With all DC Comics talk of a black man taking over the Batman mantle it had me thinking about the black men [and women] that have already been either Batman [or Batwoman/Batgirl], worn the bat symbol, or been a martial artist associated with the Bat symbol.
Created by: Grant Morrison
1st appearance: Batman 666, 2007
The man who would one day become Azrael was a Gotham police officer that was changed into a villainous Batman who before taking the sword of Azrael and the suit of sorrows as an agent of the Order of Purity, from the Sacred Order of Saint Dumas. In the present, he battled against evil in Gotham as the legacy hero Azrael. In a cryptic future, he became the anti-Christ thus fulfilling a dark prophecy! His whereabouts since the new 52 are unknown.
~DIG DEEPER INTO MICHAEL WASHINGTON LANE HERE~
- Luke Fox/Batwing
1st appearance: Batwing #19, 2013
Created by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Born to Lucius and Tanya Fox after the two had graduated from college he was the first addition to the budding Fox Dynasty. Luke is an accomplished mixed martial arts fighter. He has also traveled the globe and learned from several martial arts masters. Most notable of those include Spear kung fu/ Shaolin Red Eagle Spear learned from Master Chu Chin Li, Kubi Nage a Judo/Jiujitsu throwing technique from Sensei Tsunemoto. Luke also possesses exceptional electrical and computer engineering skills as an MIT honors graduate. After the death of David’s mentor, Matu Ba Batman approaches Luke with a new suit and the chance to join Batman incorporated as the Gotham-based Batwing.
- Tiff Fox/Batgirl
Created by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
1st appearance: Batwing #21 (2013)
From the Illustrious Gotham Fox family, Tiffany is the sister of Luke Fox/Batwing. She was recruited into the “League of Batgirls”. Twelve-year-old Tiffany is the youngest member of the Batgirls of Gotham, a team brought together by Barbera Gordon who had undergone training by Bane and was now branded “The Black Beast/ Bete Noire”. Alongside Stephanie Brown formerly Spoiler and Cassandra Cain daughter of the assassin David Cain. At the age of seven, she had an I.Q. of 190 and reads Adler, Cattell, Fromm, and Hull for fun.
Barbara Gordon noted that due to her intelligence she would one day eclipse all of the other members of the “League of Batgirls”.
Created by: Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham
1st appearance: Batman, Incorporated #5, 2011
An African orphan and former child soldier chosen by Batman himself to represent Batman incorporated as the Batman of Africa. Batwing fought evil not just as a superhero but every day as the only non-corrupt police officer in his precinct. In his fight on crime, he had a powerful suit of armor which augmented his strength and granted flight. The suite also augmented his naturally prodigious fighting skills. Even before he was recruited by Batman he had a burning desire to atone for his past crimes as a child soldier. Alongside his brother, they were touted as the greatest natural strategist and killers in the history of Africa. He eventually walked away from the Batwing mantle when his only remaining family Matu Ba, died as a result of the lifestyle. Though no longer an agent of Batman he expressed a desire to continue his war on crime, though as his own man.
~DIG DEEPER INTO DAVID ZAVIMBE HERE~
- Wayne Williams/Batman
Created by: Stan Lee and Joe Kubert
1st appearance: Just Imagine Stan Lee with Joe Kubert Creating Batman (September 2001)
Wayne grew up the son of a policeman who was killed in the line of duty. As a young man, he found himself set up for a crime he didn’t commit. In Prison, he took up bodybuilding and boxing as a means of defending himself. Wayne also befriended a man named Grant who helped him hone skills such as sewing and business. While in prison his mother dies and he vows revenge on “Handz” the man who framed him.
When the prison riots he saves the warden and is given a full pardon. Once free he is hunted by Handz so he adopts the secret identity of masked wrestler “Batman”. He never unmasks in public and goes on to become a major celebrity and very wealthy.
- Blackwing/Charlie Bullock
Created by: Dan Mishkin and Curt Swan
1st appearance: WONDER WOMAN #281, 1982
Growing up in the Gotham City ghettos Charlie Bullock was taken under the wing of Ted Grant as a teen where he was taught martial arts and boxing. This new discipline helped him stay focused and out of trouble while at school. Upon graduating High School he went to Law School. He graduated top of his class and went on to work at the law firm, “Cranston and Grayson”.
