As one of the most iconic DC superheroes, Batman has the reputation of being a loner. The Cape Crusader has unraveled many mysteries, solved many crimes, and confronted Gotham’s villains by himself on countless occasions. But he also did the same many times over with fellow superheroes such as Superman and Wonder Woman and many more with his found family that readers affectionately called The Bat Family.
What is the Bat Family, you ask? You may have noticed that there are a whole lot of crimefighters in Gotham City to resolve cases and stop criminals. Those vigilantes, whether trained by The Dark Knight himself or operating in Gotham with his implicit approval, are generally Batman’s closest allies, constituting The Bat Family.
Referred to at times as the Gotham Knights, the Bat Family is an informal name, and there is no official first appearance although we could argue that the earliest appearance would be with the introduction of Robin in Detective Comics #38 (April 1940).
Follow the guide as we introduce you to the members of one of the most important families of the DC Universe!
The Core Members of The Bat Family
This section includes characters that are considered the “main” members of the Bat Family.
Bruce Wayne
Batman/The Dark Knight
A wealthy American industrialist, Bruce Wayne is a Master martial artist and Expert detective, with a genius level intellectual and the pinnacle of human physical condition. As Batman, he acts as the protector of Gotham City, fighting crime and corruption while relying on his intellect, fighting skills, and wealth to stop the many villains of the City. A symbol of Justice, he’s a founding member of the Justice League and The Outsiders.
Alfred Pennyworth
Behind the most iconic superhero of Gotham City stands The Butler. Serving as an ally and a father figure for most members of the Bat Family, Alfred Pennyworth took care of Bruce following the murders of his parents, becoming his indispensable advisor and surrogate father. The voice of reason, Pennyworth is an unsung hero in the battle against crime in Gotham City.
View our selection of the best Alfred Pennyworth Comics
Richard John “Dick” Grayson
Robin / Nightwing
Taken in by Bruce Wayne after becoming an orphaned child acrobat, Dick Grayson first helped Batman in his crusade as the Original Robin and even temporarily served as Batman when Bruce was mission/considered dead. But Dick is mostly known these days as “Nightwing“, one of the most revered superheroes in the DC Community, the leader of the Titans, and a force for good.
Barbara Joan Gordon
Batgirl II / Oracle
Barbara Gordon started her vigilante career as Batgirl not long after Robin’s debut. The daughter of Gotham police commissioner Jim Gordon, she quickly demonstrated her intelligence and combat skills, becoming one of Batman’s most trustee allies. After she was left paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair by the Joker, Barbara Gordon transformed herself and became Oracle, using technology and computers to help fight crimes. Today, with the help of a neural implant, Barbara Gordon can once again fight crimes in the street. She is also one of the founders of the Birds of Prey.
Jason Peter Todd
Robin II / Red Hood
The Black Sheep of The Wayne Family, Jason Todd was a street kid who was caught trying to steal the Batmobile’s tires. Batman saw potential in him and took him under his wing as the second Robin. The troubled kid would grow up to become Red Hood, an anti-heroic figure at odds with Batman and his allies’ method, after being murdered by the Joker and brought back to life by Talia al Ghul. As an underrated vigilante, Red Hood is the leader of the Outlaws.
Timothy Jackson “Tim” Drake
Robin III / Red Robin
Tim Drake is the Robin who chose to become Batman’s sidekick, convinced that “Batman needs a Robin”. He stands out as the Robin the most gifted as a detective, with his sharp analytic mind and his talents as a strategist and tactician. Formed in combat by Batman and Nightwing, he became one of Batman’s best assets and one of the founders of the Young Justice.
Stephanie Brown
Spoiler /Robin IV / Batgirl IV
Stephanie began her career as a vigilant when she chose to “spoil” things for her father, the supervillain Cluemaster. Determined to make a difference, she chose to fight criminals as Spoiler, while developing a relationship with Robin. Though Batman hasn’t always been kind to her, this didn’t stop her and she even had a brief stint as Robin. Now, she is one of the Batgirls protecting Gotham City.
Katherine Rebecca “Kate” Kane
Batwoman
Coming from a military background, Kate Kane has been trained in various combat disciplines and decided to operate as the vigilante Batwoman at a time when Batman was missing. Like her cousin Bruce Wayne, Kate Kane is a socialite by day and a vigilante by night, fighting for Gotham and the world. Though not as close to Batman as other members of the family, Kate Kane uses her skills and resources to serve and preserve the Bat’s legacy.
