totally gratuitous.

The DC universe has a completely different feel than the marvel universe. It feels much bigger to me, and way more...stately? Older? DC comics seem like classic comics, for both good (Batman stories) and bad (damn near every superman story).

Identity Crisis just seemed like a very poorly thought-out attempt at "dirtying up" that universe. Instead of making it more relatable, it just felt like a bunch shocks for their own sake.

Shit felt like a comic snuff film, especially if you throw in Infinite Crisis as the bookend.

What's even more ironic, was that DC was making all this big to do about changing the overall darkness of the dc universe to a lighter tone. Their first steps included a rape, a double murder, and a headshot to one of the funniest characters in their universe.