While at the firm working with Dick Grayson the former Robin and Helena Wayne/Huntress they were attacked multiple times leading him to create a new crime-fighting identity to save Gotham like Batman before him.
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Rob Snyder and Greg Capullo
1st appearance: Batman #21, 2014
First introduced during the Batman: Zero Year. His parents have been missing since they were used for bait when the city was overtaken by Joker Zombies. After this, he became a ward of the state and bounced around foster homes. He is currently a student at West Robinson High with a low GPA. The loss of his parents affected him badly and he acted out and became a problem child. When he was almost killed by a mob the “Robins” arrived to save him after finally locating him after an undisclosed time of the search. After joining the “We Are Robin” team and meeting both Damien Wayne and Batman he became Batman’s protege. After training, he eventually became the superhero ”The Signal”.
Created by: Alex Simmons and Dwayne Turner
1st appearance: Batman: Orpheus Rising #1, 2001
Gavin was born to an ex-dancer mother and ex-soldier turned T.V sports producer. He never quite fit into the mold of “young black man”, instead of shooting hoops and roaming the streets he danced and excelled at academics. After his habits made him the target of bullies his parents enrolled him in martial arts. In a bid to fight crime and give the Black People of Gotham a symbol he became Orpheus, Gotham’s socially conscious superhero. He helped minimize drug and gun traffic in his district even though Batman considered him a “wild card”.
~DIG DEEPER INTO ORPHEUS HERE~
- Onyx
Created by Joey Cavalieri, and artist Jerome K. Moore
1st appearance: Detective Comics #546, (January 1985)
Onyx grew up in the ghettos of star city where she had to fight to survive. As a means of survival, she also became a hired killer. Her skills brought her to the attention of the league of assassins who took her in. It was here under the tutelage of Lady Shiva the dc universes premier martial artist who years later would train Batman and Robin that her skills became world-class. It’s unknown why she parted ways with the league but she found refuge with the sanctuary; an ancient ashram dedicated to the study of the martial arts. After proving her skill and desire to atone for her past she was granted membership. It is here that she joined the monks and shaved her head bald. Years later one of the monks tried to seize control of the sanctuary but was thwarted by herself and Connor Hawke the green arrow. Still unable to find peace she returned to star city before being requested by batman to assist Orpheus in Gotham city. After his death, she still operates as a freelance vigilante in Gotham City and is considered an ally of Batman. She was also one of only a handful of people whom Cassandra Cain considered friends.
- Joey N’bobo
Created by: Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel
1st appearance: Richard Dragon #1, July 2004
Biography
What is known is that he is an African by birth from Angola to be precise and after honing his skills in the art of capoeira he then was head of a death squad in the same country. After this he graduated to killing for money, he became a mercenary. He then caught the eye of Lady Shiva and was recruited into her group the Circle of Six. There he clashed with Bronze Tiger, Dick Grayson, and Richard Dragon who defeated him and broke his leg. He was taken into police custody and once the leg had healed he broke out and sought out Lady Shiva. He found her as she was remaking the league of assassins for Nyssa, daughter of Ras al Gaul. He trained with them for weeks but When he dared question an order by Lady Shiva she defeated him in battle and ripped his guts from his body. He died as his blood and entrails pooled on the floor. He is later resurrected by Lazara and killed by Cassandra Cain.
- Bronze Tiger
Created by: Dennis O’Neil, Jim Berry, Leo Duranona
1st appearance: Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #1, May 1975
Biography
Ben grew up in the central city without a father and perhaps as a result was filled with rage from early on. At the age of ten he killed a burglar to save his mother’s life. After this, his rage got the best of him and he got into trouble both at school and with the law until the end of high school. Deciding he needed to be free of his “demons” he sought out a martial arts teacher. He found O-sensei who taught him martial arts and helped him channel his rage. Together they found Richard Dragon who became like a brother to him. They are eventually joined by Sandra Woosan/Lady Shiva. The skill of the three became world-renowned and caught the attention of the League of Assassins. Ben found himself brainwashed by them and his rage-given life as the Bronze Tiger. He was eventually rescued and deprogrammed by Amanda Waller who recruits him for “The Suicide Squad”.
