Batman has, for too long now, captivated our mind as someone who is unbeatable. In the direst of scenario, it seems like that he could win, “because he is Batman.” And while Batman has fought off against much more powerful foes with success, it doesn’t mean he would always win.
The strongest argument in support of Batman is that with enough preparation, he can win against anybody. Apart from the fact that this is a gross oversimplification, we must also note that Batman doesn’t always have time to prepare. And of course, he is just a mortal.
Here are some characters that have kicked Batman’s ass in combat:
1) Superman
The biggest rivalries in comic book history, it has long led fans to either root for the Dark Knight or the Man of Steel. However, the truth is simple: If Superman fought earnestly, Batman would be dead in a second. Even in the most famous victory of Batman over Superman, “The Dark Knight Returns,” Batman won only because he faked his heart attack and thus brought the fight to an end. You might remember, Superman was still the last man standing.
In another story, Sacrifice, we saw Superman being mind-controlled and manipulated into thinking that he was fighting Brainiac, while in reality, he was thrashing Batman. And the Caped Crusader had to spend a lot of time in hospital after that.
2) Bane
Most fans believe that Bane is all about brute strength. This is far from the truth, as we saw in the Knightfall storyline. Bane orchestrated the outbreak of inmates from Arkham Asylum, making Batman fight them all day long. Once Batman returns to his lair, battered and exhausted, he finds Bane (who discovered the cave solely from his skills). In the ensuing battle, Bane simply plays for him for a while, only to break his back and confine him to bed rest for months to come.
3) Deathstroke
His initial scuffles with the Teen Titans had led fans to believe that Deathstroke was a minor villain. Nope, wrong. Deathstroke is more like the evil version of Captain America. Initially, he was a soldier with brain, strength, and skills almost equal to the Dark Knight. After the experiments that made him a super-soldier, he was much beyond what Batman could handle. We saw an example of this in Deathstroke #8-9, where Batman got a beating he would remember for a lifetime.
4) Jason Todd
The second Robin was murdered by Joker but brought back to life after some reality-altering events, which made him the cold-blooded assassin Red Hood. He orchestrated the capture of the Joker and then confronted Batman. Because Batman never avenged his death, Jason gave Batman a choice to kill either him or Joker. But before giving him the choice, he gave Batman a beating that was humiliating, to say the least. Yes, Batman later subdued Jason and let the Joker escape, but that doesn’t change the fact that Jason did beat Batman.
5) Predator
Batman, after all his caution, does tend to underestimate his opponents. This was true with Predator (and a terrible mistake). While investigating the murder of two boxers, Batman came face-to-face with the alien hunter. Predator was equipped with a lot of advanced alien tech, an unusual healing factor and a heat vision that could find Batman even in the dark. In short, Predator gave the Dark Knight a good thrashing.
6) Wonder Woman
While fans always speculate the victor in a fight between Batman and Superman, nobody gives a thought about Wonder Woman. This might be because, in one story, it was proven conclusively that Wonder Woman could beat Batman bloody without breaking a sweat. The story revolved around a woman Wonder Woman swore to protect, but who was hunted by Batman for killing some human traffickers and drug dealers. In the battle that ensued, Wonder Woman spectacularly handed Batman his ass.
7) The Joker
The thing about Joker is that his game is radically different from Batman’s. While Batman is only concerned about stopping the evil plans of the Joker and locking him up in Arkham (from where he routinely breaks out), Joker is all about causing Batman immense pain and breaking his moral compass. Be it the murder of Jason Todd or paralyzing Barbara Gordan, Joker has won so many times against Batman that we have lost the count. He is the constant reminder that the Dark Knight cannot always win.
