It's just bad source material. Lame books like Superman and X-Men make for lame movies. Good books like Sin City, Watchmen and Kick Ass make for good movies. Marvel has been horrible for decades. DC at least had it's Vertigo line, which was able to compete with indie studios for more adult themed entertainment value.
Dark Night was a good series for several reasons from the script and director, right down to the cast, but the main reason it was so good was that it used Frank Miller's (300, Sin City, Hard Boiled) storyline, which was way more adult than anything DC was shitting out in the 80's and early 90's when most Marvel and DC comics were aimed at the pre-teen crowd.
I'm surprised you so dislike the comic book adaptions that Woody can actually watch with you Haha