A knight to remember graphically

BOOK review

ABSOLUTE DARK KNIGHT

Frank Miller

Titan Books, £34.49

UNDER the creative direction of British filmmaker Christopher Nolan, the relaunch of the Batman film franchise has been largely inspired by American graphic novelist Frank Miller's iconoclastic take on the caped crusader, The Dark Knight Returns, first published in 1986.

Ahead of the release of the new blockbuster, Miller's graphic novel – and its 2001 sequel The Dark Knight Strikes Again – has been repacked as a slipcase edition containing two oversize hardbacks. Absolute Dark Knight blows up Miller's artwork from comic book to coffee table format, and the two volumes' combined 512 pages include more than 60 pages of pencil art and commentary on the development of the two graphic novels by Miller.

Re-reading the books, it's apparent just how innovative, provocative and political Miller's treatment of the famous superhero was, and, moreover, how his re-mythologising of Batman still feels cutting edge 22 years on. Set in a Gotham City located firmly in Reagan-era America, The Dark Knight Returns recasts its cloaked crime-fighter as an ageing vigilante whose methods have become ever more extreme faced with the breakdown of society and a dictatorial administration that employs Superman as a super-soldier in the still raging Cold War. Having supposedly been rehabilitated, the Joker plays a significant role in the proceedings, with Miller taking their symbiotic relationship to its logical conclusion.

Taking place three years on from the first novel, but set against the backdrop of pre– and post-9/11 America, The Dark Knight Strikes Again sees Batman transformed from vigilante to terrorist as he goes to war with the Bush administration. With Superman and his fellow Justice League of America heroes blackmailed into inactivity by a criminal cartel run by the man of steel's perennial foe Lex Luthor (here the power behind Dubya, who's a computer-generated fake), Batman gathers a squad of superheroes to overthrow the government.

Both books share Miller's radical vision, anarchic attitude, satirical humour and bleak view of our times. The author's next book sees the caped crusader take on al-Qaeda. Published this year, it's called Holy Terror, Batman!