THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Sales Gain Major Boost After BATMAN/SUPERMAN Announcement

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS Sales Gain Major Boost After BATMAN/SUPERMAN Announcement

Similar to how the SDCC announcement for The Avengers: Age Of Ultron led to an increase in sales for Marvel's comic book of the same name, sales for Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns have gained a major boost following the news of its influence on the Batman/Superman movie.

News
By PaulRom - Aug 12, 2013 02:08 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: Variety



When director Zack Snyder announced at San Diego Comic-Con last month that he will helm a Superman/Batman film, he said that Frank Miller's classic graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns would "inform" the team-up's storyline. This was made apparent (most obviously) by heavy implications of the two iconic heroes battling and rumors of an older Caped Crusader being featured. As a result, the miniseries has gained a massive boost in both digital and print sales. DC Comics has confirmed (via Variety) that digital sales for the graphic novel have increased 161% in July (a much larger percentage than in June), and Bookscan says that the print edition has had a similar rise. This is a comparable story to sales for Marvel's "Age Of Ultron" comic book story arc increasing following the announcement of the name being the subtitle for Marvel's sequel to The Avengers (which hits theaters May 1st, 2015).

Set to begin filming early next year (reportedly in Toronto) for a Summer 2015 release, Warner Bros.' untitled Batman/Superman movie currently stars Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane. Zack Snyder is directing from a script written by David S. Goyer.

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Reviewscrub72
Reviewscrub72 - 8/12/2013, 2:09 PM
Of coarse they do..... FVCK U DC! Why couldnt you just take your time -.-
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 8/12/2013, 2:11 PM
Such a great book but I still believe a poor source of inspiration for this film.
CaptainObvious
CaptainObvious - 8/12/2013, 2:15 PM
I'm probably in the minority of people who think this comic is overrated. Don't get me wrong, it's still good and worth checking out, but the media commentary is annoying and expository and Miller's obvious hatred of Superman in this book turned me off.

However, I should be glad this comic was made before an alien parasite worked its way into Miller's brain and destroyed everything that made him a rational human being.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 8/12/2013, 2:21 PM
BlackJack10

Neither has reports of a younger Batman.
StrangeBlackPantherDoctor
StrangeBlackPantherDoctor - 8/12/2013, 2:23 PM
Book is amazing and so is the Animated version.
TheAbomination
TheAbomination - 8/12/2013, 2:24 PM
Unless some of that dough is going into my pocket, I don't care.
Cass
Cass - 8/12/2013, 2:24 PM
Think it sounds like a great place to draw inspiration from a film. Maybe a little further down the line than Batman's introduction. But even so, im looking forward to it.
Cass
Cass - 8/12/2013, 2:25 PM
*from FOR a film.
Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 8/12/2013, 2:26 PM
Snyder may use a few lines but other than that I think the movie will be mostly it's own animal.
SnapperCarr
SnapperCarr - 8/12/2013, 2:27 PM
A good Batman book, awful Superman book, not a good source of inspiration for a movie.
ManofSteel23
ManofSteel23 - 8/12/2013, 2:28 PM
I would never read this,despite maybe having a good story,I cant read comics when the art work is a bit shite
Battabing
Battabing - 8/12/2013, 2:29 PM
I'm laughing my ass off at the people who bought and actually read The Age of Ultron! That shit was terrible!

Disney should be discouraging people from looking into that. Hell, Whedon's already come out and said ignore that comic!
marvel72
marvel72 - 8/12/2013, 2:31 PM
just people jumping on the band wagon.
Sosa4693
Sosa4693 - 8/12/2013, 2:31 PM
i rememeber miller saying he regretted doing the story because everyone started doing dark and gritty comics.i fear that the movie audience and studios will soon want only dark and gritty films.
IAmNotGr00t
IAmNotGr00t - 8/12/2013, 2:35 PM
I already read Dark Knight Returns don Comixology twice, but when it was announced I hurried to get the trade of it in paperback because I knew this would happen and I wanted a copy of it. I got it for like $6 on Amazon new, and now a little over a week later its $10. The price might not go up a whole lot, but i'm glad I got my copy cheap. This book is great, but its overrated I think, and to be honest I think the same of Year One. Don't get me wrong, I love both of these books, but I think they are overrated. I think books more like The Long Holloween and Dark Victory are a lot better. Just a personal preferance.
plasticman
plasticman - 8/12/2013, 2:36 PM
I agree Mr. Frog. But if you really look at it, there is a new genre of darker and grittier comics and then you have your lighter hearted fare that I am not ashamed to show my children. (not Archie comics, either)The same is with the films. But I understand what you are saying. We all want a Batman/Superman movie, but can we at least avoid the dark gritty tone? I think it would sell better if they did avoid that.

There is an easy answer to all of this...add Plastic Man to the story line. lol
Tevii
Tevii - 8/12/2013, 2:36 PM
This could be a great movie AFTER the 3rd Justice League installment, but not before they establish a cohesive Cinematic universe. Bad move ONCE AGAIN Warner Bros.

