When it's done right, there is immeasurable power in the comic book panel. It can elicit feelings of sadness, anger, joy and elation in a single image in a way that other mediums can't. And when it comes to Batman - that most iconic of comic book heroes - it's not too much of a stretch to say that he's been involved in some of the most beloved publications ever released.
By extension, the decades of Batman mythology have produced some of the most definitive moments in the industry. Whether it's a touching scene with fellow superhero icon Superman or some haunting monologue from the man himself, Batman has accumulated quite a track record for some serious pathos in comics. And the fact that individual pages and images remain memorable despite the hundreds of thousands published is testament to the impact the very best can have.
Some have depicted now iconic death scenes or simply used the silhouette of Batman to utterly brilliant effect, placing strong emphasis on film noir moods and dark lighting. Two truths exist for the Dark Knight's comics: rarely have two similar panels achieved the same success (Bat-fans are too switched on for that) and you can always count on the pages of Batman for a visual feast that will leave scars one way or another.
20. The Dark Knight Rises
In the culmination of Grant Morrison's "Batman R.I.P.", we were given a look into just how incredible the character of Batman truly is in this panel drawn by Tony Daniel.
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Everything from the frightening white eyes in the darkness to the unbelievably cool posing just works, showcasing Batman as the monster under the bed in the criminal underworld.