Joker's GREATEST Triumph! | Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade

Buy The Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade right now! amzn.to/2Xyj6jq Frank Miller, along with co-writer Brian Azarrello and artist John Romita Jr., revisit the gritty world of to the best-selling and genre-defining graphic novel, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, with this time telling prequel, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS: THE LAST CRUSADE, The tale of Batman’s last adventure before his retirement and eventual return years later. As the Joker is manically returned to Arkham Asylum, Bruce Wayne is struggling to train his sidekick and heir apparent, the new Robin, Jason Todd. While a new string of bizarre killing sprees involving Gotham City’s elite take up Batman and Robin’s attention, critics begin to question if the Dark Knight has a right to endanger the life of a child. What does night after night of danger and brutality do to a child? And what is the Joker planning? Never miss an episode by subscribing today! bit.ly/2WYvgkt #batman
ComicPop is a few friends talking about comic books. The ComicPop team brings a bunch of unique points of view to every single discussion about a comic book, graphic novel, character or story arc. You can find full conversations about your favorite titles from Marvel and DC Comics, plus a few pretty key independent comics. If you're looking for a long, funny conversation about Batman or a deep dive into why Spider-Man is so neurotic, check out the hours and hours of amusing, insightful and downright stupid conversations about some of your favorite comic books over the years. If you're a longtime comic book reader or just starting out, make sure to subscribe right now!
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[@1337snake888]

This Batman seems way too human and well-adjusted to be in a Frank Miller story

[@123Jim91]

The Miller hate is sheepish bleating. Circumstances, lack of sleep, stress and whatever else can alter a persona.

[@mardamas1]

Ben was low-key killing it this episode. So many of his jokes and setups were overlooked. Shout out the Ben 😊

[@SergeantPancake]

Alfred telling Jason "You're gonna squash.... grime!" was particularly clever yet underrated to me

[@kd7100]

Not just any Ben, “THE Ben” 🍻🍻

[@angiemoon7002]

I love how Bruce fired Dick for not being good enough. Then Bruce doesn't know what to do with Jason because he's just too good

[@AnarchicArachnid]

I'd added 6 to 10 more pages: Page 1: We don't see Jason's death, we cut to the next morning, Jason's body has been found in a suit arms cross over his chest and Gordon is the one who comes to tell Bruce. Pages 2-5 wordless: Bruce angrily tears through Gotham before being lead to the warehouse where he finds Jason's Robin costume and finally tracks down Joker who realizes there's no jokes or laughing this time, they fight and Bruce gets the upper hand, and keeps punching, we see the joker go limp but Bruce keeps punching. If given more than 6 pages: Page 6 :Jason's funeral, Gordon & Barbara show up, Selina is there, a figure ( it's dick) in the background watching. Bruce and Alfred watch as the grave is filled then stay after. Page 7: confirmation through news cast that Joker is in a coma. Also noting that Batman has been seen less in recent nights and Robin hasn't been seen at all since the take down of Ivy and Croc. Page 8: Bruce and Gordon having a dinner together as a reflection of the dark knight returns and Bruce asking what Gordon & the gcpd would need if batman went away. Gordon laughs it off but then realizes what is going on. Gordon gives him a list of various things and then ask for one final thing. One more night of batman. Page 9: Bruce puts on one last sweep of the city as batman with the Signal on all night allowing JRJR to show off. Final page: Bruce putting the suit in the cave, staring at the memorial to Jason, going to the study and opening a bottle of liquor and taking a drink as he looks at the bust of his father. The end.

[@LightningFromHeaven]

As a fan of how the book ended already, damn they should of done that

[@AnarchicArachnid]

@@LightningFromHeaven Thanks, I was thinking "what could be done that keeps the core of the story & bold decision to keep Jason's death off screen , gives it a nice bow and is showing what happens to Bruce mentally or Joker without betraying what we know where the ending is suppose to go."

[@dead0ntime]

Those last 3 pages would’ve been great

[@karsten128]

Goosebumps man Goosebumps

[@joshuasatterwhite9520]

I was unsatisfied with the book ending and holy damn I would have loved this. My only alteration would be to keep Jason’s death

[@ryanoseguera1207]

Get off a horrible day at work......only to get a notification for bat issues EDIT: And boy did this turn my horrible day good now

[@Sicod79]

I see what you did there.

[@zanderford2733]

Tiff excitedly going "Pammy!!" is immediately my favorite part of this episode.

[@jonathanshaw9704]

Batman Beyond: 10,000 Clowns. Pretty please ComicPop? Also, Killer Voldo dance Ethan.

