DC Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Frank Miller and Klaus Janson's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
A Landmark Year of Events, New Editions, Variant Covers, and Global Activations Honors One of the Most Influential Works in the Comic Book Medium
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley
BURBANK, CA — February 17, 2026 — In 1986, writer/artist Frank Miller and inker Klaus Janson, with colorist Lynn Varley, redefined the comic book medium with The Dark Knight Returns, a four issue‑issue series that reshaped the modern era of Batman storytelling and became one of the most celebrated graphic novels of all time. Forty years later, DC is honoring the legacy of this groundbreaking work with a year‑long celebration spanning new publishing initiatives, creator retrospectives, special edition releases, and global fan-focused‑focused activations.
Widely regarded as a definitive Batman text, The Dark Knight Returns has remained an evergreen bestseller for decades, influencing generations of writers, artists, filmmakers, and fans. Its vision of an older Bruce Wayne returning to the cowl, its bold visual language, and its reinvention of Gotham City’s mythology continue to resonate across comics and pop culture.
Throughout 2026, DC will commemorate the 40th anniversary of The Dark Knight Returns with a curated slate of initiatives designed to honor the series’ enduring impact and introduce its legacy to new generations of readers.
ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF EVENT
The 40th anniversary celebration officially begins in February at ComicsPro in Glendale, CA, where Frank Miller and Klaus Janson will appear together for a panel honoring the legacy, influence, and creative impact of The Dark Knight Returns. This event marks the first in a yearlong series of activations spotlighting the creators and the groundbreaking work they brought to life in 1986. ComicsPro members are invited to join Miller and Janson in person, or stream online if attending ComicsPro remotely, on Friday at 4:30pm.
The Dark Knight Returns #1 Facsimile Edition variant cover by Jim Lee and Alex Sinclair
FACSIMILE EDITIONS
Beginning in February, DC will release monthly Facsimile Editions of The Dark Knight Returns #1–4, faithfully reproducing the original 1986 single issues as they first appeared. Complete with their original covers, ads, and back‑matter, these editions give fans and collectors the rare opportunity to experience the landmark series in its authentic single-‑issue format—perfect for readers who missed the original releases forty years ago.
The Dark Knight Returns #1 Facsimile Edition foil cover by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley
VARIANT COVER CELEBRATION
Later this summer, DC will publish a series of The Dark Knight Returns 40th Anniversary variant covers, featuring top artists from across the industry paying tribute to Frank Miller’s iconic visuals and the series’ lasting influence on Batman’s mythology. These celebratory variants will offer fans a wide range of artistic interpretations inspired by the world and legacy of The Dark Knight Returns.
DC COMPACT COMICS EDITION
The anniversary year continues with the release of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: DC Compact Comics Edition, arriving April 7, 2026, wherever books are sold. Designed for readers on the go, DC Compact Comics present DC’s bestselling, most iconic stories in a new portable size, making this essential Batman classic more accessible than ever.
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns: DC Compact Comics Edition
DC SHOP
Beginning with The Dark Knight Returns, DC Shop unveils the Artist Collection, a fan driven program that celebrates legendary creators and iconic runs by turning each drop into a true cultural moment. From statement apparel to must have collectibles, every piece is rooted in the art that shaped DC history.
Highlights will include a commemorative jacket, a limited, hand-numbered art print in partnership with Sideshow Collectibles, washed-black graphics tees, drop-shoulder hoodie, duffel bag, and more. Head to DC Shop to sign up to be notified about the Artist Collection: The Dark Knight Returns 40th Anniversary.
BATMAN DAY 2026
DC's 40th anniversary celebration of The Dark Knight Returns culminates on Batman Day 2026, with the release of DC’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Deluxe Edition hardcover, a newly remastered premium, volume collection, offering fans a definitive way to experience one of the most influential graphic novels ever created.
