Batman: The Dark Knight Returns part 1

05:04 | Labels: ANIMATION

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns was a Limited series, later a graphic novel comprising The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Triumphant, Hunt The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Falls, written and drawn by Frank Miller, originally published by DC Comics under the title Batman: The Dark Knight in 1986. When the issues were released in a collected edition later that year, the story title for the first issue was applied to the series as a whole. The Dark Knight Returns tells the story of a 55-year-old Bruce Wayne who comes out of retirement to fight crime, only to face opposition from the Gotham City police force and the United States government.

Batman - Bruce Wayne, 55, retired as Batman ten years prior to the beginning of the story and succumbs to alcoholism. When he sees violence running rampant and his personal demons can no longer be denied, he is forced to return.
Alfred Pennyworth - Wayne's trusty butler, medic, and confidant, now in his eighties.
Carrie Kelly/Robin - A 13-year-old girl who becomes Batman's newest sidekick. During the creation of the series, fellow comics writer/artist John Byrne told Miller "Robin must be a girl", and Miller complied. Comics historian Les Daniels commented, "In retrospect the imperative seems less than inevitable, perhaps no more than trendy gender bending or possibly just a response to the homophobia inspired by Fredric Wertham more than thirty years earlier."^[2]
James Gordon - The Commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department for 26 years – a police officer for 50 years – who finally retires on his 70th birthday. He is aware of the dual identity of Batman and is supportive of the Caped Crusader.
Two-Face - Now in his 50's, after having been in Arkham Asylum for 12 years and treated by Doctor Wolper for 3 years, Harvey Dent's face has been repaired with plastic surgery and his doctor gives him a clean bill of mental health. He is still Two-Face in his mind, however, and terrorizes the city with his face swathed in bandages.
The Joker - Batman's archenemy, who awakens from a catatonic state upon learning of Batman's re-emergence and plans one last brutal crime spree to draw him out. His return to crime sets in motion a final confrontation with Batman.
The Mutant Leader - The cunning, brutal head of the Mutants, who seeks to control Gotham and would kill anyone who dares to oppose him.
Dr. Bartholomew Wolper - Two-Face and Joker's psychiatrist and staunch opponent of Batman's "fascist" vigilantism. Wolper is convinced that the Joker and Two-Face are both really victims of Batman's crusade – claiming that Batman drives them to become criminals by assuming an ideological image that they feel compelled to counter. His attempts to treat Two-Face meet with failure, however, and he ends up murdered by the Joker along with the entire audience of a late night talk show when he is manipulated into bringing the Joker out in public as an example of Batman's 'victims'.