Highlights
- Batman can be defeated by his own allies: Cassandra Cain, Catwoman, Nightwing, and Damian Wayne have all bested the Dark Knight in battle.
- Even the World’s Greatest Detective has his moments of vulnerability and weakness.
- Batman’s own father figure, Alfred Pennyworth, has stood up to and physically fought against him.
Despite having no powers of his own, Batman is notorious in comics for always getting the edge over bigger and stronger opponents. Using his wealth and intellect, he has devised plans to defeat every villain and superhero, if it is ever called for, even the likes of Superman.
However, there are times in Batman’s long history that a lesser foe has bested the Dark Knight, including some whom he has considered his strongest allies. Perhaps the World’s Greatest Detective isn’t an unbeatable figure after all…
5 Cassandra Cain
First Appearance: Batman #567 (July, 1999)
As the daughter of David Cain and Lady Shiva of the League of Assassins, Cassandra Cain was raised from birth to be a trained killer. Eventually, she joined up with Batman and took the mantle of Batgirl, and she has also donned the guise of Black Bat and Orphan across the years.
In Batgirl #50 she was under the control of a Rage drug, which only heightened her natural martial arts skills, and she showed no restraint in a fight against her mentor, Bruce Wayne. She easily beats Batman, who may not have wanted to give her his all. Either way, Cassandra Cain has a victory under her belt against The Bat.
4 Catwoman
First Appearance: Batman #3 (April 25, 1940)
Break-ups don’t come as bad as this. Batman and Catwoman have been in an on-and-off relationship for decades now, and in 1983, things hit a boiling point. Batman #355 saw Selina Kyle attack Batman, as she was not pleased with him moving on to a new flame, Vicki Vale.
Catwoman hit Batman with a knee to the jaw, temporarily catching her former lover off guard, and if not for the realization of what she was doing, she would have slit Batman’s throat with her claws. Batman has always had a soft spot for this femme fatale, but almost letting her kill him is a low point.
3 Nightwing
First Appearance: As Robin: Detective Comics #38 (April 1940), As Nightwing: Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (July 1984)
Batman’s first apprentice, Dick Grayson, flew from the nest and became Nightwing, a hero in his own right. After years of brutal hard love from his mentor, they came to blows in Nightwing #30.
Both heroes are shirtless and not in the mood to play games. Batman tries to talk down Grayson and calls him his boy, which only spurs Dick on. “I’m not your boy,” were the words uttered as Nightwing delivered a final blow that finished the fight, and he defeated the man who taught him to be a superhero. Nightwing ends the fight with the chilling words “I win,” once and for all proving that he does not need Batman anymore.
2 Robin (Damian Wayne)
First Appearance: Batman #655 (September 2006)
Robin has gotten one over on his mentor several times across the media of Batman, but Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce, has done so most recently. In Batman & Robin #12, Deathstroke takes command over Robin’s body and manages to subdue Dick Grayson (who had donned the cowl of the Bat at the time).
Although this may seem like a cop-out, in the Injustice universe, fans were shown a battle between father and son in which the teenage Damian comes out on top. Injustice: Gods Among Us #13 saw Batman at the mercy of a savage knee strike which left him face down and worse for wear.
1 Alfred Pennyworth
First Appearance: Batman #16 (April 1944)
Alfred was initially introduced as a frail butler, but he was eventually given the backstory that he was an army veteran. There is more than meets the eye with Alfred Pennyworth. The battle between Bruce and his father figure takes place on Earth-2, where there are a few differences to mainline DC, the main one being Batman has much more of an attitude and even carries a gun.
Alfred had enough of Bruce’s demeanor and slapped him across the face, prompting a spat between the pair. Alfred delivers a line “Have you ever been in a war?… I have,’ while delivering some killer blows to the boy he raised. Bruce only got the upper hand when he kicked his butler’s prosthetic leg, a cheap shot.
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