DCAU the darkest DC has ever been

[Radical Raven]

Wow, a lot of hate for the modern comics here. I don't read them, but surely it's not all just non-stop rape and gore... is it?

(I was going to start getting into modern DC, but now I'm worried.)

And I think you're all sort of missing the OPs point. He outrights states he's not talking about the vulgar, blatant, manufactured kind of darkness that comes with the modern comics, but a more subtle kind - where the tone of the production is dark and hopeless.

I still think he's wrong, though; I'm just saying the marthon cries of "But Sue Dibny got raped! But Wendy and Marvin got eaten!" are out of place.

 

[Shawn Hopkins]

Wow, a lot of hate for the modern comics here. I don't read them, but surely it's not all just non-stop rape and gore... is it?

No, but those are just incidents that set the oppressive tone. It's always the end of the world in most DC comics now, usually in a story you have to buy an expensive crossover to fully follow. The heroes are always outnumbered and outgunned by enemies that know no restraint and always fighting the temptation to give into darkness and despair themselves. And increasingly losing, Green Arrow responded to the murder of Lian with a cold-blooded premeditated murder of his own. Clear victories are nearly impossible. The tone of the DCAU is hopeful by comparison.

 

[Wonderwall]

The tone of the DCAU is hopeful by comparison.

I think that best sums it up. In the cartoons there was always a sense of optimism, the comics used to do it too. Now sometimes you just want them put out of their misery because there's nothing to be optimistic about.

 

[Wolf Boy2]

BTAS has a dark tone, but I think when you view the DCAU completely through JLU, in ends up being optimistic.

Remember, Batman in BTAS was the first major hero (or at least the first in his city). There was little hope or optimism in those days! Gangsters ruled everything, super criminals were beginning to roam the streets .... it was a hard, dark time. But through Batman (and later, Superman and the Justice League) the good conquered evil and restored hope.

Even in Batman Beyond, notice that the rest of America is very prosperous and happy (Metropolis is still a bright place in "The Call", and The Zeta Project showed a lot of America that wasn't at all like Gotham). And even in Gotham City, it's high brow corporate crime rather than the grungy street crime of BTAS.

I also agree with the posters who feel that Bruce got a happy ending in Epilogue. Living to be 90-something with a son to carry on your work? Not a bad ending for a guy who expected to get killed (watch "I am the Night", Bruce really did expect to get killed).

Viewing BTAS alone can leave one thinking, "wow, this is dark and depressing" but they're not understanding that BTAS is part of a story arc spanning the whole DCAU. You can't eat the crust and mistake it for the pizza. You have to consider the whole thing.

 

[Lois_Lane_Kent]

No, but those are just incidents that set the oppressive tone. It's always the end of the world in most DC comics now, usually in a story you have to buy an expensive crossover to fully follow. The heroes are always outnumbered and outgunned by enemies that know no restraint and always fighting the temptation to give into darkness and despair themselves. And increasingly losing, Green Arrow responded to the murder of Lian with a cold-blooded premeditated murder of his own. Clear victories are nearly impossible. The tone of the DCAU is hopeful by comparison.

(emphasis mine)

I agree with your whole post, Shawn, but having to buy multiple books in order to understand one title really ticked me off when I was trying to read comics. I subscribed to a few Batman, Superman, and Justice League titles, and I also got Nightwing. (This was, oh, between 2005-2007). My husband (boyfriend at the time) would look at my books and say, "Oh, you won't be able to understand that issue. You need to have this title as well."

I lost patience with it quickly. It irritated me enough waiting a month for books that took me ten minutes each to read, if that. On top of that, I'm a fairly intelligent person, but I couldn't manage to keep track of everything going on within the few titles that interested me. I only read trades now, which suit my impatience much better.

As for the original poster's sentiments, I think the DCAU can be very dark, and I think the necessity of subtlety (because it must be appropriate for children) often works in their favor. I roll my eyes at some of the "darker" stuff in the comics. It's horrible stuff, yeah, but including a few gruesome rape-and-maim scenes does not a mature story make, in my opinion.

The DCAU is thematically dark, despite being unable to display many of the atrocities that go on behind the scenes. I can't say it's darker than the comics, but I'm glad for that; I think it strikes a good balance between the heroes' struggle and the hope they give to the people they protect, a balance I was unable to find in the comics.

Or, hey, maybe I'm just immature.

 

[Superpan]

BTAS was dark? I found that whatever happened in the show, the relationships between Bruce, Alfred, Dick, Barbra, Jim Gordon, and Harvey Bullock were always a ray of light in the show. It's the main reason why I have a hard time watching TNBA. Everything's messed up.

 

[ryandcow]

@LoisLane-Kent, Thats why I only buy trades and mini-serieses (sp?) it saves me money and I am never (Wellll, there's Grant Morrisson) confused.

 

[Hollaman]

I tried to get into modern comics too these past few years and I also gave up in frustration.

The DCAU isn't as bleek and gratuitous as the regular DCU and I'm so glad for it.

 

[charles At NC]

No.

Just...no.

In the DCAU, Joker psychologically damages Tim Drake for life. Fine. I can go with that. In the comics, Joker BEATS ROBIN (Jason Todd) TO DEATH WITH A CROWBAR. Strike 1.

In the DCAU, Flash nearly sacrifices himself to the Speed Force by speeding up to hyperspeed in order to defeat Braniac-Luthor. In the comics, Flash DOES sacrifice himself to DEATH in order to defeat the Anti-Monitor, the most powerful supervillain. EVER. Strike 2.

In the DCAU, Superman nearly dies trying to fight Doomsday before being saved by Wonder Woman. In the comics, HE DIES!

STRIKE...3.

So no, the DCAU is NOT darker than comics. Even if those characters were ressurected, always remember that Elongated Man's wife was "you-know-what-ed" by Doctor Light, then killed by The Atom's wife, who was committed to a mental hospital, then possessed by Eclipso, who caused her to corrupt Mary Marvel and attempt to sell her to Darkseid as a concubine, and then inadvertedly caused her murder when she was killed by Mary Marvel, who then corrupted Captain Marvel Jr. and the rest of the Batsons, who were permanently banned from the Rock of Eternity and the power of Shazam, which effectively ended the entire Shazam! comic book franchise.

Edit: Plus, Jean Loring (Atom's previously mentioned wife) caused the death of both Captain Boomerang (Owen Mercer) and Jack Drake (Robin's father), as well as inadvertedly causing the death of Elongated Man and a permanent rift in the Justice League.

Now compare this to the Cadmus arc and Starcrossed combined. in JLU. I rest my case.

P.S. I still love the DCAU, by the way.

If you can get a copy of it read
"Two Of A Kind " By bruce Timm
found in BATMAN: MAD LOVE AND OTHER STORIES or BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE, The story gave me the heebie jeebies when I read it and still does today