[@ninja1man4u]

I'll one up that brilliant idea. Batman beyond 2.0 mark of the phantasm

[@dylanlewis5113]

@@ninja1man4u I'll do you one better. The entire Batman Beyond comic series, like how they're been doing Ultimate Spider-Man.

[@invertin]

Honestly...? I kind of like the ending. Batman was sleep when Jason went, so he doesn't know the exact events either it's not like he bust in seconds too late or anything. He went to bed, and when he woke up, Jason was dead.

[@chikidchris]

Just from your description alone I actually low key like this story. The drama with the Poison Ivy is showing Batman that he's old, to the point that even something as simple as her plot is getting to be too much for him at his age. Which pairs well with the fact that he needs a replacement. That then flows well into Batman's realization that Jason is too brutal so he can't retire yet. His frustration with all of this boils into him telling Robin to stay in the car, to leave the Joker till morning, and to say Jason may never be ready. All of that culminates in Jason going to take down the Joker alone to prove he is ready which ultimately gets him killed. It didn't have to be Ivy like you guys said, but if it's just to have a simple plot as a vehicle to show Batman's wear and tear as well as Jason's Brutality then anyone including Ivy works just fine. Joker's plot, I think, shows more of the frustration that plagues not only Batman but Gotham. Joker is so used to the system, so ingrained in Arkham, that it takes little to no effort to flip the whole asylum to his control. The system isn't working and Batman throwing him in there amounted to nothing more than mutilated inmates and dead orderlies. And while Batman toils away with other colorful villains the Joker escapes again, so soon after Batman just put him away. Batman's weathered body makes him unable to go back to back and take down Joker even when he knows he got out. The mission is falling apart with Bruce's body and he needs to pass the torch but can't. His stubbornness about it and inaction towards just talking through things with Jason leads to the death of Robin and as we saw in Dark Knight Returns, the end of Batman. I totally get that you'd want to actually see Batman's immediate reaction, but I'm actually cool with where it ended. You guys said it yourselves its a haunting last page, and as for Batman's reaction and Jason's fate we know those already they're in the Dark Knight Returns, I don't feel like I needed to see it. But I completely understand how that was unsatisfying for you guys. I don't know, maybe once I read it I'll like it a lot less, maybe like always you guys make me enjoy any story you do just by the way you all tell it and react. Awesome Episode, this is one I'll definitely be looking to pick up.

[@moeman813]

Totally agree, Frank gave us a surprisingly well done story and let our imagination feel in the rest, I think it works

[@SergeantPancake]

I'm in the middle of reading it and I actually really dig it.

[@Grievousish]

Frank Miller's writing is a lot like the faces of Two-Face. It's either interesting, dark and somewhat tragic or it's fucking insane and a bit hard to look at. And also like Two-Face it's usually better for them when there's outside help involved.

[@makisdimakis333]

" a bit hard to look at " is an understatement. Dark Knight Strikes Again is really awful.

[@matthewshelton8307]

@@makisdimakis333 nah dk2 is literally hard to look at with that art man....and the flash shorts

[@PurpleColonel]

On the other hand, Miller's own artwork looks like Two Face's ugly side.

[@dead0ntime]

PurpleColonel what happened to Frank Miller? I really love his art in TDKR, and I like his art in Sin City but damn he dropped the ball after. Did he forget how to draw?

[@WillCHensley]

The story took 40 min to tell in an hour long episode... Mini-Comicline episode at the end! Great work as always, guys! 🖤

[@averagefilmbro]

i love it when Tiff is on Bat/Back Issues because her facial expressions are always priceless

[@ghostguy1987]

I gotta to agree with miller in the grest miller-v-Moore debate, its more interesting then him just being crazy

[@Chance1106]

Waiting for someone to ask a question just to hear Sal say “Good question!” and then just carry on with the story

[@R3cov3ry]

my altered state theory is that Joker was working with Poison Ivy and thats how he was able to control the Arkham inmates and Joker was masterminding everything.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

There's an old Chinese proverb I have come across on my travels that perfectly describes that ending. Forgive me, if I butcher the spelling: "That was cray-cray. And a whole lot of buuuuuuuuuuuullshit."

[@rusky9110]

I thought Batman was gonna kill him. Like Jason crosses a line and kills some socialites or Poison Ivy and Batman has to put him down, then quits right afterwards.

[@ItsOver9000Productions]

lmaoo what? put him down like a dog

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Batman doesn't kill Robins himself...Mostly.

[@rusky9110]

@@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache That's what would have made it so impactful and made him finally quit.

