AndrewFriedrichs

English4222001
Dr.BrandonCostello
December8,2009
TheTensionofDifferingIdeologiesinBatman:TheDarkKnightReturns
In1986,apotthathadbeensimmeringfordecadesfinallycametoaboilwith
thepublishingofFrankMillersBatman:TheDarkKnightReturnsseries(hereafterreferredtoasjust
TheDarkKnightReturnsforthesakeofparlance).Decadeafterdecadefoundmature,progressive
comicsbeingrelegatedtoundergroundstatuswhilesuperheroesandothermorelightheartedandless
complexcomicsfarebyputoutbythemainstreampublishersremainedintheforefrontofthe
Americanconsciousness.FrankMiller,knownatthetimeforhisbringingmorematurestyleto
DaredevilforDCinthelate1970sandearly1980s,wasgiventhedutyofbothpencilingandwritinga
newBatmanstoryinthemid1980s.Uponpublication,peoplerealizedthatMillersworkhadchanged
theboundariesofwhatcouldbedonewithasuperherocomic.Notonlywasoneofthemajor
superheroesshowninamuchmorematurelight,butMilleralsohadtakenadvantageoftheplatformto
craftastoryfilledwithcommentaryoftheerassocietyandpoliticsininnovativeways.Formany,this
treatmentofoneofthe20thcenturysAmericanculturaliconswasthebirthofthecomicsuperheroas
anactualrelevantworkofAmericanliterature(regardlessofhowlegitimateearliercomicsworkswere
asliterature).MillertookadvantageofthedarkernatureofBatmansGothamCity,inparticularthe
darkernatureofBatmansoriginstory,tocraftanarrativewithmanyelementsbasednotonlyonsocial
andpoliticalcommentary,aspreviouslystated,butalsopsychologyofBatman/BruceWayne,andof
othercharacters,liketheJoker,CommissionerGordon,andCarrie,thenewRobin.Thesignificanceof
suchamaturenarrativeaswellasgraphicalstylewasnotlostonthegeneralcomicindustry,asMila
BongcopointsoutinReadingComics:Language,Culture,andtheConceptoftheSuperheroinComic
Booksthatthisdoomandgloomwouldbecopiedandbecomeandalmosttypicalmarkofmodern
comics(Bongco175).
AhallmarkoftheworksofMiller,andthereforepartofthematuretheminghe
broughttoTheDarkKnightReturns,istoexploreideologicalconcepts.Despitethis,Bongcoargues
thatthispresentationisnotoneofthestrengthsofMillersseminaltreatmentoftheBatman,thatinfact
oneoftheweaknessesofTheDarkKnightReturnsisthefactthatthisideologicaltensionisunresolved
andnotthoroughlythoughtout(Bongco169).However,itremainsthatoneofthemajor,ifnot
primary,tensionsofTheDarkKnightReturnscomesnotfromaclashbetweenthenewlyreturned
Batmanandanoldenemy,likeHarveyTwoFaceDentortheJoker(thoughtheydoindeedclash,on
bothcounts,allowingMillertograntsomeofthehallmarkvillainsoftheseriesabitoftheirown
psychologicaltreatment),butinsteadtheatfirstawkwardandlaterviolentclashingbetweenthe
ideologiesofBatmanandhisoldallyfromMetropolis,Superman.Millerbringstwoheroeswho,atthe
time,hadbeenstuckinthepastintothemoderndayandhebringstheirbaggagealongwiththem(ina
timebeforethemajorheroeshadthebaggageandangstseenfrequentlytoday,likeintherecentfilm
SpiderMan3).Hetransplantsbothheroesdecadesintothefuturefromwheretheircontemporary
representationshadspentthevastmajorityoftheirtime,neveragingandneverchanging.Bongcoargues
thatthiselementoftimeistheprimarytensionofthestory(Bongco152).Conversely,itcouldbe
arguedthatthiselementoftimeonlyaddstothetensionofclashingideologiesasthetwodiscoverthat
theiroldbeliefsandthoughtpatternsarentdirectlycompatiblewiththemoderntimes,andthey
consequentlystruggletoadapt.TheresultingtensionsleadtotheclimaxofthebookandallowMillerto
notonlyexplorejustwhattheideologiesthatdriveBatmanandSupermantrulyare,butalsoallowhim
tousetotakethesuperherocomictoanewlevelandcreatesocialcommentaryfromit.
