The Most Disturbing Batman Novel You've Never Heard Of... | Batman: The Ultimate Evil

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Today we will be talking about the most disturbing Batman novel I have ever read...Batman: The Ultimate Evil.
Patreon: / darkest-batman-105071171
The Zero: www.vachss.com/index.php
Some non-profits to check out:
1. Prevent Child Abuse America: preventchildabuse.org/
2. American Professional Society on The Abuse of Children: apsac.org/
3. Child Advocacy Network: childadvocacynetwork.org/
4. Hope For Justice: hopeforjustice.org/
5. Human Trafficking Institute: traffickinginstitute.org/
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
5:51 - Story Breakdown
40:10 - Analysis
46:04 - Outro
Other Socials:
x.com/intothedepths40
x.com/thedepthupdate
/ thedepthreport
/ intothedepths511
/ @intothedepthslive

[@IntotheDepths511]

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[@gernandthegreat8839]

I honestly really hope if they do adapt this they don't hold back on the message and don't hold back on the complex moral of this story

[@KoobanHooves1]

This would be a good story to adapt. Ironically Joel Schumacher would've adapted this well, his film *8mm* which deals with a very similar subject matter is proof of this. If they do, the guy who composed the score for that film should do the score for the adaptation of this too. Listen to that soundtrack, in particular the track "366 Hoyt Avenue". It's great but chilling

[@plannein]

I don't see this ever being adapted

[@user-kv5lq9xm8c]

You absolutely know they would cop out on the moral of the story

[@KoobanHooves1]

@@user-kv5lq9xm8c why would they?

[@moshymosh]

"Warrior, heed this. When you battle with demons, aim not at their hearts." Such a perfect quote to end a great story.

[@IntotheDepths511]

It’s a powerful haiku. Vachss was a great writer. Unfortunately not many people are familiar with his work. That’s partly why I wanted to make the video.

[@moshymosh]

@@IntotheDepths511 You did a fantastic job. I am sure he would have appreciated you taking the time to bring him in the spotlight for a modern audience. Proud of you.

[@IntotheDepths511]

I appreciate the hell out of that man

[@victorcippitelli2242]

This darker and deeper stories like the one you covered in a previous video before (Batman: Night Cries) that touches the theme of child abuse makes Batman a more interesing character because not only confronts madmen and his known rouges gallery, Bats also confronts as well the real life crimes

[@opposite_hedgehog_753]

Something I like about this is how it develops Martha. Comics like Batman Ego learns most of the morales from Thomas about controlling yourself. But here despite her death, Martha represents the childhood innocence that must be protected and her death represents the death of Bruce’s innocence and self control that leads to become a vengeful Batman.

[@tylerbertram7065]

This comic reminds me of a more adult version of the Btas episode the Underdwellers.

[@bacht4799]

I was thinking the same thing…!

[@laughslapproductions4690]

Creepy episode for sure but a good one

[@edwardhannah8507]

The villain even looked like the child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

[@brandonmorais1886]

Everybody shut up into the depths just dropped

[@thedarkknight727]

“Wherever there is power, there will always be corruption, and inequality, such is the way of the world. But there will always be those who fight against that imbalance, not matter how foolish or doomed their efforts may be. If not for them, the world as we know it, would be a far darker place, would it not.” -Ifrit, from Final Fantasy: 16, To the Final Flame, Fanfic.

[@Warfrae]

Chills my man chills

[@Gr4veM1nd]

WHY DO FAN FICS LIKE THIS HAVE THE MOST PROFOUND QUOTES!?

[@williamj.dovejr.8613]

WB will never touch this story ... even though it is hard hitting and it would be good. Ben Affleck would be perfect not just starring but writing and directing it. But it'll never happen.

[@sebswede9005]

Batman's introduction in BVS, did involve him saving women from sex trafficking.

