Frank Miller shocked graphic novel fans everywhere today, when he announced (via his Twitter) that he will be returning to write a concluding chapter in his The Dark Knight Returns trilogy. The final chapter will be titled The Dark Knight III: The Master Race and will hit stores in Fall 2015.
You can check out this awesome graphic from Miller’s announcement tweet below:
And you can click below for the full resolution image:
I can honestly say I had no idea Miller was even kicking around the idea of going back to The Dark Knight Returns world that he created. The second chapter left things on a rather nicely ambiguous moment that seemed a fitting end.
The first two installments, now revealed to be a trilogy, are some of the most influential stories ever written for the character of Batman. Not only has it spawned legions of imitators in all superhero media, it has also already been made into two animated films, and is a huge inspiration for Zack Snyder’s upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Here’s the official press release:
“THE DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE”
Completes Trilogy in Legendary “Dark Knight” Saga
BURBANK, Calif. (Friday, April 24, 2015) – DC Entertainment announced today that bestselling, iconic Batman writer and artist Frank Miller will write the epic conclusion of the celebrated THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS saga.
The “THE DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE” is the sequel to Miller’s 1986 classic THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS – heralded by TIME Magazine as one of the 10 greatest graphic novels of all time – and its 2001-2002 follow-up series BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN.
Miller will be joined by acclaimed writer Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS, JOKER, and WONDER WOMAN) on the eight-issue comic book periodical, to be published twice a month under the DC Comics imprint. Marking the 30th anniversary of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS original series, this periodical is slated for publication beginning in late Fall 2015.
“Batman remains my favorite comic book hero and a sequel to Dark Knight is going to be daunting,” said Miller, “but we’ll do our best.”
“We are thrilled to have Frank back home at DC writing Batman,” according to Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, Co-Publishers for DC Entertainment. “The story he and Brian have crafted is an astounding and triumphant conclusion to this seminal body of work which influenced and shaped generations of readers and creators alike.”
According to Azzarello, “It’s been an amazing experience collaborating with Frank these past six months. I think we have an epic story that these characters truly deserve.”
Artists for the project have yet to be announced.
About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the world’s largest English-language publisher of comics.
Interesting that no artists details have been announced, but it’s hard to picture this without Frank Miller and Klaus Janson doing the art. Also, no details of the story have been revealed either, but if the image that Miller tweeted is any indication, it looks like The Dark Knight III: The Master Race will feature more Bats on Supes violence…or perhaps even the Kryptonian’s demise? Maybe his death brings Bruce out of hiding. Speculating is fun, but only time will tell and we’ll keep you updated on any new details.