James' Review -Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

 

Long ago, when his stories began, Batman was dark and serious with a tragic backstory. However, in the decades after first appearing, the Dark Knight became light-hearted and less serious due to real-world fears of comics being a bad influence on children. Eventually, in the 1970s and the 1980s, after the conclusion of the Adam West Batman show, DC began to steer their caped crusader back into his darker roots and comics became more than just for kids. In the late 80s, with Frank Miller, DC created Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

The story follows an older Batman as he emerges from retirement and takes on a gang of mutants before coming into conflict with The Joker one more time, then he battles Superman after The Joker dies. Oh, and there's a female Robin. I got this comic after signing up for a college class that involves graphic novels and manga, even though I planned to take a break from getting comics for a time early in 2026. And yet, this one is worth the read. Dramatic, intense, dark, The Dark Knight Returns is entertaining and pulls no punches with iconic moments such as Batman taking down the mutant gang leader as he says, "This isn't a mudhole. Its an operating table. And I'm the surgeon."

Frank Miller set out to make Batman serious and he succeeded, his writing is powerful and the imagery is so strong, you can't look away. I enjoyed reading it and I can't wait to read it again when I get the chance, Batman is one of DC's best characters to date, no matter what stories he has told in either the campy tone or the dark and serious edges of stories like this. I'd highly recommend this to Batman fans who have not touched it yet, but be warned, this isn't for the kiddies. This comic was an influence on future Batman stories for years to come, especially Zack Snyder's Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice in the DC Extended Universe, and it received a two-part animated movie adaptation along with a brief segment in an episode of Batman: The Animated Series season three aka The New Batman Adventures. 9/10. 

See you next time, crusaders of justice. And remember... He is vengeance, he is the night, HE IS BATMAN!!!

-James M

James' Review -V for Vendetta

 

In the 1980s, the landscape of DC was changing as their comics became more than just "for kids". Stories like The Killing Joke and Watchmen were pushing the envelope, targeting an older crowd, and Alan Moore contributed to it. Near the end of the decade, DC fans were in for a surprise as Alan Moore and his team crafted another dark and memorable comic, one that focused on battling Fascism...

V for Vendetta.

Released in 1988, the story focused on the "terrorist" known as V and a woman named Evie as they fought tyranny in a world where England was under fascist rule. Yes, in the world of V for Vendetta, England, which fought Nazism in World War II, was taken over by a fascist party. Alongside Watchmen, V for Vendetta became one of the most influential comics, and would eventually gain a movie adaptation in 2006 staring Natalie Portman as Evie and Hugo Weaving as V.

I obtained the graphic novel earlier this year and read it to the end, and, in the last month, my parents and I watched the film adaptation. It isn't every day when you get to watch an R-rated comic book movie with your mom and dad, especially as they'd seen it before at one point. So, what do I think of the comic and the movie. Let us start with the comic, and I have no intent of spoiling the ending in case you never read it.

The story is compelling, intense, and motivational. V is a well-written mysterious character, and Evie serves as the audience surrogate, our way of seeing the world of the Norsefire-controlled England and V's crusade against the fascist. The tone is dark, and ominous, and, as it is aimed at an older crowd, there are a couple instances of explicit nudity, female nudity, and there is a sex scene at one point. As for the violence, V does kill bad guys here and there, but the blood is used... sparingly. However, the sex, nudity and blood is not the focus, its the story of good against tyranny while discussing the importance of individual freedom.

The movie, which involved the Wachowski Brothers of Matrix fame, tells the same story, but makes some changes. The late John Hurt stars as Adam Sutler, the film counterpart to the comic's villain Adam Susan, which can offer 1984 vibes for those who have seen the 50s and 80s adaptation of the novel, and when I was watching the film, I initially didn't realize the man playing Sutler was Mr. Hurt. Likely because I was focused on the other actors like Natalie Portman and Stephen Fry, but John had some incredible range, and is a joy to watch even though he was the villain here.

