Superpowers do not a superhero make. Still, an individual has to be extraordinary to don the cape and cowl, and in worlds populated with fallen gods and alien masterminds, it certainly helps when a hero can shrug off death rays or run faster than the speed of thought.
Batman is the most iconic comic book character who technically lacks superpowers, even though he routinely takes down individuals with superhuman abilities and skills. Most readers would agree there's something a little bit "super" about the Dark Knight, even if they can't put their collective fingers on it. And while Bruce Wayne himself may not consider himself superhuman, there's abundant evidence in his 80+ years contradicting this idea. He's more than just the "world's greatest detective." He's an unaging immortal who can duel with gods.
10 His Healing Factor Isn't On Par With Wolverine's, But It Keeps Him Alive
Batman clearly isn't indestructible. He bleeds like anyone else, but he recovers like no human alive. Whether it's a busted spine from Bane, head injuries inflicted by Hush, or being turned into some sort of time bullet and launched at the JLA, his powers of recuperation are amazing. He needs frequent bandaging, but broken Bat-bones are almost unheard of, and his ability to emerge from oxygen deprivation without permanent brain damage is astounding.
His wounds don't close while people watch, but there's clearly something superhuman happening here. It might even be contagious, given the number of times the Joker has cheated death or permanent injury.
9 He's Not Just Rich, He Has Infinite Money
Bruce Wayne's wealth is frequently estimated in the billions, and recently Punchline placed the Wayne fortune at over $100 billion when she and the Joker planned on stealing it. However, over the decades, Bruce Wayne has spent unimaginable amounts on his crime-fighting endeavors. It's not just that he can fund Batmobiles, jets, and even JLA teleporters, it's that he can do it without a thought. Billionaires in the real world don't have billions in liquid assets available most days. Their money is tied up in companies and investments. Misspent funds lead immediately to minority shareholder lawsuits. Even if Bruce Wayne is the World's Greatest Embezzler, his spending should affect his company and his personal fortune, but it never does.
8 He Needs Super Accountancy To Protect His Secret Identity
The Caped Crusader's greatest asset is his secret identity, and he goes to incredible lengths to protect it. However, he also spends more money on crime-fighting in the Gotham area than most nations' GDPs. The number of shell companies and offshore accounts he employs to conceal these massive expenditures must be truly staggering. Maintaining them is the work of an army of accountants, and he has to do it alone.
If Bruce employs professionals to conceal his money, then he's endangering both his identity and their lives. A secret conspiracy can't be maintained by an army of employees. Criminals like the Joker would discover them and wring Batman's identity out of them. Batman has to conceal and maintain a budget that makes the US military blush completely on his own.
7 Super Luck Is The Key To Batman's Entire History
What are the odds that Batman would be at the circus when Robin’s parents were killed? Or he'd find himself working with Joe Chill? Or never get hit in the temple by a stray bullet? Or that a bat would crash through that window? If Longshot and Domino have super luck, then the Bat is certainly a candidate. He may even be subconsciously manipulating probabilities like the Scarlet Witch. Sure, she’s connected to a chaos god, but Batman’s connections to an evil bat god are also well documented. Given the tragedies in Batman's life, it seems overly cynical to say he wanted terrible things to happen to his family and friends, but it doesn't seem impossible either.
6 The Gadgets Aren't Just "Wonderful Toys"
Batman's inventory of gadgets isn't quite on par with Iron Man's armor, but they have a way of scaling up so he can face almost any foe. This includes weaponized vehicles like the Batmobile and the Batplane, and of course, his own powered armor which--specialized or not--let him beat the living carp out of Superman. Sure, Bruce clearly prefers to swing around rooftops dangling from a thread, but whether he needs a smoke bomb or a computer virus that can paralyze an unstoppable android, he always has one handy.
5 Never Underestimate Super-Cheating
In a possible future where Damian Wayne had taken up his father's role, the new Batman revealed that cheating was the secret of his success. He'd prepared for every contingency in the most reckless way imaginable, by planting stockpiles of explosives underneath and inside of every building in Gotham. He learned from the best.
This is best illustrated by the "Tower of Babel" storyline, where Ra's al Ghul stole every contingency plan Batman had made in case the Justice League went rogue and unleashed them on the heroes. Somehow, the League of Assassins opted to kill exactly zero helpless heroes, but the JLA's near-defeat demonstrates how powerful targeting a foe's weaknesses and planning ahead can be. Batman's less super than many friends and foes, but Super Cheating helps make up for any deficiencies. He even out-hoaxes The Riddler, arguably comics' most iconic cheater.
4 He Can Turn Anything To His Advantage
In 2001, JG Jones and Grant Morrison introduced the villain Doctor Midas in Marvel Boy. His power to metaphorically turn anything into gold meant that he thrived on adversity. He could take any scenario and turn it to his advantage. It's pretty clear that Batman shares this ability.
The Dark Knight can turn everything from loss of identity and memory to becoming a literal caveman to his advantage. The trauma of witnessing his parents' murder didn't just traumatize Bruce Wayne. It catalyzed his life, crafting a singular will, body, and brilliance. He may be the highest-functioning PTSD survivor in even fictional human history. Dark as it is, it's an ability Batman brings to bear against almost every challenge.
3 A Little Super Speed Goes A Long Way
He's not the Flash, but Batman has been dodging knives and bullets for decades. If his reflexes are merely "peak human," then humans like Jackie Chan and Wild Bill Hickock are clearly slackers. Perhaps, like Max Mercury, Batman has learned to tap into the Speed Force in less ostentatious ways than faster-than-light travel. He's not a superhuman runner, but even after a lifetime of eschewing firearms, he was fast enough to outdraw Darkseid's Omega Beams. The Man of Steel isn't fast enough to outfly them, so even a truly gifted human shouldn't be able to outrace them long enough to draw, aim, and fire.
2 Super Genius Is One Of The Greatest Powers
Genius comes in many forms, from scientific to athletic. Bruce Wayne seems to have a claim to all of its myriad forms. He's a scientist on par with Feynman, a handier inventor than Edison, a greater martial artist than Bruce Lee, and he's outwitted Lex Luthor in corporate intrigue. Even powered heroes like Reed Richards find that their incredible intellects are greater assets than their powers. Batman is clearly one of DC's greatest geniuses, on par with Luthor and Mister Terrific.
1 Comic Book Time Is A Subtle & Peculiar Power
One of the reasons Batman can plausibly master every known skill is that he has 80 years of stories under his belt. Even if he hasn't aged accordingly, it feels like he's had time to master an unbelievable skillset. This shows up with other long-running heroes, like James Bond. But for a self-taught man without advanced degrees in engineering or physics, lifetimes of experience are the only way to acquire every physical and mental ability the way Batman has. He's survived the death and rebirth of his universe multiple times, so no wonder he makes "mastering everything" look easy.
Technically, this is a power Batman shares with many DC heroes, but he makes better use of it. He may not be a straightforward immortal like Vandal Savage, but his infinitely extensible lifespan lets him be a lot more than just a man.