15 Batman Variants Way Cooler Than The Original

Batman is incredibly popular and iconic. He’s known for his amazing technology, the exciting setting of Gotham City, and his memorable enemies. Since first appearing in Detective Comics #27 back in 1939, DC Comics has created countless different versions of Batman, and he’s been portrayed in numerous movies and animated series.

While every version of Batman has something unique to offer, a few really stand out. Whether it’s the classic animated Batman from the DC Animated Universe or Robert Pattinson’s recent portrayal in The Batman (2022), the most memorable Batmans bring a special combination of intensity, darkness, and originality. Some are more compelling because of their individual character, while others benefit from the unique world around them in the DC universe.

Batman: King Of The Vampires from Red Rain

Batman is already a remarkably popular and iconic superhero, known for his impressive gadgets and costume. But when you introduce the element of vampirism, the alternate reality story becomes truly exceptional, creating one of the most compelling additions to the Elseworlds series with a vampiric version of the Dark Knight.

In the Batman and Dracula: Red Rain series, Dracula arrives in Gotham City and spreads a vampiric plague. To combat this threat and gain the power to fight Dracula on equal terms, Batman makes the drastic decision to become a vampire himself. It’s an extreme move for the Dark Knight, but it makes for a thrilling story.

Owlman Is Batman’s Twisted Opposite From Earth-3

Over the years, fans have seen several versions of the villain Owlman. A recent one was Lincoln March, a character from the main DC Universe who was connected to the Court of Owls. He claimed to be Bruce Wayne’s long-lost brother, Thomas Wayne Jr. Interestingly, that name first appeared years ago when the Justice League battled the Crime Syndicate from Earth-3.

Thomas Wayne Jr. was a powerful crime boss known as Owlman, leading a team called the Crime Syndicate. Though not identical to Bruce Wayne (Batman), he serves a similar function within his group and also relies on advanced technology. However, unlike Batman, Owlman is willing to kill, and sometimes even takes pleasure in doing so.

A New Batman For A New Cinematic Universe

Even from the initial trailer, viewers sensed this Gotham would be unique. It felt authentic, but distinctly different from typical American cities. Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of Batman presented a younger, bolder, and occasionally more aggressive hero.

This version of Batman wasn’t hesitant to confront the Penguin in his own territory or pursue villains in high-speed chases. He even used a green drug—possibly venom—to temporarily boost his strength and aggression. The Batman offered a fresh take on the Caped Crusader, portraying him as a brooding and enigmatic figure who still manages to offer a glimmer of hope to Gotham, inspiring its citizens while striking fear into the hearts of criminals.

Gotham by Gaslight’s Batman Started Elseworlds

The first alternate-reality Batman, featured in Gotham by Gaslight, isn’t drastically different from the main DC Comics Batman, but it excels in its unique style. The story is set in foggy, shadowy 19th-century London – the era of Jack the Ripper – and perfectly showcases artist Mike Mignola’s talents.

Man, playing as Batman in Gotham by Gaslight was awesome. The setting was such a cool playground for the character. Instead of the usual cape, this Batman rocked a collared trench coat – it made him look so unique and his outfit actually felt believable for the Victorian era. It’s great that they’ve brought this version of Batman back in other stories too, like Master of the Future and The Kryptonian Age. I really enjoyed seeing him again in those!

The Merciless Was The Dark Multiverse’s God Of War

Each of these alternate Batmen is unique and fascinating, combining characteristics of other characters with Batman’s own. For example, The Merciless, originally appearing in the Dark Nights: Metal storyline, took Ares’ helmet and transformed into a new god of war.

Driven to extremes, Batman declared a full-scale war on Gotham’s criminals. He then confronted the Justice League, tragically even killing Wonder Woman, a woman he had come to love. This ruthless version of Batman also defeated the ancient Greek gods within his twisted reality, establishing himself as one of the most formidable allies of the Batman Who Laughs.

