History TearJerker / DarkNightsMetal

* The ''Tales From The Dark Multiverse'' series. While in the prime universe most (if not all) stories end up either EarnYourHappyEnding or at least a BittersweetEnding to some, these stories tell otherwise, proving that the light and hope is non-existent within the depths of the Dark Multiverse. Specific examples can be [[ComicBook/{{Knightfall}} Batman]] being ForcedToWatch his city burn and remade by [[BloodKnight Jean-Paul Valley]] while his moral code rots away, [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman Lois Lane]] going mad from grief of losing Superman from Doomsday and becoming The Eradicator, [[Comicbook/BlackestNight Sinestro]] on a RedemptionQuest for his sins of inadvertently causing the Black Lantern Corps to take over, [[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis Ted Kord]] becoming a KnightTemplar in preventing an upcoming crisis whilst alienating friends along the way, and finally [[ComicBook/TheJudasContract Tara Markov]] going against the Teen Titans and Slade for being just an 'asset' and a 'sidekick' and becoming something more powerful than them [[ThePerilsOfBeingTheBest but at the price of those who were closest to her]].

* The ''Tales From The Dark Multiverse'' series. While in the prime universe most (if not all) stories end up either EarnYourHappyEnding or at least a BittersweetEnding to some, these stories tell otherwise, proving that the light and hope is non-existent within the depths of the Dark Multiverse. Specific examples can be [[ComicBook/{{Knightfall}} Batman]] being ForcedToWatch his city burn and remade by [[BloodKnight Jean-Paul Valley]] while his moral code rots away, [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman Lois Lane]] going mad from grief and becoming The Eradicator, [[Comicbook/BlackestNight Sinestro]] on a RedemptionQuest for his sins of inadvertently causing the Black Lantern Corps to take over, [[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis Ted Kord]] becoming a KnightTemplar in preventing an upcoming crisis whilst alienating friends along the way, and finally [[ComicBook/TheJudasContract Tara Markov]] going against the Teen Titans and Slade for being just an 'asset' and a 'sidekick' and becoming something [[ThePerilsOfBeingTheBest but at the price of those who were closest to her]].

* The ''Tales From The Dark Multiverse'' series. While in the prime universe most (if not all) stories end up either EarnYourHappyEnding or at least a BittersweetEnding to some, these stories tell otherwise, proving that the light and hope is non-existent within the depths of the Dark Multiverse. Specific examples can be [[ComicBook/{{Knightfall}} Batman]] being ForcedToWatch his city burn and remade by [[BloodKnight Jean-Paul Valley]] while his moral code rots away, [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman Lois Lane]] going mad from grief and becoming The Eradicator, [[Comicbook/BlackestNight Sinestro]] on a RedemptionQuest for his sins of inadvertently causing the Black Lantern Corps to take over, [[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis Ted Kord]] becoming a KnightTemplar in preventing an upcoming crisis whilst alienating friends along the way, and finally [[ComicBook/TheJudasContract Tara Markov]] taking on revenge against the Teen Titans and Slade for being just an 'asset' and a 'sidekick' and becoming something [[ThePerilsOfBeingTheBest but at the price of those who were closest to her]].

