I Just saw Dark Knight Returns Part 1, and it has now become my – wait for it – second favorite animated dc cartoon. Possibly one of the best comic book film adaptations there is. It is quite brilliant. They don´t pull any punches, in this adaptation, it is faithful to the dark, gritty and gloomy world presented in Miller´s landmark original.
The dark atmospheric jungle arena that is Gotham is frightening to the extreme; the Gotham we find ourselves in is a maze of bland popular opinion, a media saturated dystopia, where big brother has become the impotent voice of lost Liberals, and ideologues, disoriented and confused by the sprawling modern city, it´s desensitized youth and the lack of a unified morality guide them.
The liberals and their talk of reforming the criminal Mutants has become mere rhetoric, with no realistic ways of implementing their vision so as to protect the citizens of Gotham from their Generation X tormenters. But where decadent elected officials, and, The Media have failed, a single man, on a tireless crusade for justice may succeed.
This is Miller´s ultracool classic; his hyperrealist, Rightwing, social satire faithfully reimagined. The imagery and action is cool. The voice acting as engaging as ever. The characters well rounded and each symbolizing perfectly, one side of Millers satirical arguments.
A character that particularly stands out, and, did so also in the comic is the head psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum, who is dedicated to the notion that Batman´s carnival of Rogues can somehow be traced back to Batmans vigilantism. His very presence inspires madness. So he posits the fascinating hypothesis that perhaps, it is the Batman ´s own pathological crusade for justice, that is transforming these tribe of lost souls into the Joker´s and Two- Faces of the world. It´s a very interesting argument, which is brilliantly reflected in Bruce´s mental break down in the beginning of the movie. Literally hearing voices and seeing visions of Bats beckoning him to the fight.
All in all, a very watchable and enjoyable movie that should satisfy comic book fans and film fans alike.
Also, I think in the next installment we´re in for a Joker, that may well be a contender for the definitive interpretation. Just saying, sorry Mr. Ledger.
Top 10 DC graphic novel titles I´d like to see next
10
Would love to see this version of Wonder Woman animated, it´s a great modern wonder woman story to get people excited about her as a character again.
9
Earth One run on Batman and Superman would go well as a companion piece, exploring alternative and modernized origins of the character. They´d be great postnolan trilogy and with the upcoming man of steal.
8
DC/VERTIGO´s Sandman was one trippy ride, and if they ever made a faithful animated movie out of it, I think it may well be one of the best of all time.
7
If you´ve never heard of Hitman Tommy Monaghan, you should really look it up. He´s a creation of the comic genius Garth Ennis. The feel of the comic is like a cross between Sin city, Batman and a Quentin Tarrantino flick. He´s basically a hitman, so skilled at what he does he now takes contracts on Super powered people or Super villains alone. He won´t take out anyone he considers a good guy though. He hangs out in the slums of Gotham at a Irish Bar, which is where he makes his shady deals. In the first run of his comics, his origin story as such, we meet him having just got a contract to kill The Joker in Arkam Asylum, while he´s persude by Batman, and a gangster who happened to be a Siamese twin, whose attached brother Tommy killed. So he´s having quite an interesting day. Would be funny as hell.
6
A great classic and a brilliant addition to the Superman mythology, Superman Birthright is a very engaging piece, and would be fantastic way to wet our appetite in the run up to The man Of Steel.
5
I love the film, but Alan Moore ´ s contemplative revisionist super hero history may actually fair better as a 3 part anime. Here´s hoping.
4
A cool 80s take on Wonder Woman origin story. It has a lot of the sneeky politics of the Greek Gods, which would be really cool for an anime.
3
Batman: The killing Joke is another seminal piece in the Batman Mythology. It is got a very cool Joker in it.
2
Brian Azzarello´s Joker and Lex Luthor would make for some pretty original anime´s if you ask me. I´m not sure they´d be brave enough to do it, but as companion pieces I think it would be risky, but really fun comics to adapt.
1 JLA/Avengers [Paperback]
[frick] it, we´re never going to see it in a movie, so why don´t Marvel Animated and DC get together just once, and bring us a kick ass DC versus Marvel anime mashup. Now that would be the one.
I haven´t read nearly enough DC Graphic Novels, so let me know if there´s any cool ones I missed.
Word to your mother ;)