10 MUST READ Batman Stories!
6. The Dark Knight Returns
(Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Master Race)
The Dark Knight Returns is arguably the reason comic books and comic book movies are where they are today. In 1986, Frank Miller took what everyone knew about Batman’s then camp, brightly coloured and family friendly world and turned it on its head.
TDKR was an unprecedented take on the Batman mythos, grittier, darker and more violent than almost any story before. Set in the final years of Batman’s career (having been retired for over ten years), the story follows his return to the cowl to go up against new gangs like the Mutants and Sons of Batman, old foe the Joker and long time “frenemy” Superman.
It really is a genre defining story and allowed the whole comic book industry to take a newer and more grown-up approach to their own characters. Also, thanks to The Dark Knight Returns success, Tim Burton’s 1989 movie The Batman was heavily influenced into having a much darker take than superhero movies before it.
Where TDKR is a sure fire classic, it’s follow up books The Dark Knight Strikes Again and Master Race are not as highly regarded. If you're a comic book/Batman/Superhero fan, definitely read the first in the series - and maybe when you’re ready give the others a go!