* The ''Tales From The Dark Multiverse'' series. While in the prime universe most (if not all) stories end up either EarnYourHappyEnding or at least a BittersweetEnding to some, these stories tell otherwise, proving that the light and hope is non-existent within the depths of the Dark Multiverse.
** ComicBook/{{KnightFall}} has led to Bruce Wayne losing his mantle entirely to [[BloodKnight Jean-Paul Valley/Saint Batman]], and he is [[ForcedToWatch forced to watch his entire city undergo a "remaking" under Valley's image]], the abuse of his identity as the hero of what Gotham needs, and (heavily implied) see his entire Batfamily executed by [[MalevolentMaskedMen Saint Batman and his henchmen]], all while living as a [[BodyHorror head on a steampunkish-like device on top of Wayne Tower]]. By the end, [[SanitySlippage his moral code is no longer there even when he's freed]]
** Lois Lane from ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman has [[DrivenToMadness her grief taking the best of her]], blaming on the Justice League [[WhatTheHellHero for coming in too late and being unable to help and save Superman from his fight with Doomsday]]. Her ExcessiveMourning for Superman has became so great that she became the host of The Eradicator, where she performs actions [[KnightTemplar where she believes is doing "more" than Superman]]. Even when ''The Reign of the Supermen'' event came about, Superman's revival is cut short when Lois Lane tried to stop Cyborg Superman from inundating the air with Kryptonite, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone further blaming herself for all the trouble she had caused]] and vowed to make a "better world" for Clark Kent.
** ComicBook/BlackestNight had Sinestro refusing to share the White Ring's power with Hal Jordan, leading to the eventual win of the Black Lanterns and consuming the universe to the corps' ranks. What's sad about Sinestro's error of judgement is that [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone he recognised what he did and his choice affecting the rest of the universe]], and out of guilt [[RedemptionQuest he tries to find a way to bring back proper life throughout the universe as a Limbo Lantern]]. He technically got his redemption however, but when Dove (a superhero immune to the Black Lantern's influence) is murdered by Mister Miracle and using [[OmnicidalManiac Lobo]] as a catalyst to bring life back to the universe, he discovers that [[AlwaysChaoticEvil the life is bloodthirsty and savage throughout]], thus going insane from his actions and as attempted to try to get out of his universe ASAP.
** While Ted Kord in ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis survived his encounter with Maxwell Lord, his path to saving the universe became a downward spiral for him and his friend ComicBook/BoosterGold. Firstly, he got alienated from the Justice League and Booster due to his consolidation of power from Maxwell Lord, leaving him alone to do all the tasks. Second, his [[WellIntentionedExtremist noble intentions]] along with the acquiring of Brother Eye has made him logically unstable, thinking that (from Brother Eye's suggestion) the eradication of 50% of the superhero population is beneficial in preventing the impending crisis, and third was that he killed Booster under the influence of Brother Eye. By the end he he became a TragicHero, and showing that for the sake of stability of Earth, some people needed to be killed.
** Tara Markov in ComicBook/TheJudasContract shows that (like Infinite Crisis) some people needed to die for the survivability of Earth. Like Kord, she still lives on, but she snaps on the fact that she's just an "asset" for Slade and a "sidekick" the Teen Titans, leading to killing her former mentor and bringing down hell on the Teen Titans' doorsteps. Even Beast Boy couldn't get a sense of redemption from her, and instead she stated that while they're alike and that he [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe was the kindest one out of the group]], [[IronicEcho she cares as about as God can care for an ant]].

* The ''Tales From The Dark Multiverse'' series. While in the prime universe most (if not all) stories end up either EarnYourHappyEnding or at least a BittersweetEnding to some, these stories tell otherwise along with a dose of NightmareFuel

** Lois Lane from ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman has [[DrivenToMadness her grief taking the best of her]], blaming on the Justice League [[WhatTheHellHero for coming in too late and being unable to help and save Superman from his fight with Doomsday]]. Her ExcessiveMourning for Superman has became so great that she became the host of The Eradicator, where she performs actions [[KnightTemplar where she believes is doing "more" than Superman]]. Even when ''The Reign of the Supermen'' event came about, Superman's revival is cut short when Lois Lane tried to stop Cyborg Superman from inundating the air with Kryptonite, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone blaming herself for all the trouble she had caused]] and vowed to make a "better world" for Clark Kent.
** ComicBook/BlackestNight had Sinestro refusing to share the White Ring's power with Hal Jordan, leading to the eventual win of the Black Lanterns and consuming the universe to the corps' ranks. What's sad about Sinestro's error of judgement is that [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone he recognised what he did and his choice affecting the rest of the universe]], and out of guilt [[RedemptionQuest he tries to find a way to bring back proper life throughout the universe as a Limbo Lantern]]. He technically got his redemption however, but when Dove (a superhero immune to the Black Lantern's influence) is murdered by Mister Miracle and using [[OmnicidalManiac Lobo]] as a catalyst to bring life back to the universe, he discovers that [[AlwaysChaoticEvil the life is bloodthirsty and savage throughout]], thus leading to him trying to seek a path out of the universe he's in (but unable to due to Tempus Fuginaut locking down the universe.
** While Ted Kord in ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis survived his encounter with Maxwell Lord, his path to saving the universe became a downward spiral for him and his friend ComicBook/BoosterGold. Firstly, he got alienated from the Justice League and Booster due to his consolidation of power from Maxwell Lord, leaving him alone to do all the tasks. Second, his [[WellIntentionedExtremist noble intentions]] along with the acquiring of Brother Eye has made him logically unstable, thinking that (from Brother Eye's suggestion) the eradication of 50% of the superhero population is beneficial for the survivability of Earth, and third was that he killed Booster under the influence of Brother Eye. By the end he is shown to be a TragicHero, and showing that for the sake of stability of Earth, some people needed to be killed.
** Tara Markov in ComicBook/TheJudasContract shows that (like Infinite Crisis) some people needed to die for the survivability of the Earth. Like Kord, she still lives on, but she snaps on the fact that she's just an "asset" for Slade and a "sidekick" the Teen Titans, leading to killing her former mentor and bringing down hell on the Teen Titans' doorsteps. Even Beast Boy couldn't get a sense of redemption from her, and instead she stated that while they're alike and that he [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe was the kindest one out of the group]], [[IronicEcho she cares as about as God can care for an ant]].

