Dark Knight Returns or Year One?

[Vidocq]

In your opinion, which is the Best Batman Story?

[dreyga2000]

Neither...

[Murrocko]

Of the two, I'll go with Year One. I really didn't care for DKR much.

[chipsnopotatoes]

In your opinion, which is the Best Batman Story?

Both were not my favorites but if i had to pick one, it would be Year One. I found Dark Knight Returns literally hard to read (as in visually too much stuff crammed into each page) that I ended up just skimming the book to get the gist of it.

[AlistairCrane]

Year One. One of my favourite Bat stories of all time. The quintessential Bat story that defined a generation.

[nepenthes]

Dark Knight Returns. much broader scope and impact, better use of the medium in its techniques

[Retro315]

I'd go with Dark Knight Returns.

I can't stand Frank Miller's writing, and not much in that book is how I would see an appropriate and clever "end" to Batman, (even if it's just the beginning of the end).

But at least DKR is off in it's own little "Miller-verse" future, and isn't interfering with Batman's origins ... Year One (which honestly, is Gordon: Year One) is a mess. It's Miller, so of course everything is lude, crude, and gritty for the sake of being gritty. 90's hip ... obnoxious.

Catwoman a prostitute? Was there any need?

At least Long Halloween (which is great, but yeah, is overrated too ... I still love it) used the clever angle of Selina being a long-lost Falcone. Subtle, clever ... works well. Granted, Long Halloween kind of takes off of ideas from Year One.

Tacked on "Joker poisoning reservoir" line that never goes anywhere? Another one ... The Man Who Laughs (another good, but overrated one) kind of tries to do something about that.

Gordon a two-timer? Don't get me wrong, I'm human. Human is good. But Gordon? Our incorruptible cop? A very corruptible husband? Well ... I guess it plays interestingly.

Hmm ... I can't complain too much because the rest is pretty by-the-books, except for Miller's blunt narrative.

I will say that I did like the swarm of bats, and got a kick out of Nolan using that idea for the Arkham escape in Batman Begins.

But I'll take my classic Batman free of Miller, thanks ...

In fact, I'd say that I consider Year One, All-Star and then DKR and such all one seperate, happy (well, not happy ... hateful) universe.

[GRANT!]

DKR is funnier.

[40footwolf]

I'd go with Dark Knight Returns.

I can't stand Frank Miller's writing, and not much in that book is how I would see an appropriate and clever "end" to Batman, (even if it's just the beginning of the end).

But at least DKR is off in it's own little "Miller-verse" future, and isn't interfering with Batman's origins ... Year One (which honestly, is Gordon: Year One) is a mess. It's Miller, so of course everything is lude, crude, and gritty for the sake of being gritty. 90's hip ... obnoxious.

Catwoman a prostitute? Was there any need?

At least Long Halloween (which is great, but yeah, is overrated too ... I still love it) used the clever angle of Selina being a long-lost Falcone. Subtle, clever ... works well. Granted, Long Halloween kind of takes off of ideas from Year One.

Tacked on "Joker poisoning reservoir" line that never goes anywhere? Another one ... The Man Who Laughs (another good, but overrated one) kind of tries to do something about that.

Gordon a two-timer? Don't get me wrong, I'm human. Human is good. But Gordon? Our incorruptible cop? A very corruptible husband? Well ... I guess it plays interestingly.

Hmm ... I can't complain too much because the rest is pretty by-the-books, except for Miller's blunt narrative.

I will say that I did like the swarm of bats, and got a kick out of Nolan using that idea for the Arkham escape in Batman Begins.

But I'll take my classic Batman free of Miller, thanks ...

In fact, I'd say that I consider Year One, All-Star and then DKR and such all one seperate, happy (well, not happy ... hateful) universe.
"Retro315" indeed.

[carabas]

I think that while DKR is a better story overall, that Year One is a better Batman story.

[JoshuaCee]

Of the two choices listed, Year One is the better story. I've actually never been able to get into DKR or DKSB, no matter how many times I've tried.

