Dark Knight Strikes Again Hot Gates

The Night Knight Strikes Once more
Encompass of the merchandise paperback Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Cover design by Chip Kidd.
Publication data
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited series
Publication date	December 2001 – July 2002
No. of problems	three
Main character(s)	Batman Superman Catgirl Lex Luthor Brainiac Dick Grayson
Creative team
Created by	Frank Miller Lynn Varley Todd Klein Bob Kane Bill Finger
Written by	Frank Miller
Artist(due south)	Frank Miller
Colorist(s)	Lynn Varley

Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again , as well known as DK2 , is a 2001-2002 DC Comics iii-issue limited series comic book written and illustrated by Frank Miller and colored by Lynn Varley, featuring the fictional superhero Batman. The series is a sequel to Miller's 1986 miniseries The Dark Knight Returns. It tells the story of an aged Bruce Wayne who returns from three years in hiding, training his followers and instigating a rebellion against Lex Luthor'due south dictatorial rule over the Usa. The series features an ensemble bandage of superheroes including Catgirl, Superman, Wonder Adult female, Plastic Man, The Flash, and the Atom.

Overview [edit]

The series was originally published as a three-consequence limited serial published by DC Comics between November 2001 and July 2002. Information technology has since been published every bit hardcover and paperback one-volume editions and equally the Absolute Nighttime Knight edition with The Nighttime Knight Returns. Like its predecessor, this story takes place in a timeline that is not considered canonical in the current DC Comics continuity.^[1]

Synopsis [edit]

Frank Miller's cover to The Dark Knight Strikes Again #1.

After going underground, Batman (Bruce Wayne) and his young sidekick Catgirl (formerly Carrie Kelley—Robin) train an army of "Batboys" (the former Mutants and other recruits) to salve the world from a law dictatorship led past Lex Luthor. In a series of raids on government facilities, Batman's soldiers release other superheroes—including Atom, Wink and Plastic Man—from captivity. Elongated Homo is recruited and Green Arrow is already working with Batman.

Superman, Wonder Adult female, and Captain Marvel have been forced to piece of work for the US government, as their loved ones are existence held hostage. Superman is ordered by "President Rickard" (a calculator-generated front for Lex Luthor and Brainiac) to stop Batman. He confronts Wayne at the Batcave, simply Batman and the other superheroes defeat him. Meanwhile, Batman's raids have been noticed by the media. Subsequently being banned for years, the freed superheroes have recaptured the public imagination and have become a fad among the youth. At a popular concert past "The Superchix", Batman and the other heroes make a public appearance urging their fans to rebel against the oppressive government.

During this time, rogue vigilante Question spies on Luthor's plans and types a periodical to tape the misdeeds of those in ability. Question tries to convince the Martian Manhunter—now an aged, bitter, about-powerless figure with his mind filled with Luthor's nanotechnology—to stand upwards against Superman and the regime. Question and Martian Manhunter are attacked past a mysterious human resembling the Joker, who is seemingly invulnerable to injury. Martian Manhunter sacrifices his life and Question is rescued past Green Arrow. The mysterious human being escapes to kill other superheroes including Guardian and Creeper, stealing their costumes and wearing them.

An extraterrestrial monster lands in Metropolis and begins to destroy the metropolis. Batman is convinced that it is an try to lure him and his allies out of hiding and does not respond, dismissing Wink's appeal that they are supposed to save lives. Batman's opinion is that information technology is too risky to relieve the lives of the populace. Superman and Helm Curiosity fight the monster, which is revealed to be Brainiac, who coerces Superman into defeat using the bottled Kryptonian city of Kandor equally leverage, to crush the people's organized religion in superheroes. Helm Marvel is killed defending citizens from the carnage but Superman is saved when his daughter Lara appears. She has been advisedly hidden since birth, simply, at present that the authorities knows she exists, they demand that she exist handed over.

Deciding that Batman and his methods are the only fashion, Superman, Wonder Adult female and Lara bring together him. Lara pretends to hand herself over to Brainiac. Atom slips into the bottle and frees the Kandorians, who employ their combined heat vision to destroy Brainiac. The superheroes then destroy the dictatorship'due south power source and incite a revolution. Batman allows himself to be captured and tortured by Luthor to learn his plans. Luthor has launched satellites to destroy most of the world's population, leaving him with a more manageable number of people. The Green Lantern, who has turned into pure will, returns from infinite and destroys Luthor'south satellites. Luthor is in turn killed past the son of Hawkman and Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol).

Returning to the Batcave, Batman is contacted past Carrie, who is being attacked by the Joker-like human being and at present wearing a Robin costume. Batman arrives and recognizes the man every bit Dick Grayson, the outset Robin who Batman fired long ago. Grayson has been genetically altered to have a powerful healing gene and shape-shifting ability, simply is criminally insane. As Batman and Grayson contemptuously recall their bleak history together, Batman drops him through a trapdoor into a miles-deep crevasse filled with lava, while Elongated Man rescues Carrie. Grayson clings onto a ledge, climbs out of the chasm and faces Batman. When Grayson remains near unharmed past everything Batman throws at him, Batman hurls himself and Grayson into the chasm. Grayson falls into the lava and is disintegrated. Superman rescues Batman at the final infinitesimal as the Batcave explodes, and takes him to Carrie in the Batmobile.

