It's one thing to imagine a classic character in a contemporary style like Batman character Nightwing in the DCEU. But what about reversing that idea? Something gritty and modern might look positively bizarre in a more retro art style. Or maybe it would look right at home, which might just be the case with a clever mash-up reimagining Christopher Nolan's 2008 film The Dark Knight with the visuals of Bruce Timm's beloved '90s Batman: The Animated Series.
Instagram artist lj.artkham specializes in nearly flawless reproductions of Timm's iconic art style in decidedly less family-friendly situations from the Batman mythos. From the recreations of movie posters to more intimate and very much NSFW (not safe for work) moments, they put a lot of effort into their work. But a recent post drawing up scenes from The Dark Knight in that same aesthetic turns the corner from a nice novelty into an oddly beautiful contrast.
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From The Dark Knight scenes like The Joker with his clown mask from the beginning of the film to Two-Face's tense hostage moment with Gordon's family, the artist doesn't just recreate the shots from the film, they do it with the actual character designs from Batman: The Animated Series (now streaming on HBO Max, for those in the mood for a nostalgia kick). The brutal interrogation between Batman and The Joker almost takes on an entirely different vibe when it features the versions of the characters voiced by Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, respectively. Meanwhile, Two-Face himself still looks remarkably menacing, but in a very different way.
The quality of the artwork looks like something out of an official behind-the-scenes book about the '90s series. If it wasn't coming from a fan's Instagram account, most people would be hard-pressed to discern it from actual unused animation cels from the old days. That sort of effort really goes a long way in immersing the viewer in this alternate universe the fan artist created, making it almost seem like it could actually exist. Just look at that image of The Joker dangling upside down, laughing maniacally, and that signature chilling voice might even seem to magically emanate from the piece. Or maybe that's just Hamill himself reducing everyone to giggling fanboys.
Pieces like this are the ones that really leave an impression. Not only do they pay tribute to two iconic milestones in the Batman franchise, but they do it with such care to detail that any witnesses can't help but remember what they saw. It's just one of many testaments to the power of fandom and what kinds of incredible things that creativity can accomplish. It's reminiscent of the artist who drew scenes from WandaVision in various classic cartoon styles.
The rest of lj.artkham's collection is also worth checking out, though be warned, they tend to gravitate towards some explicit imagery. So maybe make sure to peruse the rest of the artwork at home rather than work. Just a thought.
The Dark Knight is now available on HBO Max.
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Source: lj.artkham/Instagram (possibly NSFW)