The Dark Knight Strikes Again

The Dark Knight Strikes Again (also refered to as DK2) is a Batman graphic novel by Frank Miller with Lynn Varley. It is a sequel to Miller's The Dark Knight Returns.

It was originally published in three issues (November 2001 - July 2002), and has since been collected into hardcover and paperback one-volume editions.

Like its predecessor, this story takes place in a timeline that is not considered canonical in the current continuity of DC Comics. The story also doesn't seem to follow any of DC's continuity after the Crisis on Infinite Earths as Barry Allen (the Silver Age Flash who died in the Crisis) is still alive and Hal Jordan is still Green Lantern.

DK2 was extremely controversial upon its release. It is generally considered to be a repudiation of effects that the original Dark Knight had on American comics (the so-called "grim n' gritty" movement), and a celebration of the surrealist and high-energy eccentricity of the superhero tradition. Colorist Lynn Varley used DK2 as a platform to experiment with computerized coloring, partially influenced by the art deco movement, and generally used a much bolder palette than in the dark Dark Knight Returns. Readers, expecting a faithful sequel to the previous work, were generally bewildered and offended.

Synopsis

Template:Spoiler After going underground, Batman (Bruce Wayne) and his young sidekick (Carrie Kelly, Robin from The Dark Knight Returns) train an army of "batboys" to save the world from a "police-state" dictatorship.

In a series of raids on government facilities, Batman's soldiers release from captivity ageing superheroes including Green Arrow, The Atom, Flash and Plastic Man (Elongated Man is recruited from his job working commercials by The Flash). Superman, working for the government, is ordered by the "President" (a front for Lex Luthor and Brainiac) to stop Batman. He confronts Wayne at the Batcave, but is defeated by the Dark Knight and company.

Meanwhile, Batman's raids have not gone unnoticed by the media. After being banned for years, the freed superheroes have recaptured the public imagination, becoming a fad among youth. At a concert for pop group "The Superchix," Batman and the other heroes make a public appearance, urging their fans to rebel against the oppressive government.

An alien monster lands in Metropolis and begins to destroy the city, but Batman, convinced it is a trap, does not respond. Superman and Captain Marvel come out of hiding to fight the threat, but the monster is revealed to be Brainiac, who coerces Superman (using the bottle city of Kandor) into losing the battle in order to crush the people's faith in superheroes. Captain Marvel is killed defending citizens from the carnage, but Superman is saved by his and Wonder Woman's daughter, who has been carefully hidden by the pair until now. She destroys Brainiac's monster body, but now that the government knows she exists they demand she be handed over.

Realizing Batman was right after all, Superman, Wonder Woman, and their daughter join him and assist in his plan, destroying the power source of the dictatorship and inciting revolution. Batman is captured and tortured by Luthor, who plans to use satelites to destroy Metropolis but is thwarted by the now god-like Green Lantern and is killed by the son of Hawkman. Returning to the Batcave, Batman is attacked by a brutally insane, genetically altered Dick Grayson, the first Robin. Unable to kill Grayson by any other means, Batman blows the entire cave, igniting an underground volcano, only to be saved by Superman at the last minute and brought to Carrie in the Batmobile.

Political Themes

The graphic novel contains caricatures of several prominent members of the first administration of President George W. Bush, including John Ashcroft, Ari Fleischer, and Donald Rumsfeld. Also, Batman's attack on Luthor's headquarters via a kamikaze Batmobile into Luthor's tower mirror the events of 9/11

Criticism

The graphic novel's conclusion can be interpreted as anti-democratic. Superman asks his daughter, "What shall we do with our world?" In other words, Luthor's dictatorship is replaced by a non-democratic oligarchy of heros from the Silver Age of DC Comics.

There are also strong insinuations (especially from Dick Grayson) throughout the series that Catgirl and Batman are having a sexual relationship.

Trivia

The swastika-like shruikens that "the Joker" uses to kill the Martian Manhunter in Book Two are highly reminiscent of those used by Miho from Frank Miller's Sin City. Also the panel depicting "the Joker" shooting the Guardian in the head is similar to one of Marv executing a hit man in "Sin City: The Hard Goodbye.

The holographic puppet-President, "Rick Rickard," is a throwback to Prez Rickard, the teenage President who was elected via a constitutional ammendment. Ironically, the original Prez was essentially a super-President, loved by all during his term and then suddenly vanishing from the face of the Earth, becoming immortalized in the process; a stark contrast to Miller's stereotypical suave but non-existant puppet.

Reviews

• Flak Magazine: Review of The Dark Knight Strikes Again, 11.08.02