DC Comics has more than its fair share of hand-to-hand combat specialists, with Batman ranking among their upper echelons. Even though he doesn't have any superpowers to speak of, he has honed his body into an absolutely devastating fighting machine. That's something many of DC's heroes and villains have learned firsthand when Batman took the win in battle.
However, there are more than a few characters who Batman has never defeated over the years. For various reasons, The Dark Knight can't outsmart them, which is a big reason why he works with teams. It can be a bit surprising for the frequent loner, but even Batman needs help to take on stronger foes.
Updated on Sept. 13, 2022 by Scoot Allan: Batman was recently taken out of the battle along with the rest of his teammates during the "Death of the Justice League" storyline that kicked off the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event. It was surprising to some fans as Batman is known for his ability to win almost any battle given enough time to prepare. However, there are a few DC heroes and villains who've been able to hold their own against the Dark Knight and deny him his usual victory.
13 Giganta
First Appearance: Wonder Woman (Vol. 1) #9, By Writer William Moulton Marston, And Penciler Harry G. Peter
Giganta's codename is a great indicator of her fantastic abilities, and she's had a few different origins throughout DC's continuities. While she was originally an ape who transformed into a human, the modern version is a woman named Doris Zuel who gains her powers through an experimental cure.
Giganta can grow to superhuman sizes, and her strength and invulnerability also increase as she gets taller. She can become strong enough to give powerful heroes like Wonder Woman some trouble. Batman may be able to trip her up a bit, but if Giganta gets her hands on him, the battle is over.
12 Bronze Tiger
First Appearance: Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter (Vol. 1) #1, By Writers Dennis O'Neil & Jim Berry, Penciler/Inker Leopoldo Duranona, And Letterer Ben Oda
Many regard Batman as one of DC's best hand-to-hand fighters. He's been trained by the best and has beaten many of them. Honing his body into a finely tuned weapon, Batman's training keeps him alive when facing more powerful villains.
Of course, that doesn't mean Batman's won every hand-to-hand fight. Bronze Tiger is in a slightly higher class than Batman when it comes to their fighting skills. Brainwashed into being a villain, Bronze Tiger has no qualms using lethal force if needed. Batman has yet to defeat him solo, and most of their match-ups end in draws.
11 Red Hood
First Appearance (Jason Todd): Batman (Vol. 1) #357, By Writer Gerry Conway, Penciler Don Newton, Inker Alfredo Alcala, Colorist Adrienne Roy, And Letterer Ben Oda
Recruited by Batman after he tried stealing the hubcaps from the Batmobile, Jason Todd has had one of the roughest rides of any DC hero. Todd became the new Robin, but he met a tragic end when Joker viciously beat him with a crowbar before blowing him up. However, Todd was ultimately resurrected and restored to start his new life as Red Hood.
Red Hood remains one of the most aggressive members of Batman's extended family. Due to Todd's willingness to go further than the Caped Crusader, he's proven to be more than Batman can handle every time they square off. Batman always holds part of himself back to refrain from killing others, but Red Hood will give his all to seize the win.
10 Rick Flag
First Appearance: The Brave and the Bold (Vol. 1) #25, By Writer Robert Kanigher, Penciler Ross Andru, And Inker Mike Esposito
Over the years, Rick Flag has made a name for himself as a decorated soldier and the field leader of the Suicide Squad. It's important to keep in mind that much of his backstory is dubious thanks to the mental manipulations of General Eiling. However, he's proven his advanced training and skill on the battlefield many times as the leader of Amanda Waller's Task Force X.
While Batman and Rick Flag haven't squared off too often, each battle has been epic. However, neither of them has ever claimed a definitive victory. Flag's weaponry cancel out most of Batman's gadgets and they're evenly matched in a straight fight.
9 Kobra
First Appearance: Kobra (Vol. 1) #1, By Writers Martin Pasko & Steve Sherman, Writer/Penciler Jack Kirby, Penciler/Inker Pablo Marcos, Inker D. Bruce Berry, Colorist Carl Gafford, And Letterer Ben Oda
Several people have taken the name and mantle of Kobra over the years, but the most well-known and dangerous were twin brothers Jeffrey and Jason Burr. Kobra is the leader of a cult who used his scientific genius to vex the various heroes of the DC universe in his various attempts at world domination.
Batman called Kobra the second most dangerous man he's ever met after encountering the cult leader alongside the Outsiders. They seemed evenly matched until Kobra gained the upper hand. The Jeffrey Burr version of Kobra was a master fighter and claimed to have mastered every fighting style known to man, which made him more than a match for The Dark Knight.
8 Prometheus
First Appearance: New Year's Evil: Prometheus (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Grant Morrison, Penciler Arnie Jorgensen, Inker Dave Meikis, Colorist James Sinclair, And Letterer Janice Chiang
Prometheus went toe-to-toe with the Justice League in his first appearance. He almost took out the entire team, which included Batman in a one-on-one fight. That humiliating defeat wasn't even the worst thing Prometheus had done in the comics.
The Dark Knight was humbled by the experience, and he learned a lot from it. Prometheus used his helmet to input the collected data of his foes to study, analyze, and counter any move they throw. As an anti-Batman character, Prometheus makes it nearly impossible for anyone to take him down alone.
