Batman year one VS the dark knight returns!

[ultimate spider-man. 1 fan!!!]

Which is better? Vote! Talk! Expain and why!

[maxpower00044]

Both are great, but I like Year One just a bit more.

[Statham]

Year One for me. Miller creates a compelling look at a Batman struggling to make a difference in Gotham alongside a Gordon despondent about the Police Department he's transferred himself into, which is instantly a great parallel, with both of them learning that Gotham will make them make bad or dubious choices in order to get to the good - Batman having to be Batman, and Gordon retaliating against Flass to assert himself. There are nice, iconic moments - Batman storming the Mayor's dinner party is astonishingly well done - and it's just a great origin piece. I also prefer the art of Year One.

Which is not to say I hate DKR - Although I much prefer DKSA. I think DKR is a little too overrated and is largely responsible for the much-too-dark Batman of the main continuity. Miller's art is fine, but I prefer him on works like Sin City, but I just prefer the expanded scope of The Dark Knight Strikes Again and Miller embracing the sheer craziness of comics.

[Blue_Beetle]

I prefer Year One but they're both top 5 or 6 stories for me.

[mosdef]

I think Year One is overrated. Dark Knight Returns for me.

[zur en arrh]

I'll go with Year One. Why? Gordon.

[FoxMulder2012]

I actually didn't think much of Dark Knight Returns at all, which really soured me on Frank Miller in general... until I read Year One. Just a perfect story, IMO.

[PsychoGoatee]

Both are great, but I give the edge to Year One. It's so perfectly done and timeless, its one of the reasons I don't need any more Batman origin stories. Batman Earth One for example is very skippable for me.

Frank Miller is a legend.

[Buried Alien]

I like them both: they're terrific bookends on Batman's career.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Libaax]

I refuse to choose between them two. They are my fav Batman story-lines,series. They are great start and finish to Bruce Wayne Batman.

Its like saying choose between Coke or Pepsi they taste both good :)

[Dark-Flux]

DKR for me. I just found the story of an aging Bruce once again taking up the mantle more interesting than a retelling of the origin. And im a fan of Millers art.

Year Ones great though.

[jesse_custer]

Dark Knight Returns because it's funnier and speaks to me on a more primal level.

I remember enjoying Year One when I read it, but that's about it. It doesn't stand out to me as a great story.

[The Angry Comic Book Critic]

Dark Knight Returns because Batman reaches a whole new level of badass and one of my all time favorite Batman moments are in this comic. Which such classics as...


and who could forget....

Evil Just got a wake up call

[shaxper]

The first issue of DKR always blows my mind. The rest presents that over-the-top Goddamn Batman depiction that I've never been a fan of.

Year One is far more restrained in its storytelling. Less about a big Bat tank and an excessive love of violence.

Plus Year one has Mazzucchelli. It's hard to beat that.

[shaxper]

Both are great, but I give the edge to Year One. It's so perfectly done and timeless, its one of the reasons I don't need any more Batman origin stories.

If you ever have the chance, give "The Untold Legend of the Batman" by Len Wein a chance. It's an earlier origin story by a few years, less known, and (in my opinion) the most intelligent and moving origin of Batman to date that truly captures and reconciles his multiple depictions across the years. And, it may not be Miller, but it's pretty dark.

Incidentally, the crappy cover is not a reliable indication of the plot nor tone of the story.