Miller returns for another 'Dark Knight'

Frank Miller's Dark Knight returns again.

DC Comics announced Friday that Miller, who defined Batman for an entire generation in the 1980s, is coming back for one more turn with the superhero in The Dark Knight III: The Master Race.

The new comic book concludes a trilogy that started with the 1986 limited series The Dark Knight Returns, which is still widely hailed in many circles as one of the best superhero stories ever. It also served as cinematic inspiration for Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie, and its influences — including an older, grittier take on the Caped Crusader — can also be seen in Zack Snyder's upcoming film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Miller, who wrote and illustrated Dark Knight Returns as well as the 2001-02 follow-up The Dark Knight Strikes Again, is working with co-writer Brian Azzarello (Wonder Woman, 100 Bullets) on the eight-issue Master Race, which is slated to debut later this fall. No artist has been named yet.

The 58-year-old Miller is also well known for a run in the late 1970s and early '80s on Marvel's Daredevil (in which he created Elektra), the historical graphic novel 300 — which served as a basis for Snyder's 2006 movie — and the modern-noir Sin City, which have been adapted for the screen twice by Miller and co-director Robert Rodriguez.

"Batman remains my favorite comic book hero and a sequel to Dark Knight is going to be daunting," Miller said in a statement, "but we'll do our best."

Azzarello added: "It's been an amazing experience collaborating with Frank these past six months. I think we have an epic story that these characters truly deserve."