Like many of you, I viewed Frank Miller as a comic book god when I was young. However over the years his output has become disappointingly routine and repetitive while his personal opinions have become downright offensive. Yes, he’ll forever be a legend but it seems his glory days are far, far behind him.

But he’s got a new Batman comic on the horizon. DC announced that Miller will write a one-time comic titled The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child. Any Batman fan worth their keep will tell you that this is obviously the fourth book in Miller’s landmark The Dark Knight series, which started with 1986’s truly groundbreaking and brilliant The Dark Knight Returns. That book was followed by The Dark Knight Strikes Again (oof) and The Dark Knight III: The Master Race (meh) but the series is really about that first initial series. The Dark Knight Returns is just legitimately amazing, like a Paul Verhoeven film put to pen and paper.

So if Miller’s books have gotten progressively worse over the years, one would be safe to assume they can pass on The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child, right? Wrong. This is one to watch. Why? Because Miller’s writing will be matched with the art of Rafael Grampá and that is very exciting news indeed. Grampá’s work is out-of-this-world fantastic. Don’t take my word for it, take a look at the cover and some art from The Golden Child (click to enlarge)

I mean, come on! That’s just gorgeous art! Sold!

As for Miller’s contribution — the story — I could honestly take or leave what The Golden Child is about. The press materials from DC say it’s about Carrie Kelley and Lara Kent teaming up to take down a terrifying evil threatening Gotham City. Their secret weapon is young Jonathan Kent, who is apparently the most powerful superhuman alive. None of that sounds bad but I just haven’t been moved by any of Miller’s writing in well over a decade.

No, I’ll be picking up The Golden Child for the artwork alone. Rafael Grampá has long been a brilliant artist and it’s been far too long since his work has graced the pages of a comic. We’ll be able to get our hands on The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child when it hits stands on December 11th.