[jesse_custer]

Dark Knight Returns. Although good, Year One is a little bland.

[4thHorseman]

DKR. I was underwhelmed by Year One after hearing for so long how great of a story it was. Just seemed boring, the art didn't excite me any, and I only found small pleasures here and there in the story.

[B. Kuwanger]

I think DKR is extremely overrated. I bought a copy early last year, maybe a week after having my ass kicked by stories like Year One, Monster Men, and Mad Monk for the first time. I didn't even make it through the first time with DKR. After reading about 80% of it (to the fight with Superman), I closed the paperback and put it in a longbox, and I haven't taken it out since.

Miller, much like Morrison, tends to get pretentious when he tries to bring his "wit" and "grit" to superhero books. DKR was not the kind of crap I would want to read when picking up a Batman book. On the other hand, I feel that Year One is absolutely the definition of classic and Mazzuchelli did a better job than any artist, including Miller himself, ever could have in visually defining the character and his world.

[JoshuaCee]

Mazzuchelli did a better job than any artist, including Miller himself, ever could have in visually defining the character and his world.

I completely agree with that statement. I'm dumbfounded that people are finding his work to be "boring."

[Slortex]

I love both of these, but prefer the grounded Year One to the over the top DKR. I think Miller's writing in Year One is better and more cohesive. That's probably because DKR is also a political commentary, but for the purpose of the story at hand, I think it works better in Year One. DRK is filled with great Batman lines and scenarios, but I feel the contrasting of Batman/Gordon in Year One is pretty awesome.

And I love the "He even paid for that suit." line.

[caboose]

DKR for me.

Theres just so much in DKR to love. For example, Jason's memorial is still one of the most striking images of post-Crisis DC. The line about Batman seeing a reflection in Harvey is chilling, as is Joker getting the last laugh on Bats. Gotham finally goes to absolute hell as Batman and Superman battle it out in Crime Alley.

Year One is a great beginning to Batman, but DKR gives Bruce the bittersweet ending he can only hope for.

Edit. My favourite part of Year One is where Batman crashes the higher society dinner party and as an explosion lights up the area, the shadow cast on Bruce looks like a moustache and you see that almost demonic grin Bruce wears so readily in DKR.

[Brack360]

Year One is my preferred story by far. One great thing about Year One is that it has a very timeless feel and seems like it could just have easily been written today as it was 20 years ago. In contrast, I don't think DKR has aged very well, as it is very rooted in the Cold War era of the mid 1980's. I also much prefer Mazzuchelli's artwork over Miller's and like how Year One is a more down-to-earth, crime noir story. I also find Batman to come across as unlikeable in DKR.

[jesse_custer]

I don't really see Dark Knight as rooted in the Cold War era, as the conflict of justice vs. law will always be alive.

[Michael P]

Boy, is that irritating.

[40footwolf]

I had no idea so many readers had beef with DKR. It's one of the industry's absolute classics, IMO.

[JTPencils]

DKR for me. Though Year One was a good solid read (and really did feel like it should have been titled Gordon Year One), it's the over the top, frenetic feel of the story, and the art (of DKR) that got to me.

I have always felt that there's one page in DKR that really shows the impact a well done sequential page can have. The woman in the subway with the paint set for her gifted child. The mutants swipe her purse and then return it with a little extra surprise inside. Next thing we see.. news flash. In one page, you got to meet this person, feel her pains/dreams/inner demons, and suddenly, gone. (again, only to me) there was nothing like this in Yr1.

I did enjoy both of them.... just that DKR edged it out (again, my own opinion).

[BigBoss]

I felt returns was lot more epic and different,

[dancj]

It's hard to choose. They are both the best Batman stories of all time for me. Year One is perfection in both story and art, but I went for TDKR. IT just blows me away every time I read it.

On another day I might have chosen Year One.

[Dagger]

Year One for me, by far. I just love Mazzuchelli's take on the character, and Miller's work here helped me with my love of the Bat-verse. Total top notch stuff right here.