The Dark Knight is one of pop culture’s most intriguing characters who, despite being a human, has an aptitude for overcoming most adversity thrown his way. Subverting not only criminal activity in Gotham, Batman has also managed to overturn the will of veritable gods in the DC Universe in feats that stretch the limits of credulity.
From surviving Darkseid’s Omega Beams in Final Crisis to having contingency plans against the Justice League, Bruce Wayne plans for every and any eventuality, and when he misses, he’ll use his innate detective skills and find a solution to come out on top. Final Crisis is one of the most referenced examples of this, but there have certainly been many others throughout Batman’s long career.
10 Subverting Darkseid (JLA: Rock of Ages)
JLA: Rock of Ages would bring forth an interesting take on Darkseid invading and overtaking both Earth and New Genesis. Sent throughout time by Metron to find the Philosopher’s Stone, Barry, Arthur, and Kyle return to the present day to find Darkseid has now inflicted his will on the entire planet.
Being time-displaced by 15 years, the trio would adopt caveats that held them back from retaliating: Arthur was past his prime, Barry had been severed from the Speed Force, and Kyle was inducted as a henchman to Darkseid. Posing as Dessad, the right-hand man to Darkseid, Batman would bide his time to circumvent his master’s defeat and when the opportune time rose, he and Wonder Woman would destroy both Darkseid and his Grandmother Box, ending his reign.
9 Acquiring the Mobius Chair (Darkseid War)
It’s a commonly accepted idea that Batman’s detective skills are second to none. Whether a crime or complex riddle, what makes Batman one of the most intriguing characters is the aptitude and intelligence he displays despite being the “average” human. Nevertheless, this concept of intriguing problem solving would be washed away when Batman would obtain the Mobius Chair, a mobile multiversal database that once belonged to the God of Knowledge, Metron.
Now imbued with complete omniscience, Batman patrols Gotham with a heavier hand, not only punishing criminals but using his newfound power to deduce and punish would-be criminals as well. Whether willingly or unwillingly, Batman would become addicted to the power of the chair, though Hal Jordan’s act of lending Bruce his ringwould give him the willpower to break free.
8 Deducing Hyperclan as White Martians
Emerging from the Phantom Zone to pose as a superhero team, Hyperclan was a contingent of disguised White Martians that claimed they sought to save planets from their environmental irresponsibility. In actuality, this would be a ploy to discredit and usurp the Justice League as Earth’s protectors, a ruse humanity fell for due to the appealing charisma of the teams’ leader, Protex, radiating a protective aura akin to Superman.
Nonetheless, Batman isn’t called ” The Worlds Greatest Detective” to have the wool pulled over his eyes so easily, rapidly deducing this conniving group of Martians as a malevolent force. Using Batman’s intellect, he and the League lure Hyperclan to the Watchtower where they would meet their defeat. As an act of mercy, Martian Manhunter would brainwash them into assuming mundane lives as humans on Earth.
7 Fighting Superman (The Dark Knight Returns)
Batman and Superman go together like peanut butter and jelly, two peas in a pod that complement one’s brain with the other’s brawn. Seeing this dynamic duo work together has become a common practice— yet, a timeless hallmark of the two is when they are pitted against each other. Cue Frank Miller’s ‘The Dark Knight Returns,” a dystopian story depicting a retired Bruce Wayne taking on the Man of Steel for the first time.
Coming out of retirement and with Gotham being engulfed in chaos, Batman and his loose cohorts, the Sons of Batman, undermine the authorities to maintain law and order throughout the city, which results in Superman being dispatched. An epic battle ensues and with the aid of Green Arrow: A synthetic kryptonite arrow weakens Superman, having Batman emerge victoriously.
6 Bribing Darkseid (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse)
Mysteriously crash-landing on Earth, Kara-Zor El was introduced as the cousin of Kal-El, debatably overpowering him in that Kal kept his full capabilities in reserve while Kara, lacking the comprehension of human fragility, would let loose against her enemies. Becoming privy to this new Kryptonian, Darkseid became enthralled in the untapped power of Kara, sending his forces to kidnap and brainwash her into becoming his servant.
