Batmanis one of the most iconic characters not just inDCcomics but comics as a whole. He is an instrument of fear and darkness, unleashing vengeance and justice on the criminals of Gotham. The character has spread through all forms of media throughout the decades, from comics to movies, even to video games.
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How does a character like Batman stay relevant after all these years? Well, while the Batman fans mainly know and love is Bruce Wayne, many characters have taken the mantle. Bruce’s sidekicks, friends, and even sometimes enemies have taken over as Batman in his stead.
Jean-Paul Valley
Jean-Paul Valley was brainwashed since he was a child by a secret society called “The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas.” After his father was murdered, Jean took up the mantle of Azrael, an assassin for the Order. The Order is obsessed with bringing their own brand of justice to Gotham, killing whoever they need to in order to get it.
Azrael and Batman (Bruce Wayne) worked together on multiple missions, eventually even becoming partners. During theKnightfallstoryline, Bruce Wayne gets his back broken in a fight against Bane. After seeing what happened to Bruce, Jean took on the mantle of Batman and took down Bane himself.
Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth is the humble and trusty butler of the Wayne family. After the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne, he raised Bruce to the best of his ability. Alfred often helps Bruce on his missions as Batman, as well as being there for each of the Robins.
Alfred only dawned the Batman mantle for a brief moment, but it was enough to make fans go wild. In recent comics, Bruce had found himself a new successor, one with superpowers named Gotham. However, Gotham loses his way and starts to attack the citizens in the city. Bruce asks Alfred to help him take down Gotham by dawning the suit and distracting the fallen hero.
Time Drake is the third character to become Robin, sidekick of Batman. Unlike the previous Robins, Drake is the one who discovered Batman’s identity and went to him for the opportunity. Tim Drake is known for his superior detective skills, even being called the “real world’s greatest detective” by Bruce Wayne himself.
Fans know that Tim is destined to take on the mantle of Batman after they see Tim meet his future self in the cowl. In this future, Dick Grayson, the first Robin, and Nightwing naturally takes over as Batman but decides he doesn’t want the mantle any longer. Tim then looks for Jason Todd, second Robin, and Red Hood, but that ends in a fight between the two where Jason loses an eye and leg. This all left Tim with the mantle, a role he assumed,
Thomas Wayne
Thomas Wayne is the father of Bruce Wayne. In the main timeline, Thomas and his wife Martha were shot and murdered by a random thug in front of their son. This tragedy is what causes Bruce to train and eventually become the Batman.
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In an alternate timeline seen inFlashpoint, fans see a twist on the famous Batman origin. They see Bruce Wayne get murdered in that alley instead of his parents, causing Thomas to become the Batman and Martha the Joker. Thomas’s Batman is more rugged than Bruce’s, even using guns to help him in his crusade.
Terry McGinnis
Terry McGinnis lives in Gotham City in the year 2040. Bruce had long since retired as Batman, leaving Gotham in the hands of the police and other heroes. Terry was never a perfect kid, always getting in trouble and even joining a gang as a child.
While on the run from a street gang named the Jokerz, Terry took refuge at Wayne Manor. An elderly Bruce Wayne helps Terry fight off the gang members. This fight took too much out of Bruce and put a strain on his heart. After helping Bruce inside, Terry wonders about the manor and stumbles upon a clock. The clock was the entrance to the Batcave, leading Terry to discover Bruce’s secret. Bruce then takes Terry on as the new, futuristic Batman.
Kal-El, also known as Clark Kent, is an alien from the planet Krypton. During the destruction of Krypton, Kal’s parents sent a baby Kal off-planet so that he could live. Kal was found on Earth by Martha and Johnathan Kent. The two raised Kal, now Clark, on their small farm. As an adult, Clark dawns the name of Superman as he fights for justice.
In an alternate reality, Kal was found by Martha and Thomas Wayne (parents of Bruce Wayne, Batman, in the main timeline). Kal then becomes this timeline’s Bruce Wayne and, eventually, this reality’s Batman.
Jason Todd
Jason Todd is the second character who becomes Batman’s sidekick, Robin. Jason grew up on the streets of Gotham, in and out of foster homes. Jason and Bruce first met when Jason was stealing the wheels off the batmobile. All of this is happening in the same alley where Bruce’s parents were murdered. Bruce then helped Jason get off the streets by taking him in and training him as Robin.
InBattle for the Cowl,each of the bat-family members duked it out for the mantle of Batman. Jason, recently out of prison, decides to dawn an all-black suit, still dual-wielding his pistols, proclaims he will be the new Batman.
Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon is the Commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department. After spending years trying to stop Batman, Jim eventually befriends the caped crusader. Placing a signal on top of the police department, Jim often summons Batman for help in ongoing investigations.Jim’s daughter, Barbara, even becomes Batgirl and, eventually, Oracle in the comics.
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After Bruce dies at the hand of the Joker, Jim takes on the mantle of the Batman. Jim, at first, wears a mecha-style suit in contrast to Bruce’s lightweight armor. Jim has taken up the mantle a few times in the comics, sometimes where a futuristic yellow and black suit.
Damian Wayne
Damian Wayne is the biological son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul. Damian is the most recent and current character to wear the Robin costume. He was trained from a young age by the League of Assassins before becoming the sidekick of Batman, running alongside both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson.
Fans have seen many versions of future Damian Wayne. In some futures, he becomes the head of the League of Assassins. However, in most futures, Damian becomes the new Batman.
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is the original Robin, the first sidekick to Batman. Dick was an acrobat with his two parents, performing as the Flying Graysons. In an unfortunate turn of events, Dick’s parents were murdered in front of his own eyes while performing at their circus. Bruce saw this all unfold and took Dick in has his ward, making him Robin. Eventually, he goes on to become his own hero as Nightwing.
Being the first sidekick and oldest of Bruce’s adoptive children, it is only natural for Dick to be first in line to assume the mantle. Though always reluctant to put on the cowl, fans have seen Dick as the caped crusader on more than one occasion.
