Batman has become DC's most popular character. Since his first appearance in 1939, The Dark Knight has appeared in hundreds of stories throughout his time in publication. These comics have featured various takes on Batman, some with familiar histories and others with completely different origins.
These tales have run the gamut of comic stories, from alternate universe adventures to time travel stories to canonical gems. Batman is an infinitely adaptable character, and he's appeared in many adventures that seem impossible for a man without superpowers. Many of these stories have created new versions of the character, allowing readers to see Batman from different perspectives.
Updated on September 27th 2023 by Sage Ashford: Thanks to Batman's incredible popularity, every creator has tried to make up their own take on the Dark Knight. Many of them are nearly as beloved as the original, as these alternate versions of DC's biggest hero present visions of what the character could be under different circumstances.
25 Future State Batman
First Appearance: Dark Nights: Death Metal #7 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, Yanick Paquette, Bryan Hitch, FCO Plascencia, Nathan Fairbairn, Alex Sinclair, Tom Napolitano
Future State introduced a new era of superheroes, as many of the older heroes faded into the background. For Bruce Wayne, events transpired in Gotham that made it much harder for him to operate as Batman. His secret identity was exposed, costing him his business and family fortune, and forcing him to go into hiding for a time.
Without his technology or his fortune, Bruce Wayne had to build a Batman outfit from scratch to continue fighting to protect the people of Gotham. Though older and more desperate, the battle to bring down the Magistrate once and for all continued. While Bruce might not have been successful, eventually the rest of his family was.
24 New 52 Earth 2 Batman
First Appearance: Huntress (Vol. 3) #1 by Paul Levitz, Marcus To, John Dell, Andrew Dalhouse, Sal Cipriano
The New 52 version of Earth-2 went a lot of places before the story finally reached a happy conclusion. After Bruce Wayne sacrificed himself to stop Darkseid, the Batman mantle passed to both Thomas Wayne and Dick Grayson before finally ending up in the hands of the most-deserving candidate.
Years after taking on the Robin identity as a child and the Huntress identity as an adult, Helena Wayne was finally able to claim her birthright. She turned into the next Batman, and Dick Grayson's son John became her partner.
23 Bruce Wayne Jr.
First Appearance: Batman/Captain America #1 By John Byrne and Patricia Mulvihill
In John Byrne's Superman & Batman: Generations series, Bruce Wayne aged in real time across the decades. So by the mid-60s, Bruce Wayne had all but stepped down to allow Dick Grayson to take over as Batman. However, the Joker took out Nightwing, Bruce Wayne Jr. became Batman to keep hope in Gotham City.
Bruce Wayne Jr. proved every bit as capable of being Batman as his dad was. He spent decades protecting Gotham, before learning his dad had become functionally immortal after his last battle with Ra's al Ghul. With Bruce Wayne Jr. aging and Bruce Wayne Sr. desperate to get back to being Batman, Bruce handed over Ra's powerful organization to his son.
22 Kingdom Come Batman
First Appearance: Kingdom Come #1 By Mark Waid, Alex Ross, and Todd Klein
In the Kingdom Come universe, Bruce Wayne spent years protecting Gotham City. However, unlike his partners Superman and Wonder Woman, he wasn't immortal or invulnerable. Over time, his body gradually broke down, leading to him requiring an exo-skeleton just to move around.
In this timeline, Bruce Wayne employs several Batman robots to keep his city free of crime. However, that doesn't mean Bruce isn't willing to go into action himself. With the help of a more powerful exo-skeleton and a massive Batman armor, he's able to go into action when the situation calls for it. His actions when Superman returned allowed the heroes to stand against Luthor's Mankind Liberation Front.
21 Earth-5 Batman
First Appearance: Detective Comics (Vol. 1) #500 by Alan Brennert, Dick Giordano, Adrienne Roy, and John Costanza
For Detective Comics #500, DC introduced the concept of events repeating themselves on different Earths. With that in mind, Phantom Stranger came to give Batman a chance to prevent his parents from being killed on another Earth. Batman and Robin both agreed, and traveled to Earth-5 days before the Waynes were killed.