InordertoaddresstheideologicaltensionthatdrivestheplotofTheDarkKnightReturns,
itisnecessarytofirstexaminetheideologiesheldbythetwofigureheadsofthework.Today,thecomic
bookaudienceisquitefamiliarwiththepsychologicalandangstdrivenaspectsoftheBatmanuniverse,
somethingalmostentirelyduetoTheDarkKnightReturnsspresentation.However,priortoMillers
treatmentofthework,BruceWayne/Batmanwasaspoiledplayboyturnedcrimefighterwhose
universewasknownmoreforitscampandhomoerotictendenciesthananypsychologicalthemes
(Brooker158).Miller,however,wasthefirsttochallengethisconcept,andhedidsorightatthestart
ofTheDarkKnightReturns.Intheopeningofthework,weseeBruceWayneracingina
somewhatfuturisticcarrace.Pushingtheboundariesofthecar,hedisablesthecomputerthatwas
keepingthecarfromcareeningoutofcontrolandmanuallyguidesthecaracrossthefinishlineasa
blazingfireball,aflamingcoffinforBruceWayne(Miller10).AdeathfittingofBruceWayne,a
highprofilecrashinthemostspectacularfashion,...but,Waynesays,notgoodenoughforBatman,
ashebailsoutatthelastsecond(Bongco153,Miller10).TheGothamCityMillerpresentsuswithhas
beenwithoutBatmanforalmostadecade,sincethedeathofJasonTodd,whohadbeenservingas
Robin.Thecityissufferingamassiveheatwave,desperateforsomerainseeminglyparallelingtheheat
waveiscrime,includingbrutalmultiplemurders,runningrampant,gettingoutofcontrol.Infact,the
bookpointsoutthathighschoolstudentsconsider[Batman]amyth(Miller11).Heisoutofthe
publicconsciousness,andsocietyhasevolvedwithouthisguardianship.But,asweseeintheincidentin
therace,BatmanisstillverymuchaliveintheheartofBruceWayne.Heknowsthathewasnotmeant
togooutwithoutacause,afight.Later,weseeWaynewalkingtothespotwherehisparentswere
murderedinfrontofhimasachild,thewellknowncatalystforBatmansgenesis,markedbyasingle
lamppost.WaynecommentsthatheislearningtohateGothamCity,thatthesocietyseemstohave
givenup(Miller13).Wecanseeinjustthefirstfourpagesofthebooktheseedsthatwillleadtothe
ideologicalconflictbetweenBatmanandthesocietywhichheoncewastheguardianof.Thestormthat
GothamCitydesperatelyneedsiscoming"likethewrathofGodit'sheadedforGotham"(Miller27).
Laterinthefirstchapter,wefirstseethemomentwhenBrucefirstseestheBat
thathemodelshimselfafter,whomhecallsthefiercestsurvivor,whowasunwillingtoretreatas[his
fellowbats]did(Miller19)foreshadowingsomeofthelaterconflictinideologybetweenBatmanand
Superman.Thisincidentissoonfollowedjusttwopageslaterbyamomenttomomentrecollectionof
theviolentcatalystinhisuseofthatimage,hisparentsmurderatthehandofapettycriminal.
Witnessingthisforgestheideologythathecarriesinhim,thespiritthatrefusedtolethimdiethegood
deathinthecarwreck.AsWaynerelentstotheanimalstirringinsideofhim,as"impressionsofthepast
mixwithcrimesofthepresent"Millerequatesittothecomingthunderstormthecityisembracingtoend
theheatwave(Bongco155).ThemediafueledapathyofGothamistheheatwave,andherecomesthe
storm,theforceofnature,toeradicateit(Bangco153).Batmanhasreturned,andwithhimhecarries
anideologybornofmurder,fear,andconfusion.Ashethinkstohimselfwhiledirectlyfighting
Superman,Myparentstaughtmea...lesson...lyingonthestreetshakingindeepshockdyingforno
reasonatalltheyshowedmethattheworldonlymakessensewhenyouforceitto(Miller192).We
see,throughthecourseofthebook,thatBatmansideologyappearstobeoneofidealjusticehe
carrieswithhimaninnatesenseofrightandwrong,andisunwillingtocompromiseonthatpoint.Time
andtimeagaininTheDarkKnightReturnsBatmanclasheswithforcesofthegovernment,which
eventuallyescalatestoallouthandtohandcombatagainstmultiplepoliceofficers,ashepursuesthe
justicehefeelsnooneiswillingtopaythepricefor.Supermanrecallsatonepointaconversationhe
andBatmanhad,yearsbefore,inwhichBatmansaidwithalaugh,Sure,werecriminals...weve
alwaysbeencriminals.Wehavetobecriminals(Miller135).Tohim,thereisnooneconcretelygood
andconcretelyevil.Thereisnocompromisingtowhatisconvenientinthecurrentsocialclimate.
