Batman's Landscape

A striking distinction between The Batman Chronicles and The Dark Knight Returns, lies in the difference in background detail between the two comics. In the earlier Batman comics, many of the panel backgrounds were simply uniformly colored with the inclusion of whatever objects were necessary to the plot. On the other hand, many of the panels in The Dark Knight Returns contain rich background detail that serves to compliment the visible action.

In the case of the earlier Batman comics, perhaps the most striking feature of the various panel backgrounds is their color and inconsistency. Despite all occurring within the same room, the first three panels on page 4 all have remarkably different colored backgrounds. Beyond simply introducing bright colors so that the comic may catch the eye of potential buyers, the different colors also serve to direct the reader's attention to characters present. In the first panel of the second row the blue background directs attention to Bruce Wayne's brightly colored suit, while the subsequent brightly colored background clearly distinguishes the white suit of Commissioner Gordon. A similar situation also occurs on page 143 in the middle row of panels. The orange background of the first panel obscures the orange suit of the man to draw attention to the clock, while the green background of the next panel draws the readers attention back to the dying man. In this way, the author uses the coloring of his panels to draw attention to the actions and characters present within them.

In The Dark Knight Returns the use of bright, unrealistic, colors is far less prevalent, with much more detailed and realistic backgrounds taking it's place. The end result is that the atmosphere of the comic is far more realistic than its flashy and lighthearted predecessor. This effect makes sense since the work itself is far darker and more serious than the earlier Batman comics. Batman is no longer the infallible, albeit sometimes gimmicky, hero of his youth, but instead, he finds his older and weaker self more at odds with the city around him than ever before. In this way, the increased detail given to the world he is so desperately fighting against further define his struggle.

In conclusion, while the minimalist and inconsistent nature of the panel backgrounds in The Batman Chronicles serves to emphasis the events present in the story, the darker and more realistic backgrounds of The Dark Knight Returns add to the atmosphere and themes of the work as well as the narrative.