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THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #3
Mildly Recommended (6/10)
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DC Comics
Writer/Artist: Frank Miller
Colors: Lynn Varley
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Bob Schreck
Price: $7.95 US/$13.25 CAN |
Well, Miller's Dark Knight Returns sequel came in with a bang and goes out with a... well, not a whimper, and if it is a whimper, it's a loud one, and in a number of ways. The series may have slipped from its strong start, but Miller still has some things to say here that had me nodding my head. Ultimately, though, he has too much to say, and his greater points get lost in a tangled story that still tapped into a sense of the super-hero epic reminiscent of the much stronger Kingdom Come.
The establishment in its various forms -- Luthor and Brainiac chief among them -- tries to reassert control amid the chaos that the Batman and his allies have brought to America, and to the world. The Dark Knights what it is that the villains have over Superman in order to keep him in line, and he uses that knowledge to his advantage. As he plots moves on various fronts, his ultimate secret weapon -- and an old ally -- zips through the stars, headed for Earth.
There are panels in this book that are stunning, in which one can easily see why Miller stands apart from the regular comic art crowd. The vision of Metropolis, the end of which engulfed in smoke, is obviously meant to elicit memories of Sept.11, and it does so in a minimalist kind of way. And then there's the Batman, curled up in a fetal position, desperate to survive in order to see this latest battle through to the end... a memorable visual that put me in mind of the original Dark Knight series.
But then there are other times at which the art seems rushed and oversimplified. The media masses commenting on the chaos they can't understand look ridiculous and far too basic and exaggerated in appearance. Perhaps it's purposeful, but the characters' words serve as sufficient cues as to their extreme and superficial nature. And Varley's colors and computer effects... well, at times they serve the story and action well and at others -- such as the climactic scene featuring the energy field surrounding the planet -- well, they're just distracting, intruding on the art instead of enhancing it.
The bigger moments in the story -- such as Green Lantern's role -- did not work at all, but the value in this book was to found in its smaller moments. Miller's scathing look at politics and pop culture, at how easily the media is manipulated and manipulates... these elements really caught my attention. Amid the chaos and confusion, there's also a great deal of relevance in this script. Despite disappointments in other aspects of the book, it nevertheless made me think, challenged me.
A lot of people have dismissed The Dark Knight Strikes Again, and I honestly don't blame them, especially now. A seven-month delay is a lot to ask of an audience. Furthermore, this was not the Batman story that readers expected; Miller dropped the word "Batman" from the title this time around for a reason. In the end, though, Miller bit off more than he could chew. Too many plotlines (from Superman's acceptance of godhood to the ultimate fate of Robin) and too many idealogical points of view made for a jumbled read. Perhaps it'll all read better in a single dose, but I'm doubtful.
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
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