Jla Trial by Fire Dark Knight Strikes Again

The Nighttime Knight Strikes Once again
Cover of the trade paperback Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Cover design by Fleck Kidd.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited serial
Publication engagement	December 2001 – July 2002
No. of issues	three
Main character(due south)	Batman Superman Catgirl Lex Luthor Brainiac Dick Grayson
Creative team
Created by	Frank Miller Lynn Varley Todd Klein Bob Kane Pecker Finger
Written by	Frank Miller
Creative person(s)	Frank Miller
Colorist(s)	Lynn Varley

Batman: The Night Knight Strikes Again , also known as DK2 , is a 2001-2002 DC Comics iii-issue limited series comic volume written and illustrated past Frank Miller and colored by Lynn Varley, featuring the fictional superhero Batman. The serial is a sequel to Miller'due south 1986 miniseries The Dark Knight Returns. It tells the story of an aged Bruce Wayne who returns from iii years in hiding, training his followers and instigating a rebellion confronting Lex Luthor'south dictatorial dominion over the U.s.. The series features an ensemble cast of superheroes including Catgirl, Superman, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, The Wink, and the Atom.

Overview [edit]

The series was originally published as a three-effect express series published past DC Comics between November 2001 and July 2002. It has since been published as hardcover and paperback one-volume editions and equally the Absolute Dark Knight edition with The Dark Knight Returns. Like its predecessor, this story takes identify in a timeline that is not considered canonical in the current DC Comics continuity.^[1]

Synopsis [edit]

Frank Miller's cover to The Dark Knight Strikes Again #ane.

After going underground, Batman (Bruce Wayne) and his young sidekick Catgirl (formerly Carrie Kelley—Robin) train an army of "Batboys" (the former Mutants and other recruits) to save the world from a police force dictatorship led by Lex Luthor. In a series of raids on government facilities, Batman's soldiers release other superheroes—including Atom, Flash and Plastic Homo—from captivity. Elongated Homo is recruited and Green Pointer is already working with Batman.

Superman, Wonder Adult female, and Captain Marvel take been forced to work for the US authorities, equally their loved ones are existence held hostage. Superman is ordered by "President Rickard" (a estimator-generated front for Lex Luthor and Brainiac) to end Batman. He confronts Wayne at the Batcave, but Batman and the other superheroes defeat him. Meanwhile, Batman's raids have been noticed by the media. After being banned for years, the freed superheroes have recaptured the public imagination and have become a fad among the youth. At a pop concert by "The Superchix", Batman and the other heroes brand a public appearance urging their fans to rebel against the oppressive regime.

During this time, rogue vigilante Question spies on Luthor's plans and types a journal to record the misdeeds of those in power. Question tries to convince the Martian Manhunter—at present an anile, biting, near-powerless effigy with his mind filled with Luthor's nanotechnology—to stand up confronting Superman and the authorities. Question and Martian Manhunter are attacked by a mysterious homo resembling the Joker, who is seemingly invulnerable to injury. Martian Manhunter sacrifices his life and Question is rescued past Light-green Arrow. The mysterious man escapes to kill other superheroes including Guardian and Creeper, stealing their costumes and wearing them.

An extraterrestrial monster lands in Metropolis and begins to destroy the city. Batman is convinced that information technology is an attempt to lure him and his allies out of hiding and does not reply, dismissing Flash'southward appeal that they are supposed to relieve lives. Batman'south opinion is that it is too risky to save the lives of the populace. Superman and Captain Marvel fight the monster, which is revealed to be Brainiac, who coerces Superman into defeat using the bottled Kryptonian city of Kandor as leverage, to crush the people's religion in superheroes. Captain Marvel is killed defending citizens from the carnage but Superman is saved when his daughter Lara appears. She has been carefully subconscious since birth, but, at present that the regime knows she exists, they need that she exist handed over.

Deciding that Batman and his methods are the only manner, Superman, Wonder Adult female and Lara join him. Lara pretends to manus herself over to Brainiac. Atom slips into the bottle and frees the Kandorians, who apply their combined rut vision to destroy Brainiac. The superheroes so destroy the dictatorship'south ability source and incite a revolution. Batman allows himself to exist captured and tortured by Luthor to learn his plans. Luthor has launched satellites to destroy most of the world's population, leaving him with a more manageable number of people. The Green Lantern, who has turned into pure will, returns from space and destroys Luthor'southward satellites. Luthor is in turn killed by the son of Hawkman and Hawkgirl (Shayera Hol).

Returning to the Batcave, Batman is contacted by Carrie, who is being attacked by the Joker-like human and now wearing a Robin costume. Batman arrives and recognizes the man as Dick Grayson, the first Robin who Batman fired long ago. Grayson has been genetically contradistinct to have a powerful healing factor and shape-shifting power, but is criminally insane. As Batman and Grayson contemptuously retrieve their bleak history together, Batman drops him through a trapdoor into a miles-deep crevasse filled with lava, while Elongated Man rescues Carrie. Grayson clings onto a ledge, climbs out of the chasm and faces Batman. When Grayson remains virtually unharmed by everything Batman throws at him, Batman hurls himself and Grayson into the chasm. Grayson falls into the lava and is disintegrated. Superman rescues Batman at the last minute equally the Batcave explodes, and takes him to Carrie in the Batmobile.

