History OOCIsSeriousBusiness / TheDCU

** In the story "Broken City", during Batman's investigation into what he believed to be a series of murders, he pays a visit to the Ventriloquist and his puppet/split personality, Scarface, where in a strange turn of events, after Batman mentions the suspect's name, Angel Lupo, Scarface, who usually has a HairTriggerTemper, who was the calmer of the two and it ''was'' the normally-shy and calm Arnold Wesker, who flew off the handle into violent anger. [[spoiler:At the end, it's revealed that Elizabeth Lupo, Angel's sister, had a fling with Wesker, wherein she got pregnant with his child and like many people, Batman included, Wesker wrongly believed Angel killed her.]]

** And with Batman, the one time to date (not counting his [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness very early comics]] and alternate universes) that he's actually [[BatmanGrabsAGun used a regular gun]] on someone to kill them was with [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]] in ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', because the situation was ''that serious''. Also, whenever he seems to be seriously considering just offing someone it generally means that person has either [[PapaWolf threatened or hurt one of his adopted kids]] or just done something ''that bad'' if Batman's even considering JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope.

** Similarly, during ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'', Joker takes one look at Azrael-as-Batman and realizes it's not the real Batman, walking away from the fight. Commissioner Gordon, Catwoman and Superman all take similar notices, Gordon in particular getting his first hint when he turns around and sees that Batman hasn't [[StealthHiBye abruptly disappeared]].

** Similarly, during ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'', Joker takes one look at Azrael Batman and realizes it's not the real Batman, walking away from the fight. Commissioner Gordon, Catwoman and Superman all take similar notices.

** In ''ComicBook/JLATheNail'', not even Batman was able to maintain his cool before the Joker's extremely despicable deeds and ended up outright killing his archenemy (something he would otherwise absolutely avoid).

** In ''ComicBook/JLA:TheNail'', not even Batman was able to maintain his cool before the Joker's extremely despicable deeds and ended up outright killing his archenemy (something he would otherwise absolutely avoid).

** In ''Comic Book/JLA:TheNail'', not even Batman was able to stand Joker's despicable deeds and ended up outright killing his archenemy (something he would otherwise absolutely avoid).

** In the magnificently [[MindScrew mind-screwy]] ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheCapedCrusader'', when Joker gives a eulogy for Batman, and reminisces about his death:

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** ComicBook/TheJoker is ''completely straight faced'' in ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'' during the moment he's trying to actually ''reason'' with Batman. Later on, when Batman in turn tries to reach out to him and offers him rehabilitation, the Joker can only look at the man dressed up as a giant bat in stunned, incredulous silence before solemnly apologizing and telling Bats that it's [[IveComeTooFar "far too late" for him to redeem himself now.]]
** ''The Killing Joke'' ends with an OOC moment for Batman. Long story short, Joker does some [[TargetedToHurtTheHero awful]], [[MindRape awful]] things, Batman catches him, Joker tells him a joke. Nothing unusual so far... But then [[TheStoic Batman]] starts laughing... And laughing... And laughing. No wonder plenty of people theorize that Batman finally straight up kills the Joker in this moment.
** He finds no humor in tossing a baby to Sarah Gordon to get her to drop her sidearm then putting a bullet through her head. It's the closest thing he has to a redeeming moment.
** And with Batman, the one time to date (not counting his [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness very early comics]] and alternate universes) that he's actually [[BatmanGrabsAGun used a regular gun]] on someone to kill them was with ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} in ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', because the situation was ''that serious''. Also, whenever he seems to be seriously considering just offing someone it generally means that person has either [[PapaWolf threatened or hurt one of his adopted kids]] or just done something ''that bad'' if Batman's even considering JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope.

** In the magnificently [[MindScrew mindscrewy]] ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheCapedCrusader'', when Joker gives a eulogy for Batman, and reminisces about his death:

** While Dick Grayson was the sole Batman in the DCU, he let security cameras record him beating up thugs, so that criminals would know that Batman was back in town. However, Two-Face sees him smiling in one of these recordings, and this tips him off that the Batman he's watching is not ''the'' Batman, as ''Batman does not smile''.

** The Joker ends a partnership with ComicBook/RedSkull when his Nazi affiliation comes out. He promptly drops his usual fondness for jokes, and is visibly ''[[EvenEvilHasStandards NOT]]'' '''[[EvenEvilHasStandards HAPPY]]''' about this, proclaiming "[[EvenEvilHasStandards I may be a criminal lunatic, but I'm AN American criminal lunatic!]]"
** Invoked and weaponized in ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'' -- The Batman Who Laughs can prepare for every possible strategy or event that Bruce's mind can come up with, so it takes something incredibly out of character to catch him off guard, namely [[spoiler: Batman [[EnemyMine teaming up with the Joker against him]]]].

