History ComicBook / BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns

* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse: ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' serves as a [[PragmaticAdaptation partial adaptation]] in addition to telling an original story.

A couple of elements from this story were borrowed by several adaptations:

A couple of elements from this story were borrowed by Creator/ChristopherNolan for ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', especially with ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises''. Even more elements of the story are said to be utilized in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse as far as that version of Batman is concerned, with ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' even serving as a [[PragmaticAdaptation partial adaptation]] in addition to telling an original story.

* DyingSmirk: Batman manages to defeat the Joker, leaving him physically paralyzed. The Joker mocks Batman one last time and proceeds to snap his own neck while laughing. When Batman incinerates the body, the Joker's smoldering corpse is still grinning...

TDKR is a seminal comic book work, with a gritty, unique style that's draped in the best of FilmNoir techniques. Batman is a bitter, angry figure who [[PrivateEyeMonologue narrates much of the story with philosophical musings]] and breaking down his methods. [[KentBrockmanNews News Broadcasts shed light]] on the political debates surrounding Batman's influence, positive and negative, on the criminal underworld. The art itself is moody and atmospheric, [[DeliberatelyMonochrome black and grey dominate every page]] and [[SplashOfColor the use of red and yellow are eyesores]]. It is often considered as influential as ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' in demonstrating the possible "[[TrueArtIsAngsty maturity]]" of the comic book medium, and, along with ''Watchmen'', it ushered in UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks (for good or bad). It was also highly influential in the DCU's recasting of Batman and Superman's relationship: no longer are they perfect friends, The World's Finest, but rather somewhat distant and distrusting (if respectful) of each other.

* In 1987 Miller did ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'' with David Mazzucchelli during his one-arc-long run in the main ''Batman'' book. Though it was supposed to be the origin of New Earth's Batman, WordOfGod says that it also serves as a prequel to ''Dark Knight Returns

* In 2001 and 2002, Miller produced a sequel, ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain''. It was more set ''around'' Batman than ''about'' Batman, being closer to a Franchise/{{Justice League|of America}} story or even a Superman story than a Batman story. Questionable artwork and story developments have made this one of the more controversial Batman stories to date.

* In 2019, a fourth book was announced titled ''The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child'', written by Miller once again and drawn by Creator/RafaelGrampa, which will be published under the rated-R imprint Creator/DCBlackLabel.

* In 1987 Miller did ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'' with David Mazzucchelli during his one-arc-long run in the main ''Batman'' book. Though it was supposed to be the origin of New Earth's Batman, WordOfGod says that it was written so that it could also serve as a prequel to DKR.

* In 2015 to 2017, a third volume titled ''ComicBook/DarkKnightIIITheMasterRace'' ran, co-written by Miller alongside Creator/BrianAzzarello.

* ImprobableAimingSkills: The ComicBook/GreenArrow is better than you at archery even with one arm... in the dark... in the rain... ''hanging upside down''.
** Also, whether you think Batman was aiming for the mutant or not, the gun he was firing was definitely not meant to be fired with one hand. He's lucky he didn't kill the baby himself.

-->'''[[spoiler: Joker]]:''' [[spoiler: You won't get far. But then, it doesn't matter if you do. They'll kill you for this. And they'll never know you didn't have the nerve. I'll see you hell!]]

* {{Forgiveness}}: Bruce Wayne has forgiven Joe Chill for killing parents, finally understanding that all he ever wanted was money before the situation escalated. In spite of this, his Batman mindset still wants to punish him for robbery and murder in general.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Robin kills. Batman mutilates. ComicBook/TheJoker's massacres are graphically portrayed. Creator/FrankMiller lays out his [[StrawmanPolitical grim feelings]] of [[{{Eagleland}} America]] for all to see.

* MadeOfIron: Subverted here.

* FatalMethodActing: InUniverse, The Joker makes his grand comeback by murdering everyone on ''The David Endochrine Show'', including David himself and Ruth Weisenheimer.

* DefeatingTheUndefeatable: [[spoiler:Batman beats Superman.]] Not without some trickery, but still.

