10 Incredibly Dark Batman Moments To Haunt Your Dreams

9. Venom Addiction

From: "Venom" by Dennis O'Neil & Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez The original 1989 Legends Of The Dark Knight series began with a collection of incredible storylines, each spanning no less than five issues - "Shaman", "Gothic", and "Prey" were the first three, and all are excellent, essential Batman stories, but the fourth arc, "Venom", ratcheted the stakes even higher. When Batman fails to save the life of a young girl, he begins taking a strength-enhancing designer drug called Venom in an attempt to ensure that it never happens again. A bad idea all round. The drug takes over, and as Batman becomes increasingly violent he locks himself in the Batcave and instructs Alfred not to open it no matter what. Now, the story as a whole is great, but this middle issue dealing with the nightmarish detoxification is the reason why "Venom" makes this list. Bat-withdrawal is a hell of a thing, and Bruce suffers extreme delusions during his self-imposed incarceration. Dennis O'Neil is one writer who brings up what will become a bit of a theme in this list, that of turning Batman into something darker as a way to highlight the heroism inherent in his character. Another layer of grimness is added near the end of the arc, when Batman seeks vengeance for the departed young girl in the opening issue: "Not the kid, damn you. The kid didn't deserve any of it!" It's hard not to read a young Bruce Wayne as "the kid" in this passionate exchange, given a certain childhood trauma of his own...