Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 - Characters & Cast

His primary motivation is to impose a functioning order on a world he sees as given over to chaos and corruption. He is driven by guilt over past failures, such as the death of Jason Todd, and a profound sense that the official systems of justice are fundamentally broken. He believes that only extreme, uncompromising methods can save Gotham.

Batman begins as a brutal, aging vigilante reclaiming his city. His initial actions are driven by a personal need to restore order. As he faces his old nemesis, the Joker, and the government's opposition in the form of Superman, his mission evolves. He transitions from a lone crime-fighter to a general. After faking his death, he embraces his role as a revolutionary leader, ready to train a new generation to continue the fight from the shadows, ensuring his war on crime becomes a lasting legacy.

The Joker's sole motivation is Batman. He doesn't want money or power; he wants to prove a philosophical point. He thrives on their symbiotic relationship and seeks to orchestrate a grand finale that will define them both forever. His actions are designed to cause maximum chaos and to force Batman to break his one rule. As he tells Batman, "I never kept count [of the victims]... I know [you did]. And I love you for it."

The Joker's arc is a flat circle of obsession. He is catatonic until Batman's return gives him a reason to exist again. He doesn't evolve; he simply escalates. His entire purpose is to engage Batman in a final, deadly performance. His arc concludes with the only logical end for their relationship: a murder-suicide pact where he ensures his own death will be Batman's ultimate moral stain, his final 'joke' on his nemesis.

Superman is motivated by a sense of duty to the established order and the American government, which he now serves. He believes that superheroes cannot operate outside the law and that Batman's actions threaten global stability. He acts not out of malice but out of a conviction that he is preventing a greater crisis, even if it means fighting an old friend.

Superman begins as the government's perfect, powerful weapon, a figure who has traded his autonomy for the perceived greater good of national stability. He is sent to stop his old friend, believing it's a regrettable but necessary duty. His confrontation with Batman, and Batman's apparent death, forces him to confront the moral compromises he has made. In the end, he subtly allows Bruce Wayne to live, showing a flicker of his old self and suggesting an internal conflict that is far from resolved.

Carrie is motivated by a deep admiration for Batman and a desire to make a difference in a city her absentee parents have ignored. She sees the good Batman represents and is determined to be a part of it. Her loyalty and bravery are unwavering, driven by a youthful idealism that contrasts with Batman's cynicism.

In Part 1, Carrie forces her way into the role of Robin. In Part 2, she grows into a capable and essential partner for Batman. She proves her worth not just as a sidekick but as a soldier, following orders and executing key parts of Batman's strategy against both the Joker and Superman. Her arc is one of maturation, culminating in her becoming a trusted lieutenant in Batman's new underground army, representing the future of his legacy.