What Happened To Everyone Who Killed Batman?

When thinking of writers synonymous with the truly great works of Batman, Frank Miller immediately comes to the fore. Well, so long as you ignore his “goddamn Batman” mini with All Star Batman & Robin.

Back in 1986, Frank served up his exquisite The Dark Knight Returns, telling the story of a retired Bruce Wayne who dons the Batsuit for the first time in ten years in order to rid the streets of the scum that’s risen up to pollute Gotham.

Upon returning to action, Bruce is soon on an inevitable collision course with a Superman who is now a government lapdog with orders to make sure that this Dark Knight doesn’t rise again.

Famously, the conclusion of The Dark Knight Returns sees Batman and Superman face off in a legendary battle. In a beefed-up Batsuit – and with some assistance from a one-armed, kryptonite-arrow-wielding Oliver Queen – the veteran Caped Crusader looks to have toppled his all-powerful opponent. That is, of course, until Bruce's heart stops beating.

It was no particular strike from the Man of Steel that was directly responsible, but the sheer intensity of this battle with Superman caused Bruce Wayne to take his final breath. Or so we were led to believe.

Before TDKR wrapped up, readers were let in on the the fact that Bruce had staged his own death in order to go into hiding and later resurface in Miller's 2001 The Dark Knight Strikes Again - where Superman would end up working alongside Wayne.