The Most Terrifying Versions of Batman in Elseworlds Stories
Batman has always embodied fear, striking terror into Gotham’s criminals. But in DC’s
Elseworlds stories, where alternate realities and timelines reimagine the Dark Knight; he
sometimes becomes a true nightmare. Whether transformed into a monstrous entity or
embracing brutal extremes, these Batmen go far beyond the hero we know.
From vampiric hunters to ruthless warlords, these are the most terrifying versions of Batman
in Elseworlds stories.
- Batman the Vampire – Batman & Dracula: Red Rain
(1991–1999)
One of the most infamous Elseworlds stories, Red Rain reimagines Batman as a vampire after
battling Dracula. At first, he attempts to control his bloodlust while using his new powers to
fight crime. However, as the trilogy (Bloodstorm and Crimson Mist) progresses, he fully
succumbs to his hunger, slaughtering his enemies in increasingly gruesome ways.
This version of Batman is terrifying because he eventually embraces his monstrous nature,
murdering Gotham’s criminals with no restraint. By the end, he’s barely even Batman, just a
bloodthirsty, undead predator.
- Owlman – JLA: Earth 2 (2000)
On an alternate Earth ruled by the villainous Crime Syndicate, Batman’s counterpart,
Owlman, is a cold-blooded crime lord. Unlike Bruce Wayne, this Batman is Thomas Wayne
Jr., his older brother, who embraced a life of evil.
Owlman is terrifying because he lacks any of Batman’s moral restrictions. He’s a calculating
sociopath who enjoys manipulating and controlling others. His version of Gotham is under
his absolute rule, proving that without Bruce’s strong moral code, Batman could become one
of the most dangerous criminals in existence.
- Batman as Darkseid’s Enforcer – Superman/Batman:
Absolute Power (2005)
In this timeline, Batman and Superman are raised by time-traveling tyrants, shaping them into
brutal conquerors. This version of Batman serves Darkseid, acting as an unrelenting enforcer
with no regard for human life.
What makes this Batman so horrifying is how completely he’s abandoned his usual
principles. He murders with impunity and sees himself as above the people he once swore to
protect. A Batman without restraint, completely loyal to an evil regime, is one of the most
dangerous versions of the character ever imagined.
- The Batman Who Laughs – Dark Nights: Metal (2017)
A nightmare version of Batman from the Dark Multiverse, The Batman Who Laughs is what
happens when Bruce Wayne is infected with Joker toxin, warping his mind into something
truly monstrous. He retains Batman’s intelligence but has Joker’s psychotic unpredictability.
This version of Batman is terrifying because he represents Bruce Wayne’s worst-case
scenario: all his tactical genius used purely for chaos. He spreads corruption, manipulates
even the strongest heroes and turns entire worlds into hellscapes.
- Batman the Tyrant – Batman: In Darkest Knight (1994)
What if Batman became Green Lantern? In this Elseworlds story, Bruce Wayne receives
Abin Sur’s power ring instead of Hal Jordan. However, his obsession with justice quickly
spirals into authoritarian control.
This Batman is terrifying because he believes in absolute order, at any cost. When the
Guardians question his methods; he kills them and takes control of the universe. His fall from
hero to dictator is a chilling reminder of how easily power can corrupt, even someone as
disciplined as Bruce Wayne.
- Thomas Wayne’s Batman – Flashpoint (2011)
In the Flashpoint universe, Bruce Wayne is the one who dies in Crime Alley, and his father,
Thomas Wayne, becomes Batman instead. However, this Batman is fueled by rage and grief,
willing to kill without hesitation.
Thomas Wayne’s Batman is terrifying because he completely abandons the ideals of the
original. He brutally executes criminals and relies on extreme violence. Without Bruce’s
restraint, Batman becomes little more than a ruthless executioner.
- Batman the Warlock – Batman: Castle of the Bat (1995)
This gothic horror story reimagines Batman as a twisted take on Victor Frankenstein. Bruce
Wayne, a scientist dabbling in dark magic, resurrects his father using a monstrous fusion of
body parts and sorcery.
This Batman is terrifying because he isn’t a hero, he’s a mad scientist obsessed with
conquering death. His grotesque experiments create horrors instead of preventing crime,
making this one of the most chilling interpretations of the Dark Knight.
- Leatherwing – Batman: Leatherwing (1994)
In this swashbuckling Elseworlds tale, Batman is reimagined as a brutal pirate captain known
as Leatherwing. While he retains some of Bruce Wayne’s sense of justice, his methods are far
more violent, with executions and betrayals being a normal part of his rule.
Leatherwing is terrifying because he is completely untamed. He operates by his own moral
code, but his world is one of bloodshed and ruthless revenge. Unlike Gotham’s Batman, this
one has no laws holding him back.
- Azrael as Batman – Knightfall (1993–1994)
While not an Elseworlds story, the period where Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael) replaces Bruce
Wayne as Batman is one of the most horrifying alternate takes on the character. Trained as an
assassin, Azrael lacks Bruce’s restraint and soon turns Gotham into his personal battleground.
This Batman is terrifying because he doesn’t just beat criminals, he brutalizes them. He
builds a more lethal Batsuit, refuses to hold back in fights, and even endangers innocent
people. His rule as Batman proves that the wrong person under the cowl can turn Gotham
into a warzone.
- Batman the God – Justice League: The Darkseid War
(2015)
During The Darkseid War, Batman sits on Metron’s Mobius Chair, gaining omniscience and
godlike power. Instead of using this knowledge responsibly, he becomes a cold, detached
figure who rules Gotham through fear and surveillance.
This Batman is terrifying because he embodies the ultimate loss of humanity. With unlimited
knowledge, he no longer sees people as individuals, only as problems to be solved. In his
pursuit of absolute justice, he eliminates personal freedoms, proving that even the best
intentions can lead to tyranny.
