While Batman is the most prominent hero of Gotham City, he's far from the only one. Even outside his trusted Bat-Family of heroes such as Robin, Nightwing and Batgirl, there are many superheroes and vigilantes who operate outside the Dark Knight's network, and wouldn't have it any other way.
Gotham seems to be a breeding ground for super-powered criminals and costumed villains, always hatching some scheme or other, so it’s a good thing there are so many heroes running around the city to lend a hand, even if Batman may not approve. While the Dark Knight considers Gotham "his" city, there are heroes who disagree, and fight to hold back the night whether Bruce Wayne likes it or not. Here are the twelve best Gotham vigilantes who would never dream of wearing a Bat symbol.
12 Ragman
Rory Regan is a prime example of a hero who operates in Gotham without Batman’s approval. A veteran who returned home to his father’s junk shop, he eventually gained a suit made of old rags, each of which holds the soul of an evildoer. He eventually began to lose control of his Suit of Souls in Batman #551-552, which saw Rory return to the city after a prolonged absence. With the help of Batman and an old Rabbi friend, Rory was eventually able to regain control of his Ragman suit, growing in power to become one of the DC Universe’s most powerful mystic heroes and a frequent ally of the Justice League Dark.
11 The Creeper
Reporter Jack Ryder’s chemical transformation into the yellow-skinned Creeper eerily recalls the Joker’s origin, so it’s understandable that Batman would want to hold the erratic hero at arm’s length. It hasn’t stopped him from accepting the Creeper’s assistance on multiple occasions, though, as Ryder has proved to be an invaluable ally in the past. With heightened strength, speed and agility, the Creeper is more than able to handle even the toughest villains in Gotham, and recent additions to his power set include a hypnotic laugh that induces terror and pain in his opponents.
10 Azrael
Azrael initially operated with Batman's blessing, to the extent that Bruce selected him to be his replacement after Bane broke the Bat's back in the seminal Knightfall crossover. Becoming the new Batman proved to be too much for Jean-Paul Valley, who found himself lost in the "System" - the brainwashing he experienced from birth from the Order of St. Dumas to become a deadly assassin. Valley was eventually defeated by a healed Bruce Wayne, and went back to his Azrael identity shortly thereafter. While Batman was always there to help, he never fully approved of Valley taking on the mantle of Azrael once more, and the hero has a lethal edge that has brought him into conflict with the Bat-Family many times since.
9 Crispus Allen's Spectre
An honorable Gotham detective, Crispus Allen was initially skeptical of Batman, although the two eventually developed a grudging respect for each other. After he was killed in the line of duty by a corrupt cop, Allen was chosen to be the new human host of the Spectre, DC’s wrathful Spirit of Vengeance. As such, he was given a host of otherworldly abilities that made him nigh-omnipotent, and was driven to use them to seek grotesque reprisals on the guilty. Even if Batman disapproved of him operating in Gotham City, there was nothing the Dark Knight could do about it, given the Spectre’s vast powers.
8 Eiko Hasigawa's Catwoman & Tomcat
While the original Catwoman Selina Kyle may be a member of the Bat-Family, her replacement Eiko Hasigawa doesn't have the same relationship with the Dark Knight. An unwilling member of the Hasigawa Crime Family, Eiko has worked with Selina to undermine criminal interests in Gotham through less-than-legal means, and even takes on the Catwoman mantle when Selina is indisposed. Most recently, Eiko has been backed up by Dario Tomasso - another former mob associate who was taken in by Selina and adopted the vigilante name Tomcat.
7 Mother Panic
According to co-creator Jody Ho, Mother Panic was designed to be something like an "anti-Batman" operating out of Gotham City. After losing her father at a young age, Violet Page was sent to the mysterious boarding school Gather House, where she was experimented on and given cybernetic upgrades to turn her into a killing machine. These upgrades made her strong enough to bend steel and smash concrete, although they often malfunction, causing her to feel intense pain and even sometimes lose mobility until they are repaired. Mother Panic has aggressively resisted being recruited by Batman, and used her abilities on a lethal mission of revenge against Gather House - something he'd never condone.
6 Kate Spencer's Manhunter
Prosecutor Kate Spencer turned to costumed heroism after becoming disillusioned with the legal system that let guilty parties walk away scot-free. Spencer cobbled together a costume from the police evidence locker, including the suit of a fallen Darkstar intergalactic cop, a pair of clawed gauntlets previously worn by Azrael and the power staff of previous Manhunter, Mark Shaw. Spencer's Manhunter took the law into her own hands, killing the villain Copperhead on her first mission, which definitely put her on the outs with Batman.
5 Alan Scott
Green Lantern Alan Scott operated out of Gotham City long before there was a Batman, with his earliest adventures dating back to the 1940s. In fact, Scott was a presence in Bruce Wayne’s life even before he was born, as Bruce’s father Thomas Wayne was a member of the "Junior Lantern" fan club. The Hush storyline also shows a young Bruce and his friend Thomas Elliot witnessing the Golden Age Green Lantern fighting Icicle in the city, leaving quite the impression on the young Bruce.
4 Jace Fox's Batman
Tim "Jace" Fox took up the mantle of Batman after the Fear State event, which saw Gotham become a police state due to a deal made between Mayor Nakano and the mysterious Magistrate. Much like Bruce Wayne, Jace traveled the world to learn various disciplines, but that’s where the similarities end. Jace has made it quite clear that he doesn’t need the approval of the original Batman, as he initially believes that his father Lucious Fox and Bruce Wayne are part of the corruption problem in Gotham City. Jace Fox would eventually leave Gotham altogether to operate as the Batman of New York City, further solidifying the character’s need to be his own man and forge his own path.
3 Martian Manhunter
Many fans may not realize that long-time Justice Leaguer J’onn J’onzz made his debut in the pages of Detective Comics, but the Martian Manhunter has always been closely tied with Batman and considers Gotham City his first and truest home on Earth. After being brought to Earth, J’onn adopted the identity of private detective John Jones, and used his Martian powers to track down criminals and solve mysteries. While he has a close bond with Batman through the Justice League, he doesn’t need the Dark Knight’s approval, and has opposed him on many occasions where their ideals clashed.