Background and creation [edit]

In 2006, Frank Miller said of the creation procedure for The Nighttime Knight Strikes Again:

I was out to remind readers almost the inherent joy and wonder these superheroes offer, and besides to celebrate their delicious absurdity. I saw the superheroes every bit Gods and Heroes in the Archetype sense ... I wanted to drag these Gods and Heroes out of that musty museum they'd been stuck in and drag them dorsum to the streets where they belong.

—Frank Miller^[2]

Characters [edit]

• Batman—Bruce Wayne'southward change ego who is 58 years old and faked his decease 3 years ago and continues to operate secretly as Batman in 1989. He leads a rebellion against the corrupt U.S. government headed by Lex Luthor. Batman is a skilled and controversial strategist who makes decisions which event in deaths, which he considers necessary for the defeat of his enemies.
• Catgirl—Carrie Kelley, formerly Robin, is Batman's second-in-command.
• Lex Luthor—Luthor heads the U.S. government and uses a hologram of what the people think is the President equally a figurehead. He controls powerful superheroes—including Superman, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman—past holding their loved ones hostage.
• Brainiac—provides Luthor with the means to control the U.S., and hence the earth.
• Superman—controlled by Luthor, who is holding the miniaturized city of Kandor earnest. Encouraged by his daughter and Batman, Superman finally fights back and breaks his own vow not to kill.
• Wonder Woman—the youthful Queen of the Amazons who has a girl with Superman.
• Lara—The girl of Superman and Wonder Woman who has the powers of a Kryptonian and the warrior attitude of an Amazon. She has a poor opinion of people less powerful than herself and tries to persuade Superman to rising above the humans and peradventure take over the world.
• Captain Marvel—now an old human, he still stands by Superman and Wonder Adult female. Helm Curiosity is limited in his abilities because Luthor holds his sister Mary hostage. He reveals that he and Billy Batson were two carve up beings who switched places, and that Billy (who had always been sickly) had died around 8 years agone. This rendered him incapable of just switching out to recuperate considering there would be no one to call him back.
• "The Joker"/Dick Grayson—Having been emotionally abused by Batman and sacked years before for "cowardice and incompetence", Grayson has submitted himself to radical gene therapy by Luthor and other villains. He has gained a powerful healing factor and shape-shifting ability, only was driven criminally insane. Throughout most of the story, Grayson takes on the advent of the Joker and the costumes of members of the Legion of Super-Heroes. His victims include Martian Manhunter, Creeper, the Guardian, and he almost kills Carrie Kelley.
• Cantlet—trapped inside a Petri dish for over two years, Ray Palmer is rescued past Carrie Kelley and becomes one of the start of the old superheroes to bring together Batman's rebellion.
• The Flash—coerced by threats to his married woman Iris, Barry Allen is forced to run in a giant electrical generator before being freed past Carrie Kelley and the Cantlet.
• Elongated Man—Ralph Dibny advertises sex drugs on television before joining Batman.
• Plastic Homo—insane and rescued from Arkham Aviary, Eel O'Brian joins Batman's grouping.
• The Superchix—an all-daughter popular/superhero grouping consisting of a Black Canary lookalike, Bat Chick and Wonder Chick.
• Green Arrow—a communist, activist and billionaire with a mechanical arm, Oliver Queen has long been office of Batman'southward forces.
• The Question—fighting for Batman'due south cause, Vic Sage works mainly alone and tries to recruit the quondam Martian Manhunter. He spies on Luthor and his associates, and distrusts applied science and municipalization.
• Martian Manhunter—a victim of Luthor'south nanobots, which accept deprived him of almost of his powers, J'onn J'onzz has go addicted to alcohol and tobacco. He retains a precognitive sense which he uses to help Question.
• Green Lantern—Hal Jordan now lives with his ain conflicting family in a afar part of the galaxy. He returns to Earth at Batman's asking.
• Hawkboy—Hawkman and Hawkgirl's son who grew up with his sister in the Costa Rican rainforest. When their parents are killed by a military strike ordered by Luthor, Hawkboy intends to take revenge.
• Saturn Daughter—a young, thirteen-year-sometime who can meet into the hereafter. She adopts the name and outfit of the 31st-century Legionnaire.
• Rick Rickard—the holographic puppet President of the United States.
• U.S. Secretary of Country Ruger, Exxon and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Starbucks—members of Luthor's government.
• Hawk and Pigeon—Hank and Don Hall are in their old historic period. They effort to accept up the tights again merely to not become through with it as they used to debate all the fourth dimension.
• Bat-Mite—Batman's old antagonist and co-founder of The Get-go Church of The Last Son of Krypton., a lunatic fringe movement defended to worshipping Superman.
• Big Barda—a former pornographic actress called Hot Gates. When America descends into chaos, Big Barda declares herself dictator of Columbus, Ohio.
• Lana Harper-Lane—a television set news reporter who is presumed to be the daughter of Guardian and Lois Lane.^[3]

Publications [edit]

• Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again (2003-12-17 (hardcover^[iv]), 2004-07-21 (trade paperback with bonus materials^[v])): Includes parts 1-3.
• Batman Noir: The Dark Knight Strikes Once more (2018-03-28 (hardcover^[6])): Black and white impress version of Batman: The Nighttime Knight Strikes Once again 3-parts book.

