Danny gets buried (alive) in a coffin in a cemetery in Gotham by the Fentons. There’s enough ectoplasm to sustain him but he can’t get free of the coffin. Eventually he builds enough power to manifest a shadow of a spectral form as The Black Dog, a Church Grim. The shadowy omen of death tasked to guard the graves and souls of those resting there.
But wait! There’s more!
During this time someone claws their way from their grave, one Jason Todd a body without a complete soul. Danny tries to follow Jason, to protect, to guard, but he can’t leave the cemetery.
Fast forward to Jason’s return to Gotham. For as unsettling as being near his grave can be, Jason always feels safe in the cemetery. That feeling never staying with him past the gates and sometimes… Sometimes he sees a shadowy figure of a dog with eyes brighter green than the Lazarus pits.
The dog seems to be trying to lead him somewhere that isn’t Jason’s grave. It takes so long, too long for Jason to follow the Grim to an unmarked grave. And longer still for Jason to get up the nerve to dig up the grave and find the comatose boy within.
Danny doesn’t know how to go back to his body, he’s been apart so long. He’s been The Black Dog for so long.
Here's a commission of Church Grim with spider lillies!
The Church Grim is a mythical creature from English folklore, that is said to be a guardian spirit that protects churches and churchyards. It is believed to take the form of a large black dog, often with glowing eyes, and is said to be the spirit of the first person to be buried in the churchyard. The Church Grim is said to be a friendly and protective spirit, but can also be mischievous and even vengeful towards those who disrespect the church or disturb its peace. The belief in the Church Grim is still present in some rural areas of England, although it has largely faded from popular culture in modern times.
I always though the black dog trope was cool. Halloween is my favorite holiday and I’m stuck at home this year, so I wanted to draw something fun and creepy to celebrate!
[ID: an illustration of a black dog prancing over a stylized moon cycle. There is a wrought-iron gate and a purple night sky in the background, with dancing purple flames. The dog has a red string tied around its neck, which drapes across the image and stretches up, seemingly originating from a lantern held by a flying bat. Visual detail in red and grey fill in empty space, and a red and white border of stylized eyes defines the edges of the illustration. End.]
From the artist: The Moddey Dhoo is a phantom black hound of the Manx folklore that reputedly haunted Peel Castle on the west coast of the Isle of Man. This black dog is described as big as a calf, with long shaggy hair and with eyes like pewter plates.