Background and creation [edit]

In 2006, Frank Miller said of the cosmos process for The Dark Knight Strikes Again:

I was out to remind readers nigh the inherent joy and wonder these superheroes offer, and also to celebrate their delicious applesauce. I saw the superheroes as Gods and Heroes in the Classic sense ... I wanted to elevate these Gods and Heroes out of that musty museum they'd been stuck in and drag them back to the streets where they belong.

—Frank Miller^[2]

Characters [edit]

• Batman—Bruce Wayne's alter ego who is 58 years old and faked his death three years ago and continues to operate secretly equally Batman in 1989. He leads a rebellion against the corrupt U.S. government headed by Lex Luthor. Batman is a skilled and controversial strategist who makes decisions which result in deaths, which he considers necessary for the defeat of his enemies.
• Catgirl—Carrie Kelley, formerly Robin, is Batman'due south second-in-control.
• Lex Luthor—Luthor heads the U.Southward. government and uses a hologram of what the people think is the President every bit a figurehead. He controls powerful superheroes—including Superman, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman—past belongings their loved ones hostage.
• Brainiac—provides Luthor with the means to command the U.S., and hence the world.
• Superman—controlled past Luthor, who is holding the miniaturized city of Kandor hostage. Encouraged by his girl and Batman, Superman finally fights back and breaks his own vow non to kill.
• Wonder Woman—the youthful Queen of the Amazons who has a girl with Superman.
• Lara—The girl of Superman and Wonder Woman who has the powers of a Kryptonian and the warrior attitude of an Amazon. She has a poor opinion of people less powerful than herself and tries to persuade Superman to rise above the humans and possibly take over the world.
• Captain Marvel—now an old man, he still stands by Superman and Wonder Woman. Captain Curiosity is limited in his abilities because Luthor holds his sister Mary hostage. He reveals that he and Billy Batson were two split beings who switched places, and that Billy (who had e'er been sickly) had died around eight years ago. This rendered him incapable of merely switching out to recuperate considering there would be no 1 to telephone call him dorsum.
• "The Joker"/Dick Grayson—Having been emotionally driveling by Batman and sacked years before for "cowardice and incompetence", Grayson has submitted himself to radical gene therapy past Luthor and other villains. He has gained a powerful healing factor and shape-shifting ability, but was driven criminally insane. Throughout about of the story, Grayson takes on the advent of the Joker and the costumes of members of the Legion of Super-Heroes. His victims include Martian Manhunter, Creeper, the Guardian, and he near kills Carrie Kelley.
• Cantlet—trapped inside a Petri dish for over ii years, Ray Palmer is rescued past Carrie Kelley and becomes one of the first of the old superheroes to join Batman's rebellion.
• The Flash—coerced by threats to his wife Iris, Barry Allen is forced to run in a giant electrical generator before being freed by Carrie Kelley and the Cantlet.
• Elongated Homo—Ralph Dibny advertises sex drugs on television before joining Batman.
• Plastic Man—insane and rescued from Arkham Asylum, Eel O'Brian joins Batman'south grouping.
• The Superchix—an all-girl pop/superhero group consisting of a Black Canary lookalike, Bat Chick and Wonder Chick.
• Green Arrow—a communist, activist and billionaire with a mechanical arm, Oliver Queen has long been office of Batman's forces.
• The Question—fighting for Batman's cause, Vic Sage works mainly alone and tries to recruit the former Martian Manhunter. He spies on Luthor and his assembly, and distrusts technology and municipalization.
• Martian Manhunter—a victim of Luthor's nanobots, which have deprived him of most of his powers, J'onn J'onzz has become fond to alcohol and tobacco. He retains a precognitive sense which he uses to help Question.
• Green Lantern—Hal Jordan now lives with his own conflicting family in a distant function of the galaxy. He returns to Earth at Batman'southward request.
• Hawkboy—Hawkman and Hawkgirl's son who grew up with his sister in the Costa Rican rainforest. When their parents are killed past a military strike ordered by Luthor, Hawkboy intends to take revenge.
• Saturn Girl—a young, thirteen-year-one-time who can see into the futurity. She adopts the name and outfit of the 31st-century Legionnaire.
• Rick Rickard—the holographic puppet President of the Usa.
• U.Due south. Secretarial assistant of Land Ruger, Exxon and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Starbucks—members of Luthor's government.
• Militarist and Dove—Hank and Don Hall are in their old age. They try to accept upwards the tights again only to not go through with it as they used to fence all the time.
• Bat-Mite—Batman's old antagonist and co-founder of The First Church of The Final Son of Krypton., a lunatic fringe motion dedicated to worshipping Superman.
• Big Barda—a former pornographic actress called Hot Gates. When America descends into chaos, Big Barda declares herself dictator of Columbus, Ohio.
• Lana Harper-Lane—a television news reporter who is presumed to exist the daughter of Guardian and Lois Lane.^[3]

Publications [edit]

• Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2003-12-17 (hardcover^[4]), 2004-07-21 (trade paperback with bonus materials^[5])): Includes parts one-three.
• Batman Noir: The Dark Knight Strikes Once again (2018-03-28 (hardcover^[half-dozen])): Black and white print version of Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again 3-parts book.