Critical reception and sales [edit]

The Dark Knight Strikes Again received mixed to negative reviews, with criticism focusing on its artwork, storyline, and character development.^{[7] [8] [nine]} Claude Lalumière of The Montreal Gazette gave the series a mixed review and said "the script lacks the emotional nuances of its predecessor, and ... the artwork is rushed and garish", and that it "has considerable chutzpah, but its careless execution is regrettable".^[10] Roger Sabin of The Guardian wrote that the series has "flashes of luminescence—few tin can control folio layouts like Miller—just in full general the thought of the ironic superhero seems rather dated."^[11]

The starting time effect of "DK2" ranked #one in December 2001 with pre-guild sales at 174,339.^[12] The second event of DK2 was ranked 3rd in sales for the Jan 2002 period with pre-order sales of 155,322.^[13] The final event of the series had pre-guild sales of 171,546 returning to #one for the calendar month of Feb 2002.^[xiv] The comic had an in-store date on July 31 of that same year.^[15]

Discussing the negative reception for The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Frank Miller said in 2006: "I expected shock. I wanted information technology. I never make information technology my mission to reassure people. Fourth dimension volition make its own judgement."^[16]

Sequel [edit]

On April 24, 2015, DC Comics announced that Frank Miller was co-writing a sequel to The Nighttime Knight Strikes Over again with Brian Azzarello titled The Nighttime Knight III: The Master Race.^{[17] [18]} The series featured a rotating cast of artists, including Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson.^{[19] [20]} Frank Miller later confirmed that The Primary Race would not exist the decision, and he was showtime work on a quaternary series.^[21]

References [edit]

1. ^ Sanderson, Peter (Feb 6, 2006). "Comics in Context #119: All-Star Bats". IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
2. ^ "Frank Miller: I Stole From The Best!". Archived from the original on June 25, 2006.
3. ^ Lander, Randy (December iii, 2001). "Dark Knight Strikes Again #i (Best of the Week!)". The Fourth Rails. Archived from the original on April 15, 2002. Retrieved Dec thirty, 2010.
4. ^ BATMAN: THE Nighttime KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN
5. ^ BATMAN: THE Night KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN
6. ^ BATMAN NOIR: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN
7. ^ Lalumière, Claude (September 21, 2002). "The Dark Knight Strikes Once more". Retrieved August thirty, 2012.
8. ^ Sanford, Jason (2002). "Review of The Night Knight Strikes Once again past Frank Miller". Retrieved June three, 2018.
9. ^ Cheang, Michael (December 2, 2015). "Why does everyone hate The Dark Knight Strikes Once again?". Retrieved June 3, 2018.
10. ^ Lalumière, Claude (September 21, 2002). "The Nighttime Knight Strikes Again". Retrieved August 30, 2012.
11. ^ Sabin, Roger (December 15, 2002). "Take a picture..." The Observer . Retrieved August thirty, 2012.
12. ^ "Peak 300 Comics – December 2001". ICv2. November 28, 2001.
13. ^ "Height 300 Comics – January 2002". ICv2. January 2, 2002. Retrieved July ix, 2008.
14. ^ "Top 300 Comics – February 2002". ICv2. February 4, 2002.
15. ^ "Archived copy". www1.cinescape.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2002. Retrieved January 12, 2022. {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived re-create as title (link)
16. ^ "Frank Miller: I Stole From The Best!". Archived from the original on June 25, 2006.
17. ^ "Superstar Writer/Creative person Frank Miller Returns To Batman!". DC Comics . Retrieved July 19, 2015.
18. ^ "Frank Miller Returns With The Dark Knight Iii: The Principal Race". Newsarama.com. April 24, 2015. Retrieved July xix, 2015.
19. ^ "DC Entertainment Provides New Details For Dark Knight III: The Chief Race". DC Comics. July 9, 2015. Retrieved July nineteen, 2015.
20. ^ Wheeler, Andrew (July 9, 2015). "Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson Bring together 'The Chief Race' (The Comic)". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved July nineteen, 2015.
21. ^ Osborn, Alex (November 17, 2015). "Frank Miller Says He's Returning For The Dark Knight iv". IGN.

External links [edit]

• Flak Magazine: Review of The Dark Knight Strikes Again, 11.08.02
• Peter Sanderson's analysis: Parts one, two, and three
• Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again discussed at sequart.com

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Knight_Strikes_Again

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