History YMMV / BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns

* OnceOriginalNowOverdone:
** Having Batman and Superman forced into a battle to the death was far more shocking to audiences in 1986 than it ever could be today, since, up to that point, the two had always been portrayed as the best of friends. Since then, the stark contrast between Superman's idealism and Batman's pragmatism has become an essential part of their character dynamic, and it's traditional to depict them as complete {{foil}}s who have difficulty trusting one another.

** The depiction, manner and philosophy of the Mutants are frankly eerily similar to the more abusive "Anonymous" cells online. This is referring to the steal-your-identity-and-send-you-death-threats type of Anonymous and not the imageboard type of Anonymous.

** The fanbase likes to debate over whether or not the edit to the hostage scene was justifiable (edited to where Batman disarms his opponent as opposed to shooting her directly.). Supporters argue that it '[[CharacterRerailment fixes]]' Batman's character and is more consistent with the rest of the story, since later panels show Batman as against using guns, and detractors argue that it [[{{Bowdlerise}} bowdlerizes the scene]], doesn't fit Frank Miller's [[AntiHero characterization]] of [[SociopathicHero Batman]] and dilutes the effectiveness of his BondOneLiner.

** The fanbase likes to debate over whether or not the edit to the hostage scene was justifiable (edited to where Batman disarms his opponent as opposed to shooting her directly.[[/note]]). Supporters argue that it 'fixes' Batman's character, detractors argue that it [[{{Bowdlerise}} bowdlerizes the scene]], doesn't fit Frank Miller's [[AntiHero characterization]] of [[SociopathicHero Batman]] and dilutes the effectiveness of his BondOneLiner.

* HypeBacklash: It's a very influential and popular comic that is still widely praised for its influence today and is considered one of the, if not ''the'' most iconic Batman story, naturally there are people who are turned off by the praise it received and don't think the comic is that good. Some fans are also annoyed by the popular narrative that this comic "saved" Batman and brought him back to his roots, since it overlooks the contributions of Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil, who had already brought Batman back to his roots and codified the modern image of him through their run in [[MediaNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks the '70s and early '80s]].

** Though it is mainly remembered for being a return to Batman's darker roots, many forget that the book focuses heavily on humor and is very satirical in nature. The difference between it and Dark Knight Strikes Again and All Star Batman and Robin, for many, is that The Dark Knight Returns might have a lot of comedy but it's balanced with an earnest character study of an older Batman and his last encounters with those most important to his mythology. For many, the sequels go too far into the comedy and satire without balancing out with the earnest loving look at superheroes to be as enjoyable.

* FranchiseOriginalSin : Though it is mainly remembered for being a return to Batman's darker roots, many forget that the book focuses heavily on humor and is very satirical in nature. The difference between it and Dark Knight Strikes Again and All Star Batman and Robin, for many, is that The Dark Knight Returns might have a lot of comedy but it's balanced with an earnest character study of an older Batman and his last encounters with those most important to his mythology. For many, the sequels go too far into the comedy and satire without balancing out with the earnest loving look at superheroes to be as enjoyable.

* HypeBacklash: It's a very influential and popular comic that is still widely praised for it's influence today and is considered one of the, if not ''the'' most iconic Batman story, naturally there are people who are turned off by the praise it received and don't think the comic is that good. Some fans are also annoyed by the popular narrative that this comic "saved" Batman and brought him back to his roots, since it overlooks the contributions of Neal Adams and Dennis o'Neil, who had already brought Batman back to his roots and codified the modern image of him through their run in [[MediaNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks the '70s and early '80s]].

* HypeBacklash: It's a very influential and popular comic that is still widely praised for it's influence today and is considered one of the, if not ''the'' most iconic Batman story, naturally there are people who are turned off by the praise it received and don't think the comic is that good. Some fans are also annoyed by the popular narrative that this comic "saved" Batman and brought him back to his roots, since it overlooks the contributions of Neal Adams and Dennis o'Neil, who had already brought Batman back to his roots and codified the modern image of him through their run in [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks the '70s and early '80s]].

* HypeBacklash: It's a very influential and popular comic that is still widely praised for it's influence today and is considered one of the, if not ''the'' most iconic Batman story, naturally there are people who are turned off by the praise it received and don't think the comic is that good.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Despite Carrie Kelley not having a large role in this comic beyond being Batman's sidekick and being far less prominent in the ''Batman'' franchise compared to Dick, Jason, and Tim, she is one of the most beloved Robins to ever take up the tights due to being the first female Robin (and until Stephanie Brown briefly took up the tights during the main comics, only female Robin), her PluckyGirl attitude, and her genuinely heartwarming bond with Bruce. Unsurprisingly, as a result of her popularity, she would finally (albeit briefly) make her way to the main DC Universe with the ''ComicBook/New52'' as one of Tim Drake's friends (albeit not as Robin, outside of a brief MythologyGag where she dons the Robin costume during a Halloween party in one issue)[[note]]However, this did not last and she would only appear in three issues before [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse never appearing again]]. According to interviews, this is reportedly thanks to Frank Miller himself, who is highly protective of the character and [[DisownedAdaptation hated her inclusion in the mainline comics]], to the point of making DC [[ExiledFromContinuity ban her from appearing in anything outside of his work]][[/note]].

** ''The Dark Knight Returns'' and ''The Dark Knight Strikes Again'' presents Batman as a dangerously obsessed, deeply disturbed, paranoid {{control freak}} who is possibly a mentally ill SociopathicHero as opposed to the stalwart Caped Crusader of the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden]] and [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver]] ages and the Adam West series. This interpretation is touched on DependingOnTheWriter and sometimes it is the basis for whole story arcs.

* AudienceColoringAdaptation: The story is not part of the main DCU, but as Creator/AlanMoore noted, it was so good and compelling, that it has influenced the Batman mythos ever since it came out. Many fans like to think that Batman can beat Superman just because of this alternate universe story even if that's not really what the fight is about. The comic has more or less codified a set of tropes that seeped into everything: Batman as an obsessed TragicHero whose mission will alienate him from his friends, partners and loved ones, whose brand of justice would be, and ''should be'', viewed with suspicion by society, and that he and Superman inherently disagree with each other, and will never be more than VitriolicBestBuds, or as close as they were in UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|OfComicBooks}}.

* GenreTurningPoint: ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' is generally credited as one of the works (''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' being the other) which officially ended UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks and brought about UsefulNotes/{{The Dark Age|OfComicBooks}}. Alternately, it's seen as a key story that played a part in the development of UsefulNotes/{{The Iron Age|OfComicBooks}}.

* HilariousInHindsight: This came decades before the meme actually started, but take a look at this quote:
--> '''Mutant Gang Member''': [''after being attacked by a bat''] It's just a [[ComicBook/AllstarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder Goddamned]] [[GoddamnedBats bat]].