Frank Miller to write The Dark Knight III: The Master Race

[The Laughing Fish]

DC Entertainment announced today that bestselling, iconic Batman writer and artist Frank Miller will write the epic conclusion of the celebrated THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS saga.

The "THE DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE" is the sequel to Miller's 1986 classic THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS – heralded by TIME Magazine as one of the 10 greatest graphic novels of all time – and its 2001-2002 follow-up series BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN.

Miller will be joined by acclaimed writer Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS, JOKER, and WONDER WOMAN) on the eight-issue comic book periodical, to be published twice a month under the DC Comics imprint.  Marking the 30th anniversary of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS original series, this periodical is slated for publication beginning in late Fall 2015.

"Batman remains my favorite comic book hero and a sequel to Dark Knight is going to be daunting," said Miller, "but we'll do our best."

"We are thrilled to have Frank back home at DC writing Batman," according to Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, Co-Publishers for DC Entertainment. "The story he and Brian have crafted is an astounding and triumphant conclusion to this seminal body of work which influenced and shaped generations of readers and creators alike."

According to Azzarello, "It's been an amazing experience collaborating with Frank these past six months. I think we have an epic story that these characters truly deserve."

Artists for the project have yet to be announced.

Source: http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2015/04/24/superstar-writerartist-frank-miller-returns-to-batman

By the way, this is the teaser poster.



I can't help but feel that this is a cash-in on the upcoming Batman v Superman movie. This teaser feel lazy too; it's a rehash of one of the original TDKR posters with a bloodied Superman logo in the background. This means another Batman vs Superman conflict of course.

I must admit that when it came to Miller's run on Batman, I've only warmed up to it in the last three years. I remember reading TDKR several years ago, and I thought only half the book was good. I didn't fully appreciate it until the animated films came out. Year One was a good story that surprisingly worked as crime fiction. But at times it did feel more like a Gordon story and his struggles with infidelity, and doubts that he should align himself with a vigilante despite knowing Gotham PD needs to be purged from corruption. I've never bothered reading TDKSA. There was too much I heard about that comic that was off-putting.

[The Dark Knight]

Miller's track record of late hasn't been the best, but I'm still eager to see what happens here.

All Star is a guilty pleasure of mine, though.

[BatmanFanatic93]

Y'know i'll be honest i love frank millers work but it's the dark knight returns that really sold me cause after reading & watching the film i was hooked to his universe however the dark knight returns is the only one i really like out of his work because i did read the read the dark knight strikes again & the prequel All star & let me just say...ugh it disgusts me on how frank showed batman & other beloved dc heroes/villains before everything went down to s***t in the future from batman kidnapping,abusing,& just being a complete ass to dick to batgirl being a complete potty mouth of a teen (i get frank in your verse everything is suppose to be grim & dark but for pete sake man did you have to reinvent dick & babs?) yeah i can mention how the JLA are but ehh i don't wanna but all & all i just hope this sequel will be like the dark knight returns in terms of tone & story telling i really do but if frank repeats the same mess like in the dark knight strikes again then i'm out.

[The Laughing Fish]

Y'know i'll be honest i love frank millers work but it's the dark knight returns that really sold me cause after reading & watching the film i was hooked to his universe however the dark knight returns is the only one i really like out of his work because i did read the read the dark knight strikes again & the prequel All star & let me just say...ugh it disgusts me on how frank showed batman & other beloved dc heroes/villains before everything went down to s***t in the future from batman kidnapping,abusing,& just being a complete ass to dick to batgirl being a complete potty mouth of a teen (i get frank in your verse everything is suppose to be grim & dark but for pete sake man did you have to reinvent dick & babs?) yeah i can mention how the JLA are but ehh i don't wanna but all & all i just hope this sequel will be like the dark knight returns in terms of tone & story telling i really do but if frank repeats the same mess like in the dark knight strikes again then i'm out.

Yeah, I remember reading parts of All-Star. I remember the part where Batman virtually abducted Dick Grayson and imprisoned him inside the Batcave, and forced him to eat rats. What was more telling was he threatened Alfred not to help Dick because the kid "was going to ruin everything" (in other words, revealing Batman his true identity), despite the fact that Batman was the one who took him in the first place.

You could tell that Miller did wrote this only to troll the fans.

[Cobblepot4Mayor]

I remember reading somewhere DC paid him an absolute fortune to write that mess The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Surely that wasn't true?

Still if they did it was money well blown for them. I thought it was an atrocious Batman book. The most dreadful art and color I have ever witnessed to this day.

Makes me wonder what is his asking price going to be this time. Why they all feel this is a good idea after the reception last time is quite peculiar. Maybe he wants to set right his mistakes.

[The Dark Knight]

You know, I wouldn't put it past Miller to actually have Batman kill Superman here.

In TDK Returns he beats Superman, but lets him live.
In TDK Strikes Again, he beats Superman and asks him to "get the hell out of my cave."

He may just finish their rivalry for good.

The bloodied Superman logo could be proof of this.

[The Laughing Fish]

^If that were to be the case, the deconstruction of Superman in favour of glorifying Batman continues at DC Comics. 

I wouldn't surprised that "The Master Race" in the title is a nod to Superman turns evil and becomes ruler of the world i.e. Justice Lords in the Justice League cartoon and Injustice: Gods Among Us. How derivative, if that turns out to be true.

[The Laughing Fish]

Here's another teaser for DKIII.

