5 Times Batman Failed to Save The Day

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Batman is a legendary hero in the DC Universe, but he’s made significant mistakes. Though he consistently fights to protect Gotham City and often succeeds, there have been times when he’s failed in a big way. These aren’t minor errors – like misidentifying a villain or letting a criminal escape – but major missteps where he couldn’t prevent tragedy, or even unintentionally made things worse.

Batman usually manages to save the day and restore peace, but when he doesn’t, the consequences are significant. Here are five instances where Batman failed – one of which is more a failure of Bruce Wayne than Batman himself.

5) The Death of Damian Wayne (Batman Incorporated #8)

Batman has a history of losing those who fight alongside him as Robin, and while many remember Jason Todd’s death as a significant failure on Batman’s part, the death of his son, Damian, hits closer to home. In *Batman Incorporated* #8, Talia al Ghul traps Batman and uses a clone of Damian—known as the Heretic—to have Damian killed, seeing him as an unsuccessful creation. By the time Batman escapes, it’s too late to save him.

You know, it’s not that Batman *failed* in the traditional sense – he wasn’t even present when it happened. But that’s kind of the heartbreaking part, isn’t it? He’s a guy who’s always trying to control everything, to *be* everywhere, and this hit him when he couldn’t protect someone he loved. It’s devastating for any parent, but for Bruce, it’s so much worse. He’s already carrying the weight of past losses, like the first Robin, *and* the constant pressure of keeping Gotham safe. This really broke him, and you can see the toll it takes. It felt like a huge failure for him, personally.

4) City of Bane

The “City of Bane” storyline in Tom King’s *Batman* is generally seen as a low point for the character. This is mainly because it begins with Batman being defeated by Bane, which leads to all of Gotham’s heroes being exiled and the villains taking control. From the start, the situation is incredibly difficult.

The biggest tragedy for Batman during the “City of Bane” storyline isn’t a single event, but rather the consequences of his earlier defeat and Gotham’s vulnerability. Despite clear warnings, Damian (who has been resurrected) returns to the city, knowing Bane has threatened to kill Alfred Pennyworth, who is being held hostage. Tragically, that’s exactly what happens – Alfred is killed by Bane when Damian arrives. While Batman wasn’t directly responsible for the act, his initial loss put Bane in a position to orchestrate this, and with Batman recovering in Paris, he ultimately failed to protect both Gotham and his family.

3) The Riddler Floods Gotham in Batman: Zero Year

Gotham City constantly faces danger, and Batman is typically the one who protects it. However, in the story “Batman: Zero Year,” Batman doesn’t succeed. The Riddler actually outsmarts him, cutting off the city’s power and daring Batman to restore it. Simultaneously, Batman investigates a bizarre murder case involving a body with growing bones, which leads him to the villain Doctor Death. It’s eventually revealed that Doctor Death and the Riddler are working together, and the Riddler possesses an airship and a bomb. Even after Batman destroys the airship, he can’t prevent disaster. The Riddler manages to blow up the city’s reservoir, flooding Gotham.

After a series of escalating problems, the military attempts to destroy Gotham City, but the situation is eventually resolved thanks to Jim Gordon. Batman manages to defeat the Riddler and restore power to the city, beginning the process of rebuilding. While Gotham ultimately recovers, as it usually does in these stories, this particular crisis is especially damaging. It’s a stark reminder that Batman isn’t perfect and can’t always handle everything on his own, and the city suffers greatly as a result.

2) The Long Halloween

Okay, look, I know it might be a bit of a hot take, but I genuinely think *The Long Halloween* is a really important story about Batman *failing*. It’s one of the best Batman stories we’ve gotten in years, showing us his early days teaming up with Harvey Dent and Jim Gordon to catch this Holiday killer. It’s a classic for a reason – the characters really grow. But here’s the thing: Batman doesn’t actually *win* in this one. He doesn’t solve everything, and that’s what makes it so compelling, honestly.

In *The Long Halloween*, several major events unfold: Harvey Dent transforms into Two-Face, his wife Gilda commits murder, and crime boss Carmine Falcone is killed. However, Batman doesn’t actually solve the central mystery. The Holiday killer’s identity remains unknown, and Batman doesn’t really achieve much throughout the story. While this lack of resolution is a key part of what makes the story compelling, it essentially shows Batman failing to prevent tragedy.

1) Batman: No Man’s Land

Batman faces many setbacks, but his biggest failures always center around Gotham City. Perhaps the most significant is the storyline *No Man’s Land*, which represents a failure for both Batman and Bruce Wayne. In this story, a devastating earthquake hits Gotham. Bruce Wayne tries to secure federal aid, but a corrupt senator blocks the assistance. The government then evacuates the city, declares it off-limits, and cuts off all access by destroying bridges and establishing a blockade. With Gotham isolated, criminals take control, and the remaining heroes struggle to protect the innocent. To make matters worse, Bruce Wayne’s absence means Batman is also gone, leaving those trapped feeling completely abandoned.

Batman couldn’t prevent the natural disaster, so the real problem wasn’t the damage itself, but his absence when Gotham needed him most. He briefly tried to help as Bruce Wayne, not Batman, but it wasn’t enough. The situation quickly worsened as Gotham became isolated. Although Batman eventually managed to assess the damage, reversing the previous emergency order, the city remained in crisis – the Joker killed Commissioner Gordon’s wife, and Lex Luthor attempted to profit from Gotham’s misfortune. Ultimately, Gotham began to rebuild, but only after enduring a terrible ordeal.

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2025-10-17 21:11