Superman and Batman have both starred in various Elseworlds stories which completely reconfigure the World's Finest and several other DC heroes, putting them in totally different scenarios and circumstances. One of the most notable of these stories is Mark Millar, Dave Johnson, Andrew Robinson, Walden Wong and Kelly Plunkett's  Superman: Red Son, wherein Kal-El lands in Soviet Russia and is taken in by Joseph Stalin.

While the morally questionable Superman in this story isn't necessarily a villain, the anti-authoritarian Russian version of Batman is most definitely an antagonist. Firmly intent on killing Superman and one of his chief operatives, this Russian Batman is a far cry from the noble Caped Crusader of the mainstream DC Universe.

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Batman in Superman: Red Son

Batman Red Son

The Russian Batman would have an origin and early start that was both incredibly similar and wildly different than his mainstream counterpart. For one, his parents were political dissidents, not rich capitalist philanthropists. Likewise, they were still gunned down in front of their son, but by the government police force instead of a random criminal. This inspired their son's hatred of Stalin, Superman and the Russian police captain Pyotr Roslov, the Red Son equivalent of Superman ally Pete Ross.

As an adult, the Batman would become a scourge toward the Soviet government, committing various acts of terrorism to antagonize the state and inspire the people to rally against Superman. He began secretly working with Roslov, who wanted Superman eliminated for his own purposes. Batman managed to capture Wonder Woman, as well as acquire a Red Sun machine to remove Superman's powers. Locking him away, he intended for the former Man of Steel to kept imprisoned and powerless forever. However, Wonder Woman broke free of her bonds, destroying the machine and freeing Superman.

Not wanting to be captured by the freed Superman, Batman detonated a bomb in his gut and killed himself. This traumatic event would begin to end the friendship between Superman and Wonder Woman, however, and a new group of dissidents inspired by Batman rose up and began protesting the state. They later gave control of Russia to Lex Luthor after the official fall of Superman's regime. This rivalry between Batman and an authoritarian Superman is very similar to their relationship in the iconic The Dark Knight Returns, and the later Batmen that rise up against Superman's regime are also evocative of the Sons of Batman in that story.

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Russian Batman in Other Media

This would be the only appearance of this alternative universe Batman in the comics, but he's appeared in other DC works, as well. His main appearance outside of the original comic book is in the animated adaptation of Superman: Red Son, where his story is slightly changed. Instead of his parents being killed by the state's police force, the future Batman and his parents are sent to labor in a secret Soviet gulag. This prison was shielded from Superman's knowledge, and he couldn't find it initially due to it being shielded by lead.

Blaming Superman for his parents being worked to death, Batman rises up as an adult to become a terrorist against the Soviet Union. From there, his story is very much the same as the comic, including his suicide after Superman is restored. He also appears in the Injustice series of DC fighting games, first in a series of alternate costumes for several heroes based off of the Red Son comic book. Red Son Batman also shows up as part of a multiversal Justice League in Green Arrow's arcade mode ending in Injustice 2. The design also may have inspired the Knightmare costume for Batman in the DCEU. While Superman and Batman may be begrudging friends in most other continuities, the Red Son Dark Knight is a complete reversal of the World's Finest team, leaving in its place a violent and frightening alternative.

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