** ComicBook/{{KnightFall}} has led to Bruce Wayne losing his mantle entirely to [[BloodKnight Jean-Paul Valley/Saint Batman]], and he is forced to watch his entire city undergo a "remaking" under Valley's image, the abuse of his identity as the hero of what Gotham needs, and (heavily implied) see his entire Batfamily executed by [[MalevolentMaskedMen Saint Batman and his henchmen]], all while living as a [[BodyHorror head on a steampunkish-like device on top of Wayne Tower]]. Even by the end, his [[GoMadFromTheIsolation torment after being isolated for so long and witnessing his city being torn to pieces]] has broken his moral code so much that he didn't even have a second thought of killing Saint Batman's henchmen [[TheFarmerAndTheViper and his rescuers Lady Shiva and Son of Bane]], which he thinks that [[ItIsBeyondSaving Gotham no longer needs to reconnect with the rest of the world]], stating that "Gotham is mine, and '''''I am her's'''''"

** ComicBook/BlackestNight had Sinestro refusing to share the White Ring's power with Hal Jordan, leading to the eventual win of the Black Lanterns and consuming the universe to the corps' ranks. What's sad about Sinestro's error of judgement is that [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone he recognised what he did and his choice affecting the rest of the universe]], and out of guilt [[RedemptionQuest he tries to find a way to bring back proper life throughout the universe as a Limbo Lantern]]. He technically got his redemption however, but when Dove (a superhero immune to the Black Lantern's influence) is murdered by Mister Miracle and using [[OmnicidalManiac Lobo]] as a catalyst to bring life back to the universe, he discovers that [[AlwaysChaoticEvil the life is bloodthirsty and savage throughout]], thus leading to him trying to seek a path out of the universe he's in (but unable to due to Tempus Fuginaut locking down the universe

* Lois Lane ends up becoming infected by the Devastator's Doomsday virus and is forced to watch all her friends, loved ones and other innocent strangers turn into mindless Doomsday monsters and begin destroying Metropolis. The only reason she's not a Doomsday mutant yet is because she's been in Superman's presence for so long. When her son, Jon Kent sees what's happening, Lois forcibly drags him back into the apartment and into a safe room. But she doesn't go in with him. Jon is forced to watch his mother transform into a Doomsday before his very eyes and he doesn't know where his father is. But he still believes he will save them.

** The other Knights became monsters because their family was taken of them by external circumstances. The Batman Who Laughs ''destroyed his family himself''. After seeing so many instances of "Batman" losing it for loving so deeply that moving on from the grief wasn't an option, ''this'' Batman killing his adopted father, his surrogate children and his friends and turning his biological son into a monster is just as shattering as horrifying.
* Lois Lane ends up becoming infected by the Devastator's Doomsday virus is forced to watch all her friends, loved ones and other innocent strangers turn into mindless Doomsday monsters and begin destroying Metropolis. The only reason she's not a Doomsday mutant yet is because she's been in Superman's presence for so long. When her son, Jon Kent sees what's happening, Lois forcibly drags him back into the appartment and into a safe room. But she doesn't go in with him. Jon is forced to watch his mother transform into a Doomsday before his very eyes and he doesn't know where his father is. But he still believes he will save them.

** The other Knights became monsters because their family was taken of them by external circumstances. The Batman Who Laughs ''destroyed his family himself''. After seeing so many instances of "Batman" losing it for loving so deeply that moving on from the grief wasn't an option, ''this'' Batman killing his adopted father, his surrogate children and friends and turning his biological son into a monster is just as shattering as horrifying.

** The other Knights became monsters because their family was taken of them by external circumstances. The Batman Who Laughs ''destroyed his family himself''. After seeing so many instances of "Batman" losing it for loving so deeply that moving on from the grief wasn't an option, ''this'' Batman killing his surrogate children and friends is just as shattering as horrifying.

