This dialectic is suggested in the very first page, in which the new American president (later revealed to be a hologram designed by the evil masterminds and de facto dictators Lex Luthor and Brainiac) quotes the opening words of Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities: “The state of the union is strong – stronger than it has ever been. Truly, these are the best of times” (DKSA,15, emphasis added). In this context, Batman and his allies (both old superheroes and young former street gangsters) are violent and morally ambiguous freedom fighters attempting to subvert the totalitarian government. As the Dark Knight proclaims, “we aren’t here to rule. We aren’t here to bring chaos or anarchy. We’re here to end the reign of the criminals” (DKSA, 183). The determined attitude of the vigilante – “no more skirmishes. No more compromises” (DKSA, 47) – is even criticized by his friend and colleague Barry Allen (The Flash), who accuses Batman of “dragging kids into your holy war!” (DKSA, 145). Naming strategies are also applied by the government and media, which label the hero and his Batboys (sic) as “foreign terrorists” from “a rogue nation” (DKSA, 34). This idea anticipates the outcome of the process of generic contamination, namely the suspicion that the (anti)hero himself might be a terrorist. Highlight the appropriation of terrorism tropes in this text given above
The above passage highlights the appropriation of terrorism tropes in The Dark Knight Strikes Again. By portraying Batman and his allies as violent and morally ambiguous freedom fighters labelled as "foreign terrorists" by the government and media, the text plays with the idea of the hero himself being perceived as a terrorist. This subversion of traditional hero narratives reflects the complex political and social climate in which the story is set, blurring the lines between heroism and villainy, and challenging conventional ideas of justice and power. The use of terrorism tropes in this context adds depth and complexity to the narrative, forcing readers to question their own preconceived notions of good and evil.
