The Batman presents the latest cinematic Dark Knight, and he’s the only one that will be appearing on screen in the next few years. More likely follow as the DCEU explores the multiverse. The most powerful Batman variants in DC Comics could appear in live-action, including some that are arguably the most powerful beings in the multiverse.

  • The HBO Max animated series Harley Quinn completed its third season with perhaps the most dramatic Batman variant yet. The show proves that different takes on Batman are the rule rather than the exception for the iconic character. That makes his comic book versions even more compelling for fans wondering what comes next in the movies or shows. Strong Batman variants likely appear in The Flash given the character’s prominence in the Flashpoint comic book storyline that seems to inspire the upcoming movie and may elsewhere in the DCEU as the franchise grows more comfortable presenting different takes on characters at the same time.

Endless Batman variants exist both in mainline DC Comics continuity and in Elseworlds tales from alternate realities. Some take on attributes from other DC characters like Green Lantern, while others are dark versions of Batman taken to extremes. Several appear in other media already and could very well appear again in future movies and streaming series.

Dick Grayson

When Batman appeared to die in the comics, Dick Grayson took over the mantle. Highly skilled and trained by Batman and others to become a powerful martial artist, Dick Grayson proved equal to the task. Armed with Bruce Wayne’s resources and technology, Grayson proved even more adept at fighting crime than before.

Grayson’s judiciousness sets him apart from other Batman variants in the comics. Though Batman observes certain rules in his quest for justice, Grayson often displays more judgment and reservations.

Red Son Batman

Like most other Batman variants, the Batman from Earth-30 lacks superpowers. That never stopped any Batman, and the version from Red Son is no exception. This revolutionary figure emerged in Soviet Russia, armed with the same zeal, skills, and resources as his mainstream counterpart. His willingness to kill distinguishes him, however.

This Batman displays fewer scruples than others, making him much more dangerous. His commitment to revenge for his parents’ murder drives him so far as to challenge Superman himself.

Flashpoint (Thomas Wayne)

History unfolded differently in the Flashpoint timeline. Thomas Wayne became Batman rather than his son Bruce. He possessed the same resources, skills, and determination for justice, but like the Red Son Batman, he has no allergy to killing. Worse still, he hunts down and kills suspected criminals across the DC multiverse.

Thomas Wayne even killed Reverse-Flash, among Flash’s most powerful villains and the most powerful characters in DC Comics. Thomas Wayne potentially appears in the DCEU, depending on how much the upcoming The Flash movie adapts to the screen.

Azrael

Azrael served as Batman after Bane broke Bruce Wayne’s back in Knightfall, a great Batman comic book arc from the 1990s. Azrael wore a highly advanced armor designed specifically to counter Bane’s overwhelming strength. The suit featured endless powerful gadgets, including retractable grappling hooks and bat-shuriken.

The razor-sharp bat-shuriken fired from his gauntlets, which also contained flamethrowers and other measures that made him a strong Batman variant to contend with.

Batman Beyond

Terry McGinnis, better known as Batman Beyond, serves as a young hero in a dark DC Comics future timeline. With a highly advanced armored suit with embedded glider wings and thrusters that allow him to fly, he stands with the strongest Batman variants in any medium.

The suit also contains broad offensive and defensive capabilities, including the ability to fire laser blasts, and energy shocks, and also endure damage in a way Bruce Wayne’s suits never could. The highly adaptable suit can morph and shape itself to almost any situation, resulting in a Batman who takes many forms.

Kingdom Come

The Batman from Kingdom Come, easily among the best DC comic book series ever, possesses a powerful armored suit that increases his strength, stamina, and agility to near-superhuman levels. These mitigate his age and injuries sustained from decades of fighting crime.

This Batman variant also commands an army of Bat-Drones that police Gotham for him, flexing his wealth, ingenuity, and power in ways that the main Batman from DC Comics has never really done in the comics or other media.

The Dark Knight Returns

The Batman fromThe Dark Knight Returns likely inspired the Kingdom Come version to some degree. The Dark Knight Returns Batman also fights crime well into old age, with countless scars from his battles. He possesses a suit of power armor that allowed him to fight and defeat Superman, accomplishing a feat few characters in the DC Universe ever have.

