Re DC's current grim/dark direction, "But as long as what they’re doing is successful and working for them, what do I know?" What do you know? I think you know about heroes, and right now I think Marvel is (overall, as a universe) handling the "hero to look up to thing"--even the "brighter hero" thing--better than DC is. Marvel's heroes tend to inspire in a certain way, and DC's heroes have traditionally inspired in a different way, but now DC--again, as a whole--is not inspiring at all. :(