The modern Batman is dark, brooding and brutal.

But what happened to the Caped Crusader of old?

The TV screen is dark and that Batman is gone.

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Maybe its a symptom of the times in which we live.

Maybe this Batman isnt the one we need but perhaps the one we deserve right now.

All of this washed down with a ridiculously growly voice.

Now dont get me wrong as meals go, that isnt a bad one.

But even the finest gastronomic delights lose their lustre if theyre your sole source of sustenance.

Yes, Batman is the Dark Knight, of course he is.

But that isnt all he is.

Hes the Goddamn Batman.

To some degree, all of these monikers reflect different aspects of the Batman mythos.

Nolan took Batman to some dark places and we thanked him for it.

Joel Schumachers colourful lampooning of the Dark Knight in the 90s (Bat-ice skates?

None of this bothers me.

With all that Batman has to suffer to make him who he is, there should be darkness.

Remember that Im still talking about screen incarnations of Batman here.

No matter how goofy or outdated everything was canon and therefore it was all worthy.

Never leave the Cave without it.

this was the real death of Batman.

Which brings us neatly onto Neil Gaiman.

Gaiman is one of my favourite writers.

Back in 2009, Morrison was in the process of killing Bruce Waynes Batman inBatman R.I.P.

Taking place (possibly) outside of mainstream continuity, this was Gaimans love letter to all things Batman.

We open in Crime Alley, where some of Batmans greatest foes and allies have gathered for his wake.

Seen in some ways as a sort of spiritual successor to Alan MooresWhatver Happened To The Man Of Tomorrow?

Gaimans tale is perhaps more ambitious in its construction.

Even more perturbing is the tale of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruces loyal butler.

Guess the butler really did do it.

The Jokers story and appearance hint at an end to the 80s Batman and so on and so forth.

Always, Batmans death is sacrificial.

He dies in service to others, whether that be one person or the entire city.

In addition to that, in each of the tales, he never, ever gives up.

Its an abstract approach that is clever in its execution.

Because every generation needs a Batman.

In hisFatman On Batmanpodcasts, Kevin Smith sometimes waxes lyrical about his Batman.

He makes the point that every generation has one.

For him its Keaton and the 1989 movie.

For me its the same.

For others, Kevin Conroys Batman ofThe Animated Seriesfame would be the one and only.

For more recent converts to The Bat, perhaps Bales growly, scowly Batman is their Dark Knight.

What if you gave Keaton the swansong that he never quite had?

What if you let West bring the curtain down on his Batman with a last one-liner?

It sounds crazy, right?

In a similar vein to Tony Stark being Iron Man, Bruce Wayne is Batman.

Plus, Supermans cameo in the story?

Lets finally get Nic Cage in the Man of Tomorrows tights.

Years after the death of BurtonsSuperman Liveshe could finally fulfil his dream of playing the Last Son of Krypton.

The diversity could ostensibly spread to the directorial styles too.

Or get in new directors, either way its good.

I wonder if Halle Berry would come back to do Catwoman?