7 Greatest Batmans Who Are Not Bruce Wayne

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Bruce Wayne is still considered the definitive Batman, but he hasn’t always been the one wearing the mask. Over the years in DC Comics, various heroes have temporarily or permanently stepped into the role of the Caped Crusader when Bruce was unable to continue. Some of these replacements were highly effective, while others took the character to darker places than Bruce would have. Even when these substitute Batmen were more extreme, they were often memorable and fulfilled the role, albeit in unexpected ways.

Beyond Bruce Wayne, several characters have taken on the mantle of Batman, whether chosen by him or taking the role by force. Here’s a look at some of the best.

7) Jean-Paul Valley

After Bane severely injured Bruce Wayne in the Knightfall storyline, Jean-Paul Valley stepped in as the new Batman. With Bruce sidelined for over a year, Gotham City needed someone to protect it, and Jean-Paul filled that role. However, his version of Batman was much more brutal and dark, and he distanced himself from Bruce Wayne’s allies, the Bat Family.

It was really tough watching Jean-Paul push everyone away, even heroes like Nightwing. He even locked Tim Drake out of the Batcave! Things got increasingly brutal, and it became clear Bruce needed to return and stop him, especially as Jean-Paul’s grip on reality seemed to slip. That’s when things came to a head in what everyone calls KnightsEnd. Bruce came back as Batman and had to fight Jean-Paul for the right to be Batman, and thankfully, he won. After that, Jean-Paul went back to being Azrael, but it was a really difficult time for all of us.

6) Superman

In issues 53-56 of Superman/Batman, a battle with Silver Banshee caused Superman and Batman to swap powers. Batman suddenly had Superman’s incredible abilities, while Superman was left powerless. This change made Batman much more aggressive, and with Superman’s strength, he became frighteningly dangerous.

The situation escalated until Superman stepped in to help Batman’s allies regain control. Alfred provided Superman with a special suit of Batman’s armor, allowing him to continue fighting crime. When the Justice League couldn’t reason with Batman, who had become increasingly violent in his pursuit of justice, Superman, wearing the Batman suit, took on the responsibility of stopping his friend.

5) Jim Gordon

After the apparent deaths of Batman and the Joker in a final showdown under Gotham City, a new hero was needed. Powers International decided to create a new task force inspired by Batman, and they selected Jim Gordon for the role. Gordon received intense physical training and was equipped with an advanced prototype of the Batman armor, enhancing his abilities.

After receiving new armor and increased strength and abilities, Jim Gordon became the new Batman, upholding the hero’s honorable and moral standards. He continued in this role until Bruce Wayne, having been resurrected by the Lazarus Pit, returned. Jim then willingly stepped aside, allowing Bruce to reclaim the mantle of Batman.

4) Thomas Wayne

Thomas Wayne presents a unique case for Batman. He’s Bruce Wayne’s father, but in the Flashpoint timeline, he became Batman after the murder of Bruce, instead of his parents, in Crime Alley. This tragedy also drove Martha Wayne to become a version of the Joker. The Flash encountered this alternate Batman when a time-travel attempt to save his own mother unexpectedly made things even worse.

Thomas was far more prone to violence than Bruce. He became Batman fueled by rage after his son died, whereas Bruce was motivated by a desire to improve the world. Despite his violent tendencies, Thomas remained a man of honor and was even willing to work with Flash to try and bring his son back.

3) Damian Wayne

Many fans have debated who should become the next Batman after Bruce Wayne retires. While one version of the future shows Terry McGinnis taking on the role, another possibility is that his son, Damian Wayne, will become the new Batman.

The story, titled Batman in Bethlehem, features Damian Wayne stepping into the role of Batman after failing to save Dick Grayson, who had previously taken over for Bruce Wayne in this particular future timeline. In this version of events, Damian is a fiercely aggressive hero with supernatural abilities – including a fast healing factor granted by a divine source – allowing him to better defend Gotham City.

2) Terry McGinnis

Terry McGinnis is a DC character who first appeared in a cartoon before making his way into comic books. He’s the Batman of Batman Beyond, a highly popular animated series. The show is set in the future, following the events of Batman: The Animated Series, and features an older Bruce Wayne who has retired due to a heart condition.

Although his comic book adventures haven’t matched the popularity of the Batman Beyond cartoon, Terry McGinnis is still a fantastic Batman, especially considering Bruce Wayne had retired. One particularly strong storyline featured Tim Drake stepping up as Batman when Terry was believed to be dead. But a new villain emerged, who turned out to be Terry, controlled by the villain Spellbinder through hypnosis. Ultimately, even Tim realized Terry was the true Batman.

1) Dick Grayson

Dick Grayson always appeared to be the natural successor to Bruce Wayne as Batman. As the very first Robin, he’s consistently demonstrated himself to be an even more dedicated hero, focusing on helping people rather than simply intimidating criminals – a difference clearly seen when the world thought Batman had perished during the events of Final Crisis.

Batman appeared to sacrifice himself fighting Darkseid, but he was actually just sent forward in time. While Batman was gone, Dick Grayson became the new Batman, with Damian Wayne as Robin. Many fans consider this Dick and Damian pairing to be one of the strongest Batman and Robin teams ever, as Dick successfully guided Damian to become a better hero. When Bruce Wayne eventually returned, Dick happily passed the Batman role back to him, though he proved to be an excellent Batman in his own right during his time.

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2025-11-17 19:18