If there's anything comic-book fans want more than anything, it's to see their favorite comics shine on the big screen. Adaptations of popular storylines are one of the ways that comic-book films get there due, with the famous Batman having some of the more iconic stories being transferred into movie material.
Yet, while there are definitely some stories live-action is willing to explore, there are many more they aren't. Some stories are so twisted, that while animation may make an attempt, live-action will never touch it. Here are 10 Batman stories too dark to be made into a live-action film.
Bloodstorm
In the world of DC, there are multiple different worlds and realities that have become known as Elseworlds, alternate planets where popular characters are seen in new lights. Among these worlds, there resides a reality where Batman becomes an actual vampire.
Batman becoming a vampire sounds epic and yet, in reality, it's torture. Plagued with the thirst for blood, Batman slowly descends into madness, eventually succumbing to his bloodlust. It's a dark, twisted take on the world's greatest detective that would leave many in shock.
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious Earth
While the name Batman has become iconic over the years, another name has become as iconic as him: Arkham Asylum. The mental asylum has become a place for the criminally insane and yet, none have truly dived into the dark depths of the asylum quite like the Grant Morrison story.
"A Serious House On Serious-Earth" is a truly disturbing take on Arkham and Batman's rogue's gallery. Taking deep dives into the likes of Joker and Two-Face, a serious house is a story that wouldn't even pass the development process.
Venom
When audiences think of Batman, they usually imagine a superhero without any powers, with no need for them or any other form of help or assistance. While this is mostly true, there was one time when Batman did rely on a highly unorthodox use of help.
"Batman: Venom," asks what would happen if Batman became a drug addict, following the Dark Knights descent after overusing the strength-enhancing drug Venom. While his intentions begin as pure, they slowly devolve into a dark take on Gotham's protector.
The Cult
It goes without saying that cults, in anything, can darken even the brightest of tales. There's something about a cult that is just somehow unsettling and disturbing to see, even in the world of Batman, or more specifically, in "Batman: The Cult."
When the nefarious Deacon Blackfire arrived in Gotham, no one could have predicted what was next for Batman. After being kidnapped by Blackfire, Batman is subjected to brainwashing and through the usage of graphic and terrifying imagery, slowly falls prey to Blackfire's influence in a horrifying manner.
The Killing Joke
It's strange how something may be done in animation instead of live-action. The Killing Joke, a story many see as being the darkest and most twisted of Batman stories was, for reasons unknown, made into an animated movie over live-action.
With that being said, it may have been for the best. Done in live-action, "The Killing Joke" would be a truly dark and shocking story, with images like the dark origin of the Joker, the brutal shooting of Barbra Gordon, and the torture of her father simply being too much.
All-star Batman And Robin
The words Batman and Robin have become synonymous with one over the years, with Batman serving as a surrogate father to most Robins. Despite a few issues here and there, such as with Jason or Damien, the relationship between Batman and the Robins is almost always a strangely sweet one.
Unless, of course, the comic is being penned by Frank Miller. In his run of "All-Star Batman And Robin," Frank Miller showed Batman as an abusive, violent guardian to his Robin, constantly tormenting him in a way that makes many fans shudder.
World of Flashpoint: Batman
Now, the world of Flashpoint is something many fans do want to see in live-action. It's a world full of possibilities and twisted takes on popular characters. While Flashpoint Batman would be a sight to behold, there are aspects to the character that wouldn't make the cut.
A Batman with guns doesn't sound like much of an issue but it's what lies beneath Batman that's the problem. After Bruce Wayne is killed, his father becomes Batman while his mother becomes the Joker, which makes for one twisted tale.
Black Mirror
It's strange that many fans seem to forget that the name Batman has been passed to different people. When the title was passed from Bruce Wayne to Dick Grayson, no one expected for Grayson to dive into a story as twisted as "Black Mirror."
This storyline is full of dark and twisted characters, including a horror version of the Joker, the monstrous dealer, and the psychotic James Gordon Jr. "Black Mirror " is a tale full of dark themes, horrific imagery, and tones that simply wouldn't fit in live-action.
Death Of The Family
Given how long Batman has been around for, there's always the chance that certain aspects from comics will be used every now and then. "Death Of The Family" has had some aspects used before, such as a face being removed like in the prequel series Gotham.
However...the actual story of "Death Of The Family" has never been seen. Full of grotesque imagery, dark themes, and a twisted take on Batman and Joker's relationship, the true nature of "Death Of The Family" would be too much of live-action.
Night Cries
Sometimes, there are stories that shouldn't be used purely because of how it twists and turns the character. Other times, it can become too dark because of the subject matter the story chooses to discuss, such as child abuse in "Batman: Night Cries."
Unlike other Batman tales, "Night Cries" follows the Dark Knight and Commissioner Gordon hunting down a serial abuser in the streets of Gotham. In a story that brings real-life issues to life, it's one tale that, while interesting to see, is also difficult to watch.