[@somerelativleyuninterestin4763]

Well I can say Vachss was right, anger certainly makes me wanna do more now than activism ever did

[@MarkMeclane]

Censorship can't stop me from loving your videos, this was a good video, this was the most realistic Batman comic

[@aVerveQuest]

The fact that such a mainstream property reached out to the writer for this topic shows how much the world has changed between then and now. Today no company would reach out for that nor would they even skirt around it in their issues Somehow we seem to believe that if we don't talk about it if we don't use a certain keywords then it'll go away and everyone will politely smile. It is truly a Zeitgeist of idiocy

[@xxsilentreatmentxx]

As expected, the world has gotten much sicker and more cowardly than ever. Last year they released that Sound of Freedom movie and leftist psychopaths said it's an "right wing propaganda" In 1995 DC Comics was normal fir normal people. In 2024 it's all LGBT Pride crap. They're trying to normalize sexual deviants so there's no way they'd ever publish anything today that criticizes any sexual orientation as being bad

[@KevinM491]

I like the story, and Martha having her own life is always fine and can be interesting, but I still don't like the retcon of the Waynes death and never will when its done.

[@watertommyz]

It messes up Joe Chill too.

[@louisb.6149]

That scene where Bruce cries at his mothers journal genuinely messed me up a little

[@siikedonnelly]

This is a really hard story to cover. I never even dreamed of trying to cover it. I'll have to come back in the future to finish it, and I really appreciate you mention back at the start that if viewers aren't in the right headspace to step away. I gotta do that at this time, but rest assured I'll be back. Thanks for covering this book for those of us who didn't know how.

[@jaytheradicalhomosapien6018]

O really like how Batman isn’t this all knowing being. He asks questions and inquires about the root of abuse and crime in childhood I really wished that met showed that more

[@lewisaino]

Weird that the Oprhan and character people have called crazy is the one helping kids. Shows that his Trauma is the fuel of justice.

[@henrygambles3652]

I think that’s what makes Batman my favorite tied with Captain America,Spider-Man and Superman! Bruce is driven by his pain, his loss, he may be broken by his pain but he refuses to let anyone especially a young child suffer like he did(Yes I understand that Bruce experienced an different kind of pain but it has permanently traumatized him and he’ll never go back to how things were before!)

[@mickeybat5816]

I'm ngl, the scene where Martha tells Bruce about her past, I don't think it was beautiful, but kinda sad. To some degree his mother is wrong and her own letter proves it. She herself was a vigilante that had a secret identity. Bruce was just like her, despite not ever knowing it. To some degree he was kinda born just like his mother was. I thought Bruce was crying not only because his mother was speaking to him, but because he exists like he does, to some degree evil will just be born, but in the same vain Good will just be born too. It's a well of emotions from the scene to me. It was bitter sweet, but more sweet because just as soon as Batman was hopeless, he gained hope again.

[@IntotheDepths511]

There's no doubt there is a profound sadness to that scene. But like you said at the end, I actually think it's more hopeful. Yes there is always going to be evil, and there's always going to be good. The point Vachss is trying to make with this comic is that you don't have to be a hero to do good in the world.

[@mickeybat5816]

@@IntotheDepths511 I definitely agree it was a super badass scene (In terms of emotional value)

[@chasblankenship697]

When I was younger, my public library had the novel. Being a Batman fan, I was eager to check it out as I was game for anything involving him and I was both stunned about the subject matter and simultaneously validated in being a fan. Because at the time, this was just further proof of Batman's versatility as a character. It is absolutely a depth of human depravity and crime and injustice that he would dive down into because he's not only a hero but the sort that would be faced with something like this. Later on, I became friends with Andrew Vachss and discussed my admiration with him for both this work and for his advocacy for children's rights and protection at length before he passed away. It leaves an incredible impression, which anyone here who's read it can attest to.

[@danielasarmiento3101]

Thank you for giving more attention to these types of comics.

[@jamestilson8985]

I checked the novel version out of the local library and read it back in the mid-90’s. My daughter was just a baby at the time and my first child. Suffice it to say, it shook me to my core. I’ve been a Batfanatic all my life, but this story was something even much farther than The Dark Knight Returns. Quite possibly the greatest and most poignant Batman story ever written. A must read! Thanks for making this vid!

[@IntotheDepths511]

This story was too important to ignore. I knew I had to make a video once a read it.

