Properly handled a grittier take on a character can provide context and insight into a character, what they stand for, what they will act like when their back is against the wall and everything is not going their way.
I repeat, properly handled.
I wouldn't trust most comic book writers to properly handle any story line well, never mind a gritty reboot. Too often do they take 'gritty' to mean 'everything's gone to shit, and there's blood and guts and swearing and general asshattery everywhere, and the heroes are the worst offenders.' You lose the contrast of a hero faced with a harsh world when you do this, and rarely do you see the well thought out motivations that you need to make it work. Instead, you get Darkness Induced Audience Apathy, where as the story line continues you just end up with readers that say 'you know what, I don't care anymore.'
I repeat, properly handled.
I wouldn't trust most comic book writers to properly handle any story line well, never mind a gritty reboot. Too often do they take 'gritty' to mean 'everything's gone to shit, and there's blood and guts and swearing and general asshattery everywhere, and the heroes are the worst offenders.' You lose the contrast of a hero faced with a harsh world when you do this, and rarely do you see the well thought out motivations that you need to make it work. Instead, you get Darkness Induced Audience Apathy, where as the story line continues you just end up with readers that say 'you know what, I don't care anymore.'