Random Worst Things That Have Ever Happened To Batman (20 items)

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  (#4) He Was Slain And Brought Back To Life Repeatedly By 'Emperor Joker'

  The 2000 Superman-based crossover storyline "Superman: Emperor Joker" doesn't have all that much to do with the Caped Crusader. The story surrounds the Joker after he obtains the ability to alter reality after duping Mister Mxyzptlk, the supremely powerful trickster villain who has been a comedic thorn in Superman's side for decades. Batman is shunted off to the side here, though his torment at the hands of the Joker is no laughing matter.

  At one point, Superman finds the corpse of the Dark Knight and throws together a makeshift grave for his close friend. Batman eventually bursts through the freshly packed soil and reveals the truth to the Man of Steel: the Joker torments him to death every day and every night he comes back to life to do it all over again. "I've reached the point... where I've come to doubt my own existence," he explains to Superman.

  Talk about breaking the Bat.
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  (#11) He Was Held Captive And Psychologically Tormented For A Week By The Court Of Owls

  When DC relaunched their universe line-wide with 2011's New 52 initiative, Scott Snyder was brought on board to head up the ongoing Batman title. Snyder started his run off with a bang, introducing the shadowy Court of Owls to the Bat-canon and grounding the hero after Morrison's more experimental run on the character.

  At one point early in Snyder's run, the Court of Owls traps the Dark Knight in an underground maze designed to ensnare and mentally break their foes. Batman spends over a week lost in the labyrinth without food and begins to hallucinate due to malnutrition. Of course, this being Batman, our hero eventually escapes the clutches of the Owls and rallies the Bat-Family against their bid to take full control of Gotham City.
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  (#1) His Mentor And Oldest Friend, Alfred, Had His Neck Snapped

  Tom King's final twist of the knife before riding off into the sunset came in 2019's Batman #77, where Bane takes out Batman's trusted confidant Alfred Pennyworth in front of Damian Wayne's eyes. Alfred pleads with Bane, "not in front of the boy." With an unmerciful twist of his arms, Bane snaps the neck of Bruce's oldest friend.

  When Bruce discovers the body of Alfred in Batman #83, he is beside himself with pain. As tears come to his face, he can barely utter a word. Though some fans assumed Alfred wasn't really gone or, at least, wouldn't be for long, DC seemingly solidified the passing of the butler with 2020's Batman: Pennyworth R.I.P.
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  (#20) Darkseid's Omega Beams Sent Him Back In Time

  Grant Morrison and J. G. Jones's major 2008 crossover event Final Crisis was billed with the tagline "Heroes Die. Legends Live Forever." It was clear to readers that this event was going to have a major impact on the status quo of the DC Universe, and for a little while, it seemed like DC had let Morrison knock off the Batman.

  Batman faces Darkseid with a firearm in tow in Final Crisis #6, breaking his promise to never use one: "I made a very solemn vow about firearms. But for you, I'm making a once-in-a lifetime exception." Darkseid responds by firing his Omega Beams at the Dark Knight. This seemingly ends Batman, though it is revealed in the very next issue that Wayne has actually been sent back in time.
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  (#8) The Joker Kidnapped The Entire Bat-Family

  The Joker is probably the most famous villain in popular culture this side of Darth Vader. His own movie grossed over a billion dollars at the worldwide box office in 2019 and his antics have delighted fans of comics, television, and film for decades. In light of this popularity, it can be easy to forget just how sadistic and truly bonkers the villain can get.

  During Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman "Endgame" storyline, the Joker kidnaps the Bat-Family and seemingly separates the skin from their faces and serves it to them at a dinner table. This is just a ruse, though, and he proceeds to try to burn them all alive. This doesn't come to pass, but the event highlighted that not even the Bat-Family themselves were safe from the Joker's antics.
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  (#9) Catwoman Left Him At The Altar

  The first big heartbreak of Tom King's landmark run on Batman came with the 50th issue where Bruce Wayne is set to marry Selina Kyle, AKA Catwoman. King had spent dozens of issues building up the pair's relationship and DC had heavily promoted the wedding with numerous Prelude to the Wedding one-shots being released.

  But Selina leaves Bruce waiting at the altar alone with a comment from the Joker festering in her mind. In Batman #49, the Joker tells Selina, "He can't be happy. And also be Batman."

  This idea, that Selena and Bruce's marriage would stop him from fully committing to his life as Batman, is ultimately what stops their relationship in its tracks.

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