Since his inception in the early days of Action Comics, Batman has been one of the most popular heroes in comic history, with several iterations of the Dark Knight in all platforms. Whether we're watching him in movies, tv shows, animated movies, and tv shows, his comic counterpart will always be the real and most accepted version of him.
Whenever a new version of the hero comes to us, whether in the DCEU, Arrowverse, or DCAMU, we always look to the comics to find which version of the hero stays true to his roots. Looking at two of the most recent and most popular iterations in the DCEU and DCAMU, which Batman is truly the best?
10 DCAMU: Sidekicks
The DCAMU has had the luxury of being able to flesh out stories in their six years, bringing in hundreds of different characters we've never seen on the screen. Among those is the introduction of Damian Wayne, Batwoman, and Batwing. This gives us an opportunity to get to know these characters and get a look into their relationship with the Dark Knight.
The DCAMU alone is responsible for turning the tide on Damian and making him a bratty and annoying kid to a respectable, young hero with a little bit of a temper. It also gave us a look at Nightwing, Bat Girl, and Batwoman, three characters that are popular yet never in live-action movies.
9 DCEU: Gadgets/Batmobile
We have seen many versions of the gadgets and Batmobile throughout Batman's live-action history, but nothing compared to the gadgets he had in his DCEU appearance. Sure the movies may have not gotten many positive reviews, but the fight scenes and gadgets were second to none.
It was one of the few times we've seen a Batarang actually be thrown and a grappling gun being used. Not to mention the unique design of the Batmobile which looks like it was ripped right out of the comics. Not that the DCAMU Batman doesn't have cool gadgets and vehicles, but seeing them in real life is a completely different experience.
8 DCAMU: Adventures/Storylines
Like we mentioned before, the DCAMU has had a better opportunity to flesh out their universe and create several characters and storylines we would never see in real life. Since the DCAMU came out, we have seen several iconic stories come to life, such as Flashpoint, Death of Superman, and even Hush. Among those great storylines, we have seen several Batman stories that have been very enjoyable to watch.
Although they change a few details here and there, the overall arc and plots stay the same and we are able to watch it, growing to love Batman a little more due to his heroics in said storylines.
7 DCEU: Experience
In Batman V Superman it is revealed that Bruce Wayne had been Batman for over 20 years, giving him loads of experience fighting off some of Gotham's worst. We know Batman has no superpowers but has one of the greatest strategic minds ever and with over two decades of taking on villains and perfecting his gadgets, it is safe to say that he is at his full potential.
Add in the fact he is still doing extreme workouts and is able to easily keep up with the rest of his superpowered teammates, it's no secret that he is extremely lethal as a hero. This may be the best and most experienced Batman we've seen in live-action.
6 DCAMU: Closer To His Real Personality
We've only seen Batfleck in 2 movies and some cameos, so it is hard to figure out what kind of person he is. We've seen glimpses of his personality and can guess that with 20 years of fighting crime, he is more cynical than before.
It is never clear how long his DCAMU counterpart has been Batman, with the only hints he has been at it a long time Dick Grayson being an adult and his skills. But he captures the essence of Batman perfectly, preferring to work alone and being very cold towards those offering help when he doesn't need it.
5 DCEU: Comic Accurate Suit
From Adam West's 1966 suit to the most current Robert Pattinson suit, there hasn't been a more comic book accurate suit than Ben Affleck's. Sure the movies weren't too good, but Batfleck was the shining light for several reasons, and the biggest one being his suit.
He's got the gray with the black outline, the utility belt, the gadgets, and even the Batcave looks ideal to what we've seen in the comics. The voice changer may be overdoing it, but the overall suit looks fantastic.
4 DCAMU: Supporting Characters
Throughout this iteration of Batman, we have met a lot of Bat lore characters and heroes we never thought we'd see onscreen. We see their relationship with Batman, how they learn from the Dark Knight, and we grow to love them just like in the comics.
We don't just see them fighting with Batman, but we see them take on their own villains and have their own character arc. It's something we might never see in the DCEU due to its complexity.
3 DCEU: Bigger Role As A Hero
Being the most experienced hero in the DCEU behind Wonder Woman, Batman was a big part of recruiting and forming the Justice League. Although he didn't see himself as a leader, the team still looked to him for leadership in the worst times.
This is a more involved Batman than we're used to seeing and although it's not really the one in the comics, it is still good to see Bats get the recognition for being the best hero despite his lack of powers.
2 DCAMU: Less Broody
One of Batman's distinguishing personality traits is his brooding. He is almost never content or happy, he is always taking life too seriously, even when he's Bruce Wayne. In the DCEU, he takes it to another level, refusing to let people get too close to him and even volunteering to kill himself for the good of others.
The DCAMU version is broody, but he is usually more controlled and self-aware. He even has a relationship with Catwoman and he attempts to bond with his son, despite the tension.
1 DCEU: Better Relationship With His Fellow Leaguers
It's no secret the DCEU Batman had a pretty decent relationship with all the heroes in the Justice League. He acted as a mentor to a young Flash, a friend to Superman, and we can't deny the tension he had with Wonder Woman.
He warms up to the team and although we never got to see more of them, it can easily be assumed their relationship continued to blossom.