Batman: The Dark Knight Returns—Part 1 (2012)

Movie Info

You’re breath is awful man!!!

The Batman has been gone for years and the criminals in Gotham City are starting to reappear.  As Gordon prepares for his retirement, Bruce Wayne is realizing that Batman is something that cannot remain dead.  Fighting his age, Batman is back.  With his return, new heroes are inspired including a young girl who wishes to be the next Robin.  Batman must stop Harvey Dent who has been restored to his original form and also faces the threat of the new Mutant Gang which is terrorizing Gotham.  As Batman wages his one man war, the media and analysts dissect his actions and debates if he is worse than the criminals he claims to be stopping.

Directed by Jay Oliva, Batman:  The Dark Knight Returns—Part 1 adapts the first half of Frank Miller’s classic 1986 graphic novel which helped change the perspective of graphic novels and comic books.  The animated film received mostly positive reviews upon its release.  The first film and the second film were originally released separately but have also been released in a complete edition with both films combined.

There’s a new Robin in town!

Batman:  The Dark Knight Return is a classic in the comic book world and there had been rumors every time a new Batman film is coming that it is going to be an adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns.  With this animation, we finally get one…and it is a good thing.

The Dark Knight Returns is kind of a product of when it was made and that does have a bit of an unspoken effect on this film which cannot be conveyed.  The movie is kind of the core of being a superhero…something that was being explored heavily in the ’80s.  What is a real world superhero?  It is the basis for the news segments within the film, and these news parts don’t go as well today as they did back when the story was written and the concept was new.

Nice Bat Symbol OTS!

The idea of a superhero actually aging was also a new concept when Miller initially wrote the story and that too has been explored quite often now.  Still, the idea of Batman battling his age and being more than just a man is handled well by the movie.  This volume essentially focuses on his return…Batman:  The Dark Knight Returns—Part 2 is all about the effect of his return.

In addition to the strong story that is some solid art backing it up.  I loved Batman:  The Animated Series and feel that the art here has evolved from that.  The artist also smartly mixed in a style that is similar to Frank Miller’s art for the original series.  It is bold and distinctive and in line with other DC Animated Films.

Batman:  The Dark Knight Returns—Part 1 is a solid start to this story which has a lot of room for exploration.  I like that the film is taking the time to really explore the story and doesn’t seem to be short changing it by cramming it all in one short film.  Batman:  The Dark Knight Returns—Part 1 was followed by Batman:  The Dark Knight Returns—Part 2 in 2013.

Related Links:

Batman:  The Dark Knight Returns

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns—Part 2 (2013)