WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Batman #157!
Bane may be one of Batman’s most formidable foes, but the Dark Knight has just itted that a surprising villain not only matches him in hand-to-hand combat but could even beat him. So, who is this villain, and what are their credentials that make them such an equal to Batman, even earning Bruce’s ission?
...Knyazev is considered the best assassin ever produced by the KGB...
Batman #157 concludes the run of Chip Zdarsky, Tony S. Daniel, Jorge Jiménez, and Jorge Jiménez as the Dark Knight takes down the various villains who have been working against him throughout this storyline. Among the foes Batman confronts and defeats in this issue are the Riddler, Leonid Kull—who has been manipulating the Court of Owls—and the recently debuted Commander Star.
In a surprising twist, during his confrontation with Commander Star, Batman its that this villain is his equal in hand-to-hand combat, stating, "On [his] best day [he] might even beat me."
Batman Reveals Commander Star (AKA KGBeast) Could Beat Him
Comic Comes from Chip Zdarsky’s Batman #157 (2025) – Art by Tony S. Daniel, Jorge Jiménez, and Jorge Jiménez
Some fans who haven’t read the latest issue of Batman may be wondering why DC has suddenly made this new villain the Dark Knight’s equal in hand-to-hand combat. The answer lies in a twist: Commander Star isn’t the new villain we’ve been led to believe. Instead, he is the infamous KGBeast, AKA Anatoli Knyazev, who is perhaps most well-known for shooting Nightwing in the head. Even with Commander Star revealed as a longtime Batman foe, the idea that Bruce believes Knyazev could beat him is still surprising, as KGBeast isn't often explicitly stated to be Batman's equal.
However, when considering KGBeast’s history, training, and skills, it becomes more believable that he could not only match but potentially beat Batman in a hand-to-hand fight. Knyazev is considered the best assassin ever produced by the KGB, the Soviet Union's secret police and intelligence agency. He is also a master of multiple martial arts and an expert with deadly weapons. The fact that their fight portrays them as equally matched further highlights his skill, making it clear why Batman would view KGBeast as his equal in hand-to-hand combat.
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If KGBeast Is Batman's Combatant Equal, Why Did He Lose?
Comic Comes from Chip Zdarsky’s Batman #157 (2025) – Art by Tony S. Daniel, Jorge Jiménez, and Jorge Jiménez
As even those who haven’t read Batman #157 could probably guess, the outcome of the fight between Bruce and Knyazev ends with the Dark Knight on top. So, if Batman truly believes that KGBeast has the skill and ability to beat him, what prevented the villain from winning? According to Batman’s internal monologue, the key factor that tipped the fight in his favor was Knyazev’s “righteous anger.” This suggests that the emotion held Knyazev back, preventing him from fighting at his peak and giving Bruce the upper hand. It will be interesting to see if Batman and KGBeast have a rematch, one where the villain might prove he can indeed defeat the Dark Knight.
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Batman #157 is available now from DC Comics!
