publication date: 1989

pencil and story: Frank Miller

The story is set in the near future, where Bruce Wayne has aged.
The society he lives in is not to his liking, controlled by the media and Batman has been missing for years.
The only ones opposing the rot in Gotham seem to be a group of mutants, organized into a gang, considered by all to be thugs.
Bruce decides to return to action when his old adversaries begin to return.
The first is Two-Face (Harvey Dent), cured by plastic surgery but not in the mind.
After his capture and hospitalization, Joker finds out about Batman's return to action and does the same.
A young girl intervenes to support the old hero, who takes on the role of Robin.
After a series of brutal murders, Batman tracks down Joker and kills him.
The President of the United States, a very old Ronald Reagan, sends Superman, his faithful lackey, to stop Batman.
Batman, despite the armor he wears, has the worst of it against Superman and his heart stops beating.
During the funeral, Clark Kent hears a heartbeat from the coffin and smiles.
The story ends with an old Bruce Wayne who, incognito, trains the band of mutants to replace him in the mission.
A masterpiece by Miller, a raw and violent analysis of our society (late 80s, but still relevant).
This story inspired the film debut of Batman (released in 1989 directed by Tim Burton) and almost all the film sequels.
The inspiration given to Zack Snyder's 2016 film "Batman vs Superman" is clear, even if in this case the winner was the "Dark Knight" (a term coined by Miller in this story).
The only negative note of this edition (although collectible) is the delicacy of the binding.
A constant flaw in Rizzoli hardback editions (without a hard cover).