Batman is one of DC's greatest characters. He has historically been the favorite among fans, proving to be a consistent sales juggernaut since the '80s. Throughout his over eighty-year history, Batman has seen a number of alternate incarnations throughout the multiverse in vastly different forms. Indeed, some of his alternate selves are just as iconic as the main Batman of Prime Earth.

RELATED: 10 Most Exciting Dawn Of DC Comics Coming In 2023

Batman is beloved for good reason, and these alternate and historic versions of him have shown and continue to show just how versatile a hero he is. However, some of these versions of Batman have been diminished, limited, or just outright forgotten after only a handful of appearances. Given Batman's strength as a hero, his alternate selves are more than overdue for more attention and their own series.

10 Golden Age Batman Should Get One Last Hurrah

The golden age batman running towards the camera

The first Batman was a far more grounded and vulnerable hero, effectively an above-average man with good fighting skills. Taking the hero back to his Golden Age roots, stripping him of modern technology, and removing the Bat-family would be a great way to get back to the basics.

Golden Age Batman was last seen in continuity in the Generations miniseries, which saw heroes from across the DC timeline teaming up. With the Golden Age firmly buried in the past, the original Batman deserves to see his story concluded, possibly even with a happy ending.

9 An Azrael Batman Series Could Give Jean-Paul Valley Some Long-Awaited Redemption

DC Comics' Jean-Paul Valley taking over the Batman mantle

During the "Knightfall Saga," Jean-Paul Valley's Azrael was forced to adopt the Batman mantle following Bruce's defeat at the hands of Bane. That series saw Valley become an increasingly extreme and violent Batman whose tactics pushed away Robin and let to a fight with Bruce.

RELATED: 10 Most Laughable Batman Villains

Valley was defeated and lost the mantle. Cast out in shame, he began a search for redemption. The best way to give Valley compelling redemption to see him emerge a genuine hero would be to allow him to don the cape and cowl one last time and prove himself a hero.

8 Comics Should Continue The World Of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight

Batman surrounded by burning buildings from The Dark Knight Rises film poster.

Christopher Nolan's acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy brought fans a more realistic Batman on par with Earth One's imperfect version. Fans have long voiced a desire to see a Batman more at their level, and the Nolanverse gave them this in spades.

Introducing the instantly iconic Tumbler Batmobile as well as alternate takes on supporting characters and villains, this world is great for a reason. Even if Bruce Wayne doesn't return to the mantle, the series' concluding shot teased the rise of Robin as Batman, which would warrant comic exploration.

7 The Original Zur-En-Arrh Could Be An Alien Batman

Zur-en-Arrh looming over Batman

While Zur-En-Arrh has since been retconned as an alternate Batman persona, originally he was a Silver Age alien Batman. A Zur-En-Arrh comic could be an exciting Batman-meets-Flash-Gordon-style science fiction/adventure story.

RELATED: 10 Greatest DC Heroes Who Aren't Human, Ranked

The alien version of Batman was inspired to don his own cape and cowl after watching the regular Bruce Wayne Batman's heroics. Together, the two repelled an attack of robots. Whether written in his original Silver Age style or a newer tone, Zur-En-Arrh is brimming with potential.

6 A Gotham By Gaslight Miniseries Would Be Fantastic

Batman Gotham By Gaslight Film 1

Gotham By Gaslight has been rightly remembered as one of DC's greatest Elseworlds tales. While the original story saw Batman hunting a Gotham-based Jack the Ripper, the series could also have crossover potential with other Victorian-era characters and villains.

A number of Batman tales have shown fans their favorite hero in alternate time periods or locations drawn from literature. Gotham By Gaslight could also satisfy the strong and growing fanbase of the steampunk genre, leaning into Batman's use of tech from an interesting new angle.

5 DC Could Be Building To Damian's Batman 666 Ascension

Damian Wayne as Batman standing above a burning Gotham in DC Comics' Batman #666

During Grant Morrison's Batman run, fans were first introduced to the idea of Damian Wayne becoming the Batman. Since then, Damian has been seen in the cape and cowl, but largely confined to Elseworlds tales like Tom Taylor's DCeased series.

RELATED: 10 Best Animated Superhero Shows, Ranked

Damian is a fundamentally different person than Batman, more prone to violence and with a similarly complex upbringing as his father. Seeing a new Batman take up the mantle in canon has often been floated and, whether permanent or short-term, Damian deserves a defining run as the Caped Crusader.

4 Detective Comics Showcased A Swashbuckling Batman On The High Seas

leatherwing batman dueling the joker

In his comic Batman: Leatherwing (with art by Enrique Alcatena and colors by David Hornun), Chuck Dixon created a seafaring alternate Batman who brought justice to the high seas. A future expansion of this comic could explore how other DC characters, especially other Justice Leaguers, would be translated into this world.

One of the things Batman has often lacked is adventure, with his stories being incredibly focused on Gotham even when he's working with the Justice League. Taking his sense of justice to the sea and enjoying more swashbuckling fun could make for a great story.

3 The Green Lantern Of Earth-32 Saw Bruce Wayne Heroically Wielding A Power Ring

Batman as Green Lantern

Grant Morrison's The Green Lantern series reintroduced the idea of a heroic Batman in possession of a Green Lantern power ring. This Batman was largely the same as the regular Bruce Wayne: just as stern and the natural leader of a group.

RELATED: Every Era Of DC Comics, Ranked

The idea of a Batman with the powers of a Green Lantern as well as intergalactic duties makes an interesting contrast to the typical Gotham-centric version. Series have historically used cosmic power as a test of Batman's character and restraint, and exploring this Batman's world might see similar power temptations.

2 The Grim Knight Is The Evil Antithesis Of The Batman Ethos

The Grim Knight from Dark Nights Death Metal

In the 2018 Batman Who Laughs miniseries, Scott Snyder brought fans an interesting and complex Nightmare Batman from the Dark Multiverse. Rather than being corrupted by a malevolent magical influence, this evil Batman is given a complete origin and backstory.

DC initially teased that The Grim Knight's breakout success with fans was enough for a miniseries, but he was only given a one-shot origin story. The Grim Knight is a gun-toting Batman who, following the deaths of his parents, picked up Joe Chill's gun and killed the criminal, deciding then and there that lethal force was valid.

1 Frank Miller's Dark Knight Is Long Overdue For An Ongoing Series

The Joker frames Batman in DC Comics Dark Knight Returns

Frank Miller's darker spin on Batman has endured as one of the most legendary and defining runs of The Dark Knight in print. The series completely redefined who Batman was and entered him into his own new Golden Age of stories and interpretations.

The Dark Knight Returns is a world that has been explored repeatedly by Miller himself, and seeing the masterful creator return for a longer series would be great. DC could also put the world in the safe hands of a newer creator able to channel Miller's "Old Man Batman."

NEXT: 10 Comic Series Dawn Of DC Should Revive