Grim Knight Was a Dark Batman Who Used Guns

Most versions of Batman across the main DC universe avoid using guns, stemming from the trauma of witnessing their parents’ shooting. But in a twisted alternate reality within the Dark Multiverse, the story unfolded differently. After Joe Chill shot Bruce Wayne’s parents, he dropped the gun to collect Martha Wayne’s pearls. Young Bruce, instead of waiting, immediately picked up the weapon and killed Chill, taking his revenge on the spot.

Despite his difficult childhood, he ultimately became Batman, but a much more brutal one. This Batman, nicknamed the Grim Knight, aggressively fought crime using a wide range of weapons, much like Marvel’s Punisher. His willingness to use deadly force made him an ideal soldier for The Batman Who Laughs and his evil forces.

Damian Wayne is the Dark Knight Of A Darker Future

Damian Wayne is the biological son of Batman, raised and trained by his mother, Talia al Ghul, her father Ra’s al Ghul, and the League of Assassins. When he first appeared, Damian was often portrayed as arrogant and unkind to the other members of the Batman family. This personality continued in later stories, including depictions of an older Damian as Batman in Batman #666 and the Damian: Son of Batman miniseries, which explored a possible future where he took on the mantle of the Bat.

Similar to the Victorian Batman seen in Gotham by Gaslight, Damian Wayne’s version of the Dark Knight traded his cape for a fashionable trench coat. This Batman was even more forceful than Bruce Wayne, but he quickly became a fan favorite. Many readers still want to see Damian officially take on the mantle of the Dark Knight someday.

The Broken is One of Batman’s Most Powerful Variants

The discovery of the Dark Multiverse allowed for reimagined, darker versions of familiar stories, as seen in the Tales from the Dark Multiverse one-shot comics. In the Knightfall issue, a world is shown where Jean-Paul Valley, as Azrael, succumbed to the mental manipulation he experienced as Batman. He betrayed the Bat-Family, imprisoned Batman, and took control of Gotham after defeating Bane.

Man, things got dark. This guy Valley totally became this twisted version of Batman, Saint Batman, and spent years just relentlessly torturing Bruce. It was brutal. Then Lady Shiva and her son, who was also the Son of Bane, decided enough was enough and went to save him. But when they found Bruce, he was completely broken – basically on death’s door and missing all his arms and legs. They had to use this crazy nanotech to rebuild him, and it gave him insane new abilities. He took out Saint Batman, Shiva, and her son, and reclaimed Gotham. But honestly? Being ‘fixed’ with this nanotech, now calling himself The Broken, feels even worse than being tortured in the first place. It’s a really messed up situation.

Speeding Bullets’ Kal-El Landed in Gotham and Became Batman

Many stories explore alternate realities, and one of them presents a fascinating ‘what if?’ What if Superman’s rocket had landed near Gotham City instead of Smallville? In this version of events, Thomas and Martha Wayne discover the baby, name him Bruce, and raise him as their son – but even in this world, they still meet a tragic fate.

The trauma of witnessing his parents’ murder at the hands of Joe Chill unexpectedly activated Bruce Wayne’s hidden Kryptonian powers, causing him to instinctively unleash heat vision and kill Chill. He then subconsciously suppressed both the event and his abilities until adulthood. Upon regaining his powers, Bruce became a much more aggressive and forceful Batman. But a turning point came when he met reporter Lois Lane, leading him to ultimately give up being Batman and embrace the identity of Superman instead.

Thomas Wayne is Batman in the Flashpoint Universe

Fans were stunned to discover that Thomas and Martha Wayne actually lived through the Crime Alley attack – but their son, Bruce, was the one who died. As a result, Martha became a dark, Joker-like figure.

This version of Batman, played by Thomas, is nearing the end of his crime-fighting days and eager to retire. While he helped Barry Allen during the Flashpoint storyline, his resentment towards the Batman persona led him to oppose the main universe’s Bruce Wayne. Despite this, a lot of fans enjoy seeing Batman use more forceful and potentially lethal tactics.

2025-11-15 03:12