100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever
By Steve Lam
Screen Capture from Batman: Dead End
#59. Batman: Dead End
Medium
Live-Action Short Film
Release Date
July 19 2003 (San Diego Comic-Con)
Credits
Director: Sandy Collora
Writer: Sandy Collora
Cast: Clark Bartram as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Andrew Koenig as The Joker, Kurt Carley as The Predator, Jake McKinnon as The Alien, Patrick Oronet as Other Predator, Patrick Magee as Other Predator, Kurt Carley as Other Predator
The Reason It’s Great
Even though fan-films are produced on a shoe-string budget, they don’t need to look like one. That’s the exact type of philosophy Batman: Dead End followed. Making its debut at the 2003 San Diego Comic-Con, this short has gained a cult following that’s usually reserved for full-fledged feature films.
The story was created at a time when even the thought of cross-universe characters appearing on the same screen was revolutionary and experimental. Batman chases down an escaped Joker who is soon dragged off by an Alien Xenomorph. The Xenomorph is killed by a Predator who’s on his ritualistic hunt. Batman faces off with the Predator and defeats him.
Just when the Dark Knight thinks it’s over, an army of Predators appear. However, things get even worse … a swarm of Xenomorphs emrege behind him. Batman is trapped in the middle—with two invading extra-terrestrial species ready to face off.
Kevin Smith and Alex Ross—industry luminaries who were involved with DC in the past—praised Batman: Dead End‘s portrayal of the Dark Knight and his world. The short film has been lauded by critics as an example of what fan-films can accomplish when given the right amount of passion and understanding of the source material.