History ComicBook / BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns

* SpotlightStealingTitle: ''The Dark Knight Returns'' was originally released as ''Batman: The Dark Knight'', with "The Dark Knight Returns" being the first issue's title.

* TankGoodness: This version of the Batmobile, which would go on to be an inspiration for the Tumbler in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''. 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.

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Rob and Don.

** After [[spoiler: Batman paralyzes the Joker, the latter decides death (especially once where he gets to frame Batman for it) is preferable to his current predicament and happily breaks the rest of his spine.]]

* ImAHumanitarian: One of the Mutant leader's {{Catchphrase}}s is his boasts that he will eat Batman's heart.
** The Mutant Leader also [[spoiler: rips out the mayor's throat with his teeth while in captivity]]. Was he trying [[spoiler: to eat him as well]]?

* IWasQuiteALooker: Selina Kyle didn't age well. [[spoiler:The Joker]] notices.

* SettingUpdate: In the original stories the version of ''The Mark of Zorro'' that Bruce saw as a child was [[Film/TheMarkOfZorro the 1920 version]]. Miller updated it to [[Film/TheMarkOfZorro1940 the 1940 version]], putting Bruce's birth date in 1932 and making him a man in his mid-50s by the time of the story.

* FatGirl: [[spoiler:'''Comicbook/LanaLang.''']] IWasQuiteALooker is averted, though, as her usual depiction is never addressed.
** Selina Kyle, the former Catwoman, has also put on some poundage, as The Joker rather unkindly points out.

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

* AsideGlance: Clark Kent gives one of his signature winks to the audience when he realizes that [[spoiler: Bruce is still alive.]]

* SidekickGraduationsStick: PlayedForDrama; Bruce and Dick Grayson haven't spoken in seven years at the story's onset, and this is used to indicate Bruce's post-retirement withdrawl.

In this storyline, Batman has been retired for ten years, alcoholic and consumed with grief after the death of Jason Todd, the second ComicBook/{{Robin}}[[note]]a full '''two years''' before "A Death in the Family," mind you[[/note]]. Franchise/{{Superman}}, still as young and handsome as ever, has become little more than an icon, answering to the government and trying to stay as neutral as possible. Commissioner Gordon is weeks away from retirement, ComicBook/TheJoker has been silently locked away in Arkham for years, and ComicBook/TwoFace is about to be released back into the world with a brand new skin. In Batman's absence, and in the midst of a killer heat wave, Gotham City is overrun with crime, plagued by a monstrously violent gang known as The Mutants. After encountering a Mutant gang in the alley where his parents were murdered, Bruce Wayne resurrects Batman, aided in his renewed crusade by Carrie Kelley, a 13-year-old girl who becomes the third Robin. Defeating the Mutants, though, turns out to be child's play compared to what Batman faces next...

* InsaneTrollLogic: The Joker's psychiatrist uses this to argue that the Joker himself didn't commit his crimes, Batman did, ''through'' the Joker.

** Despite having been catatonic for a decade and his injuries, Joker has a distinct edge over Batman. The same Batman that fought his way through the a police SWAT team and stopped at Batcave only to get supplies to investigate Joker's plan for the county fair before finally catching up to Joker in one night. Not only is Bats on his second wind for their final battle, but he's making the same mistake he did with the Mutant Leader: he's letting his feelings cloud his judgement against a much calmer opponent.

* VillainInAWhiteSuit: Traditionally the Joker is a SecondaryColorVillain with green hair, a purple suit, and green/purple plaid accessories. After his release he dresses in a white suit, although he still has the green hair. Combined with the chalk white skin this gives him a ghostly, overexposed appearance.

* VomitingCop: Alluded to. After [[spoiler:ComicBook/TheJoker kills everyone at the TV studio]], somebody tells the commissioner that one of the rookies got sick and had to go home.

** Issue 1 deals with Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face again, serving as a mirror to Bruce’s internal conflict with the “Batman” persona who wants to live again. Dent’s fall coincides with Bruce embracing the Batman once again.

** Issue 4 finally has Superman whose subservience to the government runs opposite to Batman’s anti-authoritarian vigilante mindset.
* ArtEvolution: Miller's rendition of Batman starts off rather traditional if not bulkier. It's only as the book goes on that noticeable wrinkles start appearing on his face and his posture begins hunching over.
** Batman starts off more or less in the typical Neal Adams design with baby blue cowl and yellow oval around the symbol. After being beaten by the Mutant Leader, he switches a darker cowl and oval-less symbol, harkening back to the darker, more vicious version of the character from his pre-Robin years in the Golden Age.

---> '''Joker (inner dialogue)''': They could put me in a helicopter and fly me up into the air and line up the bodies head to toe on the ground in delightful geometric patterns like an endless June Taylor dancers routine -- and it would never be enough. No, I don't keep count. But you do. And I love you for it.

** Issue 1 deals with Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face again, serving as a mirror to Bruce’s internal conflict with the “Batman” persons who wants to live again. Dent’s fall coincides with Bruce embracing the Batman once again.