They say every writer has at least one good Batman story in them. In the case of writer and artist Frank Miller, he had two of the greatest lurking within his fertile imagination: one that told the Dark Knight's supposed final adventure and another that retold his beginnings.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One have been critically-acclaimed since their first published. While only Year One was meant to be canon, Miller eventually revealed that he considered both stories as part of his Dark Knight Universe. With one being prequel to the other, fans can easily trace Batman's evolution between the two stories.
10 Turned Into An Adrenaline Junkie
When Batman first waged war on crime in Batman: Year One, he did so because he believed it was necessary: it likely never occurred to him that he might enjoy it. Years later in The Dark Knight Returns, Bruce had become obsessed with the thrill crimefighting gave him. Despite having ended his war after Jason Todd’s demise, he couldn’t help look for ways to replicate that same thrill, e.g. through race car driving. He also clearly took great pleasure in defying danger, as seen when he refused to eject from his burning vehicle until the very, very last second.
9 Batman Became Its Own Persona—Possibly Its Own Personality
In Year One, Batman was essentially just a suit Bruce wore during Gotham’s late hours: the young billionaire was still learning how to be Batman. The Dark Knight Returns, however, suggested that Batman had become a personality independent of Bruce’s, a split perhaps made even stronger by Bruce’s attempt to hang up the cowl and leave that part of his life behind. Moreover, in DKR’s first issue, Bruce constantly referred to Batman as something inside him, begging for release, at times seemingly acting independently from him… such as when Bruce found he had shaved off his mustache without realizing it.
8 Became Crueler Toward Criminals... And Learned To Enjoy It
The Batman of Year One was far more compassionate than his older self, deeply concerned with not taking the lives of anyone. He was more concerned with subduing his opponents quickly, only once considering causing lasting damage to the Roman’s nephew, Johnny.
As the years went by, however, Batman became more bloodthirsty. In The Dark Knight Returns, he’d break bones and temporarily cripple his enemies without a second thought; he also poked the Joker’s eye out with a Batarang. He took perverse delight in terrorizing lawbreakers and causing them pain, even grinning with delight when one criminal severed a major artery.
7 Learned To Fight Smarter
Bruce Wayne was in top physical shape in Year One, and well versed in several fighting styles. Yet he could still be quite impulsive, and he wasn’t above provoking fights with individuals he deemed disreputable. Despite his skill, fighting off the cuff sometimes backfired on him, such as when he provoked Selina Kyle and Holly Robinson’s pimp, Stan.
By The Dark Knight Returns, Batman had become much more of a planner. Though he still tried fighting sometimes with youthful impulsivity, Bruce did much better when relying on his wits, such as when he outwitted the Mutant Leader in their rematch.
6 Gained An Army
Batman had one major disadvantage in Year One: he fought alone. Though he eventually recruited Robin and possibly Batgirl to his cause after Year One, Bruce still kept his personal crimefighting team fairly small.
That changed in The Dark Knight Returns’ final issue, when he recruited several Mutant Gang members and the Sons of Batman (a Mutant Gang off-shoot) to help quell riots during a widespread blackout in Gotham City. Batman’s new recruits stayed by his side when he faked his death and went underground; many later donned highly equipped Batsuits themselves in The Dark Knight Strikes Again as the “Batboys.”
5 Became A Father Figure To Many Sidekicks
Since Batman: Year One was set at the very beginning of Batman’s career, there wasn’t a Robin in sight. While Bruce had Alfred as a paternal figure, he’d generally keep the streets of Gotham safe on his own.
By The Dark Knight Returns, that had changed dramatically. At that point in Bruce’s life, two Robins had already served under him, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, and All-Star Batman & Robin confirmed that Barbara Gordon had been the first Batgirl in Miller’s universe. DKR introduced another character Bruce became a father to: Carrie Kelley, the Dark Knight Universe’s first female Robin.
4 Became Okay With Killing… As Long As He Didn’t Do It Himself
Like in Year One, Batman forbade himself from taking a life in the first two issues of The Dark Knight Returns. That changed in issue #3, when he decided he would make an exception for the Joker, whose kill count he felt personally responsible for. Yet when he tried killing the Clown Prince of Crime by snapping his neck, Batman could not bring himself to finish the job.
DKR’s sequel, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, demonstrated another exception: while Batman still did not kill directly, he had no problem arranging the deaths of others, including Lex Luthor and the scientists who experimented on Dick Grayson.
3 Upgraded His Equipment
Batman was already fairly gadget-heavy in Year One, wielding tiny razor-sharp Batarangs, tear gas, grenades, smoke bombs, thermite, a lock pick, and a device for summoning bats. Yet he still lacked his better-known weapons, and his only customized vehicle was his Bat-Glider. Furthermore, the Batcave was still just a normal cave.
When The Dark Knight Returns rolled around, Bruce had turned the Cave into his high tech headquarters, while adding a Batcopter, an armored suit, government hallucinogens and even horses to his arsenal. Perhaps most iconic, however, was the Batmobile, which by DKR had evolved into a full-on tank.
2 Formed A Friendship With Jim Gordon
As Batman was a vigilante, James Gordon was required by law to take him in. Yet Gordon quickly realized Gotham’s new protector truly was a force of good, especially after the Dark Knight rescued Jim’s newborn child, James Jr. By the end of Year One, Gordon was already calling Bruce a friend, although they didn’t know each other well… yet.
During the years between Year One and The Dark Knight Returns, Gordon and Batman’s friendship grew much stronger, and unshakeable trust formed between the two. Gordon even learned Batman was Bruce Wayne, and remained the Caped Crusader’s steadfast ally until Jim’s retirement.
1 More Of A Trash-Talker
For a character known to be a man of few words, Batman was surprisingly verbose in The Dark Knight Returns and its sequels. In the older Bruce’s mind, words were as just a potent weapon as his fists, and he’d frequently use them to frighten his opponents or mock them mercilessly.
As a younger man in Year One, however, Batman spoke far less, often choosing to act, rather than speak. When he spoke to intimidate, he kept things brief… but made every word count. In a way, the younger Bruce’s greater caution with words made him even more frightening.