The Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade

[cyberghostface]

"Alan Moore and I once had about a six-hour argument about the Joker, back when he did comic books -- because he believed that the Batman and Joker were almost parallels that were separated at birth. Alan had a much more, a sort of attitude of moral relativism about what was good and what was evil. I took a much more arched view, because I believe that the Joker is not so much insane as satanic. He's evil incarnate, and he's so malicious that it goes beyond anything we could understand. That's what's so terrifying about him, is that he simply wants to do as much harm and damage as he possibly can." - Frank Miller

Honestly not sure what to make of this. It doesn't really feel like a Joker story and it ends... well, see for yourself.

Comments

[silverhammerman]

How'd you find this overall?

I haven't been much interested in DKIII because it looks like the kind of gonzo craziness which I don't feel Miller excels at, but this looks way more grounded and interesting in the way that Miller can be when he's not just indulging his political views and genre hangups.

[cyberghostface]

I thought it as well-written for what it was I suppose. The scenes with Joker at the asylum were very creepy IMO.

[lego_joker]

Yeah, whatever his other sins, Miller seems to be one of the last writers who understands how to do a sober Joker, and that sober Joker is often scarier *and* wittier than the manic, chattery one.

[jlroberson]

I thought this was the only worthy follow-up to the original. DK2 was just an ugly piece of cash-in crap. I don't even know what ASBAR was--except the Yellow issue, that wasn't bad, but the rest, SO bad. DK3 is not all bad, not all good. This, however, is the first one that actually has any reason to exist; it's a story worth telling. And i like the contrast of this middle Batman to both the Goddamn Batman and the Brian Dennehy Batman. He's more sober, more reflective, more responsible. You can see this guy simply saying from the guilt, after Jason's death, fuck it, give up, just relax and wait to die. The script is surprisingly sensitive.

I also like the art and the coloring. This is some of Romita's best work. I think this is good.