Summary
- Damian Wayne is skilled but falls short in terms of his size, compensating with sharp mind and reflexes.
- Tim Drake is a skill-oriented detective who is physically gifted, durable, and a brilliant strategist.
- Cassandra Cain is deadly, with raw strength comparable to Batman's, trained since childhood in combat.
The Bat-Family is one of the most well-known factions in DC Comics. They prowl the streets of Gotham City, put a stop to injustice, and combat the criminals of the city. The faction has grown considerably from its beginnings, and now consists of a number of exceptional individuals who have all dedicated themselves to Batman's mission.
The Bat-Family also acts as Batman's moral compass, keeping his ego and mind in check before he crosses a specific line. Among them are some of the best fighters and strategists in the world of DC Comics, each bringing their own special flavor to the team. Among them, their strength does not vary greatly, but there are levels in their capability. Here are some of the strongest members of the Bat-Family, ranked.
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8 Damian Wayne
The Son Of The Bat
- First Appearance: Batman #655
Damian Wayne is the illegitimate child of Batman and Talia al-Ghul, who took on the name of Robin. He was kept a secret from his father and rigorously trained within the League of Assassins in hopes of replacing Ras Al Aghul and Batman himself. Damian is an incredibly skilled fighter, able to hold his own against the majority of the Batman family.
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However, he's still young and learning, and his physical size causes him to fall short. However, Damian makes up for his lack of power with his sharp mind and reflexes. He may not be the strongest of his family, but he is nevertheless just as valuable.
7 Tim Drake
The Young Detective
- First Appearance: Batman #436
Tim Drake is the third-generation Robin, who took up the mantle after discovering Bruce Wayne is Batman all on his own. Tim fully dedicates himself to the role of Robin, pushing himself as far as he can to match up with his mentor and become one of his most important allies.
While physically gifted and durable, Tim is more skill-oriented than he is gifted in raw strength. While powerful in his own right, Tim models himself after the intellectual side of Batman, being a brilliant strategist and leader. Still, Tim is not to be underestimated during a fight and can take on entire squads of assassins on his own.
6 Batwoman
The Hardened Veteran
- First Appearance: Detective Comics #233
Kate Kane is a cousin of Bruce Wayne. After a chance encounter with his vigilante persona, Kate decided to end her carefree lifestyle and focus on becoming something more. As a former US soldier, Kate has been trained and forged into an elite fighter. Her training with Batman pushed her physique to the limit, and she has become an extreme combatant. What sets Kate apart from other members of the Bat-Family is her lack of restraint, making her similar to Jason Todd.
5 Nightwing
The First Protégé
- First Appearance: Tales Of The Teen Titan #44
Dick Grayson is the first Robin, and the first protégé trained by Batman, and was arguably The Dark Knight's best sidekick. After the death of his parents, Bruce took Dick under his wing and trained to be his partner on the streets of Gotham City.
As Robin, Dick was a remarkable acrobat and fighter who took to the role of vigilante exceptionally. Once he flew the coop and became Nightwing, Grayson expanded his skills in several ways, from going undercover as a rogue agent to even training alongside Deathstroke. Nightwing has shown how strong he is, most notably in a one-on-one fight against his father figure, which ended in a stalemate.
4 Jason Todd
The Black Sheep Of The Bat-Family
- First Appearance: Batman #357
Jason Todd was the second robin to replace Dick Grayson after his departure, and has become the black sheep of the Bat-Family. After finding him stealing the tires off of the Batmobile, Bruce once again took a troubled youth under his wing and forged him into something stronger. Unfortunately, Jason's run as Robin came to a tragic end at the hands of the Joker. Later, though, Jason was revitalized by the Lazarus Pit and became the Red Hood.
Among the Robins, Jason was always the best fighter who took to inflicting violence more easily than the others. As the Red Hood, he has no qualms about taking lives or inflicting as much pain as possible. With his pure strength elevated by the properties of the Lazarus Pit, Jason is one of the strongest members of the Bat-Family, who throws down with Batman regularly.
3 Cassadra Cain
A Prodigy Born From Prodigies
- First Appearance: Batman #567
Cassandra is one of the deadliest fighters in the DC Universe, being the offspring of Lady Shiva and David Cain. With the most pristine genetics built for combat, Cassie has retained her mother and father's "gifts" that make them two of the most lethal assassins on the planet.
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Cassie's raw strength, even at her young age, is comparable to Batman's. Cassie was trained nearly from birth by her father, who forged her into a weapon that has been killing since she was eight. Cassie is undoubtedly the best fighter among the Bat-Family, but she can be overpowered.
2 Jean Paul Valley
A Product Of Genetic Engineering
- First Appearance: Batman: Sword of Azrael #1
Jean Paul Valley was the property of the Church of St. Dumas, a secret order that carried out assassinations for political and financial gains. Genetically engineered to be faster, stronger, and more durable than most peak human beings, Jean Paul is more comparable to a Talon but retains his humanity and mental awareness.
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Jean Paul Valley has accomplished countless feats that place him at the top, including defeating Bane in hand-to-hand combat. Jean Paul Valley has even bested Batman occasionally, but suffers from a fragile mental state, making him unreliable.
1 Batman
The Dark Knight Himself
- First Appearance: Detective Comics #27
Batman is the gold standard in the Bat-Family, who has turned his body into a machine that runs all night to face off against some of the most dastardly evil beings in Gotham City. Training since he was in his early twenties, Batman has gathered a number of skills and techniques to strengthen his body and mind.
More than his underlings, Batman treats his position like a necessity, not a job. Due to this, he maintains a particular physique that makes him capable of dealing with any number of situations, from prime assassins to super-powered meta-humans. Batman remains one of the most powerful figures in DC Comics in any universe.
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