7 Batman Mistakes Fans Can’t Unsee—#1 Nearly Destroyed the World

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Batman is frequently praised for his exceptional abilities, especially when given ample time to strategize. This admiration is well-deserved, as he stands out among DC’s illustrious heroes despite lacking superpowers. He’s a brilliant detective, an expert martial artist, and equipped with an arsenal of plans and devices that make him formidable against almost any adversary. However, Batman is far from infallible. Despite his unwavering commitment to his ethical code, he has made numerous mistakes throughout his career. He’s strained relationships with those dear to him, caused harm to those he’s pledged to safeguard, and on occasion, come close to destroying the entire world.

Instead of “big mistakes,” let’s say “significant blunders” for a more elegant choice of words. And instead of “personal choices,” we can use “actions towards others.” So the sentence becomes:

From significant blunders in his actions towards others to grave misjudgments concerning those closest to him, Batman has some substantial mistakes tucked away in his utility belt. Here are seven of the most notable ones.

7) Using Venom

Despite the fact that Bane is often associated with this highly addictive super-drug, it’s important to note that Batman also has a history with it. In fact, Batman developed an addiction to the drug before Bane ever appeared on the scene. After failing to save a young girl from drowning due to being unable to dig her out of the debris, Batman was driven to find a way to increase his strength. The girl’s father offered him access to his experimental drug, Venom, and in a moment of vulnerability, Batman agreed. He immediately became hooked, and within a short time, he neglected all other aspects of his life in favor of using Venom. His charitable work, detective duties, and even his philanthropy were set aside as he focused on working out and taking more Venom. At his lowest point, Batman discarded his costume, brutally beat several criminals, and allowed others to escape after they scattered Venom on the streets, which he pursued relentlessly like a dog with a bone. To overcome his addiction, Batman had to confront some dark parts of himself. He isolated himself in the Batcave for an entire month to rid himself of the drug’s hold.

6) Leaving Jason Todd Alone

The pivotal error that ultimately resulted in Jason’s demise and the emergence of Red Hood is discussed here. Batman’s actions were justifiable given the circumstances, as there were limited alternatives available at the time. In “A Death in the Family,” Batman and Robin had traced the Joker and Jason’s mother to a warehouse. However, before they could enter, they spotted trucks loaded with the Joker’s toxic substance departing. They had no choice but to pursue these vehicles to save numerous lives. The only vehicle at their disposal was a gyrocopter, which could only accommodate one person. Batman made Jason promise to remain where he was while he stopped the cargo trucks. As we all know, the outcome was tragic. Batman immediately regretted his decision upon leaving, but had no other choice but to pursue the trucks. He managed to save countless lives, but in doing so, he could not prevent his son from making a fateful, sorrowful mistake.

5) Letting Azrael Become Batman

In the popular “Knightfall” saga, Bane infamously crippled Batman, leaving room for Bruce’s ally Azrael to take over as Gotham’s protector in his absence. However, Jean-Paul Valley, who filled the role, was mentally unstable and eventually succumbed to his delusions and assassin training. This resulted in a brutal crusade against Gotham’s criminals that claimed the life of the villain Abattoir and many innocent bystanders. With Bruce recovering, he was forced into a battle with Jean-Paul for the Batman mantle, a conflict that left deep scars on Gotham. Although there were few alternatives to replace Batman at the time, Nightwing existed, but Bruce chose not to ask Dick to assume the role due to their strained relationship and his desire for Dick to forge his own path. Nevertheless, between an unbalanced former assassin and an upset Nightwing, I would have preferred Nightwing in the role of Batman.

4) Creating Zur-En-Arrh

Batman’s hidden alter ego, Zur-En-Arrh, was crafted by Batman as a backup in case his own mind ever became corrupted. This persona symbolizes Batman’s unwavering commitment to his crusade but lacks the empathy and kindness of Bruce Wayne. Zur operates on the razor’s edge, never straying from not killing his adversaries, instead inflicting brutal injuries upon them. He will harm any accomplice or innocent bystander who impedes him in meting out justice. Lately, Zur has taken control of Failsafe, a robot built to defeat Batman, and allied with Amanda Waller in an attempt to apprehend every superhero on the planet. This came after Zur seized Gotham City and murdered Jason Todd again. Zur represents the darkest aspects of Batman’s psyche, and now Bruce realizes that such extreme paranoia can only bring harm.

3) Making Stephanie Brown Robin

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but admire the grit and determination of Stephanie Brown, who truly deserves the title of Robin and more acknowledgment than she currently receives. However, it seems that Batman appointed her to the role for reasons that fell short of justification. This was during Tim Drake’s tenure as Robin, when after learning the truth about his connection to Batman, Tim was compelled to make a difficult choice between his allegiance to Batman and his family. In a fit of pettiness, which wealth can sometimes foster, Batman replaced Tim with Stephanie, using her as a pawn in his ongoing feud with Tim, given their complex relationship history.

Despite this, Batman never truly extended trust towards Stephanie, maintaining a distance while he waited for Tim’s return. This situation led Stephanie to strive harder to prove herself and unwittingly initiate the “Gang War” storyline, which ultimately resulted in her and Orpheus seemingly meeting their ends. Fortunately, Stephanie returned from the dead. It goes without saying that if Bruce had placed trust in Stephanie, fewer lives would have been put at risk, and he could have forged a strong partnership with a capable ally like her.

2) Abandoning Gotham

Following the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that severely damaged Gotham City’s infrastructure and prompted its declaration as a No Man’s Land, Bruce Wayne attempted to gain support from Congress for the city’s recovery but was met with ridicule instead. Disheartened by this response, Batman temporarily abandoned his vigilante role in Gotham, feeling a heavy burden of despair over the city’s continued suffering despite his tireless efforts. After an absence of three months, during which time Gotham became a lawless, chaotic region governed by jungle rules, Batman found himself questioning the possibility of a better future for the first time. This crisis of faith almost led to the destruction of Gotham City itself.

1) Inventing Brother Eye

Following the “Identity Crisis” storyline, Batman uncovered that certain Justice League members secretly erased his memories when he objected to their attempt to lobotomize Dr. Light. This revelation deeply shook Batman’s faith in his fellow heroes, leading him to establish the Brother Eye satellite for continuous monitoring and recording of metahumans and superheroes worldwide. This surveillance system also documented Batman’s strategies for disabling other heroes if they ever went rogue. However, this Big Brother-like observation was not only a breach of every trust and privacy others had in Batman but also incredibly hazardous. Ra’s al Ghul exploited the data to target the Justice League, Maxwell Lord used it to command his O.M.A.C. troops and nearly eradicate metahumans globally, and the satellite itself came close to triggering an apocalypse in the “Future’s End” narrative. Brother Eye represents Batman’s darkest fears and pessimism masked as precaution. Despite his initial ignorance of its eventual consequences, after all the devastation caused by this satellite, it is challenging to imagine Batman committing a more disastrous act.

From a die-hard movie buff’s perspective, it’s fascinating to delve into the most regrettable blunders that Batman has made in his comic book journey. It’s important to remember that Batman is far from an infallible hero; he’s made mistakes, caused pain, and sometimes acted impulsively – all traits that make him so captivating as a character. He’s a man who dwells in the shadows, yet uses those dark corners to strive for a brighter world.

His flaws are not weaknesses, but rather the threads that bind us to him, allowing his character to evolve and grow. His errors serve as lessons, shaping him into a better vigilante. And when it comes to learning, Batman is undoubtedly one of the best students out there.

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2025-05-02 05:10