* ''ComicBook/TheSandman'':

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':

** Any time that the Pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}} ComicBook/LexLuthor, the version who used to be ComicBook/{{Superboy}}'s friend and a pretty nice guy, would have a PetTheDog moment, it represented his earlier decent nature showing through, and (rightly or wrongly), it gave Supes hope that someday he might come back to the side of the angels. One of the very last Pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}} stories, ''Superman (Volume 1) 416: "The Ghost of Superman Future,'' indicates that in at least one [[DistantFinale possible future,]] Lex did eventually reform and they became friends again in their old age. It was by Creator/ElliotSMaggin, who was very fond of Luthor. He later wrote a short story along similar lines called "Luthor's Gift."

** In ''ComicBook/SupermanVsShazam'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} can tell something is wrong with her cousin when she finds Superman raving about killing [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]]. Similarly, when ComicBook/MaryMarvel listens to her sweet, would-never-hurt-a-fly brother Billy shouting he is going to Earth-One to kill Superman, she gets worried and takes off after him.

** Rorschach is gruff, insulting, and arrogant most of the time, and also doesn't usually use pronouns or proper names. When he says, "Daniel, I apologize. I know it's difficult being my friend," you know he's being dead serious.

* Franchise/WonderWoman has her own version. When she puts aside her lasso and other tools meant to disable and actually takes up a sword or ax, or [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 both that time Medusa challenged her after killing a child in front of her]], it means she has declared ''war'' and someone's going down -- or possibly some army. It doesn't really apply to the [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 Nu52 version]] who's, well, sword-armed almost all the time, but it used to be a big deal for the champion of peace to take up a weapon meant to kill.

** ''The Killing Joke'' ends with an OOC moment for Batman. Long story short, Joker does some [[TargtedToHurtTheHero awful]], [[MindRape awful]] things, Batman catches him, Joker tells him a joke. Nothing unusual so far... But then [[TheStoic Batman]] starts laughing... And laughing... And laughing. No wonder plenty of people theorize that Batman finally straight up kills the Joker in this moment.

** Similarly, during ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'', Joker takes one look at [[FanNickname Azbats]] and realizes it's not the real Batman, walking away from the fight. Commissioner Gordon, Catwoman and Superman all take similar notices.

** ''The Killing Joke'' ends with an OOC moment for Batman. Long story short, Joker does some [[StuffedIntoTheFridge awful]], [[MindRape awful]] things, Batman catches him, Joker tells him a joke. Nothing unusual so far... But then [[TheStoic Batman]] starts laughing... And laughing... And laughing. No wonder plenty of people theorize that Batman finally straight up kills the Joker in this moment.

* Any time that the pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}} ComicBook/LexLuthor, the version who used to be ComicBook/{{Superboy}}'s friend and a pretty nice guy, would have a PetTheDog moment, it represented his earlier decent nature showing through, and (rightly or wrongly), it gave Supes hope that someday he might come back to the side of the angels. One of the very last pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}} stories, ''Superman (Volume 1) 416: "The Ghost of Superman Future,'' indicates that in at least one [[DistantFinale possible future,]] Lex did eventually reform and they became friends again in their old age. It was by Creator/ElliotSMaggin, who was very fond of Luthor. He later wrote a short story along similar lines called "Luthor's Gift."
** Also, any time Luthor [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou feels the need]] to actively ''help'' Superman is a sure sign that things are at their lowest ebb for our hero.

* In ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', there is one scene in which Delirium pulls herself together. Delirium, as her name suggests, is the AnthropomorphicPersonification of ''insanity''. She even comments that it ''hurts'' to be sane. ("I ''[[GoMadFromTheRevelation know things]]''.") And from a brief moment of chilling clarity in ''Brief Lives'' to her brother Destiny:
-->'''Delirium:''' Do you know why I stopped being Delight, my brother? '''''I''''' do. There are things not in your book. There are paths outside this garden. ''You would do well to remember that.''

* Franchise/WonderWoman has her own version. When she puts aside her lasso and other tools meant to disable and actually takes up a sword or ax, or [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 both that time Medusa challenged her after killing a child in front of her]], it means she has declared ''war'' and someone's going down -- or possibly some army. It doesn't really apply to the [[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 Nu52 version]] who's, well, sword-armed almost all the time, but it used to be a big deal for the champion of peace to take up a weapon meant to kill.