Don, the one thing about comic books - they grew up. Sometimes faster than we did. I guess it started with Jack Kirby and Stan Lee and the gang at Marvel in the 1960's changing the image of what a comic book and a superhero should be. Comic books became compelling reading material instead of a diversion for kids.   Marvel built a universe where the heros were flawed, the same as the rest of us, and they basically resurrected an industry that had all but died out.

DC had to change with the times, and by the 1970's Batman returned to his original dark roots. (The early books had Batman using guns and killing the bad guys - but the tone changed to the goody-goody superhero by the time Robin hit the scene.)

In the 1970's, Batman dropped Robin (who became Nightwing) and even after fans brought the character back with another alter-ego, the second Robin was killed off.   The Joker would also cripple Barbara Gordon (aka Batgirl), and the tone of the book would come close to what Burton attempted to portray, and the home run was hit with the latest screen version of Batman.

This ain't your Grandpa's Batman!! The movie matches what is taking place in comic book these days - publications that are no longer aimed at kids.   

These characters are modern mythology - unique universes that create stories that entertain, educate, and inspire.

It if the furthest thing from creative atrophy that you can imagine. Some of the finest storytellers come from the pages of comic books. Even Stephen King wrote a series last year. It may not be everyones cup of tea.