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Diana Farahat
Professor DerOhanessian
English 113b
6 May 2015

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns- Project Text

In Frank Millers Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller represents Batman
as four different characters in each book but as Batman remembers his past and is exposed to
crime in Gotham city and defeating villains once again, he turns into a darker and depressing
character. Furthermore, the people of Gotham City view Batman as a murderer and a bad
influence to children. Batmans actions are leading the people of Gotham City to believe that
Batman is the bad guy in the urge to have him killed or arrested, but all Batman is trying to do is
fight crime to free the villains and bring peace to Gotham City. In Frank Millers Batman: The
Dark Knight Returns the forces that have shaped Batmans character into a darker person is the
death of his parents and the crime going on in this corrupt city, Gotham. The death of his parents
and the environment that Batman is in, motivated him to return to Gotham to defeat the villains
and fight crime. There are various crimes going on in Gotham City, which has already led to war
and what the city needs is someone like Batman to take care of all the bad guys and bring the city
to justice.
In this comic book, Batman is represented as an obscure character. He is not as dark in
book one as he is compared to in book two shifting into book three and four. What led Batman to
becoming a more depressed and darker character, was the crime and news surrounding him in

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every corner. The news was always talking about how Batman has murdered many people, and
that hes the reason for all the crime going on in Gotham City. In book two, on page 59 Lola
from the news broadcasts that The Council of Mothers petitioned the mayors to issue a warrant
for the immediate arrest of the Batman, citing him as a harmful influence on the children of
Gotham." The panel is represented in dark colors. Batman's dark shadow is standing on the top
of a building with many black shadows of bats surrounding him. In the background is the darkblue foggy sky which creates a frightening scenery. The color black often represents darkness
and the bats that are surrounding Batman make him look dangerous and alarming. The TV screen
where Lola announced the comments from the council of mothers talking about Batmans
"harmful influence was set right below that panel. It is blended together so that readers can view
the big picture of what the mothers are trying to emphasize.
After discussing the petition that The Council of Mothers set against Batman for having a
harmful influence on children, on pages (61-62) the news announces that the mother of tenmonth baby Kevin, Mrs. Joyce Ridley was admitted to a private hospital upstate for psychiatric
observation following her collapse." Her ten-month baby heir to the Ridley chewing gum
fortune was still missing. Kevin was kidnapped by a few of the members of the Mutant Gang.
On page 62 on the right-hand corner, there is a big panel with Batmans dark shadow standing
high and confident on top of a building with what seems to be ropes in his hand. One can tell, by
the way, he is standing that he is ready for action. The Mutant Gang goes to a home where they
were supposed to meet for the money they demanded for the trade of baby Kevin, and they hear
noises from behind the door and screeches. Little did they know that Batman would be the one to
show up. The door was locked so one of the mutants decides to open it by shooting at the door.

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As the door opens it is very dark inside and a black bat comes flying out and attacks one of the
mutants. Then there comes out Batman with a huge gun to defend himself and save baby
Kevin. Due to Batmans actions, for example the gun in which he used to save baby Kevin and
face the villains; makes the people of Gotham City view Batman as the bad guy. Batman only
used the gun to defend himself from the Mutants and save baby Kevin.
Batmans character in the panel on page 64 are represented in dark colors, including the
shattered black background. It is unusual to see Batman with a huge gun; it makes him look
"evil." It seems that Miller used dark colors like black and grey to represent Batmans dark
actions. On page 65 in the upper right-hand corner one can see that Batman saved baby Kevin.
Baby Kevin looked terrified so Batman hugs him to comfort him and lets him know that
everything is going to be alright. In this panel Batmans costume is a soft blue and yellow; his
character seems brighter. Soft, blue and yellow are more comforting colors and happier. Since
Batman saved baby, Kevin and is trying to comfort him because he is scared, these colors were
represented in this panel to symbolize comfort. One thing that was interesting on this page was
that the news is presented once again, and they didnt broadcast Batmans act of heroism.
Batman saved baby Kevins life, and the news did not mention it once. They seem to only
mention negative things about Batman because that is what people want to see and believe.
On page 65, Dr. Bartholemew Wolper, popular psychologist talks about Batman on the
news. One of the news hosts asks Dr. Wolper if he thinks that Batman is responsible for all the
crimes he fights. And he provides some statistics that crime rates have shown a steady drop in
the weeks since Batmans return. Dr. Wolper agrees that Batman has been an advantage, but he
claims that his effects are far from positive." On page 66 Dr., Wolper tries to compare Batman

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to Harvey Dent, and he believes that Batman is in the context and pardon the term a social
disease. If Dr. Wolper only allowed himself to see that Batman is trying to help the people of
Gotham city by defeating the villains and bringing safety of the people and their community.
Batman saved Baby Kevin from the members of the Mutant Gang, who are a harm to the city
and their people, that should be proof that Batmans intentions are not negative. Dr. Wolper
wants people to believe that Batman is the bad guy even if there claims to be evidence.
Another force that shaped Batman to whom he is, is the weapons he used. Imagining
Batman with different types of guns and military armor to fight crime is unexpected apart from
his usual bat weapons. The Batman we know doesn't fight crime with guns, just a few punches
and kicks here and there to get the job done. The reason that Miller represented Batman with
different types of weapons, and armor was to convey readers of the bigger picture of todays
society and how crime is taken care of today. Crime rates seem to be higher when guns are
involved but in Control Crime, Not Guns Frederick M. Ruffen emphasizes Banning gun
ownership by the honest citizen does not deal with the underlying causes of these problems nor
would it take weapons out of the hands of criminals who have no fear of dealing with other
banned" substances. He discusses how gun control is not much of an issue when it comes to
crime control being involved because there is no major change. Ruffin also emphasizes that A
true crime-control approach would deal with the "crazies" and with the crime: not with an
inanimate object that alone is neither inherently good nor bad. Everyone in Gotham city seems
to be worrying about Batman and his actions, and they forget to pay attention to all the villains
who are destroying Gotham city and harming the people in it.

