Tue Aug 26, 2008 — by Alan Kistler

ComicMix Six: Batman's Super-Powers

Some interesting times when Bruce Wayne became more than mortal

There's an upcoming story in the Superman/Batman title that will involve our long-eared Dark Knight getting superhuman abilities (albeit, temporarily). Writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson have been doing great work on the title, so this promises to be an entertaining tale.

But did you know that this won't be the first time Batman has been given super-human talents? Oh, yes. You see, although hailed for his keen intellect, strategic brilliance and Olympian athletic prowess, there have been times when Batman, through accident or design, has aquired superhuman traits. More times than we can put on this list, frankly.

So here are just some of the more interesting adventures that have occurred when Bruce Wayne wound up gifted with "power and abilities far beyond those of mortal men."

PLEASE NOTE: I am not including times where Batman used technology to help him out, such as a suit of armor or a rocket pack or New God weapons. Nor am I including times when he got powers for only a few pages, such as when he borrowed Hawkman's wing-harness and Nth metal belt (which grants accelerated healing, increased strength and flight) or the time that Hal Jordan let him try on his Green Lantern power ring for a minute. Those times may have been cool, but they lasted for only a scene rather than a fully story. Likewise, I am not including any Elseworlds tales.

 

"THE ZEBRA BATMAN"

From Detective Comics # 275 (1960).

In this tale, Batman and Robin fought a villain called the Zebra-Man, who got magnetic powers thanks to a machine (just like a REAL zebra). But then Batman accidentally activated the same device and became a "Zebra Batman."

Along with a bizarre new appearance (amazing how these kinda of accidents also affect your clothing, isn't it?), Batman now had the ability to manipulate magnetic forces. Sadly, he couldn't control this ability at all and was concerned that he was now too dangerous to be around people. It was quite a hassle for him before he finally got himself cured. But hey, it could've been worse. He could've been transformed into the Turtle Batman or the Platypus Batman.

Come to think of it, how can you name yourself after TWO animals? Isn't that just greedy? Unless there's actually a species of zebra bat out there that has escaped my notice. Hmmm. Something to investigate later ...

 

 

"THE EIGHTH WONDER OF SPACE"

From Batman #140 (1961).

Batman adopted the guise of a Bat to strike terror into the hearts of criminals. You can imagine how much creepier he would look if he had ... green skin and antennae?

After an encounter with some strange aliens, Batman and Robin found themselves temporarily mutated into copies of these particular extra-terrestrials. Along with green skin and an bug-like appearance, they also developed telekinetic abilities.

Of course, this played havoc with their secret identities. Bruce Wayne's immediate concern was how he was supposed to show up for his date with Kathy Kane when he looked like a buggy Martian. Which just goes to show you that super-powers ain't worth it if you can't get the ladies.

Thankfully, this transformation was only temporary and did not force Bruce Wayne to give up his reputation as a cool playboy.

 

 

"THE FLAME-MASTER"

From Detective Comics #308 (1962).

Pete Dale was a petty thief and certainly no match for the Dark Knight. But then he came across from Native American relics that had been used by a shaman. With these relics, Dale suddenly had control over the four elements of earth, wind, air and fire and he set off on a crime spree under the new alias of the Flame-Master (perhaps not the wisest name choice, but this guy wasn't a rocket scientist, folks).

When Batman encountered Dale, it looked like the criminal was now too powerful to simply trap or knock out with a batarang. And along with his new magic powers, Dale also had a gang of hoods who followed his every command, making him fairly formidable.

Bruce could've called Metropolis and asked Superman for help. But our boy prefers to tackle things on his own. So instead, Batman grabbed the relics and pulled the same trick, transforming himself into an elemental being and leaving us with one of the most memorable Detective Comics covers around.

 

 

"BATMAN-SUPERMAN OF PLANET X"

This story came out in Batman #113 (1958) and has influenced some of Grant Morrison's current storyline in Batman.