ThoughuptothispointBatmanwasseenasaforceofgoodwhoworkedin
collaborationwiththepolice,Batmanactsdirectlyagainstwhateversortofpreconceptionswemay
haveinthatregardneartheendofthestory,andrecruitstheremnantsofagangthathebrokeupearlier
inthestory,theMutants(nowcallingthemselvestheSonsofBatman)tofightcrime,successfully.Yet,
throughallofthat,Batmanstillwillnotkillevenarmedwithagunatonepoint,hesimplyusesitto
incapacitatethepersonholdingthechildhostage,notactuallykillingtheman(Miller6465),because
thatwillconflictwithhisideology.Justice,toBatman,ispreciseanddisciplinednotascarelessand
violentasafirearm.AsherecruitstheSonsofBatman,hetakestheirleader'sfirearmandbreaksit,
callingita"loud,clumsy,stupidthing"and"theweaponoftheenemy"(Miller173).Justice,toBatman,
ispreciseanddisciplinednotascarelessandviolentasafirearm."Ourweaponsarequietprecise.
...Youwillrelyonyourfistsandyourbrains,"hesaystotheSonsofBatman(Miller173).Batman
believesjusticeisnotjustsomethingtobesoughtitisalifestyletopracticedindiscipline,seenashe
declarestotheSonsofBatman,"Tonight,wearethelaw.Tonight,Iamthelaw"(Miller173).
Alternatively,Superman'sideologiesareentirelydifferentobviouslytheyarenot
explorednearlyasindepthasBatman's,yettheystillareequallyimportant.DespitewhatBangcosays,
theclimaxofthestory,hintedatthroughoutalargemajorityofthebook,occurswhenSupermanfinally
comestoattempttohaltBatmanfromcontinuinghisvigilanteoperations(169).Millerpresentstous
that,likeBatman,Superman'sideologiesoriginatewithhisparents.However,insteadoftrauma,Batman
impliesthatSuperman'sideologiesarisefromhisMidWestAmericanupbringing."Yousoldout,Clark.
...Justlikeyourparentstaughtyouto"(Miller192).WhatlittleinformationMillerpresentsinregardsto
theseaforementionedideologiesisfoundinlittlesnippetsshowinghimworkingforthegovernment
throughthecourseofthebook,aswellasinternaldialogue.Forexample,throughamultipanelexcerpt
inChapterII,weseetheAmericanflagtransformthroughsomecleverdrawingintothe"S"creston
Superman'schest,asheandthepresidentdiscussthesituationonGothamCity,andhowSupermanis
neededtointervene(Miller84).Themostimpactfulofthesemomentsaretheoneswhichdepict
SupermanwarringagainsttheUSSR(whichatthetimeofTheDarkKnightReturns'soriginal
publicationwasstillinexistence),notablythepanelwhichshowsSupermansinkingseveralnavalships,
includingamassiveaircraftcarrier(Miller139).Whenthesemomentsaretakeninonthewhole,we
begintoseeexactlywhatMilleristryingtosayareSuperman'sideologies.Insteadoftheidealjustice,
SupermanisdrivenbytheidealAmerica.
Batmanmentionsitlateinthebook,andwecanseeitclearlySupermanwas
raisedbytheKentfamilytobeanupstandingAmericancitizen.Thoughthecharacterhimselfwasnotas
involvedaspropagandaasBatman(inordertomaintaintheideathatthewarissomethingtobeableto
overcome)duringtheWWIIeraandthosethatfollowed,weknowthatSuperman'ssloganis"truth,
justice,andtheAmericanway"(Winkler39).Here,Millerhasturnedthat180degreesSupermannow
standsfortheAmericanwayfirstandforemost.Astheworldaroundhimhaschanged,Superman
remainedcommittedtoupholdingtheAmericangovernment.However,theAmericangovernmenthas
evolvedintosomethingfardifferentthantheorganizationthatSupermanoriginallysupported.Now,as
weseehimcarryouttheseviolentactsmurders,really,killingsoldiersinatimeofwarinsupportof
theAmericangovernment,weseehehasbecomeapuppet.Indeed,heisseenonlyinsilhouettewithhis
trademarkredcapeineachofthesepanels,saveone(Miller135,139).Occasionally,weseehis
emblem,butonthewholeweseeMillerrepresentingSupermanasthepuppethehasbecometohis
ownideals,havingcompletelylosthisidentitytotheideologythatheheldontoforsolong.
