10 Characters Who Became Batman (Who Aren’t Bruce Wayne)

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Batman, secretly Bruce Wayne, is a legendary hero in DC Comics and a hugely popular character in all of fiction. First appearing in 1939, he helped create the modern superhero. However, Bruce is still human and has often had to temporarily retire due to injuries, age, or being thought dead. When this happens, many heroes compete to take his place as Gotham’s protector. Fortunately, Bruce has trained several young heroes over the years, so there are always capable candidates to become the next Batman. No matter who wears the cowl, Gotham will always have a Dark Knight to defend it.

For years, fans and characters within the DC Universe have argued about who should become the next Batman. This discussion has even driven major storylines, like “Battle for the Cowl,” where several heroes and villains fought for the chance to replace Bruce Wayne as the Caped Crusader. Here’s a look at the characters who have made the biggest impact while wearing the cowl.

10) Alfred Pennyworth

Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s longtime butler and father figure, usually prefers to support Batman from the shadows. However, there was a time when he actually became Batman. When the powerful villain Gotham was causing chaos, Bruce needed a diversion. He asked Alfred to wear the Batman suit and drive the Batmobile to distract him. Alfred agreed, intentionally crashed the vehicle, and escaped, leading Gotham right into a trap set by the real Batman. Though he successfully distracted the villain, Alfred much prefers to remain behind the scenes and let Bruce do the crime-fighting.

9) Jason Todd

Of all the characters who have been Robin, Jason Todd, also known as Red Hood, is likely the most unstable and prone to violence, a result of his traumatic death and subsequent resurrection. So, it wasn’t a surprise that when Bruce Wayne was believed to be dead after the events of Final Crisis, Jason’s version of Batman would be incredibly harsh. He created his own Batman suit and began shooting criminals in Gotham. However, Dick Grayson quickly stopped him, preventing Jason from causing further harm and protecting Bruce Wayne’s heroic reputation.

8) Damian Wayne

Damian Wayne, as Bruce Wayne’s biological son, is often seen as the natural successor to Batman. However, a possible future depicted in Batman #666 suggests a dark path if Damian doesn’t overcome the anger and brutality he inherited from his mother, Talia al Ghul. This future shows Damian becoming a vengeful and destructive Batman, ultimately making a deal with the Devil to gain immortality. As this version of Batman, he readily kills criminals and destroys property to eliminate supervillains. Thankfully, the current Damian is developing into a true hero, lessening the likelihood of this grim future becoming reality.

7) Tim Drake

Tim Drake was a brilliant detective even before becoming the third Robin – he actually figured out Batman’s secret identity! This intelligence already positioned him as a strong candidate to take over the role of the World’s Greatest Detective and become Batman himself. When Bruce Wayne was thought to be dead after the events of Final Crisis, a power struggle began over who would become the next Batman. Tim stepped up, taking on the mantle to stop Jason Todd from going too far. However, Jason proved too strong, seriously injuring Tim with a batarang. While Tim survived, the injuries forced him to give up being Batman. Interestingly, a future version of Tim Drake, who became the Batman of the future known as Batman Beyond, has travelled back in time and joined a new superhero team called the Terrific Ten.

6) Thomas Wayne

When Barry Allen traveled back in time to save his mother, he unintentionally created a new reality called the Flashpoint universe. This change also resulted in a much darker version of Batman. In this timeline, Bruce Wayne was the one who died as a child, and his father, Thomas, became Batman, driven by grief. Surprisingly, Bruce’s mother, Martha, became the Joker. Unlike the traditional Batman, Thomas Wayne used guns and wasn’t afraid to kill criminals. After the Flashpoint universe was destroyed, Thomas found himself in the main DC Universe, where he sometimes helped and sometimes fought against his son, Bruce. Despite his shifting loyalties, the story of Thomas Wayne from the Flashpoint universe remains a captivating and heartbreaking tale for fans.

5) Jean-Paul Valley

Following Bane’s defeat of Batman in the “Knightfall” storyline, Jean-Paul Valley, known as Azrael, became Gotham’s new protector. Raised from birth to be an assassin by a secret religious group, Jean-Paul was initially aided by Bruce Wayne, who helped him overcome his conditioning and approved of him taking on the Batman mantle. Donning an advanced Batsuit, Jean-Paul defeated Bane, but his ingrained programming eventually resurfaced, leading him to become a brutal vigilante who killed criminals. Bruce recovered, ultimately defeated Jean-Paul, and resumed his role as Batman. Despite this, Jean-Paul’s time as the Caped Crusader remains a significant and memorable period in Batman lore, and a strong commentary on the trend of violent anti-heroes popular in the 1990s.

4) Jim Gordon

Jim Gordon, a long-time protector of Gotham City and close friend to Bruce Wayne, unexpectedly became the new Batman when Bruce disappeared after a devastating fight with the Joker. Unlike previous Batmen with years of martial arts experience, Jim had to depend on technology. He was chosen for the role as part of a partnership between the Gotham City Police Department and Powers International, undergoing rigorous training and receiving cybernetic implants. This allowed him to fight crime in a powerful, armored suit. Jim successfully defended Gotham against threats like Mr. Bloom until Bruce Wayne returned, at which point he happily relinquished the Batman mantle.

3) Jace Fox

Jace Fox recently became Batman, following in Bruce Wayne’s footsteps. As the oldest son of Lucius Fox, who created Batman’s technology, Jace had a difficult family history after a tragic accident. When Bruce disappeared, Jace saw an opportunity to redeem himself and became the new Batman. He first focused on dismantling the Magistrate, a group that had turned Gotham City into a heavily controlled environment. After successfully protecting Gotham, Jace moved to New York City, becoming its own Dark Knight. With his background as a trained soldier and mercenary, Jace is expanding Batman’s influence beyond Gotham’s limits.

2) Dick Grayson

Dick Grayson, the first Robin, has often been considered a natural successor to Batman. Even though he’s established himself as the independent hero Nightwing, he keeps being drawn back to the Batman role. During the “Battle for the Cowl” storyline, several heroes competed to become Batman, but Dick ultimately won and spent a year protecting Gotham with his son, Damian, as Robin. As Batman, Dick was more empathetic, and he guided Damian, helping the young assassin develop into a true hero. Dick might not realize it, but it seems he’s destined to be Batman.

1) Terry McGinnis

Terry McGinnis is the Batman of the future, first appearing in the animated series Batman Beyond. He discovers Bruce Wayne’s retired Batcave and, after his own father is killed, takes on the role of the Dark Knight using a technologically advanced Batsuit. With Bruce as his guide, Terry fights crime in Neo Gotham City while also navigating the challenges of being a high school student. Unlike previous Robins, Terry actively wants to be Batman. He’s driven by a desire to make amends for his past as a young troublemaker, and without the complications of the extended Bat-Family, he’s arguably the most balanced and genuinely good-hearted hero to carry on Batman’s legacy.

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2025-11-15 21:15