History ComicBook / DarkNightATrueBatmanStory

It's The90s, and animation is hitting notes nobody thought it could possibly hit. Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/WarnerBros are two titans within the medium with massive cult hits that are still fondly remembered to this day. One of them would be one of the most celebrated animated series of all time: ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. The success of the show even leads to a theatrical feature in the form of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm''.

Enter head-writer and fan of cartoons Creator/PaulDini, who in the year of 1993 is having a pretty good time enjoying the rave reviews and positive fan response for ''Batman: [=TAS=]'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures Tiny Toons]]''. Underneath it though, Dini holds a depressive attitude brought about by uncertainty about the lifestyle he had chosen (symbolized by the large amount of Batman merchandise and animation cels framed and hung on his walls). It doesn't help that Dini also happens to be in a shallow relationship with a very attractive actress who couldn't give less of a damn about him or his work. Following what he perceived to be a disastrous date, Dini decided to take a night walk... during which he finds himself approached by two thugs who savagely beat and rob him. His face literally broken and traumatically terrified for his life, Dini begins a journey to heal, not just physically, but also emotionally, and better himself with the help of, who else, Franchise/{{Batman}}.

''Dark Night: A True Batman Story'' is an autobiographical graphic novel about Dini's attempts at getting over his trauma with the help of his love for Batman and his mythos. The story was first told on Creator/KevinSmith's podcast ''Fatman On Batman''. Smith urged Dini to put it to paper, despite the writer's hesitation. The book was published in 2016, with art provided by Eduardo Risso.

->''"So...I got beat up."''

Enter head-writer and fan of cartoons Creator/PaulDini, who in the year of 1993 is having a pretty good time enjoying the rave reviews and positive fan response for ''Batman: [=TAS=]'' and ''WesternAnimation/TinyToons''. Underneath it though, Dini holds a depressive attitude brought about by uncertainty about the lifestyle he had chosen (symbolized by the large amount of Batman merchandise and animation cels framed and hung on his walls). It doesn't help that Dini also happens to be in a shallow relationship with a very attractive actress who couldn't give less of a damn about him or his work. Following what he perceived to be a disastrous date, Dini decided to take a night walk... during which he finds himself approached by two thugs who savagely beat and rob him. His face literally broken and traumatically terrified for his life, Dini begins a journey to heal, not just physically, but also emotionally, and better himself with the help of, who else, Franchise/{{Batman}}.

It's TheNineties, and animation is hitting notes nobody thought it could possibly hit. Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/WarnerBros are two titans within the medium with massive cult hits that are still fondly remembered to this day. One of them would be one of the most celebrated animated series of all time: ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. The success of the show even leads to a theatrical feature in the form of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm''.

Enter head-writer and fan of cartoons Creator/PaulDini, who in the year of 1993 is having a pretty good time enjoying the rave reviews and positive fan response for ''Batman: [=TAS=]'' and ''WesternAnimation/TinyToons''. Underneath it though, Dini holds a depressive attitude brought about by uncertainty about the lifestyle he had chosen (symbolized by the large amount of Batman merchandise and animation cels framed and hung on his walls). It doesn't help that Dini also happens to be in a shallow relationship with a very attractive actress who couldn't give less of a damn about him or his work. Following what he perceived to be a disastrous date, Dini decided to take a night walk... during which he finds approached by two thugs who savagely beat and rob him. His face literally broken and traumatically terrified for his life, Dini begins a journey to heal, not just physically, but also emotionally, and better himself with the help of, who else, Franchise/{{Batman}}.

* TheNineties: Since the main events of the story take place during production of ''Batman: The Animated Series'', it takes place within this time period.

* ForWantOfANail:
** If not for the bad date with Vivien, Dini wouldn't have walked alone that night, which meant he wouldn't have been mugged.
** As Dini recounts, if he hadn't been PlayingPossum after being badly beaten, the muggers would have made sure he was dead.

* UsefulNotes/TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation: Dini discusses how he began working at Warner Brothers in [[TheEighties the late 80s]] as animation transitioned away from UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation and became more respected and of higher quality, as people like Creator/StevenSpielberg began producing animated shows and movies.

** A record store owner tells Dini about how ''WesternAnimation/TinyToons'' helped cheer him and his cancer-ridden wife up, and although Dini didn't work on ''Tiny Toons'', the incident and his sister remind him that his work matters, which helps him get off his procrastination and back to writing for ''Mask of the Phantasm''.

** Invoked within the story. Dini discusses a time when he pitched a highly metaphysical episode where Batman, in a near-death experience, encountered [[ComicBook/TheSandman Death and her brother Morpheus]]. His director vetoes it on the grounds that their show isn't a fantasy, and it would be too metaphysical and that they [[NeverSayDie don't mention "death"]]. Ironically, ''[=B:TAS=]'' would eventually be more comfortable with how violent it could get (down to death being regularly a thing characters are threatened with) ''and'' would introduce fantasy elements by guest-starring characters like ComicBook/{{Etrigan}} and Klarion the Witch Boy thanks to the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse beginning to {{World Build|ing}}.

* NeverSayDie: Why Dini's pitch for a Batman / ComicBook/TheSandman crossover episode was rejected.

* GoodParents: Although they are initially portrayed as [[FantasyForbiddingFather Fantasy Forbidding Parents]] when he was a child, Dini states that his entire family, including his dying grandfather, were nothing but supportive of his creative endeavors.

** ComicBook/TheJoker: The Clown Prince constantly mocks and belittles Dini, cruelly reminding him of his worthlessness and inflating small embarrassments to full-on shame. He often urges Dini to continue procrastinating, pointing out the dangers of the outside world and how safe it was in his home, regardless of unfinished work.