* BrassBalls: {{Subverted|Trope}} by Byron Brassballs. With that name, you'd think he'd be an exemplar of courage, but he's really a complete asshole who [[JustForPun brazenly]] justifies his sociopathically self-centered behavior and actions in his interviews.

* TankGoodness: This version of the Batmobile, which would go on to be an inspiration for the Tumbler in Film/TheDarkKnightSaga. It's got treads. It's got armor strong enough that "the only thing I know of that can cut through its hide isn't from this planet." [[note]]He's referring to Superman, who proves the point in short order in the fourth issue[[/note]]. It's got machine guns. [[spoiler:"Rubber bullets. Honest."]] It's got at least two decent-sized artillery pieces. It takes up three lanes on the highway. It even has a gyro-stabilized medical bed and can be piloted home by Alfred. It's a god-damned Bat-Tank.

* DiesLaughing: [[spoiler:Joker]] laughs the entire time [[spoiler:he's twisting his head around to finish breaking his neck]], leaving a grin on his face as he dies.

* YouAreAlreadyCheckedIn: A detective shows up at a crime scene and talks to Police Chief Yindel. Then he walks away. Then he shows up, coming from the other direction. Yindel points at the departing cop and goes "stop that man!". The next panel is him leaping onto the Batcycle.

* BigBad: The US President, who [[TakeThat bares more than a slight resemblance]] to then-current President UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan.

* {{Deconstruction}}: Batman's tactics spur debates on toughness on crime, while Superman's idealism makes him an ideal government cat's paw. The story also deconstructs many elements of Batman's mythos, particularly his potential insanity, as well as showing what kind of [[CrapsackWorld world]] would make Batman not only possible, but necessary.
** Superman is heavily deconstructed as well, especially the characterizations from the 1950s onward where Superman was written as a model citizen and patriot. The character's morals are portrayed as being too rigid and simple to stand up to the messy complications of reality, such as what a law-abiding patriot is supposed to do when given orders from a senile and self-centered president. The numerous covers depicting Superman fighting in World War II are also reexamined by showing the consequences of Superman going to war and just how ugly that would be.

* DoesntLikeGuns: Played straight at first in issue 4, as Batman invokes the trope in his speech to the Sons of the Batman:
-->'''Batman''': *''breaks a shotgun in two with his hands''* This loud, clumsy, ''stupid'' thing... this is the weapon of the enemy. We do not need it. We will not use it.

* FashionableAsymmetry: The newscaster Lola Wong always wears asymmetrical earrings, plus [[AnimeHair she has a triangular hairstyle]] that is much higher on one side than the other.

--> He shows me what a fast kick is. Something explodes in my midsection. Sunlight behind my eyes as the pain rises.

---> '''Reporter''': Police phone lines are jammed with citizens describing what appears to be a siege on Gotham's underworld... [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome by the Batman]].

'''Newscaster''': The rest of the Mutant leader's statement is unfit for broadcast.

** When the Mayor tries to negotiate with the Mutant Leader, Gordon has one just before [[spoiler:the Mutant tears out the Mayor's throat. With his teeth.]]

* PunchClockVillain: The President notes he really doesn't really ''want'' to bring the Batman down, saying he'd have given him a medal in younger days, but all the chaos and public outrage over his one man war on crime is forcing his hand. Likewise, Superman is not happy about much of what he has to do but does the job nonetheless.

* RealityEnsues: Batman's first fight with the Mutant Leader - a hulking, feral, bloodlusted brute with filed teeth and claws in the prime of his life. Batman gets badly mauled and beaten and is only saved by Carrie Kelley's intervention.

* SpitefulSpit: After [[spoiler:the Joker's death]], Batman pauses just long enough to spit in the face of his corpse before making his getaway.

* SuccessSymbiosis: Once Batman had retired, so did the Joker. [[spoiler: And once he comes out of retirement, The Joker follows suit.]]

* TotallyRadical: See FutureSlang, above.
** Played for laughs when Carrie reprograms the Bat-Copter to accept verbal commands from her. In ''slang''.

* WouldHitAGirl: Yindel is the only cop fast enough to escape the trap Batman sets for them in the Tunnel of Love. So Batman breaks her nose and glasses.