Batman is one of the most capable heroes in DC Comics, but despite his victories, he's lost many times, with some instances being worse than others.

Batman, for all of his training and accomplishments, is still human. He lacks superhuman abilities that most of his fellow super-powered heroes have at their disposal. He often and eventually overcomes his struggles, whether in his war on crime or confrontations with larger-than-life threats, usually by a combination of preparation, skill, and luck.

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However, there have been numerous instances in the comics when the Dark Knight has been beaten, regardless of his abilities, contingencies, and other variables. And although not always physical losses, Batman still suffered defeats in one way or another, some of which are more severe than the rest.

10 Bronze Tiger Incapacitates Batman With A Single Kick

Bronze Tiger incapacitates Batman with a single kick in the comics.

As one of the greatest and deadliest fighters in DC Comics, Bronze Tiger (Ben Turner) can match and even best Batman in combat. This is despite Bruce Wayne's mastery of well over one hundred fighting disciplines, compared to Turner's skills in around a dozen forms.

While the two martial artists are more or less evenly matched nowadays, there was a time when the Bronze Tiger, brainwashed by Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins, incapacitated Batman with a single kick. This left Batman unable to save Kathy Kane, the original Batwoman, who was promptly killed by another assassin.

9 Mutant Leader Brutalizes Batman To Near Death

Mutant Leader brutalizes Batman to near death in The Dark Knight Returns.

In the critically acclaimed The Dark Knight Returns, written by Frank Miller and illustrated by Miller and Klaus Janson, Batman, 55 years old in the story, comes out of a decade-long retirement to fight crime in a dystopian Gotham. Although not at peak condition, Batman is nonetheless successful when taking down common criminals.

However, when Batman is baited into having a physical brawl with the much younger and physically superior Mutant Leader, he is outmatched and brutalized to near death. Had it not been for Carrie Kelly, a teenage girl who saves his life and becomes his Robin, Batman would have been killed outright.

8 The Predator Almost Kills Batman

The Predator almost kills Batman in their first comic book crossover.

The Predator is an extremely dangerous creature hailing from an alien warrior race that hunts after other aliens (especially the Xenomorphs of the Alien franchise) and certain physically capable humans. When one such Predator encounters Batman during the latter's investigation of him, the Predator overwhelms the Caped Crusader with relative ease.

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A critically injured and blinded Batman barely survives by summoning the Batmobile to his location, giving him just enough time to retreat. Batman would later have a rematch, fully prepared but not fully recovered.

7 Hush's Machinations Get The Best Of Batman

Hush defeats Batman in their first fight in Batman: Hush.

Debuting in Batman: Hush, written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Jim Lee, Hush (Dr. Thomas Elliot) is a former childhood friend turned enemy of Bruce Wayne/Batman. As the titular villain, Hush (alongside the true mastermind, Riddler) orchestrates events and manipulates other people to bring about the downfall of Batman.

Despite Batman's best efforts to take down his one-time friend, he is distracted, outsmarted, and subdued when Hush blows up the Batmobile right behind him. Hush's plans to have Batman unmasked at Arkham are foiled when a reformed Two-Face, now Harvey Dent, comes to save the hero in distress.

6 Deathstroke Pummels Batman Into Submission

Deathstroke pummels Batman into submission in the comics.

Slade Wilson, better known as Deathstroke, is generally considered to be the greatest assassin in DC Comics. A super-soldier with a healing factor, Slade is a formidable opponent for even the Batman, who is a peak human with an extensive mastery of different fighting styles.

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However, Deathstroke is ultimately the better fighter and he almost always wins against Batman in every confrontation. Deathstroke has even defeated Batman twice in short order in one of their first encounters and could have killed him if he wanted to do so.

5 Talon Stabs Batman From Behind At The Climax Of His Torture

Talon, a Court of Owls' assassin, stabs Batman from behind at the climax of his torture.

The Court of Owls is an ancient criminal conspiracy that has secretly controlled Gotham from the shadows. The members consist of the city's wealthy and powerful elites, and they regularly send out their highly trained, superhuman assassins, Talons, to eliminate their targets.

Batman, who was ambushed by a Talon, is subjected to several days of psychological and physical torture within the Court's underground labyrinth and at the climax, is stabbed from behind by the Talon. Defeated, Batman fights back and narrowly escapes with his life, via an underground river.

4 Batman Is Broken For The First Time Ever By Deacon Blackfire

After being tortured and drugged, Batman gives into Deacon Blackfire's influence in Batman: The Cult.

In Batman: The Cult, written by Jim Starlin and illustrated by Bernie Wrightson, the hero is held captive, as well as drugged and tortured for days. Despite having a willpower that is borderline superhuman, Batman succumbs to Deacon Blackfire's influence and joins his army of Gotham's homeless to take over the city.

While Batman eventually overcomes his brainwashing and the ordeal with the help of Jason Todd (who was Robin back then), he still ended up killing someone with a gun no less. Batman even internally monologues that the Deacon broke him, a first time for him.

3 Batman Is Worn Out By Bane In Knightfall

Batman gets his back broken by Bane in Knightfall.

Batman would find himself broken again, both mentally and physically this time, by Bane in Batman: Knightfall (Batman #497), written by Doug Moench and illustrated by Jim Aparo. After days with little to no rest recapturing escaped criminals and weakened by some unspecified illness, a burnt-out Batman gets his back broken by Bane.

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This severe injury (and defeat) leaves Bruce Wayne unable to be Batman for quite some time and it takes supernatural means for him to start a long recovery before he can fight crime again.

2 Batman Is Broken By Bane In Tom King's Run In Ways Worse Than In Knightfall

Bane breaks Batman in ways that are worse than in Knightfall.

During Tom King's run of Batman, Bane has broken and defeated Batman in ways that are much worse than wearing him out and breaking his back. Bane broke Batman psychologically by ruining his life, such as dismantling his prospects for a happier future and taking away some of his friends/allies from him, all through means of violence and manipulation.

With this in mind, Batman already lost without even knowing what Bane had planned for him, before being defeated multiple times.

1 The Joker War Takes Away Batman's Wealth, Breaks His Spirit, And Ruins His Relation With Gotham

The dichotomy between Joker and Batman in The Joker War.

When Joker wages a war against Batman, he goes all out and orchestrates the theft of the Wayne fortune and uses it to take control of much of Gotham. While the Joker is seemingly defeated in the final battle despite the odds being stacked against Batman and his allies, he, in essence, won the war.

Gotham's citizens have lost their faith in Batman and in turn, the Caped Crusader's spirit is shattered, and his hope for a better Gotham is broken as a consequence of the pyrrhic victory.

NEXT: 10 Times Batman Came Closest To Death But Survived