* Lois Lane ends up becoming infected by the Devastator's Doomsday virus and becomes the Patient Zero. She is forced to watch all her friends, loved ones and other innocent strangers turn into mindless Doomsday monsters and begin destroying Metropolis. The only reason she's not a Doomsday mutant yet is because she's been in Superman's presence for so long. When her son, Jon Kent sees what's happening, Lois forcibly drags him back into the appartment and into a safe room. But she doesn't go in with him. Jon is forced to watch his mother transform into a Doomsday before his very eyes and he doesn't know where his father is. But he still believes he will save them.

* Origins of every of the Dark Knights are launched by the death of someone Batman treasures, but some push the characters into an outright TragicMonster territory. Red Death is consumed by guilt for not being able to save [[spoiler: Dick, Jason, Tim and Damian]], Murder Machine was created by Batman who wasn't able to move on after [[spoiler: Alfred's]] death and the Merciless cannot even look at Earth-0 Wonder Woman [[spoiler: out of shame because he killed his world's Diana]].
** Despite being considered the "Darkest Knight", The Batman Who Laughs' origin is perhaps the most tragic out of all the of nightmare Batmen. [[spoiler: Physically and mentally broken down by the Joker's latest atrocity, he was punished for an understandable loss of control by being permanently twisted into an even ''worse'' monster than his archenemy through a toxin released after the Joker's death.]]

** Despite being considered the "Darkest Knight", The Batman Who Laughs' origin is perhaps the most tragic out of all the of nightmare Batmen. [[spoiler: Physically and mentally broken down by the Joker's latest atrocity, he was punished for an understandable loss of control by being permanently twisted into an even ''worse'' monster than his archenemy through a toxin released after the Joker's death.]]

* Despite being considered the "Darkest Knight", The Batman Who Laughs' origin is perhaps the most tragic out of all the of nightmare Batmen. [[spoiler: Physically and mentally broken down by the Joker's latest atrocity, he was punished for an understandable loss of control by being permanently twisted into an even ''worse'' monster than his archenemy through a toxin released after the Joker's death.]]

* Despite being considered the "Darkest Knight", The Batman Who Laughs' origin is perhaps the most tragic out of all the of nightmare Batmen. Physically and mentally broken down by the Joker's latest atrocity, he was punished for an understandable loss of control [[spoiler: by being permanently twisted into an even ''worse'' monster than his archenemy through a toxin released after the Joker's death.]]

* Despite being considered the "Darkest Knight", The Batman Who Laughs' origin is perhaps the most tragic out of all the of nightmare Batmen. Physically and mentally broken down by the Joker's latest atrocity, he was punished for an understandable loss of control [[spoiler: by being permanently twisted into an even *worse* monster than his archenemy through a toxin released after the Joker's death.]]

* Origins of every of the Dark Knights are launched by the death of someone Batman treasures, but some push the characters into an outright TragicMonster territory. Red Death is consumed by guilt for not being able to save [[spoiler: Dick, Jason, Tim and Damian]], Murder Machine was created by Batman who wasn't able to move on after [[spoiler: Alfred's]] death and the Merciless cannot even look at Earth-0 Wonder Woman [[spoiler: out of shame because he killed his world's Diana]].

* Also in ''Gotham Resistance'' Poison Ivy being so corrupted by Batman Who Laughs she doesn't even seem to recognize Harley, which is the point that Harley starts to realize and be terrified by how this new, twisted Gotham looks like something Joker would create.

* Origins of every of the Dark Knights are launched by the death of something Batman treasure, but some push the characters into an outright TragicMonster territory. Red Death is consumed by guilt for not being able to save [[spoiler: Dick, Jason, Tim and Damian]], Murder Machine was created by Batman who wasn't able to move on after [[spoiler: Alfred's]] death and the Merciless cannot even look at Earth-0 Wonder Woman [[spoiler: out of shame because he killed his world's Diana]].

* Origins of every of the Dark Knights seem launched by a death of a loved one, but some push the characters into an outright TragicMonster territory. Red Death is consumed by guilt for not being able to save [[spoiler: Dick, Jason, Tim and Damian]], Murder Machine was created by Batman who wasn't able to move on after [[spoiler: Alfred's]] death and the Merciless cannot even look at Earth-0 Wonder Woman [[spoiler: out of shame because he killed his world's Diana]].