After tracking down the criminal, Batman arrived in time to save his family. Though Thomas and Martha Wayne didn't see what was done, Earth 5's young Bruce did. Inspired by the man who saved him and his parents, this young Bruce trained to become Batman as well. He put in the same effort into his physical and mental training as Earth-1 Bruce, but without all the pain and trauma from losing his parents.
20 Batman From JLA: The Nail
First Appearance: JLA: The Nail #1, By Writer/Artist Alan Davis, Inker Mark Farmer, Color Artist Patricia Mulvihill, And Letterer Patricia Prentice
JLA: The Nail is an Elseworlds classic. The story takes place on an Earth where Superman was never found by the Kents, but an Amish family instead. The JLA was still around, and the book had a very Silver Age feel to it. The Batman of this universe was Gotham's Caped Crusader, a man who brought fear to friend and foe alike.
This Batman was forced to watch the Joker slaughter Batgirl and Robin. He killed the Joker, and fell into a catatonic state, only to be healed by the love of Catwoman and Alfred. He was an amazing Batman, who represented several generations of Batman melded together into a greater whole.
19 Earth-2 Batman
First Appearance: Detective Comics #27, By Writer Bill Finger And Artist/Inker/Letterer Bob Kane
Batman's origins have been shifting for years, and one of his more interesting facets has been forgotten. The original Batman, the one who first appeared in Detective Comics #27, isn't from the current prime Earth of the DC Multiverse. That version of Batman is the one from Earth-2, a character who was both similar and very different from the Batman everyone knows and loves.
Earth-2 Batman never went through the overly dark phase that became a crucial part of modern Batman. Instead, this Batman married Catwoman, and they had their daughter Helena Wayne. Helena followed in their crime-fighting footsteps as Huntress and became Commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department. After learning he had cancer, Bruce donned the Batman suit one last time and died trying to stop a criminal who'd been given powerful magical skills.
18 Batman From Batman: White Knight
First Appearance: Batman: White Knight #1, By Writer/Artist/Inker Sean Murphy, Color Artist Matt Hollingsworth, And Letterer Todd Klein
Batman: White Knight made a splash immediately on publication. A sane Joker, using his real name Jack Napier, tries to save Gotham from itself. However, he keeps running afoul of Batman and the Bat-Family. This version of Batman was very much the same as the main universe version, although he had a lot of Batman: The Animated Series in his DNA.
Over the course of that book and its sequels — Batman: Curse Of The White Knight and Batman: Beyond The White Knight — readers got to know this Batman and his world. It's been a great ride for fans who have been there from the beginning.
17 New 52 Batman
First Appearance: Batman (Vol. 2) #1, By Writer Scott Snyder, Artist Greg Capullo, Inker Jonathan Glapion, Color Artist FCO Planscencia, And Letterers Richard Starkings And Jimmy Betancourt
The New 52 has a bad reputation, but there were some gems. Batman is the main one. Throughout his solo titles — Batman, Batman And Robin, Batman, Inc., and Detective Comics — this version of Batman anchored DC's entire line. New 52 Batman's success showed that the doomed publishing initiative could have succeeded despite itself.
While he was the mainline Batman from the New 52 until at least Death Metal, there were significant differences between New 52 Batman and the one who is currently appearing in Batman comics. There are some excellent stories from this era of Batman. He's easily among the most popular versions of Batman.
16 Batman '89
First Appearance: Batman '89 #1, By Writer Sam Hamm, Artist Joe Quinones, Color Artist Leonardo Ito, And Letterer Clayton Cowles
After the success of Batman '66, DC decided it was time to put another fan favorite multimedia Batman into the comics. Batman '89 focused on the version of the character who debuted in the 1989 movie, played by Michael Keaton. Telling readers a forgotten tale from this Batman's life, the comic found a fandom ready for these kinds of adventures.
The Michael Keaton Batman, about to make his big screen return in The Flash, has often topped lists of fans' favorite Batmen. Bringing him to the comics was a stroke of genius. Fans loved the comic adaptation, and it'll be fun to see when and if he returns.
