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Alternative versions of
Batman

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Batman (fran… Batman (Eart…

Alternate versions of Batman

Variations of the superhero Batman from DC Comics' publications'

parallel universes and alternate timelines.

Publisher DC Comics

First Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)

appearance

Created by Bob Kane

Bill Finger

See also Batman franchise media

The following is a list of alternative versions of

Batman from all medvia types, including the DC
Comics multiverse, Elseworlds comics, television,
and :lm.

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Comics

Canon depictions

Main article: Batman (set index)

Bruce Wayne is the original Batman. This is
Batmans secret identity in almost all
representations in other media.
The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh was an
uninhibited alter ego that Bruce Wayne
had constructed to protect himself in the
event that his base psyche was under
attack. This Batman claimed "I'm what you
get when you take Bruce out of the
equation..."
Azrael, Jean-Paul Valley, becomes Batman
(albeit a far more brutal version) after Bane
breaks Bruce's back during 1993's Knightfall
story. This identity is held by numerous
characters within continuity, and for a time
after Valley's death it was taken up by a man
named Michael Washington Lane.
Dick Grayson assumes the Batman identity
after Azrael is forced to relinquish the mantle,
prior to Bruce Wayne's return. He became the
new Batman after Bruce's apparent death.
With Bruce's return, Dick went back to being
Nightwing.
Bane donned the cape and cowl and became
the Batman of criminals during the Forever
Evil storyline when the Justice League went
missing. He led the inmates of Blackgate
against the forces of Arkham in what is known
as Forever Evil : Arkham War. Later Bruce
Wayne returned and reclaimed his place. Bane
ended up being locked up in Arkham ironically.
Jason Todd reappeared in the Battle for the
Cowl series. Dressed in a version of a Batman
costume, he started to :ght the expanding
crime wave with little morality. Pinning a note
to his criminal victims that he was the true
and only Batman. He even built his own
Batcave where he starved and tortured
criminals to death.
Allied with reporter Arturo Rodriguez, Black
Mask begins a campaign to discredit Batman
during the "War Crimes" storyline. While
Rodriguez slams Batman in the press, Black
Mask commits a series of murders disguised
as Batman.
Tim Drake has been depicted as a possible
future Batman on several occasions: in JLA
#8 and #9; in Teen Titans (vol. 3) #17-19 and
#51-54 as part of the Titans of Tomorrow; and
in Superman/Batman #22 and #23, as well as
donning the costume in Sins of Youth: Robin &
Batboy. In the Battle for the Cowl series he is
dressed in a version of a Batman costume.
The Titans of Tomorrow version of Tim Drake
reappeared in the Lonely Place of Living and
Super Sons of Tomorrow arcs during DC
Rebirth
Damian Wayne has also been shown as
Batman in a possible future in Batman #666.
He is shown mentioning Bruce and Dick as
previous holders of the title and has a pet cat
he abectionately named Alfred. The #666
timeline has been revised multiple times since
then. This Damian showed up in Batman
#700, Batman Incorporated #5, Damian : Son
of Batman mini series, Super Sons #10,
Superman #25 and Superman/Batman #75
and #80. He will also be the lead star in the
upcoming Arkham Asylum 2 graphic novel.
Another diberent version of Damian as
Batman in Multiversity: The Just and a third
incarnation in Justice League: Generation
Lost #14. The child version of Damian also
donned his adult counterparts costume from
the 666 timeline in Batman and Robin Annual
# 1.
Terry McGinnis is shown to be the successor
of the mantle in Batman #700. Damian Wayne
rescued him as Batman from Two-Face-Two
when he was held hostage as an infant. Two-
Face-Two believed Terry McGinnis was one of
a pair of twin boys who were the sons of
billionaires rather than Warren and Mary
McGinnis. Two-Face-Two transformed Terry
into a miniature duplicate of the Joker with
the deceased Clown Prince of Crime's Joker
venom. Damian administers the antidote after
he rescues Terry. Decades after the event, an
elder Damian Wayne becomes the mentor of
McGinnis, who became the new Dark Knight.
Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne features
:ve historical reincarnations of Bruce Wayne's
consciousness, each wearing their era's
version of the Batman costume.
Following Bruce Wayne's apparent death in
battle with the Joker during the events of
Batman #40, James Gordon[1] took up the
mantle of Batman using a mecha-style suit to
:ght crime in Gotham City.
Alternative universes in modern
continuity

The DC Multiverse consists of worlds outside DC's

main continuity allowing writers the creative
freedom to explore alternative versions of
characters and their histories without
contradicting and/or permanently altering the
ogcial continuity.

