Mkay, but when these people take on these projects the do research the characters. I mean the Shadow was in the '30's '40s but still aimed at a young audience. Sin City was for adults. That don't mean you can't make a dark picture.
NOTHING was done before Batman '89. Alot of films owe that movie a debt of thanks for chaning the game. It was way dark. Yet after that came this short boom of mid level characters. Nobobody compares Swamp Thing or Return, casue for the most part the movies left you lacking. The dark tone was I think much for the genre at the time, Bat '89 was dark enough for a couple of films.
I don't know how legendary any of them are, considering anyone w/ actual first hand knowledge of the characters original incarnations is likely 70 years old now. I'm glad those movies got made, except for Phantom, That movie was way to light harted. I'm also glad no sequels were done.