Dark Avengers - Blazing Logos

[Mondragon]

When a dark avenger leaves a blazing logo.
It's become a common and recognizable trope in movies, but I'm wondering how common, looking for any examples?

(1939) - Zorro leaves his mark in- Zorro's Fighting Legion
Lighting up a hill side with a giant "Z' as warning to his enemies he's coming after them, and as a sort of signal for Zorro and the "Legion" to assemble.
(A proto Bat-Signal? Which first appeared in Detective#60 (1942 )


(1994) - Used to great effect in the Crow.


(1998) -The Mask of Zorro. This scene is a straight homage to the (1939) Zorro's Fighting Legion.

A reminder, "you will never be rid of me."

Also used extensively in the opening credits. And again in The Legend of Zorro (2005) promos - https://i.imgur.com/fa0PpPT.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7AUuV1g.gif
https://i.imgflip.com/1x44ob.gif

(2003) - The Devil leaves his mark.


(2004) - The Punisher, rather elaborate setup, when and how he took the time?


(2005) - FF. Not really dark avengers, but definitely follows the same trope. (Although well established in the comics first, anyone know when it first appeared?)


(2005) - V for Vendetta, - Opening credits a flaming V logo is used.

In the scene where he introduces himself to Evey, he slashes a "V" into a street poster, homage to Zorro's classic "Z" mark. - http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs5/2633939_o.gif
Then in the fireworks create a giant blazing "V"


(2008) - In The Dark Knight they somewhat used the idea for the ad campaign and poster.


(2012) - And finally the last to follow the trend, it physically appears full blown in Dark Knight Rises...


Any others ?
Was it in X-Men did Phoenix ever make a flaming symbol? Ghost Rider? Hellboy?

[James]

Geez, I always thought it was really cool...now that you've pointed out how often it happens I kind of feel the next time someone does it will be an eye-rolling moment.

[Mondragon]

Originally Posted by James

Geez, I always thought it was really cool...now that you've pointed out how often it happens I kind of feel the next time someone does it will be an eye-rolling moment.

Yeah it was pretty eye-rolley when it finally did show up in Dark Knight Rises, heck it was already played out when Punisher and DD did it after just seeing it in The Crow & Zorro, I was surprised to see Nolan go to it.
Still it's an awesome visual, and the trope persists, there's probably even more I'm missing.

[James]

At least with the FF and Zorro it doesn't seem to take that long. Johnny Storm can zoom around in a few seconds and make a giant flaming 4, Zorro could probably have whipped a big ol' flaming Z up in about a minute. I guess DareDevil's one wouldn't have taken terribly long either. Others though, like Batman's and Punisher's, those probably took what? Half an hour at the very least, maybe an hour if not more. Surely those guys have better things to do.

"Hey Batman it's Gordon...so the whole city is under the control of a mad terrorist and everyone's freaking out and dying and oh the drama, think you can get on down here real quick?"

"No problem Jim, just gimmie like...another twenty minutes to finish the left wing here."

[bbf2]

Isn't the Fantastic Four one actually Johnny's symbol to let the other three know to come to that place, (sort of like the Bat signal) and not a "calling card?" I know that's how it was used in the comics, don't remember exactly regarding the movies.

[Mondragon]

Originally Posted by James

Batman's and Punisher's, those probably took what? Half an hour at the very least, maybe an hour if not more. Surely those guys have better things to do.

"Hey Batman it's Gordon...so the whole city is under the control of a mad terrorist and everyone's freaking out and dying and oh the drama, think you can get on down here real quick?"

"No problem Jim, just gimmie like...another twenty minutes to finish the left wing here."

The set up necessary for those is pretty outrageous. When did they find the time?

Originally Posted by bbf2

Isn't the Fantastic Four one actually Johnny's symbol to let the other three know to come to that place, (sort of like the Bat signal) and not a "calling card?" I know that's how it was used in the comics, don't remember exactly regarding the movies.

Sure, that's why I wrote "...as warning to his enemies he's coming after them, and as a sort of signal for Zorro and the Legion to assemble."
The original Zorro signal served both ends;
To call his Legion to a spot when he needed them to assemble, and simultaneously as symbol to his enemies to let them know that he's out there, but also to the people he protects.
Everyone can see it - allies, villains, and also the general populace, hence the impact.
It seems to often serve several ends in these films.




Here is yet another instance- I guess Superman got in on the dark avenger theme too?
(2009) - From Smallville

LOL is that a reverse "Z"?

[Mondragon]

Some awesome gif versions out there...

[Anu Sharma]

Yes, I really very enjoy to watch this great Movie. The Story of this movie is too interesting and enjoyable.

[Mondragon]

Originally Posted by Anu Sharma

Yes, I really very enjoy to watch this great Movie. The Story of this movie is too interesting and enjoyable.

Yeah me too! ...wait, which story, what movie?

[The Sarge]

The flaming 4 first appears in Fantastic 4 #1.
Oddly enough though, it wasn't created by johnny, but a special flare gun reed created.

[Mondragon]

Originally Posted by The Sarge

The flaming 4 first appears in Fantastic 4 #1.
Oddly enough though, it wasn't created by johnny, but a special flare gun reed created.

That's awesome thanks for the reference.
(1961) - FF#1 the flare-gun would have certainly have been the modern equivalent of it.
So I',m curious when was Johnny first depicted lighting up the "4" himself?

As far as comics, this just comes out today.


There's probably many more in the comics, I seem to remember Green Lantern Alan Scott using it, although I'm not finding the image.
I liked how his tended to be depicted as burning mystic flames rather than hard light like those in the Corps, not sure if they still do that?

[Mondragon]

Some more extended gifs references.

- The (1939) Zorro blazing "Z" on the hillside possible precursor to the Bat-signal-




And the (1998) referenced again -


And again for Legend used extensively through the promos...



Explosion and fireworks from "V" (2005)


Daredevil (2003)


Punisher (2004)




Smallville (2009)

Clark Kent leaves a scorching S
Again Clark Kent is hardly the "Dark Avenger" type, though the season where they apparently explore his darker side and dress him in flowing black, is when the familiar trope ominously appears.
They seem to go hand in hand.

And finally Dark Knight Rises (2012) -


Any more!?

[Mondragon]

(2014) - and it's back Arkham Knight game...




I thought it was actually used to great effect here, attributed to Azrael pretty much a more extreme darker-Batman if that's possible, as a way to find him, throughout the side mission.


Any others..?

[Mondragon]

Showed up again, Supergirl latest episodes:
New character "Reign" a Kryptonian dark-avenger, somewhat the anti-Supergirl, leaves her scorched emblem (kryptonian death symbol?) to announce her arrival.




And so Kara's friends suggest she leave her own "mark" in reply...

[m1ll3r]

The single most stupid moment in the whole of The Dark Knight Rises.

[Mondragon]

Originally Posted by m1ll3r

The single most stupid moment in the whole of The Dark Knight Rises.

LOL but the people love it, he spent so much prep-time making it look perfect!

I think the poster ^ for the Dark Knight, really put the idea out there again, and was such a popular visual, they wanted it in the next movie.
With the bat-signal out it's a moment they wanted to homage and came up with the bridge.
He lets Bane and all of Gotham know he's still there.

"Light it up!..."