Batman (Earth-Two) is shown to be the

Golden Age Batman, with a life that parallels
the modern Batman but with some signi:cant
diberences. Born in the 1910s, Bruce Wayne
eventually retires as Batman and becomes
Police Commissioner. He marries Selina Kyle
and the two have a daughter, the original
Huntress, Helena Wayne. Finally, goaded out
of retirement by a villain demanding Bruce
Wayne (whom he mistakenly believes has
framed him), he confronts the villain as
Batman and dies in the line of duty. The
Earth-Two Bruce Wayne's father Thomas
Wayne is shown to have worn something
similar to the modern Batman costume while
Bruce was young, to entertain trick-or-
treaters on Halloween, ultimately inhuencing
Bruce's choice of alter ego.
Owlman is the Anti-Matter Universe Earth's
supervillain counterpart to Batman. In this
incarnation, Owlman's secret identity is
Thomas Wayne Jr., the son of Gotham City
Police Commissioner Thomas Wayne. Another
version of Owlman resides on the new Earth-
3 and is a member of the Crime Syndicate of
America. This Owlman and his team are
analogues for the Earth-2 Batman and the
Justice Society of America respectively.
On Earth-8, a version of Batman called "Bat-
Soldier" is shown working for Monarch.[2]
The Tangent Comics version of the Batman
is a knight who once fought King Arthur and
was forced to atone for his sins, seeking
justice through an empty suit of armor for all
eternity. This version currently resides on
Earth-9.
On Earth-10, Bruce Wayne is part of the "JL-
Axis" and is a fervent Nazi enforcer.[3] He is
named Leatherwing, and is a part of
Overman's Justice League.[4]
On Earth-11, which is inhabited gender-
reversed superheroes, an alternative version
of Batwoman exists in place of Batman. Her
real name is Helena Wayne, akin to that of the
Huntress, the Earth-2 daughter of the Batman
and Catwoman.
On Earth-12, a futuristic Batman resembles
the Terry McGinnis Batman of the Batman
Beyond television series.[5]
On Earth-15, it is shown that Bruce Wayne
has died and that Jason Todd has replaced
him as Batman. He was recently killed by
Superboy-Prime in Countdown #24, and all
human life is now extinct on that alternate
Earth, given its destruction by the
aforementioned Superboy-Prime.
On New 52 DC Multiverse Earth-16, Bruce
Wayne has either retired or died, and has been
replaced by Batman II (Damian Wayne)[6]
On New 52 DC Multiverse Earth-17, civilization
was nearly destroyed by a nuclear war in 1963.
Residing in the domed city of Novamerika's
East Gotham rad-pit, Batman is armour-clad
and radiation-suited to resist the radioactive
environment outside the dome. He is a
member of that world's Atomic Knights of
Justice [7]
The Batman: Gotham by Gaslight one shot
depicts a Batman who started his
crime:ghting career in 1889. This alternative
Batman resides on Earth-19.
The Kingdom Come limited series depicts a
Batman who, ravaged by years of :ghting
crime, uses an exoskeleton to keep himself
together and keeps the peace on the streets
of Gotham using remote-controlled robots. He
is late middle-aged and wears an eerie grin. It
is no longer a secret that he is Bruce Wayne
and is referred to as the "Batman" even when
he appears in civilian guise. This alternative
Batman resides on Earth-22
Superman: Red Son depicts a Russian
anarchist Batman, whose parents were killed
by the KGB and who subsequently dies in
resistance against Earth-30's Soviet Premier
Superman. His actual name is not mentioned
in the story. Penciller Dave Johnson jokingly
refers to him as 'Batmankob' in his character
design sketches. This alternative Batman
resides on Earth-30.
The Batman from Frank Miller's Batman: The
Dark Knight Returns and its spin-obs, Batman:
The Dark Knight Strikes Again and All Star
Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder is a tired
vigilante in a much darker, edgier setting
home to Miller's own new interpretations of
various DC characters. This alternative
Batman resided on Earth-31.
The Batman: In Darkest Knight limited
series shows an alternative Bruce Wayne who
assumes the mantle of Green Lantern instead
of Batman. This alternative Batman resides on
Earth-32 is known as Bat-Lantern and is a
member of the Justice Titans of America.
On Earth-23, Batman is apparently the only
Caucasian member of its African-American-
dominated Justice League besides Zatara and
the Guardian.
On New 52 DC Multiverse world Earth-29,
Bizarro-Batman resides on the cube, ring-
encircled planet Earth-29, otherwise known as
Htrae.
On New 52 DC Multiverse world Earth-31,
apocalyptic climate change has caused
runaway sea level rises, tsunami inundation
and other calamities, which have turned the
planet into a water world. As a consequence,
Batman is known as Captain Leatherwing,
who controls the vessel Flying Fox.
The Batmage of Earth-33 was from a world
of magic. His parents were murdered by the
sorcerer Cobblepot who cursed him into his
world of darkness, from which he made
himself a master of the dark arts and an
avenger of justice. However, the events of
Flashpoint erased this prior iteration of Earth-
33 from existence. No such individual now
exists on that Earth.
Stingray (Earth-34), The Owl (Earth-35) and
Iron Knight (Earth-36) all appear to be
analogues of Batman, although little is known
about these characters apart from their
names and homeworlds. They are members of
the Light Brigade (Earth-34), Super-
Americans (Earth-35) and Justice-9 (Earth-
36), respectively. Similarly, Shooting Star
appears to be the alternate-universe Batman
analogue on the psychedelic Earth-47,
inhuenced by the youth subcultures of the
sixties and seventies, within the Love
Syndicate of Dreamworld [8]
The JSA: The Liberty Files limited series
shows an alternative Batman who is a covert
operative of the government known as the Bat