When Batman and Superman venture to Apokolips to save Kara, Batman gains the psychological upper hand by informing Darkseid the hell spores of Apokolips were now under his control. Threatening Darkseid to release Kara otherwise seeing his kingdom burn, Darkseid relents, not only releasing Kara but commending Bruce’s aptitude in risking lives to complete his mission.
5 Creating Brother Eye
Perhaps some of the best Batman stories are the ones that display his keen preparation for any and every eventuality becoming detrimental to not only his team but the world over. Following Batman’s recollection of the corruption committed by a handful in the Justice League, his experience— or paranoia— drives him to create Brother Eye, a semi-autonomous artificial intelligence that surveillances the Meta-Human landscape.
As speculated, this centralized information hub would be hacked, manipulated, and ultimately become its own sentient A.I., dubbing itself “Lord Eye.” During Final Crisis, Maxwell Lord becomes a prominent figure attached to Brother Eye, using it as a ploy in an attempt to wipe out all meta-humans across the earth.
4 Ventures Into the Time Stream (Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne)
Time-displacement is a relatively common concept found throughout comic books. It’s a complex theory that ascribes a certain person/thing from the past, present, or future, existing outside of its respective timeframe. Booster Gold & Nathan Summers are two cases of time-displaced characters; however, these individuals had powers, future tech, or both that gave them the capability of enduring such a rigorous experience.
When this happened to Bruce Wayne, not only would he be flung to the distant past, he would find his way back to the present day. Being sent forward in time during a respective crisis, Bruce would prevail as a caveman, pilgrim, and even the pirate Black Beard, reminding fans that while Batman is by all standards, human, he achieves much more than the average one.
3 Using a Radion Bullet (Final Crisis)
Dark, brooding, and reserved are some ways to describe Batman as he inflicts fear upon the criminals of Gotham, highlighting the surpassing fortitude Bruce has over them. However, street-level thugs and criminal masterminds aren’t where he stops, and when it comes to the veritable gods of the DC, Batman has no qualm with staring them down and reminding them he’s no average human.
Darkseid would learn this lesson during Final Crisis when being confronted by Bruce. Scoffing at what appears to be a futile attempt to subdue him, Darkseid challenges his Omega Beams to the Radion Bullet in Batman’s possession. Shooting Darkseid with the bullet, which has a toxic effect on New Gods, Darkseid would fail in his attempted conquest.
2 Surviving the Omega Sanction (Final Crisis)
Though Batman grasped the nerve to stare down Darkseid and shoot him with the Radion bullet, that would not negate the Omega Beams, which lock onto a target when fired, from striking Bruce. Though opposed to completely disintegrating him, it would time-displace Bruce through a myriad of artificial consciousnesses.
This would be initiated by Darkseid’s Omega Sanction, a sub-ability of the Omega Effect he holds. Now while the Omega Beams are commonly known for completely annihilating their target, save for Doomsday & Superman, DC wouldn’t be so brazen as to kill off one of their two most popular characters— therefore having the “Omega Sanction” send him throughout time.
1 Contingencies for the Justice League (Tower of Babel)
Batman’s disposition to planning and coordination can arguably borderline paranoia as he aims to curb the pain inflicted on him as a child. Bruce’s cold nature led him to lack the trust needed to not only be an effective leader and team member but build a personal life outside of being Batman.
“Tower of Babel” would exploit this paranoia by having Ra’s Al Ghul steal Batman’s contingency plans against the Justice League in case any of them went rogue— a costly detriment to the team as the bond was now broken in trusting Bruce, the brains of the team. The movie adaptation, Justice League: Doom, would follow the same premise but with a different roster and Vandal Savage in place of Ra’s Al Ghul.
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