[@jackcinephile7554]

That would be completely on-brand for Frank Miller

[@michaelmathes5435]

Walmart? Condiment King. Open Field? Kite Man (Hell Yeah!)

[@ZReaders]

I very much liked The Last Crusade. It was a nice look into Bruce realising his age is catching up with him, and he feels more in line with his Year One and DKR characterisations. Plus I liked that it does allude to All-Star Batman without actually spelling it out, with the exchange with Bruce and Alfred about how he was like Jason back when he was operating during his first few years, and Bruce saying it was down to his youth and the rush of being Batman. By addressing that instead of ignoring it, it does feel like Bruce has developed into a more mature and human person and put those wild days behind him, providing a nice transition between All-Star and DKR. In my opinion I don't think the book delved much into Jason himself, considering this is the first we see of this version and it ends with his death. It feels like there was room to really flesh him out and make us understand him a little better.

[@jeux2322]

i love how it shows how much jason’s death affected him when you read tdkr. he seems a lot more compassionate in the prequel, realising how brutal jason had become. yet after his death he also becomes brutal

[@flywheelshyster6549]

Tiff and I had the same reaction when sal threw the book down and revealed that was the end.... mouth agape while the sounds of a "whaaaaaaaa" slowly echoes out. the hell.

[@williamgazca6641]

😂🤣 I must have replayed Ethan moving like voldo 10 times...cmon guys and gals ..you gotta warn somebody, I could have spit my dinner out like a missile launcher.

[@FloorTankMain]

I actually REALLY like this ending.... I wouldn’t call it a cop out.

[@GitShiddy]

I really like the way that ending led to that conversation. Clearly that's the intent, well done crazy Uncle Frank, you made this great Bat-Issues possible. (My opinion if the whole story was from Jason's perspective it would've pulled that end & the whole story together in a properly great way.)

[@mitchellregan21]

This is my favourite video from you guys in a while, and I mean that in the best way.

[@batnick7230]

I’ve been waiting for you guys to do this book.

[@melissiaharris536]

Me an my aultisc oldest son Jake are Huge fans of the channel

[@owenfite6513]

The Joker gang look like hush if he fell in to ace cimacules

[@winfordlee7151]

Ethan's imitation of Voldo is the actual best.

[@Myxlpltx]

Loved the discussion at the end

[@jaytheartman610]

Will you ever do arkham asylum: living hell?

[@fernandoreyes9737]

Haha, Crazy uncle Frank, i love it, i didn’t expect to like this book

[@chikish]

Gosh, I was gonna send you guys this book for Letters Page... Now I'm stuck still owning it.. Thanks! Haha. Great episode, guys! Loved the whole discussion after you went over the book.

[@12380738]

Jason is the brutality of batman tim is the brains Dick is the closest Physically thats how i saw always saw them

[@luckysix1015]

And Damien started as the annoying exaggerated parody version of Batman that people talk about.

[@12380738]

@@luckysix1015 that got me thinking dick is batman more well adjusted and damien is bruce less well adjusted

[@LightningFromHeaven]

ItsDemolisha dick is everything batman is supposed to be

[@LightningFromHeaven]

ItsDemolisha hes the prodigal son of the bat family for a reason

[@12380738]

@@LightningFromHeaven forgot he had that nickname

[@garronseaton6100]

Oh man, I've been wanting to hear your thoughts on this one since it came out! Thanks for making this!

[@batfreeze56]

I loved hearing everyone's perspectives on the book.

[@kaboose111]

Got a few inklings of 80's Frank Miller.

[@silentmerc15]

I love the discussion at the end of this book. Really great stuff!

[@Mycatsnameiswednesday]

“Gotham enjoy your Walmart!” Not if Condiment King has anything to say about it!

[@BigSnoopDogg64]

Killer Croc in this book reminded me of the Croc in Azarrello's "Joker" book

[@mathewsimoes5830]

Best Miller involved comic of the 2000s thus far.

[@irishtartan9233]

Great episode, folks. I quite like the openness of the ending, but I agree with you guys that it does feel quite abrupt. That idea you had for the twist where Ivy kills Jason was really cool! You guys got me thinking about a book I'd all but forgotten about, so for that I thank you.

[@anthonylynch423]

Love these bat issues so much! Thank you all for the amazing content. I’m part of the POPulation for life.

[@zachpeterson8341]

Please do Gruenwald's Captain America: The Captain when the government takes the Captain America identity from Steve Rogers.

[@priceyyeti4058]

"Joker Kills Robin" Again? Damn, clowns really hate birds.

