Books by Klaus Janson

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

by Bob Kane, Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley, John Costanza

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

It is ten years after an aging Batman has retired and Gotham City has sunk deeper into decadence and lawlessness. Now as his city needs him most, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of glory.

Joined by Carrie Kelly, a teenage female Robin, Batman takes to the streets to end the threat of the mutant gangs that have overrun the city. And after facing off against his two greatest enemies, the Joker and Two-Face for the final time, Batman finds himself in mortal combat with his former ally, Superman, in a battle that only one of them will survive. This collection is hailed as a comics masterpiece and was responsible for the launch of the Batman movies.

This volume collects Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1-4.

Absolute Dark Knight

by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley

hailed As A Comics Masterpiece, Frank Miller's the Dark Knight Returns -- And Its Equally Provocative Sequel, the Dark Knight Strikes Again -- Get The Oversized Absolute Treatment In A Giant One-volume, Slipcased Edition! This Absolute Edition Features An Extended Sketch Section From the Dark Knight Strikes Again With Commentary By Miller, A Look At The Plot And Pencils From The Legendary Finale To the Dark Knight Returns, A New Introduction By Miller, Striking New Cover And Slipcase Art By Miller, And More!

steve Raiteri - Library Journal

in 1986, Miller's Excellent And Highly Acclaimed the Dark Knight Returns, Along With Alan Moore And Dave Gibbons's watchmen, Jolted American Comics With A More Mature Take On Superheroes. This Volume In Dc's Oversized Hardcover Absolute Series Collects That Seminal Story Along With Its Less Well-received Sequel, the Dark Knight Strikes Again(2002). The Influential dark Knight Returnswas Notable Not Only For Its Portrait Of An Aging, Obsessive Batman Returning To Action After A Decade Of Retirement, But Also For Its Social And Political Satire, Its Portrayal Of A World Where Superheroes Are Virtually Outlawed, And Its Apocalyptic Ending Pitting Batman Against Government Employee Superman. The Sequel Ratchets All Of These Story Aspects Up To An Extreme; Despite The Enjoyable Inclusion Of Many Other Dc Heroes, Scattered Storytelling And Sometimes Unappealing Artwork Make It Ultimately Unsatisfying. A 70-page Appendix Features Preliminary Sketches And Parts Of An Early Dark Knight Proposal By Miller. the Dark Knight Returnsitself Is Essential For Every Library, And It Certainly Looks Good In This Larger Format But The Patchy Quality Of The Sequel And The Large Price Tag Of This Volume May Convince Some To Stick With The Cheaper Trade Edition.

The DC Comics Guide to Pencilling Comics

by Klaus Janson

America’s leading comic book publisher brings its superstar creators and classic characters to the second in an authoritative series of books on how to create comics. The art of Klaus Janson has endured in the ever-changing comic book industry for over 30 years. Now this talented artist brings that experience to the most critical step of effective comic book storytelling: pencilling.

Covering everything from anatomy to composition to page design, Janson details the methods for creating effective visual communication. Step by step, he analyzes and demonstrates surefire strategies for comic book pencilling that are informative and exciting. Using DC’s world-famous characters, he illustrates the importance of knowing the fundamentals of art and how best to use them.

The DC Comics Guide to Pencilling Comics is packed with a wealth of tested techniques, practical advice, and professional secrets for the aspiring artist. It is a valuable resource for comic book, graphic novel, and storyboard artists everywhere.