It had been several years since I last read this widely revered graphic novel. As such, I decided to dive into it to see if it holds up as well as the comic book community thinks it does. To be honest, I was going into this with something of a negative attitude. As I don't really care for Frank Miller's portrayal of Batman, I was all ready to come out with a negative view of this book. I was expecting it be a prototype for all the flaws that would permeate his later works.
On the contrary, the book is actually quite good. It's not perfect, mind you. Miller's interpretation of Batman still rubs me the wrong way for a lot of reasons (mostly the fact that he gets a, perhaps too, sadistic joy out of what he's doing), but it is still a good read and there is a lot to like about it.
I found the first half of the book to be much stronger than the second. The focus is on Batman and his influence on Gotham. It all works out very well, but then the book decides to try and tackle bigger issues and that's where the book loses me.
One of the biggest weaknesses, for me anyway, was Bruce's dynamic with the larger DC Universe. It doesn't feel right, like it's forced. This isn't much of a problem for a majority of the book, but the final act where Batman and Green Arrow team up for the "long awaited showdown" doesn't seem like something either character would do. I know that Superman and Batman butt heads on occasion, but they never showed this level of contempt for one another.
Beyond that, my only complaint is that a lot of the great stuff doesn't seem to get enough time. The return of the Joker was handled brilliantly. These two characters have had an oddly symbiotic relationship for years and this really hammers in that idea. The idea that Joker would go into a comatose state after Batman disappears is actually quite brilliant and having him come back just by hearing that the Dark Knight has returned really solidifies the idea that these two need each other, or at least that Joker needs Batman.
The book isn't a door stopper, but it is pretty dense. Each page has a lot of panels and a lot of dialogue boxes to read through. You can get through it in one sitting, but I think it would help to take advantage of the chapters and break it up a bit. Even if it is pretty enjoyable, arc fatigue starts to set in after a while.
One of the biggest criticisms of Frank Miller's work is his portrayal of women. While some of that does come into play here, it is a lot more balanced. Yes, Selina's a prostitute and Lana has put on weight, but Carrie's a good character; a bit undeveloped maybe, but she works out well enough. The police commissioner who replaces Gordon, while an antagonist in the sense that she doesn't like Batman, is tough without going into straw-man territory and she has very good reasons for not putting up with Batman's shenanigans.
The book has its problems, but it holds up well, all things considered. It still stands as a bookshelf staple for any comic collector. If you haven't yet, I'd say that it's definitely worth a read.
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