After All These Years, Batman's Family Tree Is One of DC's Most Convoluted

It should come as no surprise that Batman has one of the biggest family trees in the DC Universe. What began as a one-man war on crime decades ago eventually blossomed into one of the most well-known superhero families in comics.

Bruce Wayne might be the most famous hero around, but he’s just one part of a legacy that spans years of Gotham history. From devil-worshiping ancestors to distant cousins and even children from alternate timelines, the Dark Knight’s family ties are all over the place. Read on to discover just how wild Batman’s family tree really is.

13 Doctor Hurt is Batman's Twisted Ancestor

Created By: Sheldon Moldoff and Charles Paris

The Thomas Wayne that Bruce knew might have been a kind and noble man, but the Thomas Wayne who lived centuries ago was anything but. Thomas was the black sheep of the Wayne Family and a devil-worshiper who was corrupted by Darkseid’s omega energy. Thomas traveled the world and used black magic to extend his lifespan and eventually returned to Gotham, where he pledged a vendetta against his kin. Renaming himself Doctor Simon Hurt, Batman’s ancestor founded the Black Glove and coordinated a conspiracy to destroy the Caped Crusader, though his efforts ultimately failed.

12 The Original Batwoman is Bruce's Aunt By Marriage

Created By: Edmond Hamilton and Sheldon Moldoff

In Batman’s earliest days, he fell for a woman known as Katherine Webb. Katherine had fallen in with the secret organization Spyral, who ordered her to deduce Batman’s secret identity, so she adopted the identity of Batwoman. During her mission, however, she developed feelings for Bruce, forcing her to abandon her mission and leave Bruce in the cold. Interestingly enough, Katherine Webb is actually Batman's aunt, but only by marriage. Years before she became Batwoman, Katherine fell for Nathan Kane, Martha’s brother, and was his wife for seven years before he died of a stroke.

11 Thomas and Martha Wayne are Batman's Parents

Created By: Bob Kane and Bill Finger

There’s not a Batman fan alive that doesn’t know about the tragedy of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Thomas was a doctor and industrialist while Martha was a philanthropist. They were good, loving people who tried to make Gotham a better place, but their work didn’t help them from being killed in a random mugging. Batman lost his parents at a tender age, and it set him down a path that turned him into one of the best heroes in the world. But even Batman knows he’d trade everything he’s accomplished to have his parents back in his life.

10 Alfred Pennyworth is Batman's Father (By Choice)

Created By: Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson

No, Alfred may not be Batman’s biological father. But by all accounts, Alfred was the dad Bruce needed after Thomas and Martha Wayne died. Alfred was more than just a butler. He was a mentor, ally, and friend who not only supported Bruce in his mission, but became critical to how Batman operated. Alfred meant the world to Batman, who once left a message confirming that Bruce saw Alfred as a dad. Sadly, Batman lost his second father when Bane took Gotham hostage and the villain snapped Alfred’s neck after Damian attempted a rescue.

9 Batwoman is Batman's Cousin

Created By: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, and Alex Ross

Batman inspired a lot of people to follow in his footsteps, including his cousin. Kate Kane was once on a military path and attended West Point, where she was a model cadet. However, she left the academy after she was forced to out herself as a lesbian. Kate returned to Gotham, where she eventually was inspired by the Bat-Signal to become a hero as well. Working with her father, Kate became Batwoman and started her own crusade against crime. While she was an independent hero at first, Batman welcomed his cousin into the Bat-Family.

8 Alice is Bruce's Cousin

Created By: Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III

Batwoman isn’t the only cousin on the Kane side of the family that Batman has. Kate has a twin sister, Elizabeth. However, the two were separated when the Kane family was attack and Beth was presumably killed. She was taken in by the Religion of Crime, eventually adopting her criminal persona, Alice. Despite her years as a villain, she eventually made up with her sister and abandoned her life as a villain. She’s yet to join Batman or his allies in any official capacity, but maybe one day she’ll find her way.

7 Lincoln March May Be Batman's Brother

Created By: Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo

The New 52 brought a lot of changes to Batman’s history, but the most wild addition was a potential brother to the Wayne Family line. During Bruce’s first encounter with the Court of Owls, he met a man named Lincoln March. However, Bruce discovered that March was actually a pawn working for the Court. Not only that, but March revealed his name was actually Thomas Wayne, Jr., and that he was Bruce’s brother. Strangely, Batman has never been able to prove that Lincoln wasn't lying, leaving their familial connection a mystery to this day.

6 The Robin of Zur-En-Arrh is Bruce's Clone

Created By: Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jiménez

When Batman’s alter ego, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, broke out of Bruce’s mind and started to take Gotham under control, he made sure he had a Robin by his side. Zur-En-Arrh used Bruce’s DNA to create a 1:1 clone of Batman to serve as Zur-En-Arrh’s ‘Robin’. Unfortunately for the clone Bruce, Zur-En-Arrh accelerated his aging with nothing to stop it. After defeating Zur-En-Arrh, Batman took his clone in and looked for a way to save him, but there was nothing the hero could do. So the clone spent his last few days bonding with Batman over their shared memories.

5 Jason Todd is Batman's Ward

Created By: Gerry Conway and Don Newton

Jason Todd was discovered by Batman when the young man was trying to steal tires off of the Batmobile. But sensing that the boy needed a home, Bruce took Jason in. With Dick having retired from the role, Batman allowed Jason to become the second Robin. Not only that, Bruce had Jason declared his ward so that Jason could finally have a stable home. Of course, things went horribly wrong when Jason’s attempt to reunite with his mother led to him being killed by the Joker, a moment that still stands as Batman’s ultimate failure.

4 Tim Drake is One of Bruce's Adopted Sons

Created By: Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick

Tim Drake was an outlier from the rest of the Robins in that when he became the Boy Wonder, he still had both parents in his life. Unfortunately for Tim, both his parents met grizzly fates. Tim’s mother died when she was poisoned during a ritual performed by a villain while Tim’s father was murdered by Captain Boomerang during Identity Crisis. With no one else to take care of him, Batman took Tim in and later officially adopted the young man. Despite all the tragedy Robin faced, being with Batman has helped him overcome his darkest moments.