For all intents and purposes, Batman is a street-level hero. Sure, he's battled villains like Mongul and Darkseid. True, he has a neat utility belt where he stores everything from Batarangs to a full-on plasma cannon with laser sight and tripod. Nevertheless, when it comes down to it, he sometimes punches first and asks questions later.
Since his introduction nearly a century ago, the Caped Crusader has punched a whole bunch of people. Some of these have been normal jabs and uppercuts. Others have been so powerful they've knocked Superman off his feet and made the Joker cry. For more information, here are Batman's 10 hardest punches, ranked.
10 Batman Raps Robin
Okay, this is technically not a punch. However, it's a moment in comics that has become one of the most-used memes across the globe. The origin of the slap took place in the November 1965 issue of World's Finest Comics #153. Set in an alternate reality, something comic books of that era tended to do, Batman's widowed father tried to ween Superboy off of Kryptonite. When the young Bruce finds his father dead, he suspects Superboy and vows his revenge.
Fast forward several years, and Robin becomes Batman's ward. The moment the Boy Wonder discovers his mentor wants to kill the adult Superman, he decides to dissolve the partnership. This is when Batman bitch-slaps him. Then, to make it worse, he wipes Robin's memory and puts him back in the orphanage. Eventually, Batman figures out the person who killed his father was Luthor. In his dying breath, the Dark Knight apologizes to Superman and admits, "Hey, do you remember when Dick knew he was Robin?"
9 Batman Humiliates the Hulk
Again, not a punch per se, but definitely an example of how Batman can take down pretty much anyone, hero or villain. In this case, it's the Hulk, back when he was simply incredible. It took place in a 1981 crossover special that also featured the Joker, Commissioner Gordon, and General Thunderbolt Ross. It was a peaceful time in comics, where the biggest challenge was keeping Hostess Cupcakes safe from villains.
During the battle between the two heroes, Batman throws a knockout gas grenade to stop Hulk from smashing him. Even though he's in one of his less intelligent phases, the green guy knows to hold his breath. This is when Batman hits him with a two-footed kick to the solar plexus. Hulk breathes out, breathes in again, then falls to the ground. Eventually, he turns back to Bruce Banner, and everyone chuckles over some Hostess Twinkies. Snack food saved once again.
8 Batman Hacks at Hawkman
What do you do when you find out the people you trusted did something terribly wrong? You start kicking their butts. This is what Batman did during Identity Crisis. To summarize, the mini-series revolved around the investigation of Sue Dinby's murder. In turn, it led to a confession by some of the Justice League's original members.
Turns out, Sue was sexually assaulted by Dr. Light in the JLA's satellite headquarters. When the heroes captured him, they decided to erase the villain's memories. When Bats arrives and sees what's happening, he tries to shut it down. Then, Hawkman opens his big mouth and says it's the right thing to do. The result, Batman nearly knocks the bird mask off of Carter's face. And what did the Dark Knight get for his attempt? His memory of the event was also erased. Some gratitude.
7 Batman Jabs John Constantine
Turns out, Batman will punch out anyone in any reality if they piss him off enough. For example, he knocked the literal bloody snot out of John Constantine in Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three. It's okay, because the dude totally deserved it.
We find Bats and his remaining group of anti-Superman heroes battling against the one and only Spirit of Vengeance. No, not that Marvel guy with the flaming skull. Constantine flips when Batman tries to take control of the situation. Eventually, he tells the hero that his painkillers and stubbornness make him bloody useless. So, Batman knocks him down with one armor-plated punch. Really, who can blame him?
6 Batman Jolts Jim Gordon
Batman is an equal-opportunity slugger. He'll smack around villains, other heroes, and old ladies crossing the street when the Don't Walk sign is lit. He's also not against punching law enforcement officials, particularly when he's frustrated. He probably needs to see someone about that.
He punches one Commissioner Gordon on the kisser in November 2018's Batman #59. After discovering that Bane is behind all the crud that has happened to him as of late, he confronts the de-powered villain at Arkham and beats the sillies out of him for an answer. When Gordon steps in to protect Bane, Bats knocks his longtime friend to the mat. Instead of arresting him, Gordon calmly tells the Dark Knight to get his Bat-butt out of there. Hence, the reason Batman can never meet new people. Not even on Tinder.
5 Batman Bops Black Mask
Cartoon Network's Batman: The Brave and the Bold took viewers back to a time when the Caped Crusader didn't have so many burdens on his plate. He cordially paired up with nearly every superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He also had some great battle scenes that hearkened to those seen in anime shows.
In the second season episode "Plague of the Prototypes," Batman teams up with Ace the Bat-Hound and one of his Bat-Robots known as Proto to foil Black Mask's latest scheme. He has turned the other Bat-Robots into Bat-Robbers to steal Bat-Money. Bat-Okay, too many bat references. Eventually, Bat ... um ... the Caped Crusader and Proto take down the robots and find Black Mask's hideout. This is when our ... hero ... almost knocks the villain's black mask off.
4 Batman Drums Darkseid
When it comes to striking someone, Batman doesn't just focus on Earth-bound beings. If needed, he'll head into space to smash someone's face in. He simply needs a little more power to make the connection between fist and bone. Enter the Hellbat suit.
Designed by Batman and forged by the Justice League, the Hellbat armor is used when the Dark Knight needs that extra "oomph" to pummel someone above his strength level. For instance, Superman, Captain Marvel, or Bat-Mite after several Red Bulls. In this case, it was to pound Darkseid into submission during Batman's quest to retrieve his son's corpse. For the initiated, this would be Damian Wayne, the current Robin.
3 Batman Devastates Deathstroke
Then there was the time Batman devastated Deathstroke. Actually, it was several times. Fine, Batman pretty much owns Deathstroke. So do Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Alfred, and Chief O'Hara. Though his hand-to-hand skills are beyond exception, Deathstroke seems like a first-level White Belt when battling a member of the Bat Family.
Take 2018's Deathstroke vs. Batman #34. Though Bruce is caught with his tights down, figuratively, he's still able to rattle Deathstroke's marbles during an intense Batcave battle. While both down for the count at the end of the issue, the fight has a clear winner. One guess -- and it's not the giant penny.
2 Batman Slugs Superman
For a duo who have been friends since they met while changing into their costumes in the same room (Superman vol. 1 #76), Batman has punched Superman dozens of times, if not hundreds. In the Injustice series of books, it seems the two hit each other more times than the fighters in an MMA match.
The best-known of these in recent memory is the final battle between the two heroes in The Dark Knight Returns. With his street creds returned, Batman calls out Superman's one-man war at the behest of the U.S. President. What ensues is an epic battle where Bats seemingly breaks Supes' nose thanks to the armored suit he wears. In the end, it looks like Batman perishes at the hands of the Man of Steel. However, he's just biding his time until the two can have a rematch.
1 Batman Grunks Green Lantern
The year was 1987. The title was Justice League #5. Guy Gardner, proud member of the Bowl Haircut Club for Superheroes, is tired of the way Batman handles things. In fact, he thinks he can do better than the pointy eared maniac. So, he asks for a showdown. No rings, no Bat-Brass Knuckles. Simply mano-a-mano.
Before it can start, Batman grunks (?) Guy Gardner with one punch. One punch. Mister Miracle is impressed with Bats' efficiency while Blue Beetle practically cracks a rib laughing so hard. Meanwhile, Black Canary wonders if Guy is dead. Turns out, the obnoxious Green Lantern lives to bother Batman another day, thus bringing much joy to the readers.