This August, our Graphic Novel Club is tackling one of the biggest, boldest, and most influential superhero stories ever put to paper.

On Thursday, August 20th, join us at Revenge Of as we discuss Frank Miller’s landmark classic, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

Originally published in 1986, The Dark Knight Returns helped redefine what superhero comics could look and feel like for an entire generation. Forty years later, its vision of an aging Batman, a decaying Gotham, and a world increasingly uncomfortable with its heroes remains impossible to ignore.

Whether you’ve read it a dozen times or have somehow never experienced it before, this is the perfect excuse to return to one of the defining works of modern comics.

Ten years after Bruce Wayne retired the cape and cowl, Gotham City has gone to rot.

Crime is out of control. A violent new generation has taken over the streets. And Bruce Wayne can no longer sit by and watch.

The Dark Knight returns in a blaze of fury, confronting a Gotham that has changed dramatically in his absence and matching its brutality with a new intensity of his own. He is soon joined by Carrie Kelley, a teenage girl who takes up the mantle of Robin and proves herself every bit as invaluable as those who came before her.

But Batman’s return awakens more than hope.

Old enemies resurface. Former allies find themselves on opposite sides. The world teeters on the edge of nuclear catastrophe. And before it is over, Batman will be forced into a confrontation with someone who was once one of his greatest friends.

Written and drawn by Frank Miller, with inks by Klaus Janson and colors by Lynn Varley, The Dark Knight Returns is a furious, strange, politically charged vision of Batman that permanently altered the character and the superhero genre.

Forty years later, we’re going back to Gotham to see how it holds up.

The Revenge Of Graphic Novel Club is:

Open to all readers – no ongoing membership, come to one or come to all

• Bi-monthly – we meet every two months to focus on a single standout graphic novel
• In-person at Revenge Of – space to talk, question, nerd out, and discover new favorites together

You do not need to be a comics expert. You do not need to arrive with a thesis prepared. And you definitely do not need to agree with everyone else in the room.

We pick a book, read it together, and meet at Revenge Of for an open conversation about what worked, what didn’t, what surprised us, and what the story has to say.

For The Dark Knight Returns, there should be plenty to talk about.

As always, we’re keeping it simple and sustainable:

• $10 – Standard ticket (bring any edition of Supergirl from anywhere)

• $5 – 50% off ticket when you’ve purchased Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow from Revenge Of

Tickets help us:

• Pay staff to host and facilitate the night
• Keep the space open late and comfortable
• Continue running a Graphic Novel Club that isn’t just vibes—it’s infrastructure, too

Any edition of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is valid for the discussion (hardcover, trade, etc.). If you grab your copy from us, you also get the discounted ticket as a thank-you.

If you'd rather check it out from the library, here are a few options.

• Print - Los Angeles Public Library
• Digital - Libby, Hoopla