Editing Frank Miller (section)

===''Batman: The Dark Knight Returns'' and the late 1980s===
In 1986, DC Comics released the writer–penciller Miller's ''[[Batman: The Dark Knight Returns]]'', a four-issue [[miniseries]] printed in what the publisher called "prestige format"—squarebound, rather than stapled; on heavy-stock paper rather than newsprint, and with cardstock rather than glossy-paper covers. It was [[inker|inked]] by [[Klaus Janson]] and [[colorist|colored]] by [[Lynn Varley]].<ref name="reread">{{Cite news |last=Jameson |first=A. D. |date=February 8, 2010 |title=Reading Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, part 2 |work=Big Other |url=https://bigother.com/2010/02/08/reading-frank-miller%E2%80%99s-batman-the-dark-knight-returns-part-2/ |access-date=September 27, 2018 |archive-date=September 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927204547/https://bigother.com/2010/02/08/reading-frank-miller%E2%80%99s-batman-the-dark-knight-returns-part-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The story tells how [[Batman]] retired after the death of the second [[Robin (comics)|Robin]] ([[Jason Todd]]) and, at age 55, returns to fight crime in a dark and violent future. Miller created a tough, gritty Batman, referring to him as "The Dark Knight" based upon his being called the "Darknight Detective" in some 1970s portrayals,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fleisher |first=Michael |title=The Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Volume 1 Batman |date=1976 |publisher=[[Collier Books]] |isbn=978-0-02-080090-3 |location=New York, New York |page=31 |author-link=Michael Fleisher}}</ref> although the [[Dark Knight (nickname)|nickname "Dark Knight"]] for Batman dates back to 1940.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nobleman |first=Marc Tyler |url=https://archive.org/details/billboywondersec0000nobl |title=Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman |publisher=Charlesbridge Publishing |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-58089-289-6 |page=Back Matter}}</ref><ref>The term appears on page seven of the story "The Joker" from ''Batman'' No. 1 (1940), which is reprinted in the book ''Batman Chronicles, Volume One'' (2005). In the lower right panel, Batman is shown swimming in the water after having been knocked off a bridge by the Joker, and the caption reads "THE SHOCK OF COLD WATER QUICKLY REVIVES THE DARK KNIGHT!"</ref> Released the same year as [[Alan Moore]]'s and [[Dave Gibbons]]' DC miniseries ''[[Watchmen]]'', it showcased a new form of more adult-oriented storytelling to both comics fans and a crossover mainstream audience. ''The Dark Knight Returns'' influenced the comic-book industry by heralding a new wave of darker characters.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Manning |first=Matthew K. |title=DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle |editor=Dolan, Hannah |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7566-6742-9 |location=London, UK |page=219 |chapter=1980s |quote=It is arguably the best Batman story of all time. Written and drawn by Frank Miller by Frank Miller (with inspired inking by Klaus Janson and beautiful watercolors by Lynn Varley), ''Batman: The Dark Knight'' revolutionized the entire [archetype] of the super hero.}}</ref> The [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] collection proved to be a big seller for DC and remains in print.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=November 24, 2015 |title=The Fascinating Behind-The-Scenes Story of Frank Miller's "Dark Knight" Saga |url=https://www.cbr.com/the-fascinating-behind-the-scenes-story-of-frank-millers-dark-knight-saga/ |access-date=August 21, 2017 |website=Comic Book Resources |archive-date=November 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102150451/https://www.cbr.com/the-fascinating-behind-the-scenes-story-of-frank-millers-dark-knight-saga/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

By this time, Miller had returned as the writer of ''Daredevil''. Following his self-contained story "Badlands", penciled by [[John Buscema]], in #219 (June 1985), he co-wrote #226 (Jan. 1986) with departing writer [[Dennis O'Neil]]. Then, with artist [[David Mazzucchelli]], he crafted a seven-issue story arc that, like ''The Dark Knight Returns'', similarly redefined and reinvigorated its main character. The storyline, "[[Born Again (comics)|Daredevil: Born Again]]", in #227–233 (February–August 1986)<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 226: "'Born Again' was a seven-issue story arc that appeared in ''Daredevil'' from issue #227 to #233 (Feb.–Aug. 1986) by writer Frank Miller and artist David Mazzucchelli."</ref> chronicled the hero's Catholic background and the destruction and rebirth of his real-life identity, [[Manhattan]] attorney Matt Murdock, at the hands of Daredevil's nemesis, the crime lord Wilson Fisk, also known as the [[Kingpin (comics)|Kingpin]]. After completing the "Born Again" arc, Frank Miller intended to produce a two-part story with artist [[Walt Simonson]] but it was never completed and remains unpublished.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mithra |first=Kuljit |date=1997 |title=Interview With Walt Simonson |url=http://www.manwithoutfear.com/daredevil-interviews/Simonson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321183824/http://www.manwithoutfear.com/daredevil-interviews/Simonson |archive-date=March 21, 2013 |access-date=March 17, 2013 |publisher=ManWithoutFear.com |quote=The gist of it is that by the time Marvel was interested in having us work on the story, Frank was off doing ''Dark Knight'' and I was off doing ''X-Factor''. So it never happened. Too bad—it was a cool story too.}}</ref>

