#tdksa

There are so many lines to that extent scattered across the whole saga. There's Selina Kyle in Year One, lamenting how she "never met a real man" and therefore hates men. (Because, see, being a REAL MAN, that's what's IMPORTANT. A REAL one, not one of those fake-os!) There's Wonder Woman, who calls men "sperm banks" in what's probably the most ludicrous panel in all of ASBAR, but falls for Superman, who is a moron, but who is strong enough to knock her off her proud Amazon ass. 

All-Star Batman And Robin #5. Make sure to pay close attention to all the text if you like to ROFL.

And then she instantaneously gets pregnant from his super-sperm when they have earth-shattering sex (in TDKSA), 'cause of course she does.

The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Book 2. I cut out the part where they actually move the earth by having sex, because it is multiple pages long, but you get the idea.

Then there's Bruce's entire inner monologue when he goes up against the mutant leader in TDKR (which is essentially a battle for dominance) about how the mutant is a young man but Bruce is an older man and men men men men manly men.

Bruce getting into the specifics, The Dark Knight Returns, Book 2.

And there's the sick burn from the mutant leader about how Batman "should go back to his women", and groan. (There's a whole other issue here with Miller's attitude towards women, obviously, but I'm not sure where to even start with that, so I'll put a pin in it for now.)

There's an entire essay you could write about the unintentional homoeroticism inherent in all of this, but I think I'll let everyone draw their own conclusions because that shit pretty much writes itself. Basically, Frank Miller maps out a world that's so strictly heterosexist and homosocial (thanks for that word, Nathan G. Tipton!) that all you're left with is relationships of men with men and men with boys and Boyz II Men. (With Carrie as a standout, maybe. I'll get to that.)

On the other hand, there's also a whole thing with top villains being coded as effeminate or queer – the Joker, and later Dick Grayson, who also becomes the Joker. Their queerness challenges Bruce's stoic manliness, therefore they need to be vanquished. Obviously there's a lot going on here.

The Dark Knight Returns Book 3, also why does that dude look like Charlie Chaplin/Hitler GUYS I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

Dick's last stand, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Book 3.

Needless to say, I love the blatant homoeroticism in the Dark Knight saga. That it's mostly unintentional and probably penned by a homophobe only makes it even more delicious. On the other hand, Frank Miller himself has said that Batman would be healthier if he was gay. So that happened.

Carrie interrupts Bruce pondering Dick while getting his ass beaten to death, The Dark Knight Returns, Book 2.

Away from the whole gender bias, there's also lines like Gordon's about how Batman "is a giant amongst pygmies" (in TDKSA), at which point I sprout leathered wings and fly out the window spewing fire. There's just this overall disdain for the "mediocre" and the "weak" in this that I find really uncomfortable. It's almost like that line in Team America where someone says that the world can be classified into "dicks, assholes, and pussies", and the pussies get fucked by dicks, but the dicks also fuck assholes, and then the assholes shit on everyone. Come to think of it, it's kinda very much like that.

The basic idea Frank Miller has (or had, at some point) is actually a positive one: that every person, if they so decided, could become "great", and a hero, and do remarkable things and make the world a better place. This is represented through Carrie Kelley in TDKR, and when the citizens help each other out during crisis, also in TDKR.

Carrie's first outing as Robin, The Dark Knight Returns, Book 2.

Gordon and the Gothamites putting out fires, The Dark Knight Returns, Book 4.

But this idea becomes so deeply steeped in ridiculous machismo and bravado that Batman, who I suppose should stand for it, becomes a flat-out fascist (in TDKSA) or a walking rage boner (ASBAR). While at the same time remaining a really interesting guy, in my opinion.

Batman has a lot of great lines in the Dark Knight saga, he has a dark, acerbic wit, and he's actually a fully realized character, he just so happens to be an awful, awful person. And a sad person at the same time, too. He has bent his own body and mind to his will, and he expects the whole world to bend in accordance. He is, according to Superman, "the mean one, the sadistic one". And it works for that 'verse; but you can argue if this is what you want Batman to be or not.

