Batman has an extensive list of villains throughout the DC Universe. Whether they are superpowered like Bane and his strength enhancements, or just ordinary people with interesting quirks or internal struggles like Two-Face and his split personas, Batman's enemies are weird and wonderful, and ultimately very dangerous.
As much as Batman's enemies are dead-set on causing him and the Bat Family harm and destruction, they are also often very loyal to the Dark Knight, and enjoy the power play the Bat offers them. This results in many of Batman's villains saving him when necessary, which is nice of them, despite how often they try to kill him.
10 Catwoman Saved Bruce Wayne Before She Knew He Was Batman
Batman: The Long Halloween By Writer Jeph Loeb, Penciler And Inker Tim Sale, Colorist Gregory Wright, And Letterer Richard Starkings
Selina Kyle is an expert thief and goes by the name of Catwoman when committing burglary crimes. She is swift, stealthy, and elegant, plus excellent in hand-to-hand combat. Catwoman is one of Batman's most popular enemies, and one of his most prominent love interests.
When Poison Ivy ensnares Bruce Wayne and holds him hostage in the Wayne mansion under the orders of Carmine Falcone, Catwoman breaks in and defeats Poison Ivy, setting Bruce free and saving his life. She wasn't aware that he was Batman at the time, but still saved his life.
9 Ra's Al Ghul Wants Batman To Follow In His Footsteps
Batman Volume 1 #400 By Writer Doug Moench, And Various Artists Including Brian Bolland, John Byrne, Adrienne Roy, John Costanza, And Tom Orzechowski
Ra's al Ghul is one of Batman's most powerful adversaries. He is the leader of the League of Assassins, and has his Lazarus Pits at his disposal to make himself more powerful, and return himself from the dead.
Ra's and Batman's relationship is a complicated one. Ra's doesn't want to be enemies with Batman, and in actual fact wants Batman to follow in his footsteps. He constantly tries to help with Batman's growth in ways he sees fit, building the character to who he believes he needs to be, and offering his help in return. Also, he has kept his identity a secret for years, so really Ra's al Ghul is saving Batman in his own strange way.
8 Harley Quinn Inadvertently Helps Batman Escape
Harley Quinn/Gossamer Special Volume 1 #1 By Writers Amanda Conner And Jimmy Palmiotti, Penciler And Inker Pier Brito, Colorist Paul Mounts, And Letterer David Sharpe
Harley Quinn is the notorious ex-girlfriend of the Joker. Quinn regularly attempts to quit the life of crime, and has managed to for some periods of time, even becoming a part of the Bat Family despite her criminal background and general unpredictability.
After the Joker sends a load of killer robots Harley's way, she tracks him down with her new friend Gossamer, finding him with Batman hostage and hanging upside down over a vat. She attacks the Joker, inadvertently allowing Gossamer to help Batman escape, and thus saving his life.
7 Batman's Entire Rogue's Gallery Save Him From Harm
Batman Volume 2 #40 By Writer Scott Snyder, Penciler Greg Capullo, Inker Danny Miki, And Letterer Jared K. Fletcher
When the Joker returns, he decides to wreak havoc on Gotham. A highly potent strain of the Joker toxin is used, customized for each individual member of the Justice League, in order to influence them all to attack Batman and attempt to kill him.
Batman is struggling, and finds allies in the most unlikely of people: his enemies. A group from Batman's infamous rouge's gallery, including Scarecrow, Bane, and Poison Ivy, come to his aid and save him from the Joker's threat.
6 Bane Stops His Father From Killing Batman
Batman: Gotham Knights Volume 1 #47 By Writer Scott Beatty, Penciler Roger Robinson, Inker John Floyd, And Letterer Clem Robins
Bane is an escaped convict from a South American prison. He has immense physical strength, having undergone experiments with the drug "Venom," and is known as being the Man Who Broke the Bat. This makes it especially surprising that he saved Batman's life.