Miller and artist [[Bill Sienkiewicz]] produced the [[graphic novel]] ''Daredevil: Love and War'' in 1986. Featuring the character of the Kingpin, it indirectly bridges Miller's first run on ''Daredevil'' and ''Born Again'' by explaining the change in the Kingpin's attitude toward Daredevil. Miller and Sienkiewicz also produced the eight-issue miniseries ''[[Elektra: Assassin]]'' for [[Epic Comics]].<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 228: "Produced by Frank Miller and illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz, ''Elektra: Assassin'' was an eight-issue limited series. Because its mature content was inappropriate for children, it was published by Marvel's Epic Comics imprint."</ref> Set outside regular Marvel continuity, it featured a wild tale of [[cyborg]]s and [[ninja]]s, while expanding further on Elektra's background. Both of these projects were critically well received. ''Elektra: Assassin'' was praised for its bold storytelling, but neither it nor ''Daredevil: Love and War'' had the influence or reached as many readers as ''Dark Knight Returns'' or ''Born Again''.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

Miller's final major story in this period was in ''Batman'' issues 404–407 in 1987, another collaboration with Mazzucchelli. Titled ''[[Batman: Year One]]'', this was Miller's version of the origin of Batman in which he [[retconned]] many details and adapted the story to fit his ''Dark Knight'' [[Continuity (fiction)|continuity]]. Proving to be hugely popular,<ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 227 "Melding Miller's noir sensibilities, realistic characterization, and gritty action with Mazzucchelli's brilliant iconic imagery, "Year One" thrilled readers and critics alike...as well as being one of the influences for the 2005 film ''Batman Begins''.</ref> this was as influential as Miller's previous work.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gavaler |first=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3j8wDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA279 |title=Superhero Comics |date=2017 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury Academic]] |isbn=978-1-4742-2635-6 |location=London and New York |pages=279–280 |access-date=September 19, 2021 |archive-date=December 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229012306/https://books.google.com/books?id=3j8wDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA279#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> A trade paperback released in 1988 remains in print, and is one of DC's best selling books. The story was adapted as an [[Batman: Year One (film)|original animated film video]] in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=April 20, 2011 |title='Batman: Year One' Lines Up Voice Cast, Sets Comic-Con Premiere (Exclusive) |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/batman-year-one-lines-up-179942/ |access-date=November 25, 2011 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721213402/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/batman-year-one-lines-up-179942 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Miller illustrated the covers for the first twelve issues of [[First Comics]]' English-language reprints of [[Kazuo Koike]] and [[Goseki Kojima]]'s ''[[Lone Wolf and Cub]]''. This helped bring Japanese manga to a wider Western audience.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} During this time, Miller (along with [[Marv Wolfman]], [[Alan Moore]], and [[Howard Chaykin]]) had been in dispute with DC Comics over a proposed ratings system for comics. Disagreeing with what he saw as censorship, Miller refused to do any further work for DC,<ref name="ICv2" /> and he took his future projects to the independent publisher [[Dark Horse Comics]]. From then on Miller was a major supporter of creator rights and became a major voice against censorship in comics.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=July 22, 2017 |title=Frank Miller On Why Superhero Movies Are Better Than Ever – The Comic-Con Interview |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/frank-miller-interview-superhero-movies-wolverine-sin-city-batman-xerxes-1202133625/ |access-date=August 21, 2017 |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825072044/http://deadline.com/2017/07/frank-miller-interview-superhero-movies-wolverine-sin-city-batman-xerxes-1202133625/ |url-status=live }}</ref>