Ah, the Batman... so badass. As Frank Miller's return to the Gotham City, this bit of artwork serves as the cover to part two of a four part series. I think this one appropriately sums up the tone and attitude of the entire story. Utter badass-ness. Here's the premise: It's the future (even though a Reagan look-alike is President and we're at war with Russia... Ok, so it was made in '86) and Gotham is in a state of complete disrepair with Batman being gone for something like 30 years. Essentially, Bruce Wayne decided long ago to retire, as did most of other the super heroes of the DC world. Wonder Woman went back to her home planet. Green Lantern did something of the same. And everyone else just plain got too old for the crime-fighting life. Everyone but Superman. Clark, still looking young and chiseled as ever...
...where he now basically serves the US government with absolutely loyalty and acts without question. Meanwhile, Wayne carries on with his own life in complete depression. It's clear that he has a warrior's heart. One night he's jumped by a couple of thugs belonging to a local gang call "The Mutants" (the name is based on the members' allegiance to some giant mutant-thug-neanderthal). After beating the shit out of them, Bruce decides the it's time Batman made his return. As Batman takes back to the streets - with a new (girl) Robin at his side - his presence revives a comatose Joker locked away in Arkham and eventually leads Gotham and the US into an entirely new state of chaos and destruction.
The man hasn't aged a day in over 30 years.
...where he now basically serves the US government with absolutely loyalty and acts without question. Meanwhile, Wayne carries on with his own life in complete depression. It's clear that he has a warrior's heart. One night he's jumped by a couple of thugs belonging to a local gang call "The Mutants" (the name is based on the members' allegiance to some giant mutant-thug-neanderthal). After beating the shit out of them, Bruce decides the it's time Batman made his return. As Batman takes back to the streets - with a new (girl) Robin at his side - his presence revives a comatose Joker locked away in Arkham and eventually leads Gotham and the US into an entirely new state of chaos and destruction.
This story is amazing and sheds a completely new light on Bruce Wayne/Batman complex. It basically explores what would happen to a man who's devoted - sacrificed - his life to fighting evil at all costs. Sadly, with very little to show for it. It's made abundantly clear that Bruce is borderline suicidal and probably just as crazy as the Joker is or any of his other foes. No, he might not believe in killing the innocent - or killing in general, as has always been his philosophy - but he realizes that despite his aging, fragile body, he can't let go of his urge to fight against any evil that threatens his city. This is why I chose the art work above (of the four I had to pick from) as the main icon for this story arc. It just represents Batman as a fucking outrageous warrior that rivals the legendary Spartans. Even in his older, weaker state... there is no backing down.
To ruin the rest of the story for you all, please continue reading. As the story comes to its second half, a nuclear missile is deployed by Russia. Superman is successful in diverting the blast - almost dying the in the explosion - but the side effects from the bomb send an electromagnetic pulse through Gotham wiping out all electric devices sending it into some sort of dark age. From there... without cars... ummm, I think the photo will suffice...
In what you would take to be a total wash of a fight, Batman does more than just hold his own. He pummels Superman into the ground. However, you may be asking yourself, "Why would these two 'good guys' want to square off in the first place?" After the bombing crisis, the US government makes Batman the scapegoat. From there, Superman is ordered by the US government to take him out. Bruce realizes this and gears up for the fight sporting a giant metal suit that's ready to kick ass and take names.
Despite what this page from the comic gives away, I won't spoil the final ending. Just keep this in mind: Miller still has one more Batman tale left - The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Make what you will of this ending, but Batman can clearly never be stopped.
Batman rides like a fuck'n pro.
As the city begins to fall into chaos, Batman rises to save the day. With him are a bunch of former Mutant gang members, reformed and determined to follow him as their new leader (earlier in the story, Batman risks everything to fight and destroy their leader... after he barely wins, most of them take Batman to be the new Alpha-Dog). The groups take to the city stopping all the riots and chaos that have flared up because of the blackout and the fear of another World War. But it's the follow-up that's truly the best part of the whole story.
Batman fights Superman.
In what you would take to be a total wash of a fight, Batman does more than just hold his own. He pummels Superman into the ground. However, you may be asking yourself, "Why would these two 'good guys' want to square off in the first place?" After the bombing crisis, the US government makes Batman the scapegoat. From there, Superman is ordered by the US government to take him out. Bruce realizes this and gears up for the fight sporting a giant metal suit that's ready to kick ass and take names.
Despite what this page from the comic gives away, I won't spoil the final ending. Just keep this in mind: Miller still has one more Batman tale left - The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Make what you will of this ending, but Batman can clearly never be stopped.
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