Therearetwomajorscenesthatclearlyanddirectlydemonstratethedifferencesin
ideologiesbetweenBatmanandSupermanthefirstistheparodicalandoverthetopscenefeaturing
ClarkKentvisitingBruceWayneinthecountry,ridinghorsestogether.Kentisdepictedasthesymbol
oftheidealmale,withhisfootproppeduponrock,hisshirtunbuttonedtothewaist,andsurroundedby
colorfulbutterflies,showntodominatethepanel.Kentbeginstryingtobeataroundthebushandreason
withWayne,butWaynerefusestorespond.Waynethenanswers"Nobodycanmakeyoudoanything
youdon'twanttodo,Clark"(Miller119).Kentresponds,"Thesearen'ttheolddays,Bruce....It'slike
this.Soonerorlater,somebody'sgoingtoordermetobringyouin.Somebodywithauthority"(Miller
119).AsKentsaysthis,Ahawkfliesacrossthebackgroundcarryingarat(andwereadlaterthat
Batmansays,"Somerodentsfly"[Miller172]),blatantlydepictingtheconflictthatwillsoonrise.The
secondsceneis,obviously,theconflictthewholeworksomewhatbuildstowards,especiallyinthefinal
twochapters.BatmanawaitsSupermanwhodescendssilhouetted(againthepuppetimagery)withtraps
setinordertoleveltheplayingfieldmostnotablyBatmanhasdonnedapowersuitthatistappedinto
thecity'spowersupplyviathelamppostatwhichhisparentshadbeenmurdered,theverylocationin
whichhisideologieswerefirstformed.(Miller190).Thestageforthebattleofideologieshasbeenset.
Astheyfight,Batmanofferssomefurthercommentaryonthesituationviainternaldialogue."Wecould
havechangedtheworld...now...lookatus...I'vebecome...apoliticalliability...andyou...you'rea
joke"(Miller194).BatmanseesthathestandsinthewayoftheAmericangovernmentandfindsnothing
unsatisfactorywiththathefeelslikeitishisdutyasamantostandupfortheidealjusticeheholdsso
dear.Batmanevencommentsonthis,thinkingtohimselfasSupermanappealstohimbeforethey
actuallyengageincombat,"'Yes'Youalwayssayyestoanyonewithabadgeoraflagnogood...
It'swaypasttimeyoulearnedwhatitmeanstobeaman"(Miller190).Becausehestandsupforwhat
isjust,inthefaceofanycircumstanceheistherealman,whileSupermanissimplypanderingtoanyone
withtheposition,regardlessofrightorwrong.Heseesthatsocietyneedstomovepastitsrelianceon
whatisconvenientandmoveontowhatisright.
DuringandafterWorldWarII,America'sstockcouldnothavebeenhigher
trulyitwaswidelyseenasthemostpowerfulnationintheworld.However,astimepassed,America,
especiallyintheglobalclimate,becamelessandlessinvincible.TheColdWar,Vietnam,andallthe
othermyriadofdetrimentalissuesthataroseforAmericafacedtookaslightchipofftheshinyAmerican
veneerthattheworldhadfallensoinlovewith.Yet,insideAmerica,societybecamemoreandmore
insulatedfromexternalinfluence.Moreandmore,mediabegantoshapepublicopinionthedailynews
becamethebeginningandendofpeople'scareers.Also,themediaandthegovernmentworked
togethertotransformtheideaofpatriotismthe"Americanway"thatSupermanupheldintotheideal
America,fromanationtothisideathatwastotedaroundondisplayasthecrowningachievementof
humansociety,blamelessandinvincible.Miller'srepresentationofAmerica,bothinthewaythemedia
helpsdrivethestoryforwardaswellhisrepresentationofnotjustthegovernmentbutthewaythe
president,clearlyPresidentRonaldReagan,interactswiththemedia,clearlycommentsonthissituation,
thisidealAmericathatmanyholdintheirheadsastruth.NeverbeforehasSupermankilledbefore,and
yethereheis,killingthousandsofenemytroopsinforeignmissions.Hehasbecomeawillingpuppetof
thegovernment,justliketheflagandthepatrioticvaluesthatheldAmericatogetherfortwocenturies
havemoreandmorebeenmanipulatedintotoolsforpopularopinioncontrol.Millerpresentsthisideaof
agovernmentoperatedidealhero,andthenclearlycontrastsittoBatman'sblatantunwillingnessto
compromiseinhisideologicalversionofjustice.It'sobviousthatMillersideswithBatmaninthis
contrastheseemstobesayingthattheidealjusticeisn'taboutAmericabutinsteadthatitpermeatesall
ofhumanity.Batman,Millerseemstobesaying,isaheroforalltimes.