Bam Smack Pow
Fansided

19 of the weirdest Batman stories ever told in Batman comics

By FanSided

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Batman costume from the 2012 Dark Knight Rises film worn by Christian Bale and designed by Lindy Hemming is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Batman costume from the 2012 Dark Knight Rises film worn by Christian Bale and designed by Lindy Hemming is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 20
Next
Batman Forever, Schumacher Cut, Batman, comic, Gotham Knights
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: A Batman costume from the 1995 Batman Forever film worn by Val Kilmer and designed by Rob Ringwood and Ingrid Ferrin is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) /

Think Batman is the moodiest man in Gotham? Think again. Here are 19 comics that show the Dark Knight can be very strange indeed.

Chances are good that you know Batman as the Dark Knight, the grim emissary of all things gritty and bleak. It’s no surprise, given how works by comics writer Frank Miller and film director Christopher Nolan have enjoyed tremendous success.

But, like any character that’s been around for more than 80 years, there’s a lot more to Batman than weighty monologues delivered in the drizzling rain. He’s got plenty to cry about, but maybe even more things that would cause old Bruce Wayne to laugh or at least shrug in confusion. Truth be told, Batman can get downright weird.

Think about it. Batman’s whole concept revolves around his fixation on bats. He’s clearly very traumatized by the violent deaths of his parents. Coupled with fantastic riches and a surprising lack of mental health support for a young trust fund kid, and you’ve got a recipe for one of the strangest vigilantes ever.

Yes, it’s true that Batman (who’s really Gotham billionaire Bruce Wayne) is a darn good crime fighter. He’s an even better detective and a clearly dedicated gym-goer. But, for all of the times that he was an upstanding member of the Justice League or put the Joker back into Arkham Asylum, Batman also has a rainbow batsuit. Or a zebra one. Or a suit that is glowing green from radiation and needs to be covered in mummy bandages.

Some of the examples that follow are clearly tongue-in-cheek. Others, however, are the result of a strange confluence of writers, cultural trends, and a major force known as the Comics Code Authority.

Before you dive in, a quick warning: some of these entries contain spoilers. It’s occasionally necessary to explain the plot of a story, or why, exactly, Batman is wearing a parti-colored suit and hallucinating something known as a “Bat-Mite.” However, none of them should be enough to ruin your enjoyment of some of the strangest, most utterly weird stories to ever take on the Batman himself.

This article originally appeared on Culturess and is written by Sarah Crocker.

Home/Batman