There's this whole thing where all the DK books are practically raging against authority (the police, the government, SUPERMAN THAT BIG BLUE BUFFOON WHAT HAS *HE* EVER DONE), while at the same time trying to install Batman as the ultimate authority, because great men trump small minds, and that's what I mean when I say fascism.

The whole "too big" thing, The Dark Knight Returns, Book 2.

Batman sticks it to the man, is the man, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Book 2.

So in short (L-LOL), the Dark Knight saga is really interesting, with occasionally great set-pieces and dialogue (Batman's confrontations with both the Joker and Superman in TDKR are fantastic, his showdown against the police in Year One is fantastic), but it's set in a world that makes me deeply uncomfortable. For anyone who wants to read, here's a handy little chart that rates them on a Miller-specific scale of coherency, fascism, and how much of an asshole Bruce is.

Batman: Year One (1987)

Depicts Bruce's humble beginnings as Batman, introduces Gordon and Selina. Very coherent, not fascist, Miller!Bats at his most sane and least assholish, where he's still learning the trade and cares about people & saves cats.

The Dark Knight Returns (1986)

Bruce comes out of retirement to face off with some of his old enemies, a gang of mutants, and Superman. A brave girl named Carrie Kelley becomes the new Robin. Coherent, well-plotted, only kinda fascist, Bruce is an acerbic asshole but he's also kinda fun & his relationship with Robin is endearing. Sexual tension between Batman and Superman is off the charts. Miller's hate boner for Superman also strong.

All-Star Batman And Robin, The Boy Wonder (2005)

Gritty re-imagining of Dick Grayson's origin, where Batman kidnaps him and then puts him through hell in order to keep him from grieving. The one with the rats. Bruce and Dick swearing at each other like you'd never thought you'd see. Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Black Canary drop by. Barely coherent, with a timeline that makes no sense, no ending, also no fascism but an extra-dose of mean-spiritedness. Bruce is an enormous asshole, but he also has the best one-liners, and he comes to care for Dick.

The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2001)

Bruce operates from the shadows to bring down a corrupt, totalitarian regime that's protected by Superman, who has become a helpless puppet. Full-on incoherent, practically imploding with hate and spite, super fascist, Bruce is a stone-cold asshole (still loves Carrie though). Miller's hate boner for Superman explodes, blows its load all over everyone.

If you ask me which of these I would recommend, I would say "all of them". Even though only Year One and TDKR are hailed as great comics, and for good reason. ASBAR is an OTT trainwreck, and TDKSA is the equivalent to dropping acid and then listening to a pundit for three hours. But as unhinged as they are, they are never boring, and put forth some interesting ideas even in their worst moments.

And sometimes, Superman carries a car across the ocean while super pissed, All-Star Batman And Robin #4

I never found Year One or TDKR as mind-blowing as people described them to me, but I understand why they would've been mind-blowing when they came out, because nobody had ever deconstructed poor, noble Batman like that. Ultra-dark, teeth-gnashing, on-the-edge Batman seems stale now, because he's been done so many times, but this is where it started, folks. And unlike the imitators, Miller did give his Batman an actual psychology and asks some really difficult questions about what it takes to be him. You don't have to agree with him (I don't), but he paints a grand picture, even if his stuff might not have aged that well.

Grant Morrison has called the Dark Knight saga an opera, and I think he is right. It's grand, operatic, over the top, packed with some great visuals and genuine emotion, and a dark humor that's so grim that you're not even sure if it's intentional or not.  And for something that peddles manly stoicism so hard, it's actually really flamboyant. And that's why I love it despite hating many, many pieces of it.

And for those who were actually kind enough to read all this, here's Bruce tossing Selina a cat, Year One Book 3.

I feel like I have written a gazillion words now and barely scratched the surface, so - in the interest of keeping this from balooning further, I will post a second part, where I try to actualfax address your questions, and write about Carrie as Robin (and a bit about women in Millerverse in general), and some more on characterization.