DC Heroes in Marvel

"In their eyes, those gangsters think you're a monster—just like me. But I'm not a monster. I'm better than others!"

The Joker faced Batman, shrugged, and spoke in a flat tone that still managed to anger the Dark Knight.

"Where is Harvey?"

Batman grabbed the Joker by his collar, his eyes burning with suppressed rage.

"Look at you," the Joker sneered, his voice mocking. "Still following those rules, thinking they can save you..."

The Joker's thin frame, held firmly in Batman's grasp and pressed against the wall, somehow exuded a twisted confidence. Despite his apparent vulnerability, it felt as though the Joker held the upper hand.

This was the truth.

Batman's voice was cold and controlled. "I have one rule."

"Oh, just break it. The truth is right in front of you!"

"The truth?" Batman asked.

"The smartest way to live is to ignore all the rules. And tonight, you will break your only rule," the Joker grinned maniacally. "I think so."

The Joker continued, his tone teasing. "There's one minute left. Your last chance—if you want to save either of them."

"Them?" Batman's eyes narrowed, his pupils dilating in realization.

Rachel!

At that moment, everyone watching understood. It wasn't just Harvey Dent who had been taken. Rachel—Batman's childhood friend, his first love—was also a hostage.

As the film delved deeper into this moment, audiences witnessed Batman's powerlessness. Rachel's death left him shattered.

The Joker didn't just outmaneuver Batman and Commissioner Gordon—he also broke Harvey Dent. Gotham's once-idealistic district attorney began his descent into madness under the Joker's relentless manipulation.

Comic book fans instantly recognized what was happening. Harvey Dent was becoming Two-Face.

It was shocking to see such a stark transformation. Harvey, who had been called Gotham's "White Knight," was not only Batman's ally but also a symbol of hope.

And yet, in this grim story, the "White Knight" fell—while the movie, titled The Dark Knight, teased its deeper moral.

As for the Joker?

In the comics released by DC at the time, the Joker was merely a shadow—a name whispered among Gotham's criminals. He had never truly appeared, leaving fans with little more than rumors about his nature and appearance.

DC had carefully crafted a plan for the Joker's cinematic debut, ensuring he would terrify and captivate audiences.

And they succeeded.

The plot of The Dark Knight defied everyone's expectations.

In the eyes of many, Batman had always been portrayed as an almost omnipotent hero, much like Superman, who was revered as a god in his films. In Gotham—Batman's home base—there were hints of a similar reverence for the Caped Crusader.

Even in the real world, people viewed Batman as a savior. New York, a city that Gotham mirrored, had seen its fair share of chaos. The arrival of a vigilante like Batman felt like a beacon of hope.

Yet, DC dared to "smear" Batman.

In the film, Bruce Wayne wasn't portrayed as an unstoppable force. He became an "ordinary man," subject to the whims of others, despite his wealth and training.

This portrayal gave Batman a unique charm—distinct from other heroes. Bruce Wayne's struggles and vulnerabilities made him more human, more relatable.

Audiences were reminded of the hardships Bruce endured: losing his parents, facing darkness, and climbing out of despair with an unyielding will.

This movie illuminated the essence of Batman.

His greatest power isn't his wealth or gadgets.

It's his mind.

"Unbelievable imagination… Or perhaps this is Batman's real experience, transformed into art. Does everything in the movie allude to the suffering Batman has endured? Is there really such a terrifying Joker in the world—someone who commits evil purely for fun?"

Tony Stark pondered these questions, his admiration growing.

At the same time, he was struggling with palladium poisoning, a dire situation that left him in constant pain.

Subconsciously, he saw a parallel between his plight and the desperate situation Batman faced in the film.

As everyone knows, DC has a close relationship with Batman.

Tony smirked at the thought.

"Maybe Batman saw the movie before anyone else," he mused. "He might even be one of the screenwriters."

The Dark Knight clearly embodied Batman's will—a will that Tony couldn't help but admire.

Meanwhile, at the back of the theater, Agent Coulson sat quietly, his expression solemn as he stared at the big screen.

Unlike Tony, Coulson's thoughts drifted to a darker place.

If Batman and the Joker were opposites—two sides of the same coin—then was the Joker a reflection of what Batman could become if he ever abandoned his ideals?

A chill ran through Coulson's spine.

He couldn't shake the thought.

It was no wonder Nick Fury insisted on forming the Avengers.

The Justice League already stood as a powerful force, one that no other organization could ignore. But if Batman ever crossed the line and became a true villain, leading a corrupted Justice League…

Coulson's chest tightened.

In the movie, the Joker sought to create a world without Batman. Yet, symbolically, it hinted at a darker truth: a blackened Batman could just as easily desire a world without opposition—a world where he reigned supreme.

On the screen, Gotham was descending further into chaos.

The Joker's grip on the city was absolute. The citizens of Gotham were desperate to escape.

The police evacuated criminals by boat, attempting to transport them to other cities. Meanwhile, Harvey Dent, broken and manipulated by the Joker, had fully succumbed to darkness.

Yet, the citizens of Gotham still clung to hope. They still believed in their "White Knight," Harvey Dent, Gotham's shining symbol of justice.

Batman had no choice.

If the truth of Harvey's fall from grace were exposed, it would destroy the city's fragile faith in justice.

Without that faith, Gotham would descend into complete despair—a city of lost souls with no hope for redemption.

To preserve that faith, Batman made a choice. He chose to bear the burden of darkness himself.

By the end of the movie:

The Joker was defeated and captured. Harvey Dent was dead.

But Gotham's official story was damning.

According to the news, Harvey was killed… by Batman.

Commissioner Gordon publicly endorsed this falsehood, painting Batman as a criminal.

In doing so, Harvey Dent's reputation as Gotham's "White Knight" remained untarnished, preserving the people's hope in justice.

Batman, now branded an outcast, vanished from the public eye. Gotham returned to its uneasy peace.

The credits rolled, and the theater sat in silence for a moment before applause erupted.

"The Dark Knight…"

Both Tony and Coulson were deep in thought as the meaning of the film sank in.

"Bearing darkness while yearning for the light," Tony murmured. "That's the Dark Knight."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The applause grew louder, reverberating through the theater.

….

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