Batman: The Dark Knight Returns

Frank Miller. He's a difficult figure in the history of comics, but you can't deny that his work on The Dark Knight Returns helped to bring the super hero into the darker world of the graphic novel. This is the story of Batman as the crazed 50 year old who has returned to battle crime in Gotham. The story, set in a relatively dystopian near-future Gotham, is as impressive, and dark, as anything that had been published by a mainstream comics company. The Dark Knight Returns is one of the most influential pieces every written in comics. The Dark Age of Comics started here, and the stylized art influenced two generations of comics artists. The heavy tone re-invigorated Batman, and you can point to the Christopher Nolan films as evidence of the impact of The Dark Knight Returns on the wider pop culture landscape. More young writers were impressed with Miller's work than you can shake a stick at, and the two decades of comics reflect that. Why it's on the list: Powerful storytelling, and a major turning point in the history of the graphic novel medium.