10 Iconic Batman Comics That Should Be Movies (But Won't Ever Be)

5. Batman: Venom

Batman's been many things in his time; A superhero, a detective, hell, even a vampire, but few casual fans may be aware that at one point, the Caped Crusader was also a drug addict. This raises a number of questions. How does someone so strong-willed succumb to narcotics? What prompted Batman to start using drugs in the first place? And does a stoned Bruce Wayne ever get the munchies? Venom opens with a tragedy, the drowning of a young girl. Batman does everything he can to save her, but ultimately, even his vaunted strength isn't enough. The Dark Knight's failure sparks a downward spiral of rage and helplessness, leading Batman on a path to strength-enhancing drugs. Unfortunately, they prove to be highly addictive and readers are soon exposed to the darker recesses of Bruce Wayne's mind, watching as his life falls apart around him. Aside from a freak encounter with a shark, Batman: Venom is very grounded in its approach and humanises the Dark Knight in a way few other comics have. Some of the story's strongest moments have huge dramatic potential on the big screen, depicting a broken Bruce at his most vulnerable, but a film adaptation would be extremely controversial. It's one thing showing a world famous superhero addicted to drugs in a few comic books, but to flag this up as a major Hollywood release would cause chaos, particularly among the numerous moral outrage groups who would boycott such a film at a moments notice.