Bane finds his father, King Snake, and is emotionally conflicted by the ordeal, intending to kill his father multiple times. When King Snake attempts to shoot Batman, Bane saves his life, although ends up mortally wounded in the process. Batman returns the life-saving favor by placing Bane in the Lazarus Pit and giving him a chance at a new life.
5 The Penguin Saves Batman To Get His Own Life Back
Detective Comics Volume 2 #20 By Writer John Layman, Penciler And Inker Jason Fabok, Colorist Jeromy Cox, And Letterer Jared K. Fletcher
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, more popularly known as the Penguin, is a criminal mastermind and mob boss in Gotham City. Often stated to be the gentleman of crime, the Penguin is one of the most iconic Batman enemies, and is a powerful figure in the criminal underworld.
After Emperor Penguin usurps the Penguin and takes over, he spreads a Man-Bat virus as well as making an attempt on Batman's life by hanging him from a tree. Batman is saved by the Penguin, who cuts him down from the tree, and states that in order to get his life back, he had to save him.
4 Hush Performs Life-Saving Surgery On Batman
Batman: Hush By Writer Jeph Loeb, Penciler Jim Lee, Inker Scott Williams, Colorist Alex Sinclair, And Letterer Richard Starkings
Dr. Thomas Elliot was Bruce Wayne's childhood friend. Unbeknownst to Bruce, Thomas attempted to kill his own parents as a child in order to inherit their fortune. When his plan failed due to Bruce's father saving his mother's life, Thomas blamed Bruce, and set out for revenge.
As the villainous character Hush, Elliot causes Batman numerous types of issues. However, when Bruce suffers a near-fatal skull fracture, Dr. Thomas Elliot is the one to perform surgery and save his life. He could have done a terrible job deliberately, or not done the surgery at all, which would be expected of a character like Hush.
3 Talia Al Ghul Shoots Dr. Darrk Before He Can Kill Batman
Detective Comics Volume 1 #411 By Writer Dennis O'Neil, Penciler Bob Brown, Inker Dick Giordano, And Letterer Ben Oda
Talia al Ghul is the daughter of Ra's al Ghul. She is a member of the League of Assassins and also Lex Corp, as well as being both a lover and an enemy to Batman. Talia al Ghul is also the mother of Damian Wayne, Batman's son.
Talia al Ghul and Batman have quite the complicated relationship considering their romantic past, and the fact she is a villain and often Batman's enemy. However, when Batman saved Talia from Dr. Darrk, and Darrk attempted to kill Batman, Talia saved Batman's life by shooting and killing Darrk.
2 The Joker Believes Only He Should Be Allowed To Kill Batman
Dark Knights: Metal Volume 1 #6 By Writer Scott Snyder, Penciler Greg Capullo, Inker Jonathan Glapion, And Letterer Steve Wands
The Joker is undoubtedly Batman's most popular and iconic enemy throughout the comics. The psychotic clown has come face-to-face with the Dark Knight on numerous occasions, and constantly seeks to wreak havoc on his life.
However, the Joker has also saved Batman's life quite a few times. Most notably, the Joker fights alongside Batman and saves his life on occasion when dealing with the Batman Who Laughs. Really though, the Joker doesn't want anyone else to kill Batman as he believes that is his right alone.
1 Two-Face Has A Moment Of Sanity And Saves Batman As A Result
Batman Volume 1 #619 By Writer Jeph Loeb, Penciler Jim Lee, Inker Scott Williams, Colorist Alex Sinclair, And Letterer Richard Starkings
Harvey Dent was the District Attorney for Gotham City, and was a model citizen. That was until the left side of his face was permanently scarred and disfigured after an acid attack, and he underwent a mental breakdown. As a result, the once good Harvey Dent became the criminal Two-Face.
As bad as Two-Face tended to be, however, he did have his moments of sanity. Namely, when Batman is in the midst of taking on the villain Hush, Harvey Dent and Jim Gordon come to his aid. Dent, in order to save Batman, shoots Hush twice in the chest.