The Dark Knight Return Analysis

Words: 2003
Pages: 9

Vigilantes exist to fight for the suppressed and weak individuals in society. Many vigilantes’ purpose is sparked by the tragic events that leads to the crusade of justice. It is rather the inadequacy law enforcement that leads for vigilantes to exist. Both Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, deconstruct the traditional superhero through the theme of vigilantism, Alan Moore’s text offers the realistic interpretation of vigilantes, while Frank Miller emphasizes the dark side of the masculine hero through the rebirth of Bruce Wayne as the Dark Knight.
In Alan Moore’s work, every vigilante was flawed as humans and represent the possibility of the average-joe becomes a vigilante. The Comedian is one of the many vigilantes that is considered as the violent and volatile vigilante. The Comedian comments on the pregnant women as “That bitch.” (chapter 2: pg. 57) The spite of anger reveals his superiority complex and he believes as vigilantes. It is the ideal of being above the law and acting as a demi-god, he can disregard all ethics towards others. Moore’ use of Ozymandias represents the narcissistic nature of humans. Ozymandias can be considered as the vigilante that is coming from the
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Furthermore, the ideology of the vigilante can be perverted such as individuals like the Comedian and Batman. In England, a vigilante named Duncan Bond kidnapped Gavin Last who Duncan thought was Gavin was the theft that has struck the neighbourhood with multiple robberies (Veerasingam pg.1). There was a misconception as Gavin Last was not the robber (Veerasingam pg.2). Alan Moore’s work proves that any individuals can be a vigilante. While Frank Miller enlightens the idea of darkness in duality of masculinity is an essential driving force of being a vigilante. Consequently in reality, vigilante must bear an appropriate methodology to counteract