15 Batman From All-Star Batman & Robin
First Appearance: All-Star Batman And Robin The Boy Wonder #1, By Writer Frank Miller, Artist Jim Lee, Inker Scott Williams, Color Artist Alex Sinclair, And Letterer Jared K. Fletcher
All-Star Batman and Robin is the ultimate guilty pleasure comic. Jim Lee's art is fantastic, but Frank Miller's writing leaves a lot to be desired. The only way to read it that makes any sense is Miller making fun of his own hard-boiled, self-serious style of writing. Seen from that perspective, the book is quite entertaining.
The Batman of All-Star Batman and Robin is a cold, brutal character who feels like a satire of the grim and gritty Batman Miller made popular. This specific portrayal reveals the limits of this type of Batman and where not to take the character.
14 The Dark Knight Returns Batman
First Appearance: The Dark Knight Returns #1, By Writer/Artist Frank Miller, Inker Klaus Janson, Color Artist Lynn Varley, And Letterer John Costanza
Frank Miller's first and most popular foray into Batman stories was The Dark Knight Returns. Miller's Batman channeled the Caped Crusader of the O'Neil/Adams and Englehart/Rogers runs, a more serious Caped Crusader than fans were used to. Picking up after Batman's retirement, this version digs into the obsession at the character's center.
Miller's Batman in TDKR and its sequels is driven to the point of desperation — risking life and limb to save his city. The character often has a fascistic bent, highlighting how easy it would be for Batman's quest to dive into places too dark for words. TDKR created the version of Batman that is popular today, changing the destiny of the character forever.
13 Damian Wayne As Batman
First Appearance: Batman #666, By Writer Grant Morrison, Artist Andy Kubert, Inker Jesse Delperdang, Color Artist Guy Major, And Letterer Jared K. Fletcher
Batman #666 took readers into a dark future. Bruce Wayne had been dead for years and Damian Wayne was an adult, having taken over for his father. Hunted by the GCPD and villains like Professor Pyg and the Flamingo alike, Damian gets enmeshed in a case leftover from his father's Black Casebook. Then a demonic Batman appears ready to usher in the end times.
Damian Wayne was basically a brand-new character when Batman #666 came out, but it illustrated the kind of Batman Damian could become. He's skilled, smart, violent, and uncompromising, but he still displays moments of tenderness. Plus, Damian's Batman costume features a brilliant design.
12 Tim Drake's Batman From Teen Titans: Titans Tomorrow
First Appearance: Teen Titans (Vol. 3) #17, By Writer Geoff Johns, Artist Mike McKone, Inker Marlo Alquiza, Color Artist Jeremy Cox, And Letterer Comicraft
Teen Titans: Titans Tomorrow, by writer Geoff Johns and artist Mike McKone, introduced readers to the Titans Tomorrow, future versions of the team who took over their mentors' mantles after they died in a mysterious battle. Tim Drake became a darker Batman who had no problems with killing his enemies.
Seeing Drake as Batman was great for several reasons. With Dick Grayson around, Drake doesn't get to actually be Batman very often, so even seeing him as an evil one was worthwhile. The best part was that it revealed how dangerous Tim Drake could be. Drake rarely gets credit for becoming a formidable Robin, so witnessing him step into the role of hard-edged Batman was a genuine sight to behold..
11 Dick Grayson's Batman
First Appearance: Batman And Robin #1, By Writer Grant Morrison, Artist/Inker Frank Quitely, Color Artist Alex Sinclair, And Letterer Pat Brosseau
Nightwing can seem like DC's main character sometimes. Dick Grayson has taken over as Batman twice — once right after Bruce Wayne beat Azrael and took the mantle, and once after Bruce's "death" fighting Darkseid in Final Crisis.
Dick Grayson was a different Batman than his mentor. Instead of becoming the brooding Dark Knight, he was the charismatic Caped Crusader. Grayson proved just as skilled and formidable as Bruce, and he made the perfect mentor for Damian Wayne. He showed him how to be Robin, and that there was more to life than being a hero. Grayson was such a success that some fans never wanted Bruce Wayne back.
