The Dark Knight Returns Batman Hero's Journey

What is the significance of being a hero? In Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, I would like to address the theme of rebirth and its relevance to Batman. Batman’s rebirth can be seen through, his physical changes, superhero power struggle, and his death. Batman’s rebirth is witnessed by his initial physical changes. For example, Alfred points out, “Master Bruce. Whatever happened to your moustache” (20, 7).This physical change is what hints at a different stage or “rebirth” in Bruce Wayne. In the following panel, Bruce looks in shock as he is unaware of the change. The removal of the moustaches symbolizes a new start to his return as the Batman hero. This leads me to the picture of batman where he looks much more mean, muscular, menacing,
As mentioned earlier, Batman and Superman eventually start to fight, as Batman calls him a sellout for letting the government abuse of his powers. In the scene batman utters, “And it has to end here on this filthy patch street, where my parents died” (190, 4). Batman is referring to crime alley where he eventually dies of a heart attack, the same place where his origin or initially “birth” began. It was the heart drive and tenacity that made him who he is Batman. However, in this cased his own will and heart has failed to make him achieve another victory. Ironically, on his return to crime alley, he received a loss where he is portrayed as the “criminal” and has been defeated by the national heroic figure of Superman that that the government prefers. All births eventually come to an end, making batman’s physical mortality genuine and the termination of his heroic cycle. In summary, Batman’s “renaissance” is relevant to the reader of The Dark Knight Returns. Batman’s rebirth can be seen through, his physical changes, superhero power struggle, and his death. I would like to conclude that a hero is not meant to be the favorite amongst society as long as the hero serves justice then, the hero should be