during World War II. This alternative Batman
resides on Earth-40. While :ghting against
the vampire Batman of Earth-43 in
Countdown: Arena #1, he is bitten and
supposedly killed. Arena #2 reveals that he
has turned into a vampire as well. He is killed
in Arena #4 by Monarch. However, the events
of Flashpoint erased this prior iteration of
Earth-40 from existence. No such individual
now exists on that Earth, nor does that Earth's
former continuity exist.
On New 52 DC Multiverse Earth-42, a chibi
("little") Batman exists as a member of the
Little League of that world, childlike
metahumans who play, rather than :ght evil.
However, the Little League members are
actually robots under the control of the
mysterious "Unseen Hand" [9]
The Batman & Dracula: Red Rain limited
series shows an alternative Batman who
becomes a vampire after :ghting Dracula, with
sequels showing the destruction of the
remaining members of Dracula's family and
Batman's descent into insanity and bloodlust
as he destroys his old enemies; this reality
was designated as Earth-1191 in the
Absolute Crisis on InJnite Earths hardcover.
Following the creation of the new multiverse,
a similar vampire Batman exists on Earth-43.
While the Red Rain Batman resisted his
vampiric urges long enough to kill himself, the
Earth-43 version has fully devolved into his
bloodlust, plaguing the streets of Gotham City
and killing and draining innocents as well as
criminals. In the current New 52 continuity,
vampire Batman seems to have spread his
contagion to his colleagues in the renamed
Blood League, as Earth-43's Superman,
Cyborg, Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder
Woman are now also vampires.
On New 52 DC Multiverse Earth-44, Dr. Will
Tornado invented a sentient arti:cial
intelligence "Metal League," with an "Iron
Batman" robot analogue [10]
On Earth-51, after the death of Jason Todd,
this version of Batman killed the Joker and
then proceeded to kill the remaining DC
supervillains and usher in a golden age of
peace. This Batman was later killed by
Ultraman. However, the events of Flashpoint
erased the existence of that prior iteration of
Earth-51 and no such individual currently
exists on that Earth.
On the pre-Flashpoint Earth-50, The
Midnighter is Batman's analogue. The
Midnighter is a product of genetic engineering
which granted him advanced speed, rehexes,
strength, endurance and the mental capacity
to calculate various outcomes of the
opponents he :ghts before they even throw
the :rst punch. Midnighter is openly gay and is
married to his universe's Superman analogue:
Apollo. After the events of Flashpoint both him
and Apollo were set in the main DC Universe.
On New 52 DC Multiverse Earth-50, the
corrupted Justice Lords have imposed
totalitarian rule over that alternate Earth after
President Lex Luthor murdered The Flash.
Batman was one of the aforementioned,
under Superman's leadership [11]
The 1980s series Captain Carrot and His
Amazing Zoo Crew presented the parallel
Earth of Earth-C-Minus, a world populated
by funny animal superheroes that paralleled
the mainstream DC Universe. Earth-C-Minus
is the home of the Batmouse, a mouse hero
with a personality similar to the mainstream
DC Universe's Batman.
Thomas Wayne is shown to have become
Batman in the altered reality of the Flashpoint
series, after his young son was murdered in
front of him.[12] The world of Flashpoint is an
altered reality of the primary Earth in the DC
Multiverse. Brian Azzarello, writer of the
Flashpoint: Batman - Knight of Vengeance
mini-series, says of this version, "This Batman
is older, and he's much more angry. He's not
the brilliant detective. He's still a brilliant
tactician. I think he's even called that in
Flashpoint. But he's much more of a
pragmatic individual. His motivations come
from a diberent place, and how he acts on
them. It's not what you'd expect from
Batman."[13]
Li'l Batman appeared in Superman/Batman
#51-52 (October to November 2008). He is
from an alternative universe inhabited by
childlike versions of the main DC Earth. In this
universe, Bruce Wayne becomes Li'l Batman
after his parents are pushed down by a bully
(instead of being killed). Li'l Batman and the
rest of the Li'l Justice League is brought to
the main DC universe by Mister Mxyzptlk, who
felt that the main Superman and Batman had
experienced too many dark teams, and
needed to "lighten up". After Li'l Superman is
killed :ghting Li'l Doomsday, Mister Mxyzptlk
and Bat-Mite return the tiny dopelgangers to
their home universe, now known as Earth-42.
Batman appears in Max Landis' Superman:
American Alien, showcasing a diberent
version of Batman's :rst meeting with the Man
of Steel. Clark won a contest to go to the
Bahamas but his plane crashed near a yacht
party meant to celebrate Bruce's 21st birthday
held by other young billionaires in the DC
Universe such as Oliver Queen and Barbara
Minerva. They treat Clark as if he's Bruce
Wayne (As Bruce has never gone to his parties
since the death of his parents) and Clark
decides to embrace the mix-up and party with
them. At the time this is happening, Bruce is
training with Ra's Al Ghul and :rst sees
footage of Clark on the yacht impersonating
him and easily defeating Deathstroke, who
was sent to kill Bruce.[14] Years later, after
Clark's gotten interviews from Queen, Lex
Luthor, and Dick Grayson, Batman attacks
Clark in his apartment to demand some
answers. Clark easily resists Batman's attacks
and rips ob his mask and cape, discovering his
identity. Batman escapes using a hash
batarang while Clark is left to ponder with
Batman's cape.[15] In his :rst outings as
Superman, Clark wears Batman's cape before
donning his iconic red one.[16]
Detective Chimp is a metasimian Batman
analogue on Earth 52, which appears
dominated by sapient apes [17]
The Dark Multiverse