10 Batman From Batman: Year 100
First Appearance: Batman: Year 100, By Writer/Artist Paul Pope, Color Jose Villarrubia, And Letterers Jared K. Fletcher And John Workman
Batman: Year 100 takes place in 2039, in a dystopian Gotham that has become a police state run by criminals and villains. It's unclear whether the Batman in question is Bruce Wayne or someone else, but after he's framed for killing a federal agent, police and the FBI come out of the woodwork to hunt him.
This Batman is interesting because readers never really find out what's going on with him. Building up the mystery of who this Batman is makes Batman: Year 100 and the character so much better. DC creates great alternate worlds and this story and character are perfect examples of what the publisher's creators can do.
9 Flashpoint Batman
First Appearance: Flashpoint #1, By Writer Geoff Johns, Artist Andy Kubert, Inker Sandra Hope, Color Artist Alex Sinclair, And Letterer Nick J. Napolitano
Flashpoint was the gigantic crossover event that literally rebooted the entire DC universe. When the Flash travels back in time to save his mother from being killed by the Reverse-Flash, he inadvertently makes some big changes to everyone else's life, including fellow members of the Justice League.
In this timeline, Bruce Wayne is killed instead of his parents, leading Thomas Wayne to become Batman, as Martha turns into the Joker. Thomas' Batman is much scarier than his son's. He's a brutal man who will go to any lengths for justice. In recent years, Thomas' Batman has made more appearances, allowing fans to get a better look at who he is and what makes him tick.
8 Gotham By Gaslight Batman
First Appearance: Batman: Gotham By Gaslight, By Writer Brian Augustyn, Artist Mike Mignola, Inker P. Craig Russell, Color Artist David Hornung, And Letterer John Workman
Batman: Gotham By Gaslight, by writer Brian Augustyn and artist Mike Mignola, takes place in the 1800s. Bruce Wayne dresses up in a makeshift bat costume to keep the streets of Gotham safe from Jack the Ripper. It's an interesting perspective and explores the notion of the World's Greatest Detective solving one of history's biggest mysteries.
Victorian Batman is such a perfect realization of the Caped Crusader. Augustyn and Mignola take the energy of Victorian detective stories and filter it through modern superhero comics. Besides the fact that Batman's patrolling the city a couple of hundred years in the past, he's still the same Bruce Wayne/Batman in every way that counts.
7 The Batman Who Laughs
First Appearance: Dark Days: The Casting #1, By Writer Scott Snyder And James Tynion IV, Artists Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, And John Romita Jr., Inkers Scott Williams, Danny Miki, And Klaus Janson, Color Artists Alex Sinclair And Jeremiah Skipper, And Letterer Steve Wands
Hailing from Earth-22 in the Dark Multiverse, this Batman was captured by the Joker and tortured until his desperation caused him to kill the Joker, triggering a poison gas that makes him the Clown Prince's replacement. Becoming The Batman Who Laughs, he proved to be a powerful and deadly version of Batman.
The Batman Who Laughs slaughtered the Bat-Family and the entire Justice League before going on a rampage that left most of his Earth dead. Joining Barbatos as the leader of the Dark Knights, the Batman Who Laughs almost conquered the Multiverse.
6 Dark Claw
First Appearance: Legends Of The Dark Claw #1, By Writer Larry Hama, Artist Jim Balent, Inker Ray McCarthy, Color Artist Pat Garrahy, And Letterer Bill Oakley
In the Amalgam universe, favorite characters from DC and Marvel merge to make epic and amazing heroes. Dark Claw was a combination of Batman and Wolverine. Mixing both the hero's backstories, Logan witnessed his parent's murder and then was sent to live with his uncle in Canada, where he watched his uncle die as well.
This Logan voluntarily joined the Weapon X program where he got his signature adamantium claws and built a suit resembling both Batman's and Wolverine's. Dark Claw even had a sidekick named Sparrow, a combination of Robin from DC and Jubilee from Marvel. Bruce Wayne has pulled off some amazing feats, but Dark Claw could've surpassed them if he'd had the chance.