[@Martin_TheCollector]

So happy this got uploaded! Thanks y’all. Just don’t care to read or own a copy of it. JRJr was pretty great before joining DC & Miller just stopped being good over 2 decades ago, lmao!

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

One of the few times I like Romita Jrs art. His wood carving/etching style works well here.

[@HollowGolem]

I actually think the off-screen death COULD be done well, if the concept of there being "no such thing as a glorious death" were a recurring theme in the book, the idea being that it's just ignominous, a brash kid throwing his life away uselessly. But the writing isn't good enough to build up to that.

[@Neyebureturns]

An idea for a different ending: What if the death of Jason Todd is what make the parents groups and politicians to outlaw the superheroes? They discover that this kid who worked with Batman died trying to be a superhero, so let’s outlaw them so kids stop trying to imitate them.

[@ApolloCalrissian]

Interesting, but other young heroes have died before Jason. I doubt an unknown vigilante from Gotham would be the "straw that broke the camel's back". Also, wasn't it Luthor and Brainiac who caused the heroes to go into hiding? Read DK 2 for more on that.

[@kennyryuken]

Completely forgot this came out alongside DK3- also Detective Comics 601-604 on bat issues? That was "The Mud Pack" by Grant+Breyfogle when all 4 Clayfaces across continuity team up. Was sick

[@barrys7756]

You guys are awesome to listen to when working out. .......#deadliftforbatman

[@hapokas112]

Nice video.

[@JoshMunroe]

Every idea to improve this book was spot on. That ending was not good.

[@DjW1986]

i think i've become more of a jason todd fan

[@patrickburton811]

At the end when Sal was talking about gaming the 900 number and these characters’ fates being in the hands of “some crazy person”, no one said “you mean some crazy... Joker...?”

[@karl_alan]

I would love to see a Millerverse Omnibus published that has all of the Miller batman, including the spawn one and maybe his script for chapter 12 of batman Robin all-star...

[@joshuanelson6795]

I had the exact same reaction as Tiffany when I got to the end of the story.

[@outerheavengaming6196]

I love JRJR’s art in this book, and I think it’s a cool little look into why the Robin suit appears in the cave in DKR

[@g-mandacomicfan350]

Sal: "So another really crazy thing is going on." Me: So... every day in Gotham?

[@ghostwarrior3878]

Kind of curious even though we never see her in action what the Miller-verse version of Catwoman is like, like early in the book we could have seen a a sequence of Selena in her Catwoman costume with Bruce, like I wish there could have been more of her in the book.

[@daneytle1965]

Frank Miller DC Universe Batman Year 1 The Dark Knight Returns: Last Crusade The Dark Knight Returns That is my cannon these comics below don't exist in mine because they are awful All Star Batman And Robin The Boy Wonder The Dark knight Returns Strikes Again The Dark Knight Returns 3 The Master Race I love this channel and I love rewatching old back issues

[@eqs1782]

I feel like it might have been better if it was Poison Ivy who killed Jason when Batman was passed out.

[@quietwyatt8214]

I have watched over 200 episodes in about three months. I love you guys even though I don't agree with a few of your opinions. Keep up what you're doing!! You guys are great!

[@loganshirley9058]

You guys have a better pitch for this story than the book does

[@EC-ed1zg]

Um Ethan’s shirt is 🔥??? Alsoooo I think I wanna check this out. I’ve been hesitant about ancillary Miller media but some of the moments discussed really feel genuinely DKR.

[@regularguy5403]

Batman complaining about his pain, and this was came into mind: *36:35* thanks Ben and Sal.

[@michaelthethird702]

I had the same thought when I read this book. I kept thinking, is there going to be an issue 2 or is that it?

[@WannabeWryter]

38:59 What!!!, the authentic shock on thier faces

[@roccoborghetti4693]

Burger King? Headquarters of the Condiment King

[@duncan2by4]

But wait... Gotham's problems can be solved by Bruce Wayne, if he ever tried to help the city during the day as a politician or something more substantial. He literally has all of the resources necessary to do so.

[@TheRobotbean]

You guys should do a series of Bat Issues on Gotham Central!

[@m00OnKeyBOiy]

Idk, i kinda love this open ended ending, cuz your waiting and guessing for all these fallouts and it ultimately ends the way the sparring match went :it doesnt matter if they know what ur gonna do next.

[@sheldonmoore7042]

Notification and I just got back from work to. Time to kick back relax and enjoy some Bat Issues.