I wonder if the announcement also booseted the Animated movie sale.

and I wonder if the success of the animated version somehow influenced some of the decision to make this movie similar.

Its really too bad they ghad to fall back so quickly on Batman rather than let Superman gain some traction first.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 8/12/2013, 2:36 PM
Movie better be [frick]ing good.
Minghagz
Minghagz - 8/12/2013, 2:37 PM
Of course it does plus it's like the best comic ever
ConnerKent
ConnerKent - 8/12/2013, 2:39 PM
The Dark Knight Returns is good, but I do think it's a tad overrated. Maybe it's just because I'm a Superman fan first, and Miller's dislike of Superman is obvious in this story.
But it is definitely not a good inspiration for the new movie. I hope they look at other stories.
Tevii
Tevii - 8/12/2013, 2:39 PM
Anyone who thinks this book is overrated doesnt take into account the landscape of the comics industry at the time.
Sure compared to todays standards it might seem overrated, but its historical significance cant really be debated.

Without this book, we might not have the level of comics we do today. This book and Watchmen paved the way for everything.
MarkV
MarkV - 8/12/2013, 2:40 PM
Don't screw this up Snyder. I feel like his love of TDKR might distort an otherwise original, and interesting film.
mctrinket
mctrinket - 8/12/2013, 2:43 PM
The Dark Knight Returns is the closest thing to a modern classic we have and is single-handedly responsible for not only reclaiming Batman from the campy Adam West '60s tv show--but also launched the modern age of comic book film adaptions.

Glad to see it getting some love.
mctrinket
mctrinket - 8/12/2013, 2:47 PM
And anyone who thinks TDKRs is "overrated" is probably too young to remember what a gamechanging, radical, mindblowing, seismic event that book was when it first came out--TDKR (along with Watchmen) made modern comics what they are today. Everything that came after was (and arguably is) derivative of those two books.
DudeGuy
DudeGuy - 8/12/2013, 2:49 PM
all they did was read a quote from Batman and everyone is acting like its an adaptation. Clueless people.
OldBenKenobi
OldBenKenobi - 8/12/2013, 2:50 PM
Yeahhh I'm with the two or three other people that weren't blown away by TDKR. It was good, but personally I by far prefer what I've read of Loeb and Sale's work on Batman over Miller's. But I do appreciate the way he set the stage for comics today. Too bad he's kinda crazy now.
mctrinket
mctrinket - 8/12/2013, 2:53 PM
Also: is there another comic book that has had it's intro written by Stephen King? It's just sort of sad some people do not "get" it. I am guess they are just too young to know any better--the comics you are reading that you claim are "better" would not have been possible without Miller's TDKR. They owe everything to him.
OldBenKenobi
OldBenKenobi - 8/12/2013, 2:54 PM
@Mctrinket well, while most of that is true, I gotta say that when I read Watchmen I didn't think it was overrated in the slightest. It's actually the best comic series I've ever read. While I may not totally get the context of TDKR, I feel more like it just wasn't my cup of tea.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 8/12/2013, 2:55 PM
Yea I feel TDKR was really, really great. I love other books but there's something about this one. I just love how Bruce is battling his demons. His demons saying to return as the Bat. Battling to not go back out but when he does he is reborn. He is alive again.

I just [frick]ing love that book too death but I just don't want it as an influence for this film since it's a Superman film and I can see why Superman fans dislike the book and how it portrays Superman.

Still I believe that book is genius.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 8/12/2013, 3:01 PM
Also the future for Harvey Dent. How he was changed. How he gave it mirrors how Bruce gave in. Both Bruce and Harvey were weak and they gave into Batman & Two-Face and that line. I see a reflection.

Also with Joker. How even after all Batman says it ends tonight, Batman couldn't kill him. Batman could never kill Joker. And the Joker laughs at him. Mocks him saying he's weak. He gave in.

Great book Goddamn it.
OldBenKenobi
OldBenKenobi - 8/12/2013, 3:07 PM
@Levi Well shit. Those comments alone make me want to give it another try...
subzero1077
subzero1077 - 8/12/2013, 3:11 PM
Worst graphic novel ever. Superman is not a government puppet!
JettJagguarrr
JettJagguarrr - 8/12/2013, 3:13 PM
OH CRAP!!!.......I THINK I SOLD MINES 4 MONTHS AGO....SSSSHHHHIIIITTTTT!!!!
USAgent
USAgent - 8/12/2013, 3:18 PM
Of course, one of the best stories out there. The animated movies are great too
Cartoon22
Cartoon22 - 8/12/2013, 3:25 PM
DC:Marvel are bring out blockbusters . WHAT TO DO? DC: just add batman to superman 2 lol
Abary
Abary - 8/12/2013, 3:25 PM
WAIT.......... Filming in Toronto!?!

I'm 4 [frick]ing hours from Toronto!!! If they don't change it I'll be visiting set.
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