Batman is easily one of the most recognizable comic book characters in pop culture today. With an abundance of films, animated interpretations, extensive toy lines, etc., the character of Batman is just about everywhere. Part of what makes him so appealing is his incredible drive and desire to do good, despite his more brutal methods. This very drive that makes everyone love him is, of course, derived from the character’s origin.
Like the character himself, most people know the story of the fateful night the Waynes were shot on their way home from the movie theater. However, over the years, different authors have explored different tweaks to the famed origin of the character, leading to some very interesting interpretations of the Dark Knight. In that regard, here is our list of 10 alternate versions of Batman’s origin, ranked.
10 Detective Comics #33
Detective Comics #33 is actually the very first-time comic book readers witnessed how the Dark Knight came to be. The issue itself doesn’t go into too much detail, and actually covers all of the basics in just twelve panels. Yet, the most important things remain the same. Bruce Wayne’s parents are shot on the way home from a movie, a vow is made, Bruce strengthens both his mind and body, and he eventually dons the cape and cowl.
While other versions of Batman’s origins definitely go into much more detail in certain areas, Detective Comics #33 is what laid the foundation for all the stories that came after it. Without this story, much of Batman’s history as a character would be wildly different.
9 Batman TMNT
The most recent crossover between Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has actually made some drastic, yet surprisingly fitting, changes to the caped crusader’s origin. After the villain Krang merges the histories of the two universes, audiences are introduced to a Bruce Wayne who grew up with the turtles. All four were originally household pets for the wealthy young man.
Following the death of his parents, and exposure of the turtles to the ooze, it is implied that the five trained over the years, studying the art of various fighting styles. At the moment, few extra details are known about this version of the Dark Knight. However, with Batman TMNT III still coming out, a few more details will hopefully be filled in.
8 Earth One
Helmed by legendary comic book writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank, Batman: Earth One was published in 2012. While Johns is normally praised for his immense understanding of DC characters and history, his take on the Caped Crusader actually proved to be somewhat divisive. Batman: Earth One keeps a lot of the core fundamentals of Batman’s origin the same. The biggest point of difference in the story is in Alfred’s relationship to the Waynes, and the Waynes relationship to the Arkhams.
Earth One reimagined Martha Wayne’s maiden name as Martha Arkham, meaning that Bruce himself is directly related to the Asylum owner who, himself, eventually becomes a patient. Aside from this major difference, the story still offers a modern, interesting look at Bruce’s early days as Batman. Though it does little to explore the character in ways that Superman: Earth One did, Batman: Earth One did enough differently to make it worth the read.
7 Creature of the Night
Creature of the Night serves as author Kurt Busiek's parallel to his Superman: Secret Identity story from years ago. For those unfamiliar, both stories explore the impact that their respective character would have in the real world. For example, Creature of the Night follows Bruce Wainwright, a young boy whose parents are murdered during a break-in at their house.
In this world, there is no Gotham, Metropolis, Justice League, or any other superheroes. It just explores how a boy with a similar name and a similar situation would have a similar outcome. At the moment, the series’ last issue has been delayed indefinitely, but that hasn’t stopped it from offering a unique take on the Batman mythos.
6 Superman: Speeding Bullets
Surprisingly enough, a Superman story is actually also one of the best Batman origin stories. Superman: Speeding Bullets is a DC Elseworlds tale that explores what would happen if Superman landed in Gotham instead of Smallville. The young Kal-El is adopted by the Wayne family, who decides to no longer have a child of their own. Kal-El also grows up as Bruce Wayne and must adjust to his emerging powers in the middle of a city instead of a farm.
Following the murder of his adoptive parents, the young Bruce grows up and uses his abilities to fight crime dressed as a giant bat. Seeing how Superman accomplishes things as Batman made for a very intriguing interpretation of the Dark Knight’s origin.
5 Dawnbreaker
During DC’s Dark Nights: Metal event by Scott Snyder, fans saw a bunch of evil versions of Batman mixed with another member of the Justice League come forward to rival the main Justice League. Eventually, one-shots were provided that clued audiences in on how Batman ended up fused with another leaguer. However, Dawnbreaker, the Batman/Green Lantern combination, was actually the only one to make changes to Batman’s origin.
Immediately following the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne is presented with a Green Lantern ring, as he has the ability to overcome great fear. However, Bruce’s willpower at that moment is so strong that he exceeds the limits of the ring and uses the power to kill Joe Chill. From there, he would go on to terrorize the citizens of Gotham as Dawnbreaker. Considering how dark Batman’s origin normally is, it is surprising that the Dawnbreaker one-shot found a way to make it significantly darker.
4 Flashpoint
Following an attempt by Barry Allen to go back in time and save his mother, the Flashpoint universe was created. Much like other versions of Batman, Flashpoint Batman’s origin begins with the Wayne family walking home from a movie.
However, in this universe, Bruce is the one who gets shot while his parents survive the encounter. This greatly affects the Waynes, leading Thomas Wayne to assume the role of Batman and driving Martha to madness. As Batman, Thomas Wayne proved to be a much darker and significantly more brutal version of the Dark Knight, even carrying guns and going so far as to kill people. Knowing how things could have been different would likely make criminals feel much safer with Bruce under the cowl.
3 Batman Beyond
Bruce Wayne may not be under the mask in this futuristic take on the character, but Terry McGinnis still has a very good origin story, nonetheless. After Bruce retires from being Batman due to his age, Gotham starts to descend once again into madness with the crime rate at an all-time high. Terry McGinnis grew up in this version of Gotham, hearing stories about the famed Batman all his life.
After an altercation with the Jokers, now a gang, Terry stumbles upon Wayne Manor and discovers that Bruce Wayne was once Batman. After his father is murdered by what was presumed to be members of the Jokers, Terry steals the advanced Batman suit and becomes Gotham’s newest Dark Knight. Though this isn’t the traditional Batman origin story, the success of the Terry McGinnis character is part of what made the Batman Beyond TV show so beloved by fans.
2 Zero Year
At the moment, the Zero Year story by Scott Snyder is the official origin for Batman. Though not technically an “Alternate” version of the character, the story still offers a unique spin on the classic story of how the Dark Knight came to be. Really, Zero Year truly succeeds in combining elements from several other Batman stories that have been told over the years.
Snyder expertly combines all of these different elements into one cohesive and easy-to-follow story that makes for a great take on Batman’s origin. It can also help fill in any gaps or questions that readers may have in regards to continuity while also maintaining its own, original plot. Overall, the borrowed elements and original components combine for a massive, great take on a very familiar story.
1 Year One
To this day, Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One is considered to be one of the best takes on the Dark Knight’s origin. This story alone is so successful that it saw an adaptation into an animated feature and even served as the inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. The story itself is actually almost more of a Jim Gordon story as he investigates the mystery of the new vigilante in Gotham. Bruce Wayne is still a very strong presence in the book, but Gordon tends to be the main focus.
Part of what makes this such a popular origin for the character is in how Miller approaches the Batman mythos. He does a lot to make the character a bit darker and more grounded, while not straying away from the elements that always made Batman so great in the first place. With fantastic art to go along with it, it is easy to see why many so many people consider this to be the character’s definitive origin story.