Bruce Wayne’s Batman famously doesn’t possess superpowers, standing alongside literal gods with just incredible training, an indomitable will and a vast fortune. However, in the big, wide universe of DC Comics, there have been several occasions where the Dark Knight ended up with enhanced abilities, becoming something more than human. Here are the best of the best.
5
Batman Gained Echolocation Powers Thanks to the Amazo Virus
As Seen in Justice League #38 by Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok, Brad Anderson and Carlos M. Mangual
In Justice League volume 2, the team went up against the Amazo virus – a disease engineered by Lex Luthor, which was designed to suppress superpowers worldwide. However, the virus mutated beyond its original design, actually gifting superpowers to any normal human who contracts it – including Batman.
The abilities imbued by the Amazo virus vary from person to person. In Batman’s case, he developed sound-based abilities, allowing him to utilize echolocation and unleash blasts of sonic force. Batman used these powers to attack the ‘Patient Zero’ who was spreading the virus, but quickly fell under the sway of an Amazo hivemind that took over the bodies of all those infected.
Thankfully, the Justice League freed Batman before he was killed by the virus’ progression, but for a brief period, he had his very own Bat-Powers.
4
Batman Became an Immortal Monster by Using the Man-Bat Serum
As Seen in Batman Incorporated #10 by Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham, Jason Masters, Andrei Bressan and Nathan Fairbairn
After Talia al Ghul’s Leviathan killed his son Damian Wayne, Batman put together the ultimate battle suit. First, he acquired Azarael’s Suit of Sorrows, which protects the wearer from all harm. Then, he accessed an experimental exoskeleton which had badly injured all those who had tested it. Finally, he ingested the Man-Bat serum, which transformed him into a monstrous new form with superstrength and control over bats.
The result was a terrifying one-man army, with Batman siccing bats on Talia’s ninja army, electrocuting her clone bodyguard and defeating her in a one-on-one duel, all while withstanding the pain of being constantly injured and healed by his armor combo.
3
Batman Gained Omniscience by Stealing the Mobius Chair
As Seen in Justice League #43 by Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok, Brad Anderson and Rob Leigh
Following the death of Darkseid, the natural order of the cosmos was thrown into chaos, and the Justice League began gaining godlike abilities. In Batman’s case, that meant taking control of the Mobius Chair – a repository of essentially limitless knowledge.
Batman used the chair to predict crime and investigate his foes like never before, including learning the Joker’s true identity. However, the scope of his new knowledge made Batman callous and detached from humanity, leading to his torture of his parents’ murderer, Joe Chill. Thankfully, Green Lantern found a way to free Batman from the chair, restoring his humanity.
2
Batman Became the World’s Greatest Sorcerer with the Helmet of Fate
As Seen in Batman vs. Robin #4 by Mark Waid, Mahmud Asrar, Scott Godlewski, Jordie Bellaire and Steve Wands
When the demonic villain known as the Devil Nezha sought out the Helmet of Fate, Batman got there first, gaining immense magical powers. The helmet is usually worn by Doctor Fate, enhancing his mystical abilities with a connection to the godlike Nabu.
While Batman doesn’t have a natural gift for magic, the Helmet changed that, connecting him to every previous wearer and their mystical knowledge. While Batman defeated Nezha, he also gave the helmet up afterwards, claiming that magic was an act of submission to greater forces – something he wasn’t willing to do permanently.
1
Batman Has Mastered Multiple Different Lantern Rings
As Seen in Batman: In Darkest Knight by Mike W. Barr, Jerry Bingham, Digital Chameleon and Pat Brosseau
In DC lore, the different Lantern Corps wield power rings that draw on different aspects of the emotional spectrum. The rings allow their wielder to summon powerful energy constructs powered by their emotional mastery. Few have mastered any emotion enough to wield a power ring, but of course Batman has found himself able to wield four.
Bruce first became a Green Lantern in the Elseworlds story Darkest Knight, but has since wielded pure willpower in DC’s mainstream canon (indeed, gifting him a Green Lantern ring is how Hal Jordan freed him from the Mobius Chair.) Batman’s ability to instill fear has also allowed him to become a Yellow Lantern, while he’s actually wielded two different types of White Lantern ring as a champion of life. Finally, a flawed clone of Batman was resurrected as part of the Black Lantern army of death.
Those are the five best times Batman gained superpowers, but they’re far from the only examples – let us know in the comments below what other powers Bruce Wayne has gained in DC lore.
- Created By
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Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Alias
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Bruce Wayne
- Alliance
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Justice League, Outsiders, Batman Family
- Race
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Human
- Franchise
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D.C.