7 Ghost-Maker
First Appearance: Batman (Vol. 3) #100, By Writer James Tynion IV, Penciler/Inker Jorge Jiménez, Colorist Tomeu Morey, And Letterer Clayton Cowles
Bruce Wayne spent his developing years training with different teachers across the globe on his quest to become a better crime-fighter. However, he wasn't alone on that quest. Khoa Khan was on a similar path, and the two trained with a few of the same teachers. They developed a friendship, but it quickly turned into a lasting rivalry between the two vigilantes.
Ghost-Maker turned on Bruce when he discovered they had different motivations for their goals, and they operated in different cities. Ghost-Maker eventually returned to Gotham City, and he engaged with Batman quite a few times. Both vigilantes are at the peak of their physical ability and have similar training, but Ghost-Maker has a killer edge Batman can't match.
6 Lady Shiva
First Appearance: Richard Dragon, Kung-Fu Fighter (Vol. 1) #5, By Writer Dennis O'Neil, Penciler Ric Estrada, Inker Wally Wood, And Letterer Ben Oda
Calling Lady Shiva a villain is an oversimplification of her character. Shiva stands with whoever may help her accomplish her goals, which are usually known only to her. Shiva's unmatched skills in hand-to-hand combat have made her possibly the most feared warrior in the DC universe.
Batman has never defeated her in straight combat, and she has earned a deadly reputation among other talented fighters. One of the best fight scenes from the Knightfall event came after Bruce Wayne lost his edge when he trained with Lady Shiva to find his fighter's instinct again. He's beaten her a few times in the comics, but it's almost always with help from others.
5 Batgirl (Cassandra Cain)
First Appearance: Batman (Vol. 1) #567, By Writer Kelley Puckett, Penciler Damion Scott, Inker John Floyd, Colorist Gregory Wright, And Letterer Todd Klein
Lady Shiva's daughter Cassandra Cain inherited her mother's natural skill along with the training of her master assassin father, David Cain. He raised her to read body language instead of communicating to make her an even better fighter than her parents. Cassandra eventually escaped from her father and joined Batman's Family as Batgirl during the No Man's Land event.
Batgirl is one of the few DC characters who's defeated Lady Shiva in hand-to-hand combat, something even Batman thought was impossible. Batman himself has only defeated Batgirl when she was mentally controlled or weakened in some other way. If they faced each other in a battle to the death, Batman wouldn't have a chance.
4 Swamp-Thing
First Appearance: Swamp Thing (Vol. 1) #1, By Writer Len Wein, Penciler/Inker Bernie Wrightson, And Colorist Tatjana Wood
Dr. Alec Holland was working on a special bio-restorative formula when he was shot and left to die in the swamp. His psyche got absorbed by the swamp, and he was reborn as the powerful being known as Swamp Thing. He learned he could form a new body out of vegetative mass, and he also gained the ability to control and communicate with all plant life on the planet.
Batman's ability to prepare for almost any threat ahead of time has never given him the same edge when dealing with DC's Avatar of the Green. Swamp Thing has taken on Batman several times, and he's humiliated the Dark Knight in most of their encounters. Even when Batman knew Swamp Thing was heading to Gotham City, none of his prep made a difference.
3 General Zod
First Appearance: Adventure Comics (Vol. 1) #283, By Writer Robert Bernstein And Penciler/Inker George Papp
Superman is generally regarded as one of the top heroes in DC Comics. His Kryptonian biology, combined with Earth's yellow sun, has given him a fantastic array of powers he thankfully uses to protect and better his adopted homeworld. Superman and Batman are close friends who've occasionally come to blows over the years, although without too much harm.
General Zod is one of Superman's best rivals, and he basically has the same superpowers as Kal-El. However, Zod lives by a very different moral code, and he has extensive military training. Planning to take down Superman is one thing, but if Batman isn't careful, he may end up kneeling before Zod.
2 Trigon
First Appearance: New Teen Titans (Vol. 1) #2, By Writer Marv Wolfman, Writer/Penciler George Pérez, Inker Romeo Tanghal, Colorist Adrienne Roy, And Letterer Ben Oda
Trigon is one of DC's most powerful cosmic beings, so even suggesting Batman can defeat the demonic entity on his own sounds a little absurd. Spawned from powerful dark emotions, Trigon the Terrible has enslaved countless worlds in his long existence by mating with women in other realities and using his children like Raven to breach dimensional planes.
Trigon has taken on the combined might of teams like the Teen Titans and the Justice League with little difficulty. Fortunately, Batman is smart enough to not wander into this war by himself, and he'll ally himself with the right magical forces to help stop Trigon. However, he just doesn't have the strength to face Trigon by himself.
1 Ultraman
First Appearance: Justice League of America (Vol. 1) #29, By Writer Gardner Fox, Penciler Mike Sekowsky, Inker Bernard Sachs, And Letterer Gaspar Saladino
The Crime Syndicate of America is a multiversal team from Earth 3 that explored another comic world where the Justice League turned evil. Earth 3 was largely reversed from the main DC universe, which meant the best heroes became the worst villains. The Crime Syndicate had one of the most powerful versions of Superman, Ultraman, as their leader.
This really isn't a fair fight for Batman. While he has occasionally survived encounters with Kryptonians like Superman, thanks to his use of Kryptonite, that tactic would only strengthen the reversed Ultraman. On his own, without the advantage of Kryptonite, it's hard to imagine Batman has what it takes to bring down an evil Superman.