One in all DC Comics' largest winners is Batmanand never simply because he's arguably DC's largest and most bankable superhero. Within the comics themselves, he has a superb report of wins and losses. He wins much more than he loses, however that doesn't imply his loss column is spotless.
There have been uncommon situations the place the Darkish Knight has misplaced his fights in opposition to Gotham Metropolis's most nefarious criminals. Generally Batman must undergo a loss to humble him and encourage him to return again even higher than earlier than, however to ensure that him to study from the loss, the loss must shake the very fiber of Batman's being. These losses go away an impression and strengthen your journey as a hero. These are only a few examples of the worst losses Batman has ever suffered by the hands of his enemies.
The Grim Reaper
Batman: Yr Two by Mike W. Barr, Alan Davis, Todd McFarlane and extra
Initially of Batman's profession, he had by no means confronted one other vigilante earlier than, particularly an opponent who might match him in hand-to-hand fight. As such, Bruce is kicked out of the sport for the primary time when he meets the Reaper. The primary time they arrive nose to nose, Batman notes how troublesome it will be to face somebody in armor, "however not not possible." For Batman, surpassing the Reaper at this stage in his life was just about not possible.
Batman is then crushed and torn aside - to the purpose the place he has to retreat, showing in entrance of Alfred at Wayne Manor as a bloody shell of his former self. On this story, Batman learns that he can't struggle all enemies like the common henchman. With villains just like the Reaper, he must provide you with an actual plan, and as soon as he plans forward for the Reaper, he can lastly defeat him.
Black Hearth Deacon
Batman: The Cult by Jim Starlin, Bernie Wrightson, John Costanza and Invoice Wray
Batman's defeats should not all the time bodily, however typically psychological. Generally the psychological battle is extra damaging to Batman than the bodily one. This was by no means more true than when he was kidnapped by the cult chief, Deacon Blackfire, and his devoted group of followers. Over time, Batman is drugged and brainwashed to the purpose the place he turns into a keen follower of the Deacon till he's freed by Robin.
Even so, Batman's thoughts is damaged and he begins to doubt himself. Even worse, when Blackfire takes management of town, Batman is simply too mentally defeated to confront him, selecting to desert Gotham. He inevitably returns, however understanding he was keen to give up to injustice, maybe for the primary time in his crime-fighting profession, Blackfire wins ultimately.
Prometheus
LJA #16 by Grant Morrison, Howard Porter, John Dell, Ken Lopez, Pat Garrahy and Heroic Age
Upon infiltrating the enduring Justice League headquarters (he kills the hero Retro and steals his identification), this villain reveals himself with one line: "I'm Prometheus and I'm right here to destroy the Justice League." He makes good on his phrase, immediately eliminating Metal, after which Martian Manhunter, earlier than being confronted by Batman. Prometheus downloaded the Watchtower's blueprints into his mind, together with an understanding of the weaknesses of every member of the League and thirty of the world's best martial arts.
After their assembly, Prometheus warns Batman that his possibilities don't look good, particularly since one of many thirty disks in his mind is Batman's personal. The Darkish Knight pays no heed to this warning, and earlier than he is aware of it, Batman is destroyed off-panel. At one level, Prometheus leaps at a frightened Batman, and the following time he's seen within the last panel, Batman is unconscious.
Woman Shiva
Detective comics #952 by James Tynion IV, Christian Duce, Fernando Blanco, Alex Sinclair, John Rauch, Allen Passalaqua and Sal Cipriano
Woman Shiva, Batgirl Cassandra Cain's mom and elite murderer, has famously been the one villain Batman has struggled to defeat, regardless of her companions having completed so on quite a few events. Nonetheless, Shiva has confirmed to be Bruce Wayne's Achilles heel relating to hand-to-hand preventing. She's Gotham's finest fighter for a purpose and proves it as soon as once more on this challenge, the place he and Shiva attempt to have a civil dialog whereas his League of Shadows tries to say Gotham for themselves.
When issues get bodily, Batman can't even punch Shiva earlier than she forces him to the bottom with a mere wristlock. Shiva is aware of she will kill Batman at this level and has defeated him earlier than, however as a substitute she spares him. It's an embarrassing search for the Caped Crusader.
Ban
Batman #497 by Doug Moench, Jim Aparo, Dick Giordano, Adrienne Roy and Richard Starkings
Some villains are able to defeating Batman on a psychological degree, others on a bodily degree, however it's uncommon to see somebody annihilate the World's Best Detective in each realms. Bane is the uncommon exception as he orchestrates an escape from Arkham Asylum that exhausts Batman for a number of nights in an try to recapture all the inmates. Bane meets Bruce at Wayne Manor when he's at his most drained and susceptible, making the most of the state of affairs to take what's left of Batman and break him into items.
