Batman is the iconic superhero of all time. With a history for 80 years, his legacy is undeniable. But when someone is that popular, they take an archetypal level of importance, and they have to deal with copycats. Whether creators wanted to poke Batman or tell stories about a Batman-type character he has had a large number of rip-offs. Some have been unique and some not so much.
Here are 7 Batman rip-offs in comics that are actually better than the Dark Knight.
1. THE CONFESSOR
Kurt Busiek’sAstro City series is a pastiche of superheroes from DC, Marvel, and obscure publishers. One of its standouts is The Confessor. First appearing Vol. 2 #4, he is a Roman Catholic priest named Jeremiah Parrish who was attacked by a vampire. Jeremiah chose to be a superhero as a way of making up for his sin. The Confessor pays homage to the supernatural side of The Dark Knight.
2. MIDNIGHTER
Midnighter was created to give WildStorm universe a version of Batman so Warren Ellis could tell stories about Batman without actually using him. Midnighter is capable of maintaining a healthy, working relationship which is what Batman has failed to do.
3. DAREDEVIL
Daredevil’s roots are strongly based on the ideas of Batman. A boy suffers a tragic event and as an adult devotes his life to fighting crime. One of Marvel’s well-written characters, Daredevil fights crime like Batman and does it without sight, though he does have radar vision to make up for it.
4. GREEN ARROW
Oliver Queen was meant to be a superhero Robin Hood rather than a rip-off of Batman, but the 2 characters have lots in common. Oliver started out as a rich boy who gets lost at sea and learns to master the bow to survive on the island. After being discovered by another ship, he returns and decides to make his city a safer place.
5. DARK CLAW
Coming from the Amalgam universe, where DC and Marvel’s characters united, Dark Claw is technically Batman. First, in Legends of the Dark Claw #1, he is the combined version of Batman and Wolverine. Logan Wayne was sent to live with his uncle after his parents were murdered and joined the country’s Super Soldier program Weapon X. He tops Batman by being Batman if one gave him Wolverine’s metal claws, healing factor, and enhanced senses.
6. NIGHTWING
Nightwing is not a rip-off of Batman, but he is a successor. Dick Grayson learned the same things that Bruce did, but with the experience of someone, who has done the job. He is better adjusted than Bruce, and this makes him more willing to accept his limitations.
7. MOON KNIGHT
Moon Knight may be the most inspired Batman rip-off. Debuting in 1975 comic in “Werewolf by Night #32” he is Marc Spector, a former U.S. Marine who is introduced to Khonshu after a near-death battle with Raoul Bushman. Agreeing to be Khonshu’s avatar, Spector decides to fight crime when he returns to the States. He is a rich man with a lot of gadgets that fight crime, but because he has multiple personality disorder, he can tell stories about mental disorders that creators would not be able to go near while writing Batman.
