10 DC Comics Stories That Changed Everything
6. Dark Knight Returns/Watchmen (1986)
The Modern Age of comics started in 1986 and two stories published by DC are most often cited as the cause. Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns and Alan Moore's Watchmen were quite unlike anything that came before, with an adult tone, subject matter and deep subtext. They helped the medium be seen as more than just funny books for kids.
Dark Knight Returns did just that, returned the dark and brooding Golden Age Batman back to the forefront, having never quite lived down the campy nature of the '66 TV series. The story focuses on an older and more battle-worn Bruce being forced to come out of retirement and being a generally grumpy old man.
Released later that year, Watchmen was a refreshing take on superhero books, exploring the genre and introducing deep and flawed characters with mature relationships and ethics. Both of these stories were a breath of fresh air for the industry. Garnering wide critical acclaim, they assisted in legitimizing the graphic novel as an art form.
While their impact is seen as mostly positive and was a shot in the arm for the floundering medium, they've also been pointed to as being responsible for comics' increasingly dark and gritty tone. That may have been unavoidable however, as the comics audience had grown up and clamored for stories that reflected their own maturity.