Critical reception and sales [edit]

The Dark Knight Strikes Once more received mixed to negative reviews, with criticism focusing on its artwork, storyline, and character evolution.^{[vii] [eight] [ix]} Claude Lalumière of The Montreal Gazette gave the series a mixed review and said "the script lacks the emotional nuances of its predecessor, and ... the artwork is rushed and garish", and that it "has considerable chutzpah, simply its careless execution is regrettable".^[ten] Roger Sabin of The Guardian wrote that the series has "flashes of brilliance—few can control folio layouts like Miller—but in general the idea of the ironic superhero seems rather dated."^[11]

The first issue of "DK2" ranked #1 in December 2001 with pre-lodge sales at 174,339.^[12] The 2d issue of DK2 was ranked third in sales for the Jan 2002 menstruum with pre-social club sales of 155,322.^[thirteen] The final consequence of the series had pre-guild sales of 171,546 returning to #i for the month of February 2002.^[14] The comic had an in-shop date on July 31 of that same year.^[fifteen]

Discussing the negative reception for The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Frank Miller said in 2006: "I expected stupor. I wanted it. I never brand it my mission to reassure people. Time will make its own sentence."^[16]

Sequel [edit]

On Apr 24, 2015, DC Comics announced that Frank Miller was co-writing a sequel to The Night Knight Strikes Again with Brian Azzarello titled The Dark Knight III: The Master Race.^{[17] [18]} The series featured a rotating bandage of artists, including Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson.^{[19] [twenty]} Frank Miller subsequently confirmed that The Master Race would not exist the conclusion, and he was beginning work on a fourth series.^[21]

References [edit]

1. ^ Sanderson, Peter (Feb 6, 2006). "Comics in Context #119: All-Star Bats". IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
2. ^ "Frank Miller: I Stole From The All-time!". Archived from the original on June 25, 2006.
3. ^ Lander, Randy (December 3, 2001). "Dark Knight Strikes Over again #1 (All-time of the Week!)". The 4th Rail. Archived from the original on April fifteen, 2002. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
4. ^ BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN
5. ^ BATMAN: THE Night KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN
6. ^ BATMAN NOIR: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES Once again
7. ^ Lalumière, Claude (September 21, 2002). "The Night Knight Strikes Once again". Retrieved Baronial 30, 2012.
8. ^ Sanford, Jason (2002). "Review of The Dark Knight Strikes Again past Frank Miller". Retrieved June 3, 2018.
9. ^ Cheang, Michael (December 2, 2015). "Why does anybody hate The Night Knight Strikes Once again?". Retrieved June 3, 2018.
10. ^ Lalumière, Claude (September 21, 2002). "The Night Knight Strikes Again". Retrieved Baronial 30, 2012.
11. ^ Sabin, Roger (Dec 15, 2002). "Take a picture..." The Observer . Retrieved August xxx, 2012.
12. ^ "Top 300 Comics – December 2001". ICv2. Nov 28, 2001.
13. ^ "Top 300 Comics – Jan 2002". ICv2. January 2, 2002. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
14. ^ "Height 300 Comics – February 2002". ICv2. Feb 4, 2002.
15. ^ "Archived re-create". www1.cinescape.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2002. Retrieved January 12, 2022. {{cite spider web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as championship (link)
16. ^ "Frank Miller: I Stole From The All-time!". Archived from the original on June 25, 2006.
17. ^ "Superstar Author/Creative person Frank Miller Returns To Batman!". DC Comics . Retrieved July 19, 2015.
18. ^ "Frank Miller Returns With The Night Knight 3: The Chief Race". Newsarama.com. Apr 24, 2015. Retrieved July xix, 2015.
19. ^ "DC Entertainment Provides New Details For Dark Knight Three: The Master Race". DC Comics. July ix, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
20. ^ Wheeler, Andrew (July 9, 2015). "Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson Join 'The Master Race' (The Comic)". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved July nineteen, 2015.
21. ^ Osborn, Alex (Nov 17, 2015). "Frank Miller Says He'due south Returning For The Dark Knight 4". IGN.

External links [edit]

• Flak Magazine: Review of The Dark Knight Strikes Again, 11.08.02
• Peter Sanderson'south assay: Parts i, 2, and three
• Batman: The Nighttime Knight Returns and Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again discussed at sequart.com

gardnerdeshe2002.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Knight_Strikes_Again

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