[@jamestilson8985]

@@IntotheDepths511 I think of this work as going that one step further that Frank Miller couldn’t. My only disappointment in it is that it never got more wide-spread exposure and appreciation. EVERYONE who ever considered themselves even a marginal fan of the genre needs to read this. It’s like the “Schindler’s List” or “Tattooist of Auschwitz” of the Batman canon.

[@9cClimber]

This is a hidden gem channel man

[@jeremiahlarkins618]

This story makes Martha Wayne's investigation being one of the reasons Bruce's parents were killed canon.

[@AndersonDiaz-pm8go]

Ive been a huge fan of your content since the Arkham asylum video and I think your one of the best comic analysis channels on youtube love the content keep up the great work

[@LuisOsmarRosalesManuel]

Hulk Imperfect Future is very good,there is also Brat Pack "very interesting" more of why was created

[@DoctorQ-hk6ex]

Glad to see Ultimate Evil get the attention it deserves. I listened to the audiobook at work some time ago, and it immediately became one of my favorite Batman stories. However, one part I don't think you touched on enough in this video is the monologue between Rhama and Malady. Malady explained to Rhama that killing him would be pointless, because in the coming of the digital era, anyone could create their own abuse videos. He describes how the industry used to require film processing, distributors, and willing participants. But soon any one man could just record it themselves. Destroying Malady's industry was pointless because the industry was changing faster than Rhama or Batman could fight it. Considering that this book came out in the 90s, that was a pretty accurate description of what eventually DID happen in the real world. It was the author's warning to the readers of what would happen if action wasn't taken to stop the digital abuse industry before it could grow.

[@ericnguyen8418]

I’ve recently been getting into your deep analysis breakdowns and I really have been enjoying your work. Keep up the great work!

[@KoobanHooves1]

Thanks for covering this dude. I cant remember if i did recommend this in your comments or was going to, but either way, all the best from the UK.

[@cora2209]

Amazing analysis and great video. Thanks for bringing this comic and this topic to light here.

[@zafarahmed3468]

Love your channel so much. Keep up the great work. Thanks from the UK.

[@Beeyo176]

Glad to see you were paying attention to the comments on the last one. This might've been the first piece of comic book media I ever took, I don't know, "seriously." I must've been 12 or so, and my mother legit didn't know if she could let me read it. But she did, and I think we're both glad she did.

[@moshymosh]

Vachss embodied selflessness. He put himself out there to help others. He dedicated his life to it. To me, that is heroic. He was the right person to ask to write a story for DC.

[@cesly87]

I love the detective noir Batman stories. Now days he is always with the justice league.

[@Gr4veM1nd]

You still get great runs that focus on the noir stuff, though. Read any of the Black and White anthologies, for example. Batman: The Impostor is another good one.

[@thesixfootsixexperience8781]

Naming that one character “Lester” was…clever

[@outerheavengaming6196]

What an incredible story. There was a magic time when DC would allow ppl to use Batman to tell these types of stories all the time, i miss that

[@henrygambles3652]

It’s a underrated story and Andrew Vachss was a good man, gone too soon! Great video covering it! If I were at DC atm I’d probably have a Green Arrow story set in Udon Khai having Oliver Queen end the criminal ring in Udon Khai after discovering that it is spreading to Star City and also unlike Batman, Olly is not as merciful to the criminals!

[@moltenamber85]

I read this book around the end of High school and all I really forgot about it was the title. The novel, to be exact. Around 2003-2005. 27:09 This scene’s theme has always stuck with me.

[@ulyssesveracruz8343]

Speaking about batman can you do a video on the war of jokes and riddles please ? 😅

[@Galacticgospel.]

thank you for uploading another story =)

[@redthaalshemari5282]

Oh man when he said ( in their name)

[@IntotheDepths511]

Powerful stuff.

[@xavierflamiatos3608]

Such a great video from you really important

[@JIreland1992]

Only part I didn’t like is tying Batman’s mom into this. It doesn’t add much to the plot, and the implication that her investigation is what caused her death is dumb. Martha being given a larger role, off screen granted but still, is nice but it feels tacked on.

