When did DC start to become dark(er)?

[James]

On some of the topics here we're talking about DC being more dark and grim in the movies and TV shows...
When do you think the company started in this direction?
I think it was 1987 - 1988 with Longbow Hunters, Killing Joke and A Death in the Family as some examples...
But what do you all think - you probably know the comics better than I do...

[Travis]

Yeah, end of the 80's sounds right.
Watchmen, Swamp thing, and Frank Miller turning Batman into a grumpy ninja.

[Mike]

Agree. As Travis referred to Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns are usually credited with the onset of grim and gritty in DC, and Swamp Thing played a big role too. And the comics you mentioned James were some of the great follow ups that really cemented it.