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DC is turning Batman: The Dark Knight Returns’ 40th anniversary into a yearlong Batman event
DC Comics announced at ComicsPRO a slate of "new publishing initiatives, creator retrospectives, special edition releases, and global fan-focused activations" commemorating The Dark Knight Returns turning 40
If you can believe it, the seminal Batman story, The Dark Knight Returns, is turning 40 years old this year. DC kicked off ComicsPRO 2026 with an exciting slate of Dark Knight Returns-related announcements. And to celebrate, DC is commemorating the iconic Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley story with new facsimile editions, variant covers, a new Compact Comics edition, merch, and a Batman Day 2026 celebration.
DC will be reprinting all four issues of The Dark Knight Returns as facsimiles. If you're a fan of the character designs of the story, you'll be happy to see that DC will be publishing 40th anniversary variant covers by "top artists from across the industry paying tribute to Frank Miller's iconic visuals," as per a press release from DC. There will also be a special Dark Knight Returns merch drop at the DC Shop, which you can check out here.
If you've never read The Dark Knight Returns, you've got two great options coming to bookstores near you this year. First is the DC Compact Comics edition of the story, which is the most accessible version yet, priced at $9.99 and printed at a portable size. The Compact Comics edition will hit shops on April 7, 2026. The other edition is the Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Deluxe Edition hardcover, which will hit shops in time for Batman Day 2026.
Now, we're left wondering if the yearlong celebration of The Dark Knight Returns will include any information about the Carrie Kelley Robin spinoff graphic novel that Miller was working on with Ben Caldwell some years back that has yet to be published.
DC fans can expect additional announcements, exclusive content, and special programming as the year goes on.
He is vengeance, he is the night, he is... one of Popverse's favorite subjects. Learn how to do a Dark Knight movie marathon right with our Batman movie guide, and for the true World's Greatest Detectives out there, dive deep into the heart of Gotham City by getting to know Batman with Popverse. Here are some of our latest Batman stories:
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About ComicsPRO Industry Conference
Every year, the giants of the North American comic industry congregate behind closed doors for a closed-door conference to talk about the changing landscape of comics, what they've learned, and what they are all planning to do in the future. It's not a comic convention for fans, though - it's in a B2B event called the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting, and this year Popverse is going there to bring it all to you. At the 2026 Comics PRO Annual Meeting, Popverse will be covering the announcements, the conversations, and the insight from the likes of Marvel Comics, DC Comics, VIZ Media, Yen Press, Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and more.
Dates
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Location
Glendale, California
United States
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