[@DzustComics]

See, this is what I'm talking about. No other medium has the guts to tell stories like this. Since you've been the reason I checked out the Crow and got into black and white comics that way, I wanted to recommend Stray Bullets to you. It's an excellent, dark crime anthology!

[@handoffate7262]

Honestly I’ve always really liked seeing Batman take on real world threats in darker stories like this. I just wish this story would’ve been drawn by someone like Dave McKean, or even Kelley Jones. I really don’t care for the art in this story. Not saying it’s bad, just not my cup of tea.

[@IntotheDepths511]

Yeah I purposely didn't comment on the art because I really didn't care for it. But I don't like to talk bad about other people's artwork. So if I don't care for the artwork in a particular comic, I just won't make a comment on it.

[@glenonwright1807]

This is where I go to learn a thing. Everywhere else is just news. That ended awesome

[@brokeeboii7879]

Please do the doom that came to Gotham so many nods to lovecraft in batman already, especially with arkham itself

[@plannein]

I'm a little confused. He found Joe Chill via the bat-computer when looking through the people who are still alive, but then it says Joe Chill is dead. So why was he listed as alive in the computer? Maybe I just misunderstood idk. Also I don't like that he named the lady Debra Kane because that implies that she's like Bruce's cousin or something.

[@IntotheDepths511]

No. It wasn’t people who were alive. He was cross referencing the names in Martha journal with his files in the bat computer to see if any names match. That’s when Joe Chill popped up

[@plannein]

​@@IntotheDepths511 Oh okay makes sense. Now that you say that and I went back and listened again I see that those were two separate thoughts. Gotcha

[@himzi1]

Commenting for the algorithm i have no words

[@teleportedbreadfor3days]

Depths, if you ever wanna more light-hearted story to help you wash away the sludge of reading this story, please consider checking out Adventures of Superman Volume 2, #16. It’s an… incredible story. Truly. For a longer video, I recommend reading Superman: Grounded afterwards. However, if you want to do another dark story, please check out Batman: Death of Innocents, if you haven’t already; a comic about landmine awareness.

[@Dear_Everything]

I wish DC brought back these characters, Rhama is so interesting while Deborah's drive, philosophy, and mission are so captivating.

[@IntotheDepths511]

Deborah Kane does actually make a appearance in the Joker movie. She plays Arthur’s counselor at the end.

[@WishfulDead]

Dude I'ma be real with you. I subbed purely for the fact you don't paywall the uncensored content.

[@IntotheDepths511]

A lot of people liked that. I decided that paid members will only get the video early. But once the censored version is up on yt. The uncensored version will be available to everyone on Patreon.

[@Aughlag]

You made a swell video about this great comic. 👍

[@jamescampbell2891]

I bought this book about 10 or 15 years ago. It makes you wish he could save the kids in real life. I still have it.

[@IntotheDepths511]

That’s why a linked a few great organizations below. That’s the point of the story. You don’t have to be a superhero to help.

[@SusurradorDHistorias]

I was a child abuse victim, i buy this comic when i was a teen and it was hard to read, i was never been trafic, my storie is inside my family and the people are long gone but still... Great video.

[@paulellington1505]

The Punisher:slavers is a good story like this. It can be hard to read but it's worth it.

[@IntotheDepths511]

Haven't read that yet. I'll make sure to check it out.

[@davidlindsey2993]

I read this in high school. Such a good novel.

[@WWENCAANBACHANNEL]

32:06 holy shit i saw this on tiktok and was so curious what the actual video was months ago

[@Angrysoyteen]

It’s criminal that this video doesn’t have more views

[@lewisaino]

Weirdly enough Facr Cry 3 and 4 has some content from this

[@bugusshmugus1269]

i understand it will take basically forever but please cover Watchmen

[@Sebass846]

Love from el paso

[@BackupChannel-nq6fg]

If only he could have stopped Peter Scully

[@jeremiahlarkins618]

I had that book. My mom got it for me when I was a kid... That shizz were crazy yo.

