Within the canon of the DC Universe, few characters can stand toe-to-toe with Batman. For over 80 years, the Caped Crusader has enthralled audiences with his razor-sharp detective abilities, unparalleled combat prowess, and martial knowledge that are almost second to none.
In such a long and storied history, however, there have been a few instances of characters getting the better of him. While Bruce Wayne's eternal alter-ego has proved time and time again that he should never be counted out, there are times when all hope has seemed lost and he has been pushed to the very edge of his breaking point.
10 Nightwing Proves That The Student Has Become The Master
Dick Grayson, the original Robin, has shown many times throughout his history that he is not only Batman's equal in terms of intelligence but also combat abilities. His natural agility is also far greater than Bruce Wayne's, and when it comes to personality - there is no competition.
It was after Grayson had moved on from the Robin identity to his Nightwing alter-ego, however, that he truly proved he'd outgrown his master's tutelage. The two have come to blows many times over the years but no victory was as indisputable as the smackdown Dick laid down on Batman in Tim Seeley's Nightwing #30.
9 Bronze Tiger Shows Batman Who The True Master Of Martial Arts Is
In Detective Comics #485 Bronze Tiger managed to incapacitate Batman with a single kick. With this single blow, he sealed the fate of the original Batwoman, Kathy Kane. Batman was left helpless, only hearing Kathy's scream from an adjacent room.
After pulling himself back together, Batman realizes that he was too late, and that Kathy was murdered by the League of Assassins while he was distracted. Not only did Bronze Tiger beat Batman physically, but he also added one more scar to the Dark Knight's already damaged psyche.
8 Catwoman Beat Batman Many Times, Both Physically And Mentally
With any long-running on-again/off-again relationship there are bound to be road bumps along the way, especially with high-stakes vigilantism thrown into the mix. With these characters often on different sides of the law, it is no surprise that their time together has often been explosive.
While the two have fought many times throughout their history, no example was quite as shocking as Bruce's defeat in Batman #355. After Catwoman learned of Bruce's relationship with Vicki Vale, she became enraged and attacked him, taking him by surprise and easily getting the best of the Bat. She managed to regain her senses before killing Batman once and for all, but audiences got a glimpse of just how dangerous Catwoman truly is and will continue to be going forward.
7 Deathstroke Is An Unstoppable Killing Machine That Even Batman Has Trouble Dealing With
From his very first, explosive appearance in Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's The New Teen Titans #2, Deathstroke has constantly been depicted as the deadliest assassin in the DC Universe. With a rap sheet as terrifying as his, it wouldn't be long before he came to blows with Batman, and the results have often been disastrous.
Slade Wilson has managed to defeat the Dark Knight multiple times over the years. His incredible combat abilities and super-human physicality and healing factor mean he is a force to be reckoned with, one of the Dark Knight's most formidable opponents in all of DC Comics.
6 Swamp Thing Proves That Mother Nature Will Always Come Out On Top
During Alan Moore's seminal run on Swamp Thing, audiences were treated to a battle so epic that only a master storyteller could pull it off. Taking on the city of Gotham in retaliation for his wife's imprisonment, Swamp Thing contorts the city into a swampy wasteland that forces Batman to strike back in an attempt to save his home.
In a rare example of Batman being completely out of his depth, he quickly proves to be no match for the Swamp Thing and the natural forces under his control. A brilliant allegory for the climate problems that the world was facing even back in 1986, this much-celebrated storyline still rings true and feels relevant today.
5 Prometheus Shows Batman What It Is Like To Lose To Himself
Developed as a dark foil to Batman, Prometheus is a villain who can download his opponent's fighting styles as he battles them. A stark juxtaposition to Batman's lifelong pursuit of knowledge and training, Prometheus's ability to cheat and bypass hard work is as deadly as it is infuriating.
Prometheus has not only fought, and bested, multiple members of the Justice League, but has also managed to better Batman on multiple occasions. His frustrating and highly adaptable powers make him a formidable opponent and one that Batman dreads meeting every time.
4 Ra's Al Ghul Is An Eternal Thorn In The Dark Knight's Side
One of the most constant foes in Batman's rogue's gallery, Ra's al Ghul is not only an immortal killing machine but also forever linked to Bruce Wayne through the fact that he is Talia al Ghul's father. If it wasn't bad enough that one of Batman's sworn enemies is also the grandfather to his child, Ra's is also a worthy advisory, more than capable of defeating the Dark Knight.
Ra's and his League of Assassins have attacked Batman and his allies many times over the years. However, the Tower of Babel storyline represented his greatest success. Not only was he successful in defeating Batman for a time, but also in souring his image to the entire Justice League and planting everlasting, irreparable trust issues within the team.
3 Bane Breaks The Bat - Again And Again, And In More Ways Than One
When Bane broke Batman's back during Knightfall it not only solidified the character as one of the most dangerous adversaries in Batman history but also ushered in one of the longest-running status quo shifts in the character's lifespan. Amazingly, Bane's reign of terror was only beginning.
During recent events, Bane was also responsible for the murder of Batman's long-time friend, mentor, and confidant, Alfred Pennyworth. Responsible for not one, but two earth-shattering moments in DC's history, Bane continues to pose a gigantic threat any time he appears.
2 Superman Shows Batman Who The Most Powerful Character In DC Is
While Superman and Batman are sometimes extremely close and hold a lot of respect for each other, the two characters are strong-willed. Their opposing personalities have brought them into battle on more than one occasion, with Superman often coming out on top.
Superman's absolute decimation of Batman, The Flash, and Green Lantern in 2015's Justice League #2 goes to show just how easily that he can defeat his compatriots when he lets loose. While Batman may know the one true secret to defeating Superman Bruce knows as well as anyone that a world without Superman would be a calamitous thing indeed.
1 The Joker Will Always Win As Long As He Is Still Alive
For as long as he has been around, chaos and death have always followed The Joker. While he has certainly managed to get the best of Batman during physical confrontations from time to time, it is his continued existence and his more cerebral attacks that have forced the Caped Crusader to constantly accept defeat.
From Jason Todd's death in A Death in the Family, to the Gordons' immeasurable suffering in The Killing Joke, to the all-out warfare let loose upon the streets of Gotham in Joker War, Joker has pushed Batman to his moral limits. The great irony behind The Joker is that one day he will push Batman far enough that the hero finally kills him. If and when this occurs, it will be Joker's final and most complete victory.