Batman Graphic Novel

The first Batman graphic novel that I added to my comic book collection was Batman:The Killing Joke.

In this graphic novel is one of the best classic Batman versus Joker confrontations ever. In this graphic novel the Joker is even more diabolical than ever. The Joker starts to go after the loved ones of Commissioner James Gordon and Batman.

In the a classic scene in the novel Barbara Gordon, the Commissioners daughter and secretly the Batgirl, opens her homes door to find that the Joker is there and he shoots her crippling her for life. Barbara is no longer able to walk thus ending her career as Batgirl.

Of course this sparks the Commissioner and Batman to hunt down the Joker once and for all, putting an end to villainous reign.

IN the end the Joker is caught and sent back to Arkham Asylum, and for Commissioner Gordon and Batman things are never the same.

What happens to Barbara? Glad you asked. She come to grip with her disability and makes herself into the all seeing Oracle and leader of a group of vigilante women called the "Birds of Prey". In the DC universe she becomes a pivotal character in her own right, assisting many of the DC comic book characters in their fight against injustice and crime.

One of the best, agruably, is Frank Miller's Batman:The Dark Knight Returns.

Frank Miller is one of those comic book gurus of our lifetime. He is responsible so many great and pivotal comic book runs in history.

I first learned of Frank Miller from his work with Daredevil, a Marvel Comics character. Then I see him again as the writer and creative force behind Robocop. Of course you may know him from his work on the movies "Sin City", "300" and recently "The Spirit".

So when Frank lent his hand to a Batman graphic novel you knew it was going to be an instant classic. And, in my opinion, that is exactly what Batman:The Dark Knight Returns is...an instant classic.

Set in the future, Bruce Wayne has given up his cape and cowel and has "settled down" to old age. But the forces of crime prevent him from being retired too long. He again dons the familiar Batman cape and cowel begins anew his thirst for justice in this future world.

He takes on a new Robin in this novel, this time Robin is a blond girl.

Batman's campaign brings the government down on him and they send their best agent after him to stop his war. The agent is none other than Superman. IN a classic superhero battle Batman fights Superman to what is seemingly Batman's death. At Batman's funeral as they are burying Bruce Wayne, Superman (dressed as Clark Kent) hears Bruce's heart restart.

In the ending sequences you see Bruce training the new Robin to battle crime and injustice.

Of course, several years later there is a sequel to this story, but not as griping or poignant as the first, but Frank does a good job with it bringing in other DC characters like the Atom.