Original artwork, not a still
This would be a good death, but not good enough.
— Batman: The Dark Knight Returns ‧ 1986
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Frank Miller starts his Batman with a man who wants to die meaningfully and has run out of ways. The line is the book's engine: the return of Batman is not a hero answering a call but an old man refusing a pointless end. It is the clearest early sign of the bitter, self-destructive Bruce that readers still associate with Miller's version.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Batman: The Dark Knight ReturnsShow the scene
The Dark Knight Returns opens with Bruce Wayne, now 55 and ten years retired as Batman since the death of Jason Todd, filling the void with near-suicidal recreational activities. In the first pages he is in a car race and crashes. The line is his reaction: this would be a good death, but not good enough. By the end of the issue the Mutant gang's crime wave and Two-Face's failed rehabilitation have pushed him back into the cape and cowl, with a bat crashing through the windows of Wayne Manor.
Sources (2)
- The Owl Unplugged: The perfect ending, Batman: The Dark Knight ReturnsPassage on the opening car raceReference checked
- DC Database: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Vol 1 #1Synopsis1Reference checked
Context reviewed
