In contrast, I see the work of Ellis, Ennis, Morrison, Millar and the like as nihilistic. Not just "realistic", but dark and cynical. I find their work repellant, and have wondered for 30 years why anyone would read it.
I don't see those elements in O'Neil's work. Again, I guess it could be argued they went a few steps, or miles, beyond O'Neil into the darkness. But I don't see them as kindred spirits with O'Neil that follow in his style.
That's a very thoughtful observation. In the Planetary / Batman crossover, Ellis makes a very firm point of distinguishing the O'Neal / Adams Batman from other iterations which appear in a multiversal adventure. This Batman is relentless, sure, but is sane, a detective, and not so much a vigilante as a type of law enforcement official. That is the Batman I grew up with - pre-Outsiders, pre-DKR.
I didn't write a vale for O'Neil on my site. I should have. It was the GL/GA series (reprinted in a high gloss format in the mid-80s) which blew my 14 year old mind and which almost certainly stopped me from growing out of comics. It was gritty, bleak, and had very little to do with alien invaders or costumed villains. (Adam's wonderful art helped.)
