK1). I was willing to accept it in DK1 but knowing that some of the heros are being manipulated like this is too much without knowing HOW!!!!!

My top questions are:

Why can't Mary M. change and save her self. Billy still has his power.

Why has the Captain Marvel version of billy Aged?? I know it is Frank's universe but everything seems to say he would age even slower than Superman.

How do you catch, much less trap the flash for years?? Yes the costume sucks, I do like the darker color thought

Did anyone notice that one of the female reporters had the last name of LANE??? She looks kind of familiar too!!

[Tracer]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Karkull
[B]Great book.

After reading this (and the first one) do you ever get the feeling that this series picks up where the pre-Crisis DC Universe left off--if there was no Crisis on Infinite Earths? It's like it never happened and this is the end result.



I noticed that too. That is an interesting theory.

[doctorcrime]

ok, obviously there are going to be spoilers...

first of all, i can't remember the last time i was this excited for a movie or any other debut. i am glad that miller needed the money- er, i mean i am glad that he "had another story to tell." i really love his new style which is not really new but has evolved since DKR. i found his character designs to be great. however, his dialogue and plot to be predictable and lame. in the first overpriced issue, he has not done anything groundbreaking or impressive. it would be ok if it was simple and trying to be that, but it is just trying to be grand and coming up short. i love it anyway. i am sure i am going through what many star wars fans went through when they released episode 1. i know there will be people who say "you just have to wait until they are all out until it all comes together." i hope that this is the case for DKSA as well as the star wars franchise, but i won;t hold my breath for the latter.

[doctorcrime]

the dark knight returns is a tough act to follow. so far the sequel (yes, frank, it is a sequel.) isn't nearly as revlutionary and creative but it does promise too be one hell of a story which is fine by me. however, i will do some more complaining. this of course brings me to his wife's coloring. lynn varley has graced the comic page time and time again with her understanding of color and her domination over her pallette of unique washes. so what the hell happened? i like the bright and flashy colors and understand their purpose to establish a phony "perfect" world that is the stage for this tale, but she attacks the page like a kid just introduced to photoshop. is this why frank went black and white for sin city? the computer generated pixel effect completely distracts the flow of the story and looks very amateur. i am sure she is trying to do something different, but it simply looks like crap. her coloring style just doesn't complement miller's art at all in this issue.