On the distant planet of Zur-En-Arrh, located on the other end of the galaxy, a scientist named Tlano watched Batman's adventures on Earth through a powerful telescope. So impressed was he that he became his own version of Batman to help the people of his planet, creating his own lair and Bat-vehicles and also donning a rather bizarre color-clashing costume that mimicked the Dark Knight of Gotham.

But the day came when Zur-En-Arrh was being invaded by alien warriors. The planet's forces couldn't handle the invasion and so Tlano decided to call on his hero, teleporting the real Batman onto this planet and asking the guy for his help. Bruce agreed and they went into action.

The real surprise came when Batman discovered that he now had super-powers. It turned out that the environment of Zur-En-Arrh affected Earthmen in a similar way to how Earth affects Kryptonians, and so Batman suddenly found himself gifted with great strength, flight and near invulnerability. Armed with these new abilities, Batman was able to fight off a full-scale alien invasion all by his lonesome, no help from Superman or the Justice League required. And that's just a great addition to your resume as a super-hero.

At the end of the adventure, Batman was returned to Earth, of course, and Tlano of Zur-En-Arrh gave him his "Bat Radia" as a going away present, a device that was said to be able to "jam atmospheric molecules." I assume Bruce used it as a paper weight.

Interesting little tid-bit here, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh was actually the first character to wear a yellow ellipse around the bat-symbol on his costume. Bruce himself didn't add the yellow elipse until the sixties. And aside from this adventure, Batman would have several others in which he and Superman temporarily switched physical abilities or even bodies, such as World's Finest #14 and the one-shot JLA: Foreign Bodies.

 

 

"THE BIZARRE BATMAN GENIE"

From Detective Comics #322 (1963). The title says it all.

Gotham City was enjoying a fairly usual night. Crooks were around every corner and Batman, Robin and Bat-Girl were doing what they do best, chasing criminals and what not. But then a strange turn of events and exposure to magical dust led the Dark Knight to being transformed into a mystical genie with seemingly no limit to his wish-granting abilities.

Worse yet, the lamp he was attached to was in the hands of a group of hoods, and so Batman, that great crime fighter and champion of justice, was forced to perform magic spells in service to criminals.

I want you to re-read that last paragraph and understand the sheer hilarity of it all. Don't you miss the sixties now? Hmm?

And really, the cover to Detective Comics #322 is one of the greatest comic covers in existence. Don't you think the next Batman movie poster should be modeled after this? Maybe in the next film, we can convince Christian Bale to put a turban on over his cowl.

Hey, it could happen, people!

 

 

BATMAN: Venom

Okay, we have to at least have one serious story on the list.

Written by ComicMix's own Dennis O'Neil (one of the big-wigs of Batman storytelling, mind you), this story took place during the early years of Batman's career. After failing to save the life of a young child, and aware of the increasing presence of super-villains and other situations a utility belt just wouldn't be enough to handle, Bruce decided he needed an edge. He went to a scientist who had been experimenting on creating enhanced soldiers and offered Batman a chemical code-named: Venom.

After taking a few Venom tablets, Batman found himself blessed with super-human strength and resiliency. But after a while, it affected his mind as well, causing him to become more aggressive and prone to baser instincts rather than using his brain. By the time Batman realized the drugs were having an adverse affect, he was already addicted and now had to face the dark road back to sanity and health.

Although he would beat this addiction, Bruce was not free from the presence of Venom in his life. Years later, a new and improved version of the drug would give rise to the villain Bane, the man who would later break the Bat in Knightfall. 

So that about does it for our list. Hope you enjoyed it and be on the look-out for future ComicMix Six posts! Cheers!

 

For more ComicMix Six lists, be sure to visit our ComicMix Six Archive!

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Alan Kistler once visited Zur-En-Arrh but was asked to leave when he kept making fun of everyone's fashion sense. He has been recognized by Warner Bros. Pictures and mainstream media outlets such as the New York Daily News as a comic book historian, and can be seen in the "Special Features" sections of the Adventures of Aquaman and Justice League: New Frontier DVDs. His personal website can be found at: KistlerUniverse.com. One of these days he'd love to write for DC or Marvel.

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