The “Knightfall” arc established Bane as a real genius with each brains and brawn. This defeat wouldn't be a fluke both, as his overtaking of Gotham within the "Metropolis of Bane" arc, which options the homicide of Alfred Pennyworth, solely furthered the concept that Bane is an adversary able to defeating Batman greater than as soon as.
The Courtroom of Owls
Batman: Metropolis of Owls by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo and extra
Discovering the existence of the Courtroom of Owls not solely shakes Batman to his core however it shakes your understanding of Gotham. Batman slowly begins to research how the Courtroom of Owls could have performed a job in main occasions in Gotham's historical past, in an effort to alter the size of Gotham Metropolis's energy, together with the homicide of his mother and father. His obsession with investigating his private connection to the Courtroom distracts Batman from his predominant goal and nearly prices him his sanity.
When he's ambushed by a Talon, he wakes up within the maze of the Courtroom of Owls, spending what looks as if days making an attempt to flee when left to his personal units. In doing so, he's disadvantaged of sleep, meals, and is actively dropping his thoughts. Some would say that anybody who attire like a bat belongs in Arkham Asylum, however owls assault Batman's sanity and make that presumption a actuality.
Sensei
Batman: The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul by Grant Morrison, Paul Dini, Peter Milligan, Fabian Nicieza, Tony Daniel, Freddie E. Williams II, Don Kramer, Ryan Benjamin and extra
Batman's historical past with Ra's al Ghul is properly documented, however not sufficient consideration is paid to al Ghul's appointed lieutenant of the League of Assassins and former chief of the Society of Assassins, Sensei. He's later revealed to be the daddy of Ra's within the Resurrection of Ra's al Ghulhowever most significantly, this arc exhibits how Sensei could possibly be much more highly effective than Ra's.
Ra's has defeated Batman previously, however Batman has by no means fallen as simply to Ra's as he has to Sensei. Batman intervenes in an effort to cease Ra's resurrection, however Sensei beats Batman practically to dying. Batman solely survives as a result of their struggle is interrupted. Earlier than they're interrupted, Sensei takes benefit of a blind Batman and in addition the truth that Sensei has centuries of preventing expertise forward of the years of coaching Batman has had.
Failsafe
Batman #130 by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jiménez, Tomeu Morey and Clayton Cowles
Whereas below the affect of his Zur-En-Arrh cut up persona, Batman constructed an unstoppable android known as Failsafe, programmed with the objective of killing Batman if he broke his no-killing rule. It's activated as quickly as information breaks that Batman killed the Penguin (who faked his personal dying). Alfred was secretly tasked with spreading Failsafe in case of a false alarm or false accusation, however with Alfred useless, Failsafe will solely cease when its goal is full.
Failsafe manages to get the higher of Bruce, triggering an explosion that presumably kills him however as a substitute sends him to an alternate universe. When Bruce returns, he has to face Failsafe and his cut up persona, incapacitated with Failsafe taking his place as a greater Batman and an evil substitute. Batman lastly returns to defeat Failsafe, however the robotic proves to be the best problem Batman has confronted in years.
Mutant Chief
Batman: The Darkish Knight Returns #2 by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley and John Costanza
This definitive Batman story is about in an alternate actuality the place Bruce Wayne has retired from Batman duties following the dying of Jason Todd. As an previous man, crime is worse than ever, due to a gang known as the Mutantes. Seeing the chaos round him is sufficient to carry Batman out of the shadows. When he confronts the Mutants, he's in flip confronted by the Mutant Chief.
A struggle just like the one with the Mutant Chief is a younger man's recreation, and Along with not being younger anymore, the older Batman can also be off form. Bruce notices the Mutant Chief a lot youthful, stronger and quicker. A kick to the stomach is sufficient to explode Batman's stomach. To say that the Mutant Chief destroys Batman can be an understatement. He needs to be helped and rescued within the nick of time by the brand new Robin, Carrie Kelley.
Batman Omega
Batman: Final Knight on Earth #3 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, FCO Plascencia and Tom Napolitano
It seems that nobody can defeat Batman like Batman himself. Raveled by an apocalyptic future, an older Bruce Wayne recasts himself as Omega after Batman is presumed useless. Batman Omega kills Darkseid, utilizing his head and the Anti-Life Equation in Gotham Metropolis, changing into a tyrant within the course of. In a significant twist, Omega has all the time been the true Bruce Wayne, and the protagonist that readers have adopted for 3 consecutive points is a clone.
Batman grew to become precisely the villain he fought so laborious in opposition to for years. The clone lastly defeats its twisted counterpart. Nonetheless, it's bittersweet to assume that the hardest opponent Batman might face was himself - and that his best loss got here from dropping to himself.