Batman: In Darkest Knight was a 1994 DC Comics one-shot published under the Elseworlds imprint, written by Mike W. Barr and illustrated by Jerry Bingham that that mashes up Batman and Green Lantern.
While contemplating how he can effectively avenge his parents' deaths, Bruce Wayne is selected by the dying Abin Sur to succeed him as Green Lantern of Sector 2814. Armed with a power ring, Bruce uses his abilities to clean Gotham City of crime, but faces trouble after punishing Sinestro for abusing his own power.
Compare with Superman: Speeding Bullets, another Elseworlds tale that takes a similar approach by mashing Batman with Superman.
This comic provides examples of:
- But Now I Must Go: The story ends with Bruce Wayne choosing to fly off into space to go after Sinestro, while leaving the newest Green Lantern Corps recruits Clark Kent, Hippolyta, and Barry Allen the responsibility of defending Earth.
- Composite Character:
- The main premise of the comic is that Bruce Wayne is the one who gets Abin Sur's power ring and becomes a member of the Green Lantern Corps rather than Hal Jordan.
- This continuity actually has Bruce Wayne prevent the accident that turned the Red Hood into the Joker, but the void left by the Clown Prince of Crime is still filled in when Sinestro uses his power ring to absorb Joe Chill's mind and devolves into a cackling maniac who takes to wearing a purple suit with coattails.
- This universe's Star Sapphire is implied to be Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman.
- A fusion of Batman villain Two-Face and Green Lantern villain Evil Star is created when Sinestro disfigures and empowers Harvey Dent to turn him into Binary Star.
- Death by Adaptation: Commissioner Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth both get killed by Sinestro.
- Decomposite Character: This continuity has the Red Hood taken down without becoming the Joker, resulting in Sinestro filling in the vacancy of Bruce's nemesis when he uses his ring to absorb Joe Chill's mind and subsequently becomes a cackling maniac wearing a purple suit with coattails.
- Empowered Badass Normal: Bruce still undertakes his years of training, but here he is chosen by Abin Sur's ring before he can be inspired to adopt the mask and mantle of the Bat.
- In Spite of a Nail: Barry Allen's counterpart still gets super speed from a freak accident and in fact is recruited into the Green Lantern Corps right after said accident.
- Mythology Gag: Bruce Wayne prevents the Red Hood from becoming the Joker, who mentions having "a bad day" and when unmasked appears as the Joker's pre-chemical bath self depicted in The Killing Joke.
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: The Red Hood tries to excuse that he turned to crime over having a bad day. Bruce rebukes the criminal by addressing that his bad day does not warrant the lives he could've endangered.
- Villain: Exit, Stage Left: Sinestro, Star Sapphire, and Binary Star get away in the end, prompting Bruce Wayne to go after them.
