History ComicBook / DarkNightATrueBatmanStory

-->'''Doctor:''' Did they catch the people who did it?

--->'''Mr. Dini:''' I'd like to know what kind of job you can get by watching cartoons.

* Main/{{Sequelitis}}: Alluded to in a dig Bruce Wayne makes in which Bruce observes that all the actresses Dini dates only star in movies with [[NumberedSequels Roman numerals after the title]].

** 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.

** 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]].
** Penguin: He represents Dini's fall into alcoholism. Penguin is usually serving him drinks at the Iceberg Lounge.
** Riddler: He gives Dini excuses to make to save himself from having to physically go to work.

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

Enter head-writer and fan of cartoons Creator/PaulDini, who is having a pretty good time enjoying the rave reviews and positive fan response for ''Batman: [=TAS=]'' and ''WesternAnimation/TinyToons''. Underneath it though, holds a depressive attitude brought about by uncertainty about the lifestyle Dini 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...where he comes across two thugs who savagely beat and rob him. His face literally broken and traumatically terrified for his life, Dini begins a journey to heal 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.

-->'''Doctor''': Did they catch the people who did it?
-->'''Dini''': At this very moment, the L.A.P.D. is conducting a citywide manhunt. Bloodhounds, helicopters, psychics, mounted police … [[SubvertedTrope I’m sorry]], I meant to say, No.

* EvilStoleMyFaith: While Batman [[BadassNormal isn’t actually a god]], he might as well be to Dini ([[TheParagon and to so many other fans]]). But after his brutal mugging, Dini essentially suffers a crisis of faith and wants nothing to do with writing Batman stories. Dini's faith in Batman is restored as he comes to see his own self-worth.
-->'''Dini''': It’s taken me years to accept what you told me back then, that you were there for me that night. Not as a vigilante swinging to the rescue, but as an ideal, as an inspiration. A voice I heard in darkness, commanding me to stand up. The same voice that tells us when we get beaten down, we can accept being a victim or choose to be the hero of our own stories. And we make that choice by standing up.

--->'''Mr. Dini''': I’d like to know what kind of job you can get by watching cartoons.
--->'''Paul''': And off Dad’s [[SarcasmMode rather prophetic announcement]], we [[TimeSkip flash forward twenty-five years]].

-->'''Batman''': You could’ve escaped them, you know. Used the smaller attacker’s momentum and flipped him into the bigger one. A basic jiujitsu move. I use it all the time.
-->'''Dini''': There are two reasons that works for you—one, [[IKnowKarate you’re a superbly trained martial artist]]. Two, you’re a '''''drawing'''''! You can’t get hurt!

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

** 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''.

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

* 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 Steven Spielberg to get a date in the first place.
* ImaginaryFriend: Batman, his allies and his rogues gallery advise and/or berate Dini.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Vivian and Regina. Regina rejects Dini's invitation to go as his date to the Emmy's due to believing that associating with animation would be bad for her career. Vivian only knows to talk about herself, to the point where her response to Dini telling her that he was robbed is to turn it around so she can talk about a time she was harassed by two men instead of giving any actual emotional support.

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

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

* SelfHarm: Dini recounts that he cut himself with his own Emmy award after Regina refused to accompany him to the award show when she.

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

* ArtShift: The scene of the mugging itself is colored and inked like it was drawn by Creator/FrankMiller, Tim Sale or Mike Mignola. This is in high contrast to the painted style of the rest of the book.

->'''Doctor''': Did they catch the people who did it?
->'''Dini''': At this very moment, the L.A.P.D. is conducting a citywide manhunt. Bloodhounds, helicopters, psychics, mounted police … I’m sorry, I meant to say, No.

* EvilStoleMyFaith: While Batman [[BadassNormal isn’t actually a god]], he might as well be to Dini ([[TheParagon and to so many other fans]]). But after his brutal mugging, Dini essentially suffers a crisis of faith and wants nothing to do with writing Batman stories. Dini's faith in Batman is restored as he comes to see his own self-worth, which begins with a fan telling him how ''WesternAnimation/TinyToons'' is helping he and his wife cope with her cancer.

* SelfHarm: Supposedly, Dini cut himself with his own Emmy award after getting rejected by Regina.

* MythologyGag: Scarecrow's design is based on his appearance in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum''.

It's TheNineties, and animation is hitting notes nobody thought it could possibly hit. Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/WarnerBros are two titans within the genre 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''.

* 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 Steven Spielberg to get a date in the first place.

* StopBeingSoStereotypical: 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."

** Before visiting his doctor, Dini assures Arleen Sorkin that his injuries are most likely not as bad as they look. Come the actual visit, the doctor tells him the injuries are ''very'' bad.

* ImagineSpot: While recovering, Dini imagines Batman saving him and kicking the asses of the two muggers.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Dini's girlfriend Vivian fully reveals herself to be this when he tries to tell her about the mugging, only for her to quickly turn it around so she can ramble on about harassers to ''him''. In contrast, Arleen Sorkin is immediately concerned and offering to have her husband driver him to a hospital.