On a recent episode of the TBU Podcast (Episode 259: Revisiting ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ Comic & Adaptation), Scott and I were discussing The Dark Knight Returns and the epic moment of Batman defeating the Mutant Leader in the mudhole. I called it a Top 5 badass Batman moment, and thus an idea for a new TBU Five Things was born. Let’s waste no more time, and get into the rest of these incredible moments!
“This isn’t a mudhole… it’s an operating table.” Image: DC Comics
#1. “This is an operating table.” (The Dark Knight Returns)
Let’s start with the badass Batman moment that kicked this idea off. We get old Batman taking on the Mutant Leader in front of all his cronies in The Dark Knight Returns. Earlier in the story, the Mutant Leader thoroughly dusted Batman and would’ve killed him if not for Carrie Kelly Robin saving him at the last second. Old man Bruce needed to get his revenge and make a statement to Gotham and the mutants that he is still top dog. We all know that Batman can beat anybody if he has enough prep time. This time, Batman leads the Leader to a mudhole to slow him down and systematically pick him apart. A shot to the nerve clusters, some acid in the face, and then, finally, Batman breaks his legs. Batman is doing this all while telling the Mutant Leader that “This isn’t a mudhole, it’s an operating table. And I’m the surgeon.” Just Grade A trash-talk from Batman.
#2. The No-Look Punch
This is a common thing we see throughout Batman media. Oftentimes, it’s when Batman clears out a room of thugs and then one stands up and tries a sneak attack on Batman. The result is usually the same, with Batman just delivering a no-look knockout punch. We saw it in Batman ‘89, Mask of the Phantasm, The Killing Joke, and probably a million times throughout the years. It’s the superhero equivalent of a no look pass and Batman has perfected it.
#3. “You’re not the devil, you’re just practice.” (Batman Begins)
Maybe a cheat because he’s not Batman yet, but this moment comes from Batman Begins. Bruce Wayne is traveling the world and, at one point, is in a prison. One of the prisoners tries to pick a fight with Bruce and calls himself a devil. Bruce responds with the above quote and proceeds to take on a whole bunch of prisoners by himself. The guards come in and take Bruce away, stating that it’s for protection. Bruce says he doesn’t need any, but the guard responds with “Protection for them!” and then we see a field of prisoners knocked out and licking their wounds. It’s a great moment that introduces the idea that the fight scenes that Christopher Nolan will direct will be much different than the previous Batman films.
“One More Time.” Image: DC Comics
#4. “One more time.” (Batman: Knightfall)
Knightfall is one of the all time Batman stories. It’s an epic in which we see Batman get his back broken and then fight to take back the mantle of the Bat. This badass Batman moment that I picked comes from the end of the first part of Knightfall. After going through a gauntlet and fighting every enemy that he has ever put away in Arkham, an exhausted Bruce comes home to find Bane, the cause of all the madness in Gotham City, inside Wayne Manor. It’s a shocking moment that leads to Bruce telling Bane that he’s sick of the madness and the death and the blood and that Bane may be his single greatest foe. “And in that case… one more time” as Bruce puts his cowl on and leaps into battle.
If this was some fantasy story, the crowd would cheer, and Batman would summon up the strength to beat Bane. But this is not that story. The hype from the badass moment goes away as Bane beats down Batman and finally breaks his back. I really love that moment of “one more time” and then the leap into battle. It’s badass even though the tide quickly turns.
Chicken soup is the cure for the common cold. Image: Warner Bros.#5. Beating Mr. Freeze With Soup (Batman: The Animated Series)
In “Heart of Ice,” one of the all-time episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, we get the introduction of Mr. Freeze with a brand new origin that takes the character from just a guy with freeze gun to a villain with a tragic backstory. Batman has been fighting a cold throughout the episode, and Freeze has Batman on the ropes late in the game until Batman remembers that Alfred gave him a thermos filled with hot chicken soup. A smash on Mr. Freeze’s helmet, and our dear Dark Knight has won again. In a lesser episode with poor writing, it could have been seen as goofy, but for some reason, it works here. Has your favorite hero ever beaten someone with chicken soup? Didn’t think so. Batman is badass.
There you have it. Five badass Batman moments. This list could have been greater because let’s face it, Batman is a badass and has been taking criminals to task for over 85 years.
