One of the seminal deconstructions of the superhero genre is Frank Miller and Klaus Janson’s 1986 miniseries The Dark Knight Returns. The comics are set in the future where a middle-aged Bruce Wayne feels forced to come out of retirement and fight crime only to incur the wrath of his old foes as well as the Gotham police department, the United States government, and Superman. If you haven’t read it, go buy it right now.
But if you don’t feel like reading it, Bleeding Cool reports that an animated adaptation is in the works. The adaptation would be the latest in a line of animated films based on DC Comics following the recent All-Star Superman and the in-development Year One, the latter of which is also based off a famous Miller Batman comic. According to Bleeding Cool, “several veterans of Batman toons past will be on the crew list.” My question is how dark can they go with this adaptation. DKR isn’t exactly the bright sunshine of All-Star Superman. It will be interesting to see who will be writing the adaptation of Dark Knight Returns and how they’ll be adapting this classic comic. Hit the jump for a synopsis of The Dark Knight Returns.
Here’s the official synopsis for Frank Miller and Klaus Janson’s The Dark Knight Returns:
It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired, and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now, when his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory. Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest enemies, the Joker and Two-Face, for the final time, Batman finds himself in mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them will survive.
Post Title → Warner Bros. Developing Animated Adaptation of Frank Miller’s THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS?
