35 years after the book hit shelves for the first time, The Dark Knight Returns continues to be held in high regard as one of the best Batman comics ever released by DC Comics. Its influence can still be echoed in the modern era of Batman comics and onscreen media—particularly as a key source of inspiration for the DCEU interpretation in Zack Snyder's franchise.
However, as popular as The Dark Knight Returns has become in recent memory, its more obscure sequel—The Dark Knight Strikes Again—is still unknown to even diehard TDKR fans. Fans who aren't aware of that sequel also probably aren't aware that it contains a bold interpretation of Dick Grayson that's been remolded as a new Joker. Here is some information for those who need more context regarding Dick's time as The Joker in the Millerverse and how it happened.
10 All-Star Batman Is His Origin Story
It is worth noting that canonically the events of The Dark Knight Strikes Again are pre-dated by a later work by Frank Miller that was produced between 2005 and 2008—a story called All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder.
That story is essential to further understanding The Dark Knight Strikes Again, and it provides additional context for how Robin could have possibly descended into madness.
9 Batman Kidnaps And Abuses Dick
In All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder, Dick Grayson's origin story plays out as it usually does in the canon (i.e., member of the Flying Graysons, circus act, parents killed, etc.). However, there are enough tweaks to imagine how this version of Dick could become a villain.
Dick isn't so much adopted and recruited by Batman to be his sidekick as much as he is abducted and forced into training that includes physical abuse.
8 Robin Is Starved In The Batcave
As a part of Batman's warped training of Robin, he forces him into survival mode by keeping him in the Batcave without feeding him for days at a time—even making him fend for himself.
There is also a point where Alfred Pennyworth takes sympathy on him and goes down to the Batcave to give Grayson some food, only to be angrily confronted by Batman, who threatens his butler never to do that again.
7 The Joker Paid Off Dick's Parents' Killer
What makes it all the more ironic that Dick Grayson even aspired to become the New Joker is because the old Joker had killed his parents. Not directly, but in the seventh issue of All-Star Batman and Robin by Frank Miller and Jim Lee, Batman uncovers the man who killed Dick's parents—a criminal named Jocko Boy.
By unsuccessfully convincing Dick to kill Jocko with a battle-ax, Jocko reveals he was paid off to do his job by The Joker. However, the series ended prematurely due to delays before the story could conclude with an actual confrontation between Dick and Joker.
6 Batman Gave Robin His Name
Upon discovering that The Joker had his parents killed, Dick Grayson was convinced to commit his life to crime-fighting alongside Batman—to which he told Dick that if he was serious, he needed a costume.
Although Dick was not initially a fan of the idea of having a superhero costume, Batman convinced him otherwise. An early iteration of Dick Grayson's costume included a hood that he crafted himself, giving himself the codename of The Hood. Granted, Batman disapproved of the hood because it could be a target during a fight—but after removing it, Batman says he should stick to Robin.
5 Robin Beats Up Green Lantern
During the course of All-Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder, after the secondary title character commits to being The Dark Knight's sidekick, they eventually cross paths with the Green Lantern, which offers the reader their first glimpse at a psychotic Dick Grayson.
After the Justice League disapproves of Batman's extreme crimefighting methods, Hal Jordan confronts both he and Robin—to which the latter steals Jordan's ring and attacks him. Robin nearly beats the Lantern to death until Batman is forced to intervene.
4 He Killed Superheroes, Including Martian Manhunter
Although he failed to kill the Green Lantern, Dick Grayson manages to produce a substantial body count of fallen superheroes in his wake years later in The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Initially introduced as a mysterious assassin calling himself The New Joker, Dick Grayson manages to murder The Guardian, The Creeper, and The Martian Manhunter.
He also has a confrontation with The Question, but Dick does not kill them. He kills The Guardian—who doubted that this was really "The Joker" after the original's death in The Dark Knight Returns—by stabbing him in the back.
3 He Kidnaps And Tortures The New Robin
Despite becoming deranged in his appearance and mentality, Dick Grayson still had something of a plan in his new incarnation as The Joker. It wasn't much of a plan beyond just taking revenge on the man who abused him in childhood, but it was one nonetheless.
A key figure in this plan is Carrie Kelley, who was introduced in The Dark Knight Returns as the new Robin but has since rebranded Catgirl between the two comics. Dick decides to kidnap Carrie, much like Batman kidnapped him when he was a boy—and proceeds to torture her inside the Batcave.
2 Batman Fired Dick Grayson Because He Didn't Live Up To His Expectations
When Batman stumbles upon The New Joker and stops him from killing Carrie Kelley, Dick Grayson takes the opportunity to finally reveal himself to Batman —and the readers who didn't know who the New Joker was until the story's conclusion—by revealing he was Bruce Wayne's old ward. The reveal came upon donning his old Robin outfit.
At this moment, Batman fills in the blanks on why Robin left his side between the events of All-Star and Strikes Again. Batman fired Dick, all because he couldn't cut the mustard. After all, he didn't live up to his expectations.
1 He Has A New Regeneration Power
Like all members of the Bat-family, Dick Grayson never had powers. This is because they traditionally relied on gadgets and the best-advanced technology that money could buy. However, the best power that his money could buy was radical gene therapy.
Following this extreme procedure, Dick ensured that he could never die as long as there is a part of him that can grow back. Batman tests this theory when he chops off Dick's head, to which his body catches it. Unfortunately, he can't grow back from Batman tackling him into a lava pit.