Batman: Night Cries

A grim, adult-oriented prestige-format one-shot from DC, Batman: Night Cries is a stark examination of child abuse and the psychological scars it leaves on both victim and avenger. Written by Archie Goodwin with haunting painted artwork by Scott Hampton, the 1992 story draws a powerful parallel between Batman's own trauma and a case involving a child abuser. It stands as a somber, visually arresting tale that uses the Dark Knight to explore a deeply real-world social issue.