Representações da política estadunidense na trilogia Batman: O Cavaleiro das Trevas de Frank Miller (1986, 2001, 2015)

Abstract

This work aims to analyze and discuss different aspects of the political history of the United States of America, using as sources the comic books that make up the trilogy The Dark Knight, written by Frank Miller in the years 1986, 2001, and 2015. The comics present a story where the superhero Batman, now older and retired, returns to his activities as a vigilante, establishing debates about the notions of hero, vigilantism, state control, individual freedoms, and different political positions. Miller uses aspects of American culture, ranging from notions of the selfmade man to the imagery of a common evil for a greater good, using terms to refer to the obstacles to the success of Batman and his project against crime, such as "fascists," "terrorists," or "fanatics." Each moment of production and release of the works comprises different facets of the political history of the United States of America, such as the Cold War and the Reagan era in the 1980s, the attacks on the Twin Towers at the end of 2001 and the American incursions in the Middle East, or even the final years of Barack Obama's presidency and the 2016 presidential race that elected Donald Trump as head of state. We explore the debates surrounding the different notions and political aspects that shaped these historical moments, as well as their impacts and reflections on society. By aligning our analyses of a comic book with the political debates of different eras, we offer a broad perspective on how a renowned author of such cultural manifestations, like Frank Miller, observes and produces work about the society in which he lives, listing everyday elements in his fictional works. The objective of this thesis, therefore, is to establish a dialogue between the Political History of the United States, comic books, and the universe created by Frank Miller in The Dark Knight, and to explore their relationships, similarities, and differences, with regard to the stories and their respective temporalities.