#ComicBytes: Five times Batman became 'superpowered'
Batman or Bruce Wayne holds a unique position in DC's superhero-verse. He is one of the few characters who take on extremely powerful villains using only his brilliant planning and resourceful technology. Despite this, he emerges victorious in most of his confrontations. Now, imagine what would happen if the caped crusader got superpowers! Here we look at five times Batman became 'superpowered'.
A 1991 Batman story saw the Dark Knight unable to save a drowning girl because of his physical limitations. As a result, he starts taking designer steroids. While they make him superpowered, he also becomes more aggressive and violent. He soon gives up his habit and turns it into an effective, injectable serum. Ironically, this becomes venom, the drug powering Batman's nemesis, Bane.
The White Power Ring is presumed to be one of the strongest in DC Universe. It is also the third, apart from the Green and Yellow rings to choose Batman. In one of the comics, Batman is believed to be worthy of being the permanent bearer of the White Ring. Upon wearing it, he gains awareness of all universal connections and life's meaning.
In the 1999 'Superman & Batman: Generations' story by John Byrne, the heroes of Justice League aged as their children picked up their mantle. With Bruce Wayne Jr. having donned the caped crusader's mask, he comes across a man who is revealed to be Bruce Wayne, the original Batman. It turns out that Bruce had entered the Lazarus Pit, granting him immortality.
The combination of Batman's brains and Superman's brawn is every criminal's worst nightmare. This is what happened in a 2008 story when Batman was fighting the Silver Banshee. He magically imbues all of Superman's powers and goes on an unhinged rampage against criminals. Notably, he almost killed Bane with a single punch. He was stopped by Superman who located and neutralized the mystical totem.
Batman's power is knowledge, it seems fitting that his strongest superpower was absolute knowledge. During a fight against Darkseid, Batman manages to sit on the Mobius Chair which gives him all knowledge of the cosmos. He can predict all outcomes of battles, making him an unbeatable tactician. Notably, this is when he uncovered the Joker's identity though it was never revealed to readers.
