Description

The Dark Knight Strikes Again              Hardcover w/ Cover Sash
Featuring Frank Miller’s sequel to THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.  Awesome!!
Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Frank Miller
Colorist: Lynn Varley
Letterer: Todd Klein
Editors: Bob Schreck, Dale Crain, Michael Wright & Scott Nybakken
Cover by: Frank Miller & Lynn Varley

Written as a sequel to the groundbreaking Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, this masterful Batman epic takes place three years after Batman’s defeat of Superman. Faking his own death and creating an underworld civilization, Bruce Wayne has been keeping his eye on the world above. As that false Camelot reaches its breaking point, it is up to the Dark Knight to emerge from the underground shadows and once again return order to chaos. Joined by his army of Bat-soldiers and his female sidekick Catgirl, an elderly Batman wages a final war against a diseased world that’s become completely lost in an epic tale that features Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, and the Atom.

Frank Miller’s sequel to THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS is collected in deluxe hardcover form for the first time. This collected volume features an introduction by Frank Miller, the complete 3-part story, plus sketches and other exciting material.

Story/Spoilers
After going underground, Batman (Bruce Wayne) and his young sidekick Catgirl (formerly Carrie Kelley – Robin) train an army of “Batboys” (the former Mutants and other recruits) to save the world from a police dictatorship led by Lex Luthor. In a series of raids on government facilities, Batman’s soldiers release other superheroes – including Atom, Flash and Plastic Man – from captivity. Elongated Man is recruited and Green Arrow is already working with Batman.

Superman, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel have been forced to work for the US government, as their loved ones are being held hostage. Superman is ordered by “President Rickard” (a computer-generated front for Lex Luthor and Brainiac) to stop Batman. He confronts Wayne at the Batcave, but Batman and the other superheroes defeat him. Meanwhile, Batman’s raids have been noticed by the media. After being banned for years, the freed superheroes have recaptured the public imagination and have become a fad among the youth. At a pop concert by “The Superchix”, Batman and the other heroes make a public appearance urging their fans to rebel against the oppressive government.

During this time, rogue vigilante Question spies on Luthor’s plans and types a journal to record the misdeeds of those in power. Question tries to convince the Martian Manhunter – now an aged, bitter, near-powerless figure with his mind filled with Luthor’s nanotechnology – to stand up against Superman and the government. Question and Martian Manhunter are attacked by a mysterious man resembling the Joker, who is seemingly invulnerable to injury. Martian Manhunter sacrifices his life and Question is rescued by Green Arrow. The mysterious man escapes to kill other superheroes including Guardian and Creeper, stealing their costumes and wearing them.

An extraterrestrial monster lands in Metropolis and begins to destroy the city. Batman is convinced that it is an attempt to lure him and his allies out of hiding and does not respond, dismissing Flash’s appeal that they are supposed to save lives. Batman’s opinion is that it is too risky to save the lives of the populace. Superman and Captain Marvel fight the monster, which is revealed to be Brainiac, who coerces Superman into defeat using the bottled Kryptonian city of Kandor as leverage, to crush the people’s faith in superheroes. Captain Marvel is killed defending citizens from the carnage but Superman is saved when his daughter Lara appears. She has been carefully hidden since birth, but, now that the government knows she exists, they demand that she be handed over.

Deciding that Batman and his methods are the only way, Superman, Wonder Woman and Lara join him. Lara pretends to hand herself over to Brainiac. Atom slips into the bottle and frees the Kandorians, who use their combined heat vision to destroy Brainiac. The superheroes then destroy the dictatorship’s power source and incite a revolution. Batman allows himself to be captured and tortured by Luthor to learn his plans. Luthor has launched satellites to destroy most of the world’s population, leaving him with a more manageable number of people. The Green Lantern, who has turned into pure will, returns from space and destroys Luthor’s satellites. Luthor is in turn killed by the son of Hawkman and Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol).

Returning to the Batcave, Batman is contacted by Carrie, who is being attacked by the Joker-like man, who is now wearing a Robin costume. Batman arrives and recognizes the man as Dick Grayson, the first Robin who Batman fired long ago. Grayson has been genetically altered to have a powerful healing factor and shape-shifting ability, but is criminally insane. As Batman and Grayson contemptuously recall their bleak history together, Batman drops him through a trapdoor into a miles-deep crevasse filled with lava, while Elongated Man rescues Carrie. Grayson clings onto a ledge, climbs out of the chasm and faces Batman. When Grayson remains virtually unharmed by everything Batman throws at him, Batman hurls himself and Grayson into the chasm. Grayson falls into the lava and is disintegrated. Superman rescues Batman at the last minute as the Batcave explodes, and takes him to Carrie in the Batmobile.

Hardcover reprints/collects: The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001 – 2002) Issues #1-3.  DC Comics

Hardcover w/ Cover Sash is bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date: 2002
Format: FC, 256 pages, HC, 10.45 x 6.85
ISBN-10: 1563898446
ISBN-13: 9781563898440

Collectible Entertainment note: Hardcover w/ Cover Sash is Like New.  Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Batman and/or Frank Miller collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Very Highly Recommended.

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