The 10 Best Multiverse Versions Of Batman, Ranked | ScreenRant
The DC universe is a huge place, full of alternate worlds and parallel dimensions where numerous versions of reality exist. In the infinite number of universes that exist, beloved DC superheroes are featured in new and unexpected ways, sometimes portrayed as villains, other times as dystopian heroes, sometimes even as bloodthirsty vampires who have conquered the cities they sworn to protect through fear.
Like every DC hero out there, numerous versions of Batman exist in the Multiverse. Some retain most of the Caped Crusader's heroic elements and strong moral stance. Others present in a corrupted alternative form, sometimes presenting as a terrifying supervillain. Other realities offer even stranger versions of the Dark Knight, including a reality where he is a notorious pirate and one where he appears as an unexpected enemy of the 1950s Soviet Union.
10 Leatherwing (Earth-494)
One of the stranger iterations of Batman out there, Earth-494 is home to Captain Leatherwing, a Batman-inspired buccaneer who sails the Seven Seas aboard his ship, The Flying Fox, during the Golden Age of Piracy.
Accompanied by his loyal crew—the ship's faithful navigator, Alfredo, and the young thief, Robin Redblade—Leatherwing is a privateer employed by England and sent to raid enemy nations' ships. In the course of his journeys and many adventures, he encounters Earth-494's version of Catwoman—Capitana Felina, a fellow privateer and captain of The Cat's Paw—and battles notorious rivals like the Laughing Man. Leatherwing may be one of the odder versions of Batman out there, but there's no denying he's also one of the most original, starring in several swashbuckling nautical stories of adventure in DC's Elseworlds line.
9 Batman (Earth-19)
Set at the tail end of the 19th century, Earth-19's Batman features a gothic portrayal of the Dark Knight in 1889 Gotham, who begins investigating a series of murders that seem to be the handiwork of the still-at-large serial killer, Jack the Ripper.
Featured in the one-shot story, Gotham by Gaslight, Earth-19's Batman is a fun and fascinating steampunk portrayal of the character taking on one of the most notorious unsolved cases in true-crime history.
8 Batman (Earth-22)
One of the best worlds featured in DC Elseworlds, Kingdom Come is a deconstructivist superhero story set on Earth-22, depicting a future where the superheroes who fans know and love (Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, etc.) have all retired, paving the way for new, amoral vigilantes who have succeeded them as Earth's protectors.
In this version of Earth, Batman's secret identity was made public knowledge decades prior, with Bruce Wayne giving up his outwardly carefree lifestyle as Gotham's rich, laidback bachelor. Now an old man whose body has been profoundly affected by his superhero career, this elderly version of Bruce Wayne wears an exoskeleton suit and is known for transforming Gotham into a police state, using his "Bat-Knight" drones to patrol the city. Though his body does not operate in the way it once did, Batman's desire to make a better world is evident in this story, as is his keen intellect and fervent distrust of Superman.
7 Batman (Earth-30)
Set on the alternate world of Earth-30, the critically-acclaimed, Eisner Award-winning comic by Mark Millar poses the question, "What would've happened if Superman had landed in the Soviet Union instead of America?" The answer to that question, of course, is explored in Millar's excellent story, depicting Superman's helping the USSR become the main global power.
The only person to stand as a legitimate threat against this Soviet Man of Steel is the vigilante, Batman. The most entertaining aspect of this version of the Caped Crusader is not his awesome attire but his hard morals and the mystery around him. His secret identity may not be known, but he's willing to do everything he can to stop Superman and save the world, even to the point of sacrificing himself to do so.
6 Batman (Earth-43)
One of the more frightening depictions of Batman in all of comics came in the 1990s with Doug Moench's fantastic Batman & Dracula trilogy, a Batman story so dark, it's unlikely fans will ever see a live-action film adaptation.
Set on the nightmarish Earth-43 and beginning with Moench's Red Rain, this version of Batman initially battles the vampiric lord Dracula before succumbing to his wounds and eventually becoming a vampire in his own right. Given Batman's already dark presentation, there is something utterly terrifying about the idea of DC pushing that appearance one step further, having the Dark Knight become a literal creature of the night, feeding on criminals' blood and brutally killing his usual enemies. Disturbing in practically every way, it's one of the most frightening versions of Batman there is.
5 Batman (Earth-12)
A unique rendition, Earth-12 is a futuristic version of DC's Prime Earth, home to the Terry McGinnis version of the Batman, better known for his starring role in the animated series, Batman Beyond.
The fact that DC made the universe of Batman Beyond canon in the continuity of their comics is evidence of just how popular the series (and McGinnis's Batman) truly was. Mentored by an older version of Bruce Wayne, Batman II is the protector of Neo-Gotham, a cyberpunk-esque future version of the city. Notably more light-hearted than the methodical, earlier iteration of the Batman, yet every bit as skilled, McGinnis's Batman is in every way a worthy successor to Wayne's cape and mantle.
4 Owlman (Earth-3)
Another unique version, Owlman is Batman's counterpart on Earth-3, a reality that is home to the Crime Syndicate, an organization of supervillains who use their powers to rule their world through fear.
Also known by his secret identity, Thomas Wayne Jr., Owlman possesses the same basic skills, abilities, and sharp intellect as Batman but completely lacks any morals or reason and appears unafraid to kill and injure innocent people with very little provocation. As a result, Owlman is one of the most dangerous alternative versions of Batman in existence.
3 Batman (Earth-31)
The Batman of The Dark Knight Returns fame, Earth-31's Bruce Wayne is an older, retired version of the Dark Knight who opts to take up the cape and mask one final time to once again strike fear into the hearts of Gotham's criminals.
Along with Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns (arguably the best Batman story ever written) ushered in a new era for comics, featuring grungier superhero deconstructions set in grittier, darker worlds. Though older, Earth-31's Batman is still the same heavy-hitting hero who won't let age keep him back, battling everyone from oversized mutant criminals to Superman himself.
2 Batman (Earth-22)
The darkest and arguably most terrifying parallel Batman to date, Earth-22's Batman (also known as the Batman Who Laughs) is basically a cross between Batman and his regular archenemy and the definitively best Batman villain of all time, the Joker.
The idea of a supervillain with Batman's intellect and the Joker's chaotic personality is admittedly a horrifying one, and predictably, the Batman Who Laughs is more than capable of making people's skin crawl with his unsettling appearance, merciless attitude, and his desire to gain omnipotent, god-like powers.
1 Batman (Earth-1)
It's always hard to beat a classic, and it's for that very reason that Earth-1's Batman—the default version of the hero in Batman's continuity—is easily the best iteration of the character to exist anywhere in the DC Multiverse.
Without Earth-1's Batman, no other version of the character would exist. Like most original versions of something, he is the first and the best. Unlike many other versions of the character, he is at the top of his game. When people even think of Batman, it's likely Earth-1's version of the character that instantly comes to mind.