As DC's most popular superhero, Batman is involved in all the best storylines. In fact, you'd have to look far back for a time when he wasn't central to a major arc. Unlike soap operas where nothing is permanent, the Caped Crusader experiences changes that impact his character moving forward -- whether it be in film, TV, gaming or comics.
If you consider the past decade, the Dark Knight didn't get a moment to breathe as he got caught in several fluxes. This isn't to say whether the events were for better or worse, but they certainly left a mark on the Bat.
10 THE DEATH OF ALFRED
If there's one constant in Batman stories, it's Alfred Pennyworth. As others come and go, and everyone in Gotham City gets a chance at being Robin, Alfred is always there and willing to help Master Bruce in his crusade against crime and evil.
So, it was completely shocking to see Bane snap his neck in Batman #77. At first, many believed it would be reversed in a typical comic book way, but DC is having none of it. Bruce Wayne's greatest ally is done for. While he's likely to remain six feet under until the next inevitable reboot, the event dropped many jaws.
9 ENGAGEMENT TO CATWOMAN
Superman has Lois Lane. Spider-Man has Mary Jane. Deadpool has a sock. But Batman has always been alone. Yes, he's had love interests, but he's never seen the romance through because of his crimefighting exploits getting in between him and his partner. He's the living embodiment of Meat Loaf's song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)."
Tom King's recent Batman run changed everything. The Dark Knight got down on one knee and asked Selina Kyle/Catwoman if she'll be his Batmobile's co-pilot. While the big wedding didn't take place, due to some dastardly interference from Bane and the rogues, it appears as if the two might tie the knot in the near future.
8 THOMAS WAYNE BEING A VILLAIN
The reason Batman does what he does is because of his parents being gunned down in Crime Alley on that fateful night. His whole purpose is to protect Gotham City and ensure that the villains don't win. But what about the fact his father isn't as squeaky clean as he once presumed?
In Batman: The Telltale Series video game, it's revealed that Thomas Wayne was involved in the criminal underworld, specifically Carmine Falcone's organization. More recently, "City of Bane" has revealed that Flashpoint Batman (Thomas) has been behind the whole capture of the city, too. Is Thomas actually Gotham's biggest villain?
7 JIM GORDON BECOMING BATMAN
After the events of Batman: Endgame, it was presumed the Dark Knight had perished. Naturally, Gotham City required someone to step up and protect it from the remaining rogues. A shaved Jim Gordon heeded the call and put on a mecha suit as the new Batman of the city.
Of course, the storyline was only temporary until Bruce Wayne returned to reclaim his mantle, but it was fun to see Gordon walking in Batman's shoes. He might not have had the martial arts training to best the criminals in hand-to-hand combat, but he showed that he had the smarts to defeat them in other ways.
6 ROBERT PATTINSON CAST AS BATMAN
At the start of the decade, most fans assumed that Christian Bale wouldn't be Batman by the end of it. Still, the audience was surprised when Ben Affleck was announced as the new Batman only a year after The Dark Knight Rises. While it took a while for fans to accept the new Dark Knight, they eventually warmed up to him.
No one expected that Affleck would be out of the role so quickly, though. Then, the news dropped that The Batman director Matt Reeves had selected Twilight star Robert Pattinson as the brand-new Caped Crusader and the internet went wild again. Things move fast in Hollyweird.
5 JARRO FRIENDSHIP
Look, Batman isn't exactly the friendliest guy in the world. He grunts out responses and spies on all his allies because he has some serious trust issues. So, it was heartwarming to see him befriend the psychic alien starfish named Jarro in the latest Justice League run.
Jarro decided to become Batman's Robin in this series, and the two share a strong bond that's likely to make Damian Wayne green with envy. The thing is, Jarro is a much more likable character than Damian will ever be. And someone at DC needs to greenlight a Batman & Jarro comic book series asap.
4 THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS
Batman has one of the best rogues' gallery in comics. From Joker and Two-Face to Penguin and the Riddler, there are more than enough villains for him to battle on a regular basis. As such, it's always tough to introduce a new one into the mix, as the fans already have so many options.
Thanks to Dark Nights: Metal, there's a host of new foes from the Dark Multiverse. The most popular one, though, is the Batman Who Laughs, who's the twisted combination of Batman and the Joker. Ever since the character's debut, he's remained an integral part of the DC Universe.
3 THE RISE OF LEGO BATMAN
When The LEGO Movie was released in 2014, no one could've predicted that Batman would turn out to be the most popular character in the film and get his own spinoff. What's even more impressive is how The LEGO Batman Movie became a critically acclaimed hit three years later.
Apart from the Dark Knight-related LEGO sets that sell like hotcakes, the video games are immensely popular and there have been several well-received straight-to-DVD films about the Brick Knight. Considering the dark and gritty nature of the character, it's nice to see that he's still able to appeal to everyone through LEGO's efforts.
2 THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TEAM-UP
If you were born in the eighties, chances are that you were a major fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Batman. Those two properties tore up the nineties and many fans could only dream of the Turtles and the Dark Knight teaming up for an epic adventure.
Well, it might've taken a while, but it finally happened. The Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series kicked off the party in 2015, and there have been more stories since then. Fans have also been treated to an animated movie and a glorious toyline. In fact, all the eighties babies must be rolling back the years now.
1 A JOKER MOVIE OUTGROSSED BATMAN
Well, here's something no one would've ever thought possible: Joker outgrossed Justice League, the last film to feature Batman. While the Dark Knight has claimed to be the house that built DC, even he couldn't elevate Zack Snyder's Joss Whedon's 2017 team-up beyond $657.9 million worldwide, despite it costing a reported $300 million to make.
On the other hand, Todd Phillips' Joker laughed all the way to the bank. The film pulled in $1.063 billion at the global box office, while it only cost roughly $55 million to make. It truly was DC's Year of the Villain in 2019!