A Simple Question About "Essential" Comic Books

Doug: Back on Monday, I fell into a bit of a trap in a remark I made in our first installment of our review of The Dark Knight. I suggested that in the succeeding 30 years since its publication, who hadn't read that story? Well, somewhat to my surprise, a few of our loyal commenters raised their hands. Which of course got me to thinking...

What are those comic books or comics stories that you have personally assumed that "everyone" has read?

Dark Knight of Depression

Karen: After seeing Avengers, and coming out of the theater practically walking on air, I had a discussion with my husband and our friends about the film, but also about other super-hero films. I said something that, surprisingly, we all agreed with: The Marvel films leave me feeling exhilarated and upbeat; but the Christopher Nolan Batman movies, particularly The Dark Knight, leave me emotionally exhausted and morose. Because of this, I'm not really looking forward to seeing The Dark Knight Rises.

Karen: Don't get me wrong, I'll go see it, but probably not right away. I want to finish out this trilogy. I've gotten this far, I might as well see how it ends. But I don't feel excited. There's no joyous anticipation in my heart like there was for Avengers. It's more of a task, one that I'm not looking forward to doing.

Karen: I did enjoy Batman Begins fairly well, although I've never cared for Bale's growling Batman. But Dark Knight gave us a view so overwhelmingly bleak and without hope that I left the theater feeling like I'd been punched in the gut. It was just too much. When I saw it again on DVD, I could see what a well-made crime drama it was, but still... it was not Batman to me, and it was far too negative for my tastes.

Karen: But I know I am in the minority when it comes to these movies. I mean, Dark Knight was a huge hit. I've heard people go on and on about what a great film it is. Many tout the realism of Nolan's Bat-iverse as a reason they like it so much. For me, it seemed like someone calling themselves Batman had been dropped into a crime drama. It just wasn't Batman, and regardless of that, the film itself, while well-made, was just depressing.

Karen: I'm sort of hoping that Dark Knight, with its ending that seemed without hope, will prove to be like The Empire Strikes Back in the sense that 'it's always darkest before the dawn'. But still, even Empire had Luke and Leia reunite at the end. And what I've seen of The Dark Knight Rises looks like more of the same.

Karen: I'm curious how the BABsters out there feel about the Nolan films. Do you love the gritty realism? Do you find them too dark?