If there's one thing Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice has proved, it's that nothing sells a comic book movie like wall to wall misery, pessimism and despair. Relax, I'm just kidding! Although, let's be honest now, it's kind of true. Much as was the case with Man Of Steel before it, the Warner Bros/DC superhero showdown has drawn the scorn of a great many fans for its overwhelming bleakness, by contrast with the brighter, more optimistic vision of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But of course, there are also a great many fans who feel this darker, harder-edged approach makes for a refreshing change from the more chipper comic book films we're more accustomed to. Still, it's hardly novel for comic book movies to go for the heart. While the movies don't always wind up as downbeat as Batman V Superman, there's no superhero saga out there that isn't at least tinged with tragedy. Our protagonists are frequently orphans, outcasts, survivors of all manner of trauma, and this invariably informs the people they become when answering the call to tackle evil. We typically come to comic book movies to stare in awe at the spectacle, gasp at the action, and laugh at the one-liners - but when they want to, comic book movies can really hit us hard emotionally, sometimes when we're expecting it least.