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Miss Lang is Batmans " most vocal supporter she views Batman as a hero who is trying
to save the city. There are different debates going on with her and a few other people who get
interviewed about Batman and his actions, in which they disagree with her claims. On page 66,
one of the news hosts Ted, asks Miss Lang how can she condone behavior thats so blatantly
illegal? What about due process rights? Miss Lang responds we live in a shadow of crime, Ted
with the unspoken understanding that we are victims of fear, of violence, of social impotence. A
man has risen to show us that the power is and always has been; in our hands, we are under
siegehe's showing us that we can resist." Miss Lang is trying to make people understand that
the reason for Batmans actions due to his fear of violence just as everyone else is experiencing
and all he is trying to do is bring safety among Gotham City and its people, he means no harm.
Hes trying to show people that we have the power to get rid of all evil and bring safety among
Gotham city and its people.
Not only are the people of Gotham City against Batman, but the Mutant Gang is eager to
bring an end to him. On page 73, one will see that the Mutant Gang has started a riot in a dump,
furious to face Batman and bring him to misery. The Mutant Gang is full of of evil and hate, and
one can witness that by looking at the colors and structure in one of the panels on page 73. In the
background, one will witness the dark black and grey coloring and the members of the Mutant
Gang standing in rows with their guns. In these panels, one will imagine a war zone with fire set
by the Mutants on every corner and trash all over the place. The Mutant Gang has all kinds of
weapons ready to destroy Batman. They claim, they own Gotham City and it will always be
theres. On page 77, Batman enters with his Batmobile ready to face the Mutants. On the righthand corner, one will see the Mutant furiously raging to face Batman to destroy him. Batman

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knows that the members of the Mutant Gang are young, so he thinks twice on how to approach
them, but he also says, I honestly don't know if I can beat him." Batman could have blasted
him from the face of the earth with his gun as he says," but he builds the courage and decides to
put his weapons down and fight without them as seen on page 78. Since Batman is old and weak,
he was unable to defeat the mutant and collapses. Robin comes into the rescue and takes Batman
back to his cave. This shows that Batman had the courage to fight without weapons and this was
an act of bravery that he faced. Batman could have used his weapons to kill the Mutant at that
moment, but he came to an understanding that they are just kids and did not go in that approach.
On page 87, Batman is in his cave covered in blood and very weak from the Mutant Gang
fight. Batman says, I go to the dark place where I first met you (referring to the original
Robin, who died) before my parents diedbefore I learned what I am. Batman always finds
himself running back to this dark place because this is where he remembers his memories.
Shifting to the bottom panels which get darker Batman says, Im dyingbut I cant dieIm
not finished yetand youre not finished with me. Batmans cave is a place where he always
returns to, to feel sane. Batman shows his signs of depression and sorrow in these panels. The
panels on page 87 show Batman slowly walking back down to the dark place that he constantly
returns to, the colors shift from blue which is the color of his costume and often represents
sadness to pitch black where you can no longer see him. The last panel is pitch black, and one
can see the bright-red eyes of a bat; the color red often represents blood. Dark colors of black
and grey are portrayed in these panels to evoke Batmans dark place which he always finds
himself going back to.

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The environment that Batman is in is dark, and it is a force that has changed him and
shaped him into the person he has become. In general, people who live a certain environment are
likely to be influenced by it, which changes them. In Human Behavior in the Social
Environment: A Multidimensional Perspective Craig LeCroy emphasizes In examining any
social context; the social system plays an important role. A system represents any set of elements
that affect or influence one another. Then he explains how problems in the system cannot be
solved without identifying the factors. Furthermore, he mentions the components that are within
a system. LeCroy emphasizes that people are the components in a system and that the people
participate in a number of social systems that influence their development." That would include
family, school, work setting, neighborhood, community, etc. This shows that the environment
that one can live in can change a person. Batman lived in a dark bat cave in a corrupted city
which changed him into the dark and depressing person he is. He was surrounded by villains, the
publicity/news, and the people of Gotham of city which were the people who influenced him and
made an impact on his character.
The people of Gotham City see Batman as a bad influence to children and a murderer
because he killed the members of the Mutant Gang and a few of the other villains. But all the
actions and roles that the villains played brought harm to the people of Gotham City. The news
always had something negative to say about Batman instead taking care the actual villains who
were destroying the city. Batmans return was a step to bringing safety to the people and getting
rid of the evil that the city was was engulfed in. Batman has gone through a lot especially when
his parents were killed and his original sidekick, Robin. All this crime and hate filled his soul
with darkness, and the actions that Batman took was an approach to benefit him, the city, and the

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people in the community in a positive way in order to avoid future crimes. Batman doesn't have
the intentions of harming anyone to bring joy out of it like the Mutant Gang did. Darkness
filled Batman from his past and as he was surrounded by crime, living in a corrupted city and
always finding himself retuning back to the Dark Place where he recalled his memories.

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Works Cited
Ashford, Jos B., Craig W. LeCroy, and Kathy L. Lortie. Human Behavior in the Social
Environment: A Multidimensional Perspective. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole/Thomson
Learning, 2001. Print.
Miller, Frank, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. New York,
NY: DC Comics, 2000. Print.
Paul Gallant. Wesley Hills, N.Y. "Crime and Gun Control: NASSAU Edition." Newsday, (1991):
49.