[@robertcorr6971]

Maybe Frank just needs an editor

[@karl_alan]

I was just rewatching old episodes, and saw the first few where you joked about "bat issues"

[@eduardobeltran8939]

Read this before watching the episode, and I definitely got the impression that the dialogue and inner monolgues were brilliantly written, but the overall story is kind of a mess. I didn't even realize it was a Miller book until I watched the episode. Great episode as always!!

[@architeuthis3476]

I thought this was pretty good when I thought it was the first issue in a mini-series. But when I realized, no, its a one-shot and that's just how it ends, I stopped caring.

[@bradenhogan2]

I was always curious as to you all’s thoughts on this particular book! I thought it was kind of okay, especially for post prime Miller standards. Also, I really want to listen in on that convo. between Miller and Moore now

[@kemboi69]

9:44 I’d pay good money to see the story of Batman going on a crazy Bojack Horseman style bender.

[@kazual6149]

I didn't even know this existed

[@Ducaso]

Like many Miller books for me, he fumbles halfway through and doesn't stick the landing. I sympathize with Sal and the crew's reaction to the book in the discussion.

[@kurtking8046]

i kinda like the ending because you already know how hes gonna die and it proves batmans point that jason is to brash and reckless.

[@alandominguez7643]

Dude John Romita Jr. Didn't work on born again, he worked on man without fear from the 90's

[@comicpop]

Yeah, misspoke. But clearly you knew that.

[@alandominguez7643]

Hey I get it. Everyone makes mistakes, especially with too much comic book knowledge

[@nathanchaffin6380]

This was a great episode of batissues guys

[@willcommon6164]

This was such a disappointing ending. When i finished it yelled "THATS IT?!?"

[@Forty3Snakes]

Miller has been tamed. Can’t say it’s a bad thing tho,. This story makes me kinda want more millerverse.... can’t believe I said that lol

[@infamouscavalier9446]

I'm surprised I didn't hear about this story

[@idongesitusen5764]

Frank Miller's Batman Universe doesn't make sense to me. He wants to keep to the main continuity as much as he can or as much as he wants, but still wants to try something unique and different with it if Jason had died by Poison Ivy in some way that would have been good because it would have made it unique or if some of Ivy's toxins head influences mind to go after the Joker that would have been interesting as well. But having your cake and eating it too doesn't work here because we already know what's going to happen.

[@savagedarksider5934]

Idongesit Usen I am more confuse as to what year this story take place.

[@Damon.]

The master race was actually interesting and kinda good.

[@kyleharrington7923]

If they were to continue this story in the dark knight universe they should make it like an Iron Man demon in a bottle type story in reaction to jason todd's death

Ok, I basically agree with everything you said, and probably I'm overeading this, but the very first time I read it I thought there was almost a straight connection to the joke that Joker doesn't finish. We all knew that this book was gonna end with Robin dead (or at least thought of it)... however, Miller never finishes the joke... and leaves us wondering like crazies? Anybody thought about that? Honestly, not a fan of the "Millerverse" (except for "Year One", I think that one's great). I'm not saying that Miller isn't a good writer or that he doesn't deserve the credit, I'm just talking about my taste. I always felt that he just describes random situations, and that his strength is in the way that he decribes them, but they're are not leading anywhere, really. Just a thought.

[@TommyBaysMusic]

Ohhhh Snap! Pulling out the 'heavy hitters'! Love Bat Issues! Thank you all so much!

[@anirudh.v.n7636]

This story is like a story for a cw TV show

[@nicholaskay9986]

Always felt Tim was closest to Batman

[@KenMabie]

first time seeing this channel and i gotta say the Tiffany is awesome .. shes throwing out Shaun of the dead lines. and knows her Batlore .. wow shes a catch .. wish she was my girlfriend

[@sandywest4977]

I am sue now that the Mutant Leader is Jason Todd

[@MordredSimp]

I think the Poison Ivy plot is used to show how worn out Bruce is because to be fair Poison Ivy is Easy, but it is supposed to be the Back drop to,the main Conflict. But yeah the Ending basically ruins it

[@matt15]

Damn this is honestly not that bad, I mean its not great but at least it’s fun and it’s a cool and interesting retelling of a classic story

[@DGuptaCassidy]

I like to think with that Gotham cant have nice things Walmart well cluemasters got that!

[@mathewgalopoulos2669]

Sal's reactions at minute 46:40 is everything

[@ItsOver9000Productions]

THAT'S HOW THE STORY ENDS? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Thats such a let down.

[@MrCeratix]

I'm excited once more batman movies are coming, because that means more Batman episodes! even if Bat issues is defunct in practice, it doesn't need to be gone in spirit! season of the Bat!