Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is a collection of four stories by acclaimed comics creator Frank Miller (Batman: Year One, Sin City) that details a world in which Batman comes out of a 10 year retirement grudgingly forced upon him and the world's super-heroes by the government when the suffering masses cry out for salvation. In this world, Batman/Bruce Wayne is now in his mid-to-late-50's, his dual-identity common knowledge to long-time friend/ally GCPD Commissioner Jim Gordon - soon to retire and be replaced by the no-nonsense Ellen Yindel - and former criminal Selina Kyle/Catwoman; now the manager of an escort service to high-society. In his absence from crime-fighting, Gotham has become the stomping grounds for a massive gang of teenage thugs who call themselves mutants, and the arch-criminals of the city's infamous past have either been set on the road to recovery (like the seemingly reformed Harvey Dent/Two-Face) and the Joker; who in Batman's absence has lost his sense of purpose and retreated into a self-imposed catatonic state one level of functionality above a vegetable. But Bruce is not able to stay retired and be happy with it; almost endorsing the idea that he suffers from a kind of schizophrenic-psychosis, Bruce is "called" back to duty by the spirit of the bat that refuses to relinquish its hold upon him. Despite the years since he returned, he has lost little of his physical prowess as he makes as dramatic a comeback as would be expected of the great and powerful Batman. Upon his return, so too do his Rogues Gallery; or at least the ones worth putting in this series. First, Harvey Dent relapses into his Two-Face persona and comes up with a plan that eerily parallels the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks 15 years before they happened. Second, after extremely brazen attacks against mutants, he faces off against their leader who makes a declaration of war against Gotham; and specifically Gordon, Yindel, and of course Batman. Third Batman gets himself a new partner, the unofficial third Robin of Miller's world, a teenage girl named Carrie Kelly; literally a red-headed whipper-snapper (Batman comes to accept her after she saves his life). And last-but-not-least, the Joker - upon hearing of the return of his "Darling" - comes out of his catatonia and through the manipulation of his coddling doctors is able to stage an escape/mass murder during one of the late-night Gotham talk shows; promising a world of death and destruction to welcome back the good-old-days. Also, Superman makes an appearance as the government's trained lap/attack dog who is now a secret from the public, covertly deployed to deal with international crises as well as take down his old friend and ally; lethally if necessary.
My biggest problems with this series was the visual design combined with its setup on the page. The Joker hardly conforms to past incarnations, appearing to have more muscle-mass and slightly feminized facial features and mannerisms that for a die-hard fan of his "homicidal maniac" incarnation is, frankly, insulting (even more-so following the character's next major renovation for The Dark Knight ). While the idea of the Joker/Batman relationship as crime-fighter/arch-nemesis has occasionally hinted at homo-erotic undertones, never before have they been so obvious (additionally, the Joker's ruby-red lips here are the result of lipstick!); at least the idea of them representing ultimate duality (over villain Two-Face) was 'innocent' enough. Additionally, Batman's own visual design has him looking less healthily muscular and more hulkingly bulky and wearing a devious grin that would put the Joker to shame half the time that he isn't scowling.
I personally did not care for this story; but if you can forgive the haphazard-looking artistic style (use the "look inside" feature), then don't let this review deter you from getting this graphic novel.