My overall thoughts?

I love the comic, and its worth a reread. I might reread it today or tomorrow. You can't go wrong with a story where someone opposes a British fascist regime, and the artwork is spectacularly gorgeous, not to mention the writing is incredible. The movie version is equal, despite taking creative liberties, such as certain events being revised or omitted or the villain having a name change along with how his fate plays out. The comic gets a 9.9 and the film gets a 10/10. Mr. Moore's contribution to DC is legendary, even though he isn't fond of movies adapting his works, but he deserves the respect. See you all later, people.

-James M

James M's review of DC's Flashpoint

Hi, nerds. James M here and we're back to review a big DC story, FLASHPOINT!

While I was visiting the local comic book store many suns and moons ago, I had the time to purchase the DC graphic novel containing all the issues in the storyline known as Flashpoint by DC Comics. After that, I read the entire comic and it was a treasure to read. The comic was nicely constructed and the storyline was well written and is respectable, the folks at DC gave us quite the deep story.

Then, just recently (as of this), I had the time to watch the Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox movie and it is incredible. So, what's Flashpoint about? 

Its story's simple really: The Flash aka Barry Allen travels through time via the Speed Force and tries to stop his mother's death, but his actions cause history to change, leading to an alternate timeline where Bruce Wayne dies as a boy and his father Thomas becomes Batman, Kal El/Superman's Kryptonian ship crashes in Metropolis and destroys the city and the world is torn apart by a war between Atlantis and the Amazons of Themyscira led by Aquaman and Wonder Woman respectively.

Once The Flash realizes what's going on, he teams up with Bat Thomas/Thomas Wayne as Batman to defeat his nemesis Reverse Flash/Professor Zoom, stop the war and fix the timeline. After Professor Zoom is killed by Batman while battling Flash, The Flash breaks the time barrier and manages to stop himself from saving his mother, restoring the timeline but creating the new 52 Universe in the process.

Now that you know the story, what is the consensus around it?

Well, its a very good story. It may be dark, but it is nothing that anybody can't handle. If you're a fan of sci-fi and superheroes, this is for you. If you're familiar with Flash, Batman and the rest of the DC universe, you're in for a big ride.

The Flashpoint storyline took place in 2011 and has gone on to become an iconic story since then. Two years later, the people at Warner Bros put together an animated movie adaptation known as Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. The movie follows the storyline of the comic but also takes creative liberties with how the story is presented, even the way Thomas Wayne Batman kills Professor Zoom is different from how it was originally presented.

In the comic, Batman stabs Professor Zoom with a spear (I think) and, in the movie, he straight up shoots him in the head while he's taunting Flash. Either way, this version of Batman did help save the world (and the universe) since The Flash had trouble battling Professor Zoom due to him siphoning off Flash's Speed Force.

I saw the movie very recently and its quite good, I suggest that you watch it. But just a heads up, the movie is rated PG-13. By that, I mean HARD PG-13. The movie pushes the rating with the action, especially when blood is shown. 

That's right, the movie has blood in it. 

But thankfully, its not too bad and its not like super R rated gore with guts and brains spilling everywhere. However, it doesn't change the fact that the way Thomas kills Reverse Flash is, of course, brutal. We hear the gunshot and see Reverse Flash standing with shock, his eyes wide as blood trickles down his face and we see Batman with the gun through the hole in Zoom's head before the Anti-Flash drops dead.

Ignoring all that, Flashpoint and Flashpoint Paradox are fun stories worth reading and seeing for any DC fan or any Superhero fan in general. I give the comic an 8 and the movie gets a 9.5.

Assuming you all have time, find a copy of the Flashpoint graphic novel and, if you have an HBO subscription and you find the Flashpoint movie on there, watch it. You will be in for a fun ride and you will not be left feeling bitter disappointment or grief. That is all I have to say today, so be safe out there.

-CVGWJames