Damian Wayne
Robin V
The son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul and thus the grandson of Batman villain Ra’s al Ghul, Damian Wayne was raised to become a great warrior (and murderer). His destiny was changed when he entered his father’s life and family. Damian chose a different path than the one chosen for him and took the mantle of Robin. As dedicated and obstinate as his father, he used his lethal skills to help Batman in his crusade against crime. He’s also one of the Super Sons!
Cassandra Cain
Batgirl III / Orphan / Black Bat
Like Damian Wayne, Cassandra Cain was raised by assassins to be a perfect warrior. Deprived of her speech to make her a martial arts prodigy, Cassandra Cain joined the Bat Family as Batgirl during the No Man’s Land event. She would later operate as Black Cat, then Orphan before acting as one of the Batgirl again. But whatever her alias, Cassandra Cain is the most lethal member of the Batman Family.
Duke Thomas
The Signal
A recent addition to the Bat Family, Duke Thomas joined the ‘We Are Robin’ movement after the loss of his parents’ sanity at the hands of the Joker. Later, Batman offered to train him, and Duke took the moniker of “The Signal“, becoming the daytime protector of Gotham.
The Extended Bat Family
This section includes characters that are considered part of the extended Bat Family. They are close to Batman, but don’t always invited to a family gathering!
Lucas “Luke” Fox
Batwing
Though Luke Fox has inherited his father’s intellect and business skills, he wanted to help Batman fight crime in a more direct approach. This ambition became a reality when he was recruited to become the new Batwing. An accomplished boxer and mixed martial arts fighter., Luke Fox uses his engineering skills to stand out from other vigilantes of Gotham City with his highly technological suit and cutting-edge gadgets.
Selina Kyle
Catwoman
Catwoman has played the dual role of both a formidable enemy to the Bat and his most enduring love interest. Beneath the mask is Selina Kyle, a cat burglar with her own moral code, evolving from her antagonistic roots to a position closer to that of an antiheroine ready to rob Gotham’s upper class. As a skilled gymnast and strategist, Selina Kyle is a resourceful character with the ability to gracefully navigate the complex spectrum between criminality and vigilantism in Gotham.
Terrance “Terry” McGinnis
Batman Beyond
In a futuristic version of Gotham, Terry McGinnis assumes the mantle of the new Batman, mentored by an elderly Bruce Wayne. Terry had a rough youth and would admit he was once a “bad kid.” Armed with pre-existing combat skills and further honed by Batman’s training, Terry also enjoys a cutting-edge Batsuit and an array of cool gadgets. With those abilities, Terry possesses a knack for delivering witty comments.
Jean-Paul Valley
Azrael
Jean-Paul Valley was a Gotham University graduate student when his father died and made him his successor in the Sacred Order of St. Dumas. Though he took the Batman name for a short time, he is known to be the first character to assume the identity of Azrael, an antihero and a conflicted warrior who fights his violent nature and the twisted sense of justice forced on him by his indoctrination in the Order.
Helena Bertinelli
Huntress
There is more than one black sheep within the Batfamily. If Jason Todd often assumes this role, he shares the distinction with Helena Bertinelli. Born in one of the most influential mafia families, Helena became a ruthless vigilante, ready to do justice by any means necessary. Unsurprisingly, Batman does not agree with all of her unorthodox methods! As time progressed, Helena learned to temper her approaches and she even became a member of the Justice League and the Birds of Prey.
Harper Row
Bluebird
Harper Row was added to the Batfamily during the New 52 era. Raised in a rough part of Gotham City alongside her younger brother and with an abusive father, Harper Row cultivated a talent for repairing things to ensure the functionality of the family’s electronics. This helped her to find a job as an electrical engineer. In a turn of events, Harper chooses to become Bluebird to assist Batman in repayment for protecting her brother and her from an assault.
Minhkhoa “Khoa” Khan
Ghost-Maker
The son of a wealthy Singaporean business owner, Ghost-Maker is a hedonistic man, an arrogant rich sociopath who has trained with several of Batman’s mentors around the world. For him, crimefighting is an art instead of a mission or a duty. He enters the scene as a man convinced that he is better than Batman, devoid of a moral code, and won’t shy away from killing someone if he deems it necessary. For whatever reason, he became friends with Batman and the mentor of Clownhunter, as well as the new leader of Batman Incorporated.