Icons Andy Kubert, Klaus Janson to Provide Art for Final Chapter of Dark Knight Trilogy, Book to Include Bonus Comic With A Host of Special Guest Artists

SAN DIEGO, CA (July 9, 2015) - DC Entertainment began Comic-Con International: San Diego 2015 with a blockbuster announcement, revealing today that artists Andy Kubert and Klaus Janson will be joining living-legend Batman writer and artist Frank Miller and acclaimed writer Brian Azzarello in bringing the final chapter of the celebrated THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS saga to life.

"THE DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE" is the epic conclusion to Miller's 1986 classic THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS trilogy – heralded by TIME Magazine as one of the 10 greatest graphic novels of all time – and its 2001-2002 follow-up series BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN.

THE DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE will be an eight-issue, comic book periodical, to be published monthly under the DC Comics imprint.  Within each 32 page periodical there will be a special 16 page "Dark Knight Universe" comic affixed in the center. Each "Dark Knight Universe" comic will feature a rotating cast of special guest artists and characters.

"We went into this knowing that we had to give fans more," said Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, Co-Publishers for DC Entertainment. "We're pulling out all the stops to deliver an amazing conclusion to this exciting body of work. We hope it inspires the next generation of writers and artists, the way it has already inspired us."

According to Kubert, "Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello have crafted such an incredible story for DKIII, as I am truly honored to be associated with them, this project, and Klaus Janson. We, along with the fans, are in for a great ride!"

"Any opportunity to work with Frank Miller is a happy occasion for me," said Janson. "When we add the talents of Brian Azzarello and Andy Kubert to the mix, we have the ingredients to achieve something truly memorable.  This will be amazing!"

Marking the 30th anniversary of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS original series, this periodical is slated for publication beginning in late Fall 2015.

About DC Entertainment: 
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.

Source: http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2015/07/09/dc-entertainment-provides-new-details-for-dark-knight-iii-the-master-race

Each eight issue will feature another story tied to the main plot as you're reading it, eh? I'd imagine they'd explore other characters that appeared in the other books, i.e. former Mutants, other heroes, maybe checking out what Carrie Kelley is up to if she's no longer associated with Batman.

[The Laughing Fish]

The first two issues were released and I had the chance to read both of them.

***WARNINGl:*** CONTAINS SPOILERS BELOW.

Batman returns in Gotham City and Commissioner Yindel reinstates the hunt for him. After being chased after by the cops, Batman gets severely injured as he beats them up, but his lack of energy sees him getting arrested by Yindel herself. His mask gets removed and we see it's actually Carrie Kelley, who keeps shouting out Bruce Wayne is dead.

Carrie is taken into custody, and comes up with a story that Bruce has died, but Yindel doesn't believe her. Later, Carrie is being transferred to jail until the Batmobile sabotages the police escort and bring her back to the Batcave, where she meets up with Bruce on crutches.

Meanwhile, Superman and Wonder Woman's daughter Lara travels to the Fortress of Solitude, where she sees her father in a cryogenic state. But what gets her attention is the bottle city of Kandor sending a message asking her for help, and brings the bottled city to the Atom's lab in the hopes of restoring the city and its people to its normal size. Using coordinates he was given, Atom succeeds but realizes his experiment was a mistake - as the city had been taken over by a mass murdering cult. The cult leader shrinks Atom and has him crushed to death, and turns his attention to Earth; hinting plans for world domination.

Unaware of being duped by this catastrophe, Lara returns to Themyscira and trains with Diana, but shows no interest in her lessons. When Diana asks if she feels the exhilaration as an Amazon, Lara replies she doesn't because she identifies herself as Kryptonian, and then she decides to abruptly end her training, and possibly Themyscira for good. 


So far, I don't think the plot has reached its peak yet, but you can tell that the threat at large will involve other JL heroes, with Batman being at the forefront. The political subtext is toned down a bit, and only the debate of vigilantism gets briefly explored compared to the original book.

I'll see how I go in the next couple of issues.

[The Laughing Fish]

Well, this is certainly becoming a complete boring mess. ***SPOILERS***

As the crazy Kryptonian cult begin to take over the world, Bruce and Carrie go to the Fortress of Solitude to free Superman from his cryogenic state. The cult gives humanity three days to decide to surrender or face annihilation, and Batman opposes their threat on live TV. Supes' revival is short-lived because his teenage daughter Lara has joined forces with the cult, and is seen beaten, mummified and sent to the bottom of the arctic. Everyone in the entire planet panics as Batman finds Superman, frees him, and begins to shower Kryptonite on the rest of the cult in Gotham City. Superman teams up with Batman - wearing mech suit similar to Batman's TDKR armor - for the battle.

I'm not liking this mini series because there's nothing here that grabs my attention. To me, it's a generic comic book story that's stretched between months for the next issue. It's unnecessary. This could have been told in a single book instead.

The only character who has a real arc in this entire plot is Lara. I understand that she was raised by Wonder Woman in an isolated environment on Themyscira and was manipulated by the cult into thinking the world is better off by being taken over by Kryptonians, as she is one of them. In one of the short stories, she begins a romance with one of the cult members called Baal, but she is troubled by the latter's eagerness to kill people. I predict her arc will end in some sort of coming-of-age redemption, where she regains a conscience to save humanity while suffer heartbreak by betraying Baal in some manner.


Three more issues left, but I'm in no hurry to read them.