Fans excitedly headed to theaters to see Michael Keaton reprise his iconic role as Bruce Wayne/Batman in 2023’s The Flash film. Tim Burton’s beloved take on the Dark Knight returned as an older version of Batman. He suited up once again to help the time-displaced Barry Allen save the world in a Flashpoint-inspired adaptation.
There have been a few different takes on older versions of Batman that have appeared in the comics over the years. An aged Bruce Wayne came out of retirement to take back his city as Batman in Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Paul Pope’s Batman: Year 100 followed the Dark Knight’s adventures in 2039 while Bruce Wayne trained his successor in Batman Beyond.
10 Superman/Batman: Generations
By John Byrne and Patricia Mulvihill
Legendary comic creator John Byrne explored an Elseworlds tale in Superman/Batman: Generations that allowed the iconic heroes to age in real-time. Starting with the character’s Golden Age debuts, the heroes aged together over the years as friends and allies.
Both Batman and Superman married and had children who carried on their legacies. When Bruce Wayne retired as Batman, Dick Grayson stepped into the role while Bruce Wayne, Jr. became Robin. Bruce Wayne, Sr. gained immortality from the Lazarus Pit and eventually returned to the role of Batman, aging slowly alongside his oldest friend as the universe’s protectors
9 Batman Beyond
By Bruce Timm, Hilary J. Bader, Rick Burchett, Terry Beatty, Lee Loughridge, and Tim Harkins
Based on the hit animated series, Batman Beyond explored Terry McGinnis's origins as the Batman of the Future. Set in the futuristic city of Neo-Gotham, McGinnis saved an elderly Bruce Wayne from an attack by a Joker-themed biker gang.
Terry discovered Wayne’s former secret identity as Batman and used an advanced batsuit from the Batcave to investigate his father’s murder. He started operating as the new Batman while Wayne monitored from behind the scenes at the Batcave. While the original Batman Beyond comic series adapted the animated series, later volumes carried the story further than the cartoon.
8 Batman: Year 100
By Paul Pope, José Villarrubia, Jared K. Fletcher, and John Workman
Set 100 years after Batman’s Golden Age debut in 1939, the Dark Knight still protects Gotham City. However, his city has become a violent police state where federal agents war against the police as they continue their ongoing manhunt for Batman.
In the dark dystopian world, the grandson of Commissioner Gordon investigated the return of the “Bat-Man of Gotham,” who shouldn’t still be able to perform 20-foot leaps between buildings at his age. Gordon eventually discovered the truth about the seemingly ageless Batman, which highlighted the character’s ongoing legacy even in a world with little hope for the future.
7 Batman: Superheavy
By Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, FCO Plascencia, and Steve Wands
Not every old Batman story takes place in alternate continuities or Elseworlds tales. Following the apparent death of both Batman and the Joker in the “Endgame” storyline, Powers International worked with the GCPD to create a new Batman for Gotham City.
They selected former Commissioner James Gordon to take over as the new Batman. While he wasn’t the oldest take on Batman fans had ever seen, Gordon was still pushing 50. Thankfully he had a powerful robotic suit of armor known as ”Rookie” to help him in the field. Bruce Wayne eventually returned, and Gordon resumed his former position as GCPD’s Commissioner.
6 Tales From The Dark Multiverse - Batman: Knightfall
By Scott Snyder, Kyle Higgins, Javi Fernandez, and Alex Guimarães
The Tales from the Dark Multiverse series explored tragic alternate realities where iconic events occurred very differently. While Bruce Wayne reclaimed his title from Azrael during the Knightfall event, it didn’t quite work out that way in the Dark Multiverse. Jean-Paul Valley beat Bruce Wayne in their climactic battle by breaking the former Batman’s back once again.
Azrael imprisoned Bruce Wayne for thirty torturous years and became known as Saint Batman. The Son of Bane freed Bruce Wayne and rebuilt his destroyed body with powerful nanobots. Wayne killed Saint Batman using his new nanotech body and became one of the darkest versions of Batman known as The Broken, Gotham City’s ageless and terrifying protector.
5 Kingdom Come
By Mark Waid, Alex Ross, and Todd Klein
The hit Kingdom Come miniseries explored a dark potential future for the DC universe. Years after a tragic disaster led to the Justice League’s disbandment, the aged heroes came out of retirement to fight back against the violent and destructive next generation of costumed heroes and villains.
However, not all of the returning heroes appeared to be on the same side. While Superman organized his own roster of heroes, Batman secretly struck at the villains operating behind the scenes before he formed his own Justice League. After years of injuries as the Dark Knight, Wayne required an armored exoskeleton that strengthened and supported him to continue fighting as Batman.
4 The Dark Knight Returns
By Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley
The dark future world of The Dark Knight Returns changed the landscape of the comics industry and introduced fans to an aged and violent take on Batman. Years after retiring, Bruce Wayne dived back into action as Batman to pull his city out of the gutter.
The Dark Knight Returns featured one of the oldest versions of Batman, though he still prevailed against his greatest enemies and new threats to Gotham. Frank Miller continued the story in comic series like The Dark Knight Strikes Again and The Dark Knight III: The Master Race, which explored the ongoing legacy of both Batman and Superman in Miller’s dystopian world.
3 Batman '66
By Jeff Parker, Jonathan Case, and Wes Abbott
The Batman ‘66 series featured new adventures set in the continuity of the classic Batman live-action TV series that started airing in 1966. Adam West and Burt Ward starred as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Dick Grayson/Robin in the fan-favorite TV series.
While Batman ‘66 doesn’t necessarily feature an older Batman in age, it does follow an older take on the character who became lovingly known as the “Bright Knight.” Inspired by the campy comics from the ‘50s and ‘60s, Batman ‘66 provides lighter stories from a classic era that stands out from the increasingly darker Batman stories.
2 “Better Days”
By Peter Tomasi, Ian Bertram, Dave Stewart, and Sal Cipriano
The New 52 reboot resulted in new volumes of long-running series like Action Comics and Detective Comics. When the second volume of Detective Comics #27 hit stores, it served as an anniversary issue for the character that featured an old Batman story.
Bruce Wayne celebrated his 75th birthday surrounded by his closest friends and loved ones. They arrived in costume to honor their mentor and highlight the ongoing legacy of the Batman Family. When they are all called into action, Wayne decided to secretly suit back up as Batman and enjoy a night of crime fighting to help his family keep Gotham City safe for one more night.
1 Flashpoint
By Geoff Johns, Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, and Alex Sinclair
2023’s The Flash loosely adapted Barry Allen’s ill-fated attempt to alter time from 2011’s Flashpoint event. In the comics, Flash’s manipulation of the timestream completely changed the world and altered established heroes like Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Batman.
In the Flashpoint timeline, Bruce Wayne was shot and killed in Crime Alley instead of his parents. Thomas Wayne dedicated his life to violently stopping criminals as an older Batman, while the loss of young Bruce shattered Martha Wayne and turned her into Joker. Flashpoint’s hardened Batman became popular among fans and survived past the end of the alternate timeline.