Customer Reviews

Absolute Dark Knight

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I still remember with stunning clarity when Dark Knight burst (and it did burst, big and bloody) onto the comic book scene. I bought the original 4 issue Prestige Format mini-series, bought the soft-cover collection, bought the hard-cover (a rarity in those days), and was lucky enough to win a signed-and-number special edition of the hard-cover as well. Even had the poster.

That was the impact the series, and the vision of Frank Miller, had on me.

And I couldn't be more thrilled to finally own the Absolute Edition.

It should be noted that 2 very different stories are contained in this edition, the ground breaking Dark Knight Returns of the 1980s, and the more controversial Dark Knight Strikes again of the 2000s. My rating is actual 5 Stars for DKR (a rating I seldom, if ever, give to anything), and 3 for DKSA. This review will focus on the former rather than latter.

Story - The original series deals with Batman coming out of retirement to reclaim his place in legend and to deal with a world spiraling more and more out of control. This is one of the best stories I've read in any medium, with the plot and pacing working in perfect synchronicity with dialog that doesn't seem as much written as channeled. 20 years later, and the quotes still fill my thoughts. Miller fires on all cylinders here, in one stroke eradicating the plague-filled shadow of the Adam West Batman, and creating a vibrantly dark icon for the generation to come. Through the four chapters, we see the Dark Knight return to face an old nemesis in Two-Face, a new threat in the Mutant gang, the parallel return of the Joker, and a final showdown with Superman. It's a scary, almost fascist future, but Miller brilliantly counter-points it all with very human emotion.

Art - Dark Knight marks an artistic departure for Miller. Similar to the departure he took, also post Daredevil, in Ronin, this is not the typical 80s comic art. Miller's figures here are simplified but not simplistic, and have a very real sense of weight and space about them. While they may not be rendered as cleanly or perfectly, they tell the story with great success, and show Miller as a person still growing and experimenting as an artist, even as he hits the height of his skills. Klaus Jansen inks, and Lynn Varley provides what, at the time, were a whole new level of color and color-design to the work.

Bonus - Most Absolute Editions provide considerable bonus material, and this is no exception. Included here are the original outline for what became background material in Dark Knight, and the core of Batman Year One. Script pages and pencils are also shared, along with work for the many covers and even DC Direct toys.

All in all, one of the most important works of the latter 20th century is finally given the Absolute treatment is so richly deserves.

A must for any collection.

I'm sorry that I have to be the little skunk at this garden party. I can not share the enthusiasm for this edition which many reviewers have expressed. In fact, I discourage you discriminating collectors from buying this, as it is notably flawed.

I was compelled to buy this by the publisher's product description which claimed that it "set the standard for high quality." As a book collector I love buying these ultra-deluxe editions of all types of subject matter. Recent examples in the comics genre would include: The Deluxe Edition of Frank Miller's Sin City; The Complete Far Side; The Complete Calvin and Hobbes; The Completely Mad Don Martin. Each of these sets is packaged in a very impressive manner: cloth-bound; slip-cased; tipped-in plates on the covers, super-high quality paper. I presumed this Absolute Dark Knight was going to be be in this same spirit, and given the high price (even when discounted by Amazon) I was confident the book would exceed my expectations for quality.

Alas, I was wrong. This large, heavy book is bound in a shiny-paper cover, just like the covers you had on your Dr. Suess books x-number of years ago. These covers get dinged up very easily and look cheap and cheesey from day one. The slip case? It is also covered only in thin shiny paper, and if this book gets any real usage at all it will look like garbage very promptly. And, with the heavy weight, this book is particularly susceptible to damage because when you bump it, there is more inertia behind it. And the torque pulling on the binding and spine from merely reading it is considerable. This production concept MANDATED quality construction, and the idiots who produced it are hoping the majority of consumers are not scrutinizing enough to note, or care about, the compromises. And it is further infuriating when you realize this malfeasance was motivated merely by the desire to shave a few bucks off the production costs.

I should admit this issue of cheap book-making is a huge one for me, and I think once people make the distinction it is a big issue for them as well. Cloth covers (or "buckram," as they are often called), will last for decades even with heavy use. As the cover ages it even takes on some character which arguably enhances the book, or at least it does not detract. With the cheap paper-covered cardboard covers used on so many books nowadays, the cover get scraped, dented, dinged, and otherwise degraded in an amazingly short time. If you spend any time in used-books stores, or on Advanced Book Exchange (abe.com), you can see the difference in appearances, and dollar values, displayed vividly.