In the 2017 Dark Nights: Metal event, it is revealed

that a Dark Multiverse exists alongside the main
DC Multiverse. Each reality in the Dark Multiverse
is negative and transient rehection of its existing
counterpart, which were intended to be acquired
by a third :gure in the 'trinity' of the Monitor and
the Anti-Monitor, who would feed these timelines
to his 'dragon', Barbatos. However, this balance
came to an end when Barbatos escaped his bonds
and allowed the rejected timelines to remain in
some form of existence. Eventually, Barbatos is
released onto the DC universe when Batman is
treated with :ve unique metals, turning him into a
portal to the Dark Multiverse, with this portal also
allowing Barbatos to summon an army of evil
alternate Batmen known as the Dark Knights, led
by a God-like Batman, who describe themselves
as having been created based on Batman's dark
imaginations of what he could do if he possessed
the powers of his colleagues.

Barbatos is a hooded, God-like being in the

Dark Multiverse. Barbatos had previously
visited Prime-Earth in the DC Multiverse and
founded the Tribe of Judas, which would later
become the Court of Owls. Sometime before
returning (either willingly or not) to the Dark
Multiverse, Barbatos encountered
Hawkman/Carter Hall, and was hit by his
mace. Barbatos tried to return to the
Multiverse but the events of Final Crisis
prevented him from doing so. However, after
witnessing Bruce Wayne/Batman being sent
back in time by Darkseid's Omega Beams,
Barbatos realised the similarities between his
and Bruce's Bat emblems and believed he
could use him as a doorway. Barbatos'
followers manipulated events in order for
Bruce to be injected with four out of the :ve
metals needed to create the doorway, and
after the :fth was injected in the present day,
Barbatos was able to transport himself and
the Dark Knights to Prime-Earth to conquer
it.[18]
The Batman Who Laughs is a version of
Batman from Earth -22, a dark rehection of
the Earth-22. In that reality, the Earth -22