The Dark Knight Returns (1986)

 Starting off with The Dark Knight Returns (1986). Here we see something that many Batman fans are not familiar with, a retired Bruce Wayne. The caped crusader has decided to hang up the suit and enjoy the billionaire lonely life that he's left himself years after the death of Jason Todd/the second Robin, facing his own guilt and grief surrounding the situation. Until a new gang moves into Gotham City. The Mutants, are a rambunctious group of kids to adult aged individuals that do everything from petty theft to murder. They seek one goal and that is to turn Gotham City into their own personal anarchy playground. Faced with the choice of no longer endangering himself and others or upholding his personal oath of protecting the city, we have a story for the ages that is a MUST READ for any fan of Batman.

This story is written and penciled by Frank Miller. Miller's darker form of story telling and art are often seen as the norm for many comics in the 1990s, however, this story was the first breakout story by Miller and would forever change the way that stories could be told in the comic book medium and would be seen as an inspiration alongside many of Miller's other stories in the years to follow. Overall Rating: 10/10