Frank Miller has never been afraid to insert politics or his own personal viewpoint on the world into his books. So it comes as no surprise that in his latest title, The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child, climate activist and 2019's Time Person of the Year Greta Thunberg seems to make a cameo in the very last page of the book.
In the title, Darkseid and the Joker are campaigning to re-elect a governor who looks exactly like Donald Trump. While he's never referred to as Trump, it's crystal clear that's who Miller intends the character to be. But since this is a story of the next generation taking control, new Batwoman Carrie Kelley and Jonathan Kent unite to stop the mission. A crowd of young people surrounds the ruler of Apokolips, including a character who looks like Thunberg.
Now, there's a possibility it's just a background character who just happens to look quite a bit like Thunberg. However, given how the young Gothamites are having an uprising against authority, much like Thunberg has done during her quest to bring attention to the climate crisis, it's pretty clear what Miller and artist Rafael Grampá are up to. Perhaps, if it was another creator who wrote this book, it would be easier to believe it was just a coincidence. However, Miller lays the political and social commentary on super thick throughout The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child.
The panel is the only time the Thunberg lookalike is seen throughout the book. As Darkseid tells the young mob that he is going to turn everybody against each other, Carrie dramatically (and again unsubtly) tells him "we are thinking for ourselves now. Each of us. We're free," and "That's why we'll win. That's why we'll always win." The timing of Thunberg's inclusion in the DC book couldn't have been more appropriate. Thunberg was named Time's 2019 Person of the Year as the 16-year-old became the youngest person ever to bestowed the title. Thunberg worked tirelessly to use her voice to fight climate change and has become perhaps the most recognizable environmental activist on the planet.
Regardless of how the larger story lands the satire and political analogues, The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child using real-world references like Thunberg puts her in some elite company.