This Batman possesses a will and determination to save Gotham from crime perhaps beyond even his younger versions from other realities, emerging from retirement to take back Gotham.

Dark Claw

Dark Claw fuses Batman and Wolverine to make for a truly powerful Batman variant. He emerged from Amalgam Comics, a crossover between DC and Marvel in the 1990s, with all Logan’s powers and abilities including his adamantium-laced skeleton and razor-shape adamantium claws.

Dark Claw possesses Wolverine’s healing factor, making him far stronger than Bruce Wayne. He shares Bruce Wayne’s training, willpower, and detective skills, making for an unstoppable hero.

Damien Wayne

Damien Wayne trained from a young age in martial arts, becoming a lethal killer before he ever met his father. In a dark DC Comics future timeline, he grows up to become Batman and more. In Batman #666, Damien inherits the mantle after Dick Grayson dies and gains mystical power, transforming him into a supernatural vigilante.

Damien always found it easy to kill and with his new powers, which include immortality and magical healing, he escalates Batman’s crusade to terrifying levels.

Green Lantern Batman

The Green Lantern Batman shares Green Lantern’s powers, including the ability to create solid green constructs like giant weapons and shields. He flies and can travel to Oa, just as Hal Jordan did. This Batman variant appeared in Batman: In Darkest Knight, an Elseworlds comic book story that had Batman find the Power Ring instead of Jordan.

With Bruce Wayne’s drive and determination, he became a powerful Green Lantern variant. Batman’s rivalry with Two-Face also took a turn as the villain was transformed by Sinestro.

White Lantern Batman

In 2019, Vandal Savage killed Batman. A White Lantern ring resurrected him and transformed him into a being with extraordinary cosmic power, including the power to resurrect others, even entire planets. White Lantern Batman wielded the power to take on Black Lanterns, as well as hold his own against multiple Green Lantern Corps members at the same time.

In more recent continuity, White Lanterns also display the talent to combine and use the powers of other Lanterns at once, making them even more powerful. This variant’s potential makes him possibly the strongest Batman in any form.

Hellbat

Batman built the Hellbat armor alongside the Justice League and in many ways, it’s a one-man Justice League for whoever wears it. A nanoparticle mesh comprises the advanced suit, allowing it to change shape and also grow wings if necessary. The suit also possesses the Speed Force, meaning Batman can run as fast as The Flash.

The suit also proves indestructible, immune to any conventional attack villains deploy and unconventional ones as well. The armor comes with a huge drawback, though. Extended use drains Batman’s metabolism, which can threaten his life.

Bat-Mite

Bat-Mite reigns as Batman’s biggest fan from another dimension, where he has the power to travel between realities, can alter reality, and perform magic on a cosmic level. Despite his goofy appearance and silly Silver Age history, he stands among the most powerful magical beings in DC Comics.

Bat-Mite also turns invisible, which confounded Batman in their earliest encounters in the early Silver Age of Comics. Also, Bat-Mite possesses such power that he is generally immune to the many shifts in continuity in DC Comics, maintaining his history with Batman.

Mobius Chair Batman

The Mobius Chair granted Batman omniscience and cosmic awareness for a brief time. Primarily the instrument of Metron, who stands with the most powerful comic characters in DC Comics, the Mobius Chair allowed Batman extraordinary insight into his past and future.

Batman discerns tremendous knowledge from his time in the chair, including the fact that there were three different Jokers in his universe, a mystery that would take years to play out and only led to more questions for the Dark Knight.

The Batman Who Laughs

The Batman Who Laughs absorbed Doctor Manhattan’s powers, a god-like figure in his own right, allowing him to manipulate matter and energy as well as perceive time and space on a scale that can barely be understood save for a few characters in DC Comics.

The Batman Who Laughs created a universe on his own, showing his truly cosmic potential. This omnipotent and nearly all-powerful figure emerged from the Dark Multiverse and is perhaps the most powerful Batman variant in comic book history.