[@ulquiorraschiffer1956]

While I like darker and realistic themes in these Batman comics, I just can't help but notice almost all of them make Batman looks like a naive and inexperienced rookie who is just finding about awful and sadistic nature humans can adopt. Like I'm sure child abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking aren't something Batman didn't know ever existed. I know author are trying to tackle darker topics with one of the most popular hero in comics but they are making him like an inexperienced child who is just finding out what real world is. I don't know how to feel about these comics.

[@dr.johnbillstevenson4044]

In the intro you misspelled "ultimate evil" as "ultimae evil"

[@edwardhannah8507]

I'm glad you made a video about this comic. People would've been called a crank if they talked about this years ago. But now we know it's all true. The sad fact is if people like Jeffery Epstein had his charges dropped and he didn't "delete himself", there'd be people inviting him on their podcast for an interview.

[@lewisaino]

So Ultimate Evil is written by an expert in law? Interesting that view

[@lewisaino]

So Night Cries but bigger scale??

[@thephantomoftheparadise5666]

I never did finish this novel.

[@deathstrike]

This is what I despise the most!! I have always been under the belief that unless it's an extremely sensitive topic (I will leave you to imagine what those are) sure I understand "toning it down". But when you have a creator trying to present material from a book, movie, novel, newspaper article, comic book, or any other "verified source", the content creator should have the freedom to present the material unedited, free from censorship, and in his/her way of conveying this presentation. WITHOUT fear of demonitization, age restriction, or censorship. It is the parents duty to watch what their children see on this platform, not the content creators, nor the platform itself. This preserves the artistic freedom and integrity of the material, and should never be subject to restriction so long as the presenter is keeping within the source material and not violating any copyright rules. But because we seem to have people either unable, or unwilling to monitor what content they consume, we have to have a Nanny State to hold someone's hand. I wish creators had the freedom to just give a good presentation.

[@henrygambles3652]

I’d want to tell an unofficial Sequel to the Ultimate Evil except instead of Batman I chose Green Arrow: A. Because he’s a hero who focuses on societal and social ills and B.because he’s a father and wouldn’t allow this kind of evil to perpetuate!

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

8:03

[@barriolimbas]

Andrew Vachss..works perfectly for Batman though.

[@moshymosh]

You reckon this story was also influenced by what happened in Hollywood with those big names and other rich and powerful people involved in this? I wouldn't be surprised if The Dragonfire Marina was a reference to Little Saint James island...

[@IntotheDepths511]

Well this was written way before most people knew who Epstein was. But there were other things like this already happening. So yeah it was definitely inspired by something similar.

[@nkosig4995]

Ya know stories like this kinda ruins the whole point of the authority comics. Like "why dont superheroes go after the real sickos" but like They do

[@joeskys2362]

I was worried that this was a Batman story. That would make light of child abuse for the sake of shock value. I'm very glad I was mistaken. This was a very good, and thoughtful look at exposing the evils sex trafficking. In a very intelligent way well done!

[@topcat59]

Honestly it would be pretty cool if they re-adapted this story.🐱

[@henrygambles3652]

If I were writing for DC I’d love to do a story with Green Arrow taking on the trafficking ring of Udon Khai set in modern Day and focus on it from the perspective of Green Arrow(a Father) trying to rescue a bunch of children from the most horrible fate possible! Edit: Also Green Arrow unlike Batman doesn’t hold back, I’d actually have Oliver use lethal force at certain points in the story since not out of anger but out of necessity and to defend others and he has killed his enemies in the past!

[@Stony_baloney_]

Day 27 of waiting for the 30 days of night video

[@Boolio638]

Peak Batman.

[@novice6079]

Yessir

[@SerbianSpark19]

This video is great but fuck youtube and their censorship standards

[@HenryCasillas]

🧭

[@AsgersWeb]

When you said in the guidelines that Batman couldn't have sex, don't they just mean they can't explicitly show him having sex like they've shown him having sex countless times before and since just not like explicitly, they've done that too but not prior to this.

[@AsgersWeb]

Oh... it's from O'Neil character bible that states he's celibate, which is weird since he's had plenty of girlfriends but I guess not in the period he was editor

[@MeThinks995]

Interesting...DC prides themselves in being so socially conscious yet they would never publish a story like this today, neither would Marvel.