If they had put a quality cover on this it almost certainly would have become a highly-valued collectable ten or twenty years from now. But, no, they cut a significant corner, and instead this will probably be only of nominal value. Or, perhaps, it will be of virtually no value if they get around to doing it right in an upgraded edition which really does deliver the quality which the subject matter deserves. Meanwhile, I'm sending this right back to Amazon.

Frank Miller's THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS redefined the superhero for an entire generation, and has had a deeper and more profound impact on the way comic book heroes are perceived by the general public than any other single work. This edition presents this seminal tale in a deluxe, oversized format that does the material justice. Collected also is the inferior but still compelling sequel, THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN. This follow-up, coming out over a decade after the original, is a work that is initially puzzling, but grows in stature with subsequent readings. Marred by some clearly rushed artwork and amateurish computer coloring, the story still draws some interesting conclusions about our current media-drenched society. Copious amounts of ancillary materials from both works are presented, giving the reader some insight into Miller's creative process. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.

A one-two punch of a set in one amazing volume. There are examples of a medium that so much represent the best there is that it transcends the traditional audience. The Dark Knight Returns, the first of two volumes in this set, is such a work. The 15-years between it's sequel, The Dark Knight Rides Again, seem to change the momentum. While it is sometimes fun and always interesting, it is merely a ride-along compared to the first volume. Bottom line, this is worth it alone for The Dark Knight Returns- the sequel is just icing.

There are two odd omissions here- one was the Frank Miller Batman:Year-one story and the other was his Batman x-mas short.

A well put together bundle of both the classic and the new graphic novels with a few extras. Very Impressive packaging (coffee table worthy).

I'm very pleased with my purchase. Item arrived very quickly and was packaged very well. A plus to my book collection.

First I want to state that I love the "Absolute" presentation format. This product is great. The oversized printing, the beautiful coloring, and the extras make it worth getting the Absolute edition.

The Dark Knight Returns is one of the most influential(to the comic book industry) graphic novels ever released. The sequel which is also included is not as good but that is like saying The Deposition is not as good as the Pieta (look them up they are gorgeous). The Dark Knight Returns and Again are must have for any comic collector and the presentation of this edition does the story justice.

Interesting if you like the Dark Knight Movie then you should read this graphic novel and the Long Halloween. The Long Halloween is clearly the inpiration behind the Dark Knight Movie.

Well this is the first batman comic i ever picked up. There are some others now on my list, but this one was a fantastic read. Frank Miller really knows how to make batman one dark character. Can't believe how lucky i am to have picked this one up.

First half of the book, i was really empressed, how gritty and grungy everything looked and went so well with the mood miller was setting. The story was fantastic, although recruiting a new robin when your really that old, kinda makes you wonder. Made me laugh really, seems robin always has to be someone young. So batman can um, mold them properly and what not ;-).

Second half of the book was great too, but not as great, made batman look like more of an A-hole. As well as making some of the other dc characters who appear look naive, whiny and push over (ya im talking about superman, you'll find out why if you read it)

I have to say that the art at times was funny, wonder women really looked like a tranny who hadn't gotten the rest of her plastic surgery done. It cracked me up everytime she appeard.

Anyway, for any batman fan, or any person who's a comic fan, this is a great addition to any collection. I love the absolutes, this one goes well with my Absolutes (kingdom come, crisis of infinte earths, Authority 1,2) I look forward to purchasing more of the absolute comics!

This visionary work of art is among the finest Batman stories I've ever read, and among the finest works of literature I've ever expeirienced. It's complex reflections on human nature, phscology, duality, what citizens owe to society and what it means to be a hero mixed with politics and social commentary make it ambitous, gripping, and meaningful.

Here, Miller virtually reinvents Batman for modern times, first in the 80s then in the 2000s, creating a masrvelous timpiece. The diolouge is beautiful, and the art and coloring unparralled.

Ultimately, I would reccommend this to anyone.

Pretty much the perfect presentation of one of the best Batman Stories ever told (The Dark Knight Returns), and one of the most controversial (Dark Knight Strikes Back!), with lots of extras like promo art and oversized so you can better appreciate the artwork.

My only complaint is it's too heavy to read comfortably when sitting on the can.