The Dark Knight Returns #1 Facsimile Edition variant cover by Frank Miller and Alex Sinclair
THE LEGACY OF THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS
Regarded as one of the greatest Batman stories of all time, The Dark Knight Returns remains a defining work of the comic book medium. Frank Miller’s near-‑future vision of Gotham City, paired with Klaus Janson’s bold inks and Lynn Varley’s groundbreaking color work, reimagined the legend of Batman for a new generation. Introducing Carrie Kelley as Robin and confronting the Dark Knight with his most dangerous enemies, the series continues to shape the character’s mythology across comics, animation, film, and television.
MORE TO COME IN 2026
The 40th anniversary celebration marks only the beginning of DC’s plans to honor The Dark Knight Returns throughout the year. Fans can expect additional announcements, exclusive content, and special programming as DC continues to spotlight the series’ legacy and its lasting influence on the DC Universe.
For more information on DC’s 2026 publishing slate and upcoming anniversary initiatives, visit dc.com or follow @DCOfficial on social media.
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ABOUT FRANK MILLER
Frank Miller is regarded as one of the most influential and awarded authors and creators in the entertainment industry today, known for his intense, hard-boiled storytelling and gritty noir aesthetic across comics, novels, and film.
Recently, Miller illustrated Cursed—his young adult novel debut with writer Thomas Wheeler, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, a reimagining of the King Arthur legend from the point of view of 16-year-old Nimue, the young woman who first wielded Excalibur and became the all-powerful Lady of the Lake. Cursed is now an original Netflix series starring Katherine Langford, with Miller serving as co-creator and executive producer.
Miller made his feature film directorial debut in 2005 with Sin City, the adaptation of his graphic novel, which he co-directed with Robert Rodriguez. The critically acclaimed film was nominated for a Palme d’Or at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, won the Austin Film Critics Association Award, and garnered a Czech Lion nomination. In 2015, Miller and Rodriguez returned as co-directors on its sequel, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, which reunited the duo with returning cast members as well as series newcomers Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eva Green, and Lady Gaga among others.
In 2007, Miller served as an executive producer on Zack Snyder’s blockbuster 300, based on the graphic novel written and illustrated by Miller and painted by Lynn Varley. The film went on to gross over $456 million worldwide in box office alone. In 2008, he wrote and directed his second feature, The Spirit, an action fantasy based on the Will Eisner comic book series and starring Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Scarlett Johansson, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Miller became a professional comic book artist while in his teens, working on a variety of assignments for major publishers, including Gold Key, DC, and Marvel. He first drew attention to his work on two issues of Marvel’s Spectacular Spider-Man, in a story that teamed the ever-popular arachnid with another popular character, Daredevil. Miller was then offered the regular pencilling slot on Daredevil’s own book and, soon after, took over the writing chores on the title. Over the next several years, in collaboration with inker Klaus Janson, he created the ninja assassin-for-hire Elektra.
In the early 1980s, Miller attracted further attention as one of the first comics freelancers who braved the field outside the comfortable world of company-owned characters with the creation of Ronin, a futuristic high-tech samurai pop adventure. It was the first of several collaborations with Lynn Varley.
Since then, Miller has added a number of notable projects to his repertoire, including Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, with Janson and Varley; Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again, with Varley; Batman: Year One, illustrated by David Mazzucchelli and colored by Richmond Lewis; Elektra: Assassin, illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz; Elektra Lives Again, with Varley; the award-winning Martha Washington miniseries Give Me Liberty, illustrated by Dave Gibbons; and Hard Boiled, illustrated by Geof Darrow. From 2015 to 2017, Miller alongside Brian Azzarello completed DC’s bestselling Batman: The Dark Knight III: The Master Race, a nine-issue second sequel to The Dark Knight Returns.
The Sin City books have garnered numerous awards, including two Harvey Awards for Best Graphic Album of Original Work in 1998 and Best Continuing Series in 1996, and six Eisner Awards, including those for Best Writer/Artist, Best Graphic Novel Reprint, Best Cartoonist, Best Cover Artist, Best Limited Series, and Best Short Story. In 2015, Miller was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame for his lifetime of contributions to the industry.
