Highlights, I think, one of the problems with the whole trend to make everything "dark", "gritty", "adult", etc.... in the hands of some writers, that just means throwing in more violence, more sexuality, and contantly having to up the ante.
Granted, it isn't easy to define in specific ways, but I think that the best writers who work "dark" have something more to offer than JUST amping up the violence, sexuality and depravity. And the trouble is, if that (violence, sexuality, depravity) is pretty much ALL you have to offer, then you DO have to keep dialing it up, in order to shock, or to seem edgy.
If you reread, say, WATCHMEN today, you aren't going to find the onscreen material all that "outrageous". Same for DARK KNIGHT returns. They are still great reads, mind you - just saying that what you see on the page would hardly raise an eyebrow today, in terms of the level of violence or sexuality. But they aren't really DEFINED by that, although that content is often commented upon. There is something more there, a LOT more there, than just shock value, or "isn't that twisted" moments.
Not bashing Loeb per se. I think the trend is pretty common these days, what with "dark and gritty" being all the rage. I wonder if we are due for a really talented artist/writer team to come along and "surprise" everyone with an almost old-school optimistic take on heroism... might seem pretty novel these days. I think the Morrison/Quietly run on SUPERMAN had some of that flavor going for it.....
Shadow