This is the second time I have read Frank Miller’s, The Dark Knight Returns, and, as is common when reading something a second time, I noticed aspects of the novel which were not apparent the first time around – in particular, Batman’s relationship to key characters in the novel. Though I believe the writing of this novel is excellent, I found the character development of almost all “secondary” characters to be lacking.
Miller undoubtedly provides the reader an intimate knowledge of Bruce Wayne’s emotional evolution, revealing a side of Batman the reader has never seen. He also provides us a decent view of Carrie Kelly’s/Robin’s growth as a person. However, I would argue that Miller could have provided additional development for characters like Harvey Dent/Two-Face, The Joker, Commissioner Gordon, Alfred, and Superman. After all, these are pivotal characters in a story that is, ostensibly, concerned with the development of these characters over the years and though Miller does give us insight into their emotions, personalities, etc., he seems to tease us by laying a framework of character advancement which never seems fully resolved.
By the end of the novel, Miller shows us that Batman will, in fact, continue fighting crime; albeit he will do so in a completely new way. Miller provides us closure and an ability to anticipate a path Bruce’s life may take. He does not, however, give us the same foundation to anticipate the other characters futures. Instead, we seem to be left in a state of Limbo.
The Joker, who we are led to believe has an almost supernatural tie to Batman, is simply killed off without providing the reader any real sense of closure. In fact, Batman seems to be disturbed by him even in death, asking The Joker to “stop laughing” even as he watches him burn. There is an undertone which implies that Batman’s struggles with the Joker are not over…but how could that be? The same can be said about Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Miller shows us that Dent falls into an even deeper state of psychosis, only leaving us to wonder what will become of him. Commissioner Gordon is left in a similar state of uncertainty; will he continue to help fight crime in Gotham City (possibly as part of Batman’s new “underground” force) or does his story end here?
The most interesting character development (or lack thereof), in my opinion, seems to be Superman’s. In this novel, Superman has become a type of pawn for the Government; a role which both Batman and Superman seem uncomfortable with. Not only is this a strange role for Superman, but it is a role which causes more problems than solutions – According to Batman, Superman has even become “A Joke.” Though there seems to be a hint of change in Superman’s demeanor by the end of the novel, again, the reader is left to wonder if anything has really changed.
Without a doubt, it is the participation of these characters in the overall plot of the novel that makes this story so intriguing. However, by expanding upon the development of each character individually, Miller may have been able to escalate the prestige of his novel, and his writing, beyond what he already has achieved in The Dark Knight Returns.