* DarkerAndEdgier: A hell of a lot more dark than Dini's other works.

* RealityEnsues: Despite his new lease on life, Dini is not completely cured of his trauma, and admits to being nervous whenever he suspects another robbery is about to happen.
** Right from the start, Batman doesn't show up to to save Dini from the muggers, and there was no way in hell that Dini was going to be able to fight them off regardless of how much he trained or knew how to write Batman.

* DoesntLikeGuns: Dini realizes this about himself when considering purchasing a gun. He flashes back to a time in his childhood where he was playing around with a rifle and was about to shoot some ducks when his brother's head suddenly appeared within his sights. The horror of the incident reminds Dini of his hatred of firearms and he promptly abandons the notion of buying one.
* DrowningMySorrows: The trauma of the mugging sends Dini into a spiral of alcoholism.

** Dini also reveals that he had one before the mugging, when an actress named Regina refused to go with him as his date to the Emmy's.

* ImaginaryFriend: Batman, his allies and his RoguesGallery advise and/or berate Dini.

** Franchise/{{Batman}}: The Dark Knight continually serves as Dini's [[TheSpock logic and common sense]]. Everytime he appears, he is demanding that Dini grow a pair and return to work. Other times, he is berating the writer for not thinking like him, pointing out various ways he could've defended himself against the muggers without the physique of a superhero.

** ComicBook/TwoFace: Harvey Dent represents both the physical and mental scars of the robbery that is left on Dini. When he looks himself in the mirror, he is [[TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf reminded of Two-Face's disfigurement]].

** There was also another discussion the writers had where the Joker's fate in-between ''TAS'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Beyond]]'' was that Batman imprisoned him in the Batcave for the rest of his life.

** A record store owner tells Dini about how ''WesternAnimation/TinyToons'' helped him and his cancer-ridden wife cheer up despite their unfortunate situation. This helps Dini get off his procrastination and back to writing for ''Mask of the Phantasm''.

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: While he gave the actresses that he tried to date a TakeThat, he does leaven it by mentioning that they were upfront about what they were and their motives for going out with him... which was to build up a necessary network of contacts that could further their careers. In contrast, he acknowledges he was being misleading to them about his connection to Creator/StevenSpielberg to get a date in the first place.

-->'''Batgirl:''' I've had worse. Feel better.

* GoodAngelBadAngel: Batman (good angel) and ComicBook/TheJoker (bad angel) are this to Paul Dini, specially after his assault and beating.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dark_night_a_true_batman_story_dini_risso.jpg]]

** ComicBook/TheRiddler: He gives Dini excuses to make to save himself from having to physically go to work. Later embodies Dini questioning himself.

** [[ComicBook/PoisonIvy Poison Ivy]]: Whenever she shows up, Dini is reminded of his past failed romances, specifically Vivian and Regina. It's his status as a HappilyMarried man to Misty Lee that rids him of Ivy.
** Scarecrow: Obviously, the Scarecrow is there to remind Dini of all the dangers and fears of his life. Even after Dini gets over his trauma, Scarecrow points out that he is still uneasy whenever he suspects a repeat of the mugging is going to happen.
** [[ComicBook/TwoFace Two-Face]]: Harvey Dent represents both the physical and mental scars of the robbery that is left on Dini. When he looks himself in the mirror, he is [[TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf reminded of Two-Face's disfigurement]].
** [[ComicBook/ThePenguin Penguin]]: He represents Dini's fall into alcoholism. Penguin is usually serving him drinks at the Iceberg Lounge.
** [[ComicBook/TheRiddler Riddler]]: He gives Dini excuses to make to save himself from having to physically go to work. Later embodies Dini questioning himself.

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: Ivan Ivorybill is an {{Expy}} of WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker, who is owned by Creator/UniversalStudios. Played straight with Beany and Cecil from ''Series/TimeForBeany'', as Ruth and Rob Clampett, the children of Creator/BobClampett are thanked in the acknowledgements.

* LawyerFriendlyCameo: Ivan Ivorybill is an {{Expy}} of WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker, who is owned by Creator/UniversalStudios.

* StopBeingStereotypical: After the robbery, Dini is asked by a black co-worker if the muggers were also black. Dini truthfully tells him that at least one of them was, leading to the co-worker to give a resigned "damn it" and a handshake in apology.

** ComicBook/{{Joker}}: The Clown Prince constantly mocks and belittles Dini, cruelly reminding him of his worthlessness and inflating small embarrassments to full-on shame. He often urges Dini to continue procrastinating, pointing out the dangers of the outside world and how safe it was in his home, regardless of unfinished work.

** Invoked within the story. Dini discusses a time when he pitched a highly metaphysical episode where Batman, in a near-death experience, encountered [[ComicBook/TheSandman Death and her brother Morpheus]]. His director vetoes it on the grounds that their show isn't a fantasy, and it would be too metaphysical and that they don't mention "death".

* StopBeingStereotypical: After the robbery, Dini is asked by a black co-worker if the muggers were also black. Dini truthfully tells him that at least one of them was, leading to the co-worker to give a resigned "damn it."

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Invoked within the story. Dini discusses a time when he pitched a highly metaphysical episode where Batman, in a near-death experience, encountered [[ComicBook/TheSandman Death and her brother Morpheus]]. There was also another discussion the writers had where the Joker's fate in-between ''TAS'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Beyond]]'' was that Batman imprisoned him in the Batcave for the rest of his life.

** [[ComicBook/TheRiddler Riddler]]: He gives Dini excuses to make to save himself from having to physically go to work. Later embodies Dini's self-doubt.

-->-- '''Paul Dini'''