Frank Miller's epic story began with The Dark Knight Returns, continued in The Dark Knight Strikes Again, and welcomed a new generation of hero in Dark Knight III: Master Race. Now Miller is teaming with artists Rafael Grampá and Jordie Bellaire to deliver a brand new installment for The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child this month. And now fans can get their first look at the story guaranteed to get comic fans talking.
The Golden Child title is all the hint readers will need to know how Miller's version of Jonathan Kent, Superman's son will be looked to when the specia one-shot arrives on December 11th as part of DC Black Label. The cover art has shown how completely Carrie Kelley has stepped into the role of Batwoman, but our exclusive preview focuses on the growing bond (and divide) between Lara Kent, daughter of Superman and Wonder Woman, and the young Jonathan... taking after his father in terms of his morality and sense of duty, but something else entirely when it comes to his powers. And considering how humanity appears to these godlike Kents, Earth is going to have a hard time convincing anyone the planet is worth saving.
Set three years after the conclusion of Master Race, the 48-page one-shot picks up after Lara has had some time to learn about humanity, and for Jonathan to grow from a baby into a child. In the same time, Carrie has matured to tackle Gotham's less manageable problems. As our preview shows, that apparently now includes all-out riots and demonstrations in response to an unnamed U.S. President. Just in case anyone was wondering if Frank Miller had softened on his belief that a Dark Knight Returns story should be, as he stated during CCXP 2019, "something that would push things." Readers can find our preview pages below, along with the issue's announced variant covers.
In addition to the main and variant covers by Grampá, the book will also include covers from artists Paul Pope, Joëlle Jones, and Andy Kubert, in addition to Frank Miller himself. The 48-page prestige format book will be released under DC’s mature Black Label Imprint for $5.99.
Frank Miller returns to the Dark Knight Universe! It's been three years since the events of Dark Knight III: The Master Race. Lara has spent the time learning to be more human, and Carrie Kelley has been growing into her new role as Batwoman. But a terrifying evil has returned to Gotham City, and Lara and Carrie must team up to stop this growing threat-and they have a secret weapon. Young Jonathan Kent, "the golden child," has a power inside of him unlike anything the world has ever seen, and it's about to be unleashed...
Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child is Frank Miller's triumphant return to the world of the Dark Knight and joining him is the superstar artist Rafael Grampá, the mastermind behind the groundbreaking Mesmo Delivery. Following work in advertising and film, this incredible collaboration marks Grampá's first comics work in six years, bringing his extraordinary detail and storytelling to the Dark Knight saga, resulting in a Dark Knight story like nothing you've ever seen before.
Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child will be released in comic book shops everywhere on December 11th, 2019.