- Bamboo Monkey
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel
1st appearance: Nightwing #23, 1998
Brief Biography
Back when DC Comics actually had its martial artists in tiers Bamboo Monkey was very close to the peak. He was one of many belonging to the Monkey Fist Cult who sought to kill Green Arrow Connor Hawke after he had defeated their most skilled fighter. As a testament to his abilities, he defeated Batman’s two partners Dick Grayson/Nightwing and Tim Drake/Robin 3. He fell before Connor Hawke however. Despite this loss, he led the sect against not just Connor but Richard Dragon and Lady Shiva, the latter two being the greatest martial artists in the DC Universe. His skill with the Bow and Arrow was also such that he was invited to an archery tournament to determine the greatest archer in the world. With a new name and this guy could add some villain diversity to the DC Universe and be a major threat at the same time.
~DIG DEEPER INTO BAMBOO MONKEY HERE~
- Connor Hawke
Created by: Kelley Puckett and Jim Aparo
1st appearance: Green Arrow #0, 1994
Biography
Connor is the son of Green Arrow/Oliver Queen and Sandra Hawke. Connor was the result of a one-night stand between the two. His father only learned of his birth moments before he was born. He grew up unaware of who his father was. As a young man, he was bullied often because of his mixed-race background and unique look. He grew to have quite the temper as well. His mother not knowing what to do with him confided that he was the son of Superhero Oliver Queen. Connor then feverishly gathered and read everything he could about his dad until finally, his mother agreed to send him to the same ashram that Oliver had trained before becoming Green Arrow. For five years he trained as a kyudo archer, martial artist, and Zen-Buddist. His greatest test came however when he defeated the paper Monkey which leads to the monkey fist cult attacking all martial artists worldwide to regain their honor. He also defeated the Bamboo Monkey who had single-handedly defeated both Dick Grayson/Nightwing and Tim Drake/Robin at once. He then met Lady Shiva in combat and fought her almost to a standstill a feat not even batman can boast.
- Jace Fox
Created by: Len Wein and Irv Novick,
1st appearance: Batman #313, (July, 1979)
Biography
Timothy Fox is the son of Lucius Fox and his wife Tanya, along with his siblings Luke, Tiffany, and Tam. His father, Lucius, was the President and CEO of Wayne Enterprises, making their family one of the wealthiest in Gotham. Becoming estranged from his parents and siblings, Tim was sent to a military academy. After graduating from the academy, he seemingly put off going home. Tim would later return to Gotham, now going by the name of Jace. After the apparent killing of Bruce, Jace would take on the mantle of Batman. Donning a suit reminiscent of the original Batman, save for a mask that fully obstructed his face, he would go on to fight crime, placing himself at the top of the Magistrate’s kill list.
- Ishmael
Created by: Bryan Hill and Dexter Soy
1st appearance: Batman and the Outsiders #1, 2019
Biography
Biography
Nothing is known about his past before he came to the attention of Ras Al Guhl’s League of Assassins. After being trained and recruited it’s also unknown how many missions he was sent on. He came to the attention of the new Outsiders; Black Lightning, Orphan, Signal, Katana; when he was tasked with killing a family of Meta-humans. He dispatched the family but found that the daughter had unique power and thus reported it to his master. His new task is to find capture and then bring this unique Metahuman into the League of Assassins.
- Black Spider
Created by: Gerry Conway and Ernie Chan.
1st appearance: Detective Comics #463 (September 1976)
Biography
Eric Needham started a life of crime from a young age. As a teen, he became addicted to drugs and was jailed after a mugging gone wrong. After being released he got married and had a son. His addictions however lead him to rob a liquor store where he accidentally killed his father. Jailed once more he kicked the habit out of remorse. Upon his release, he became a masked vigilante and decided to clean up the streets inspired by Batman. Unlike most masked heroes, however, he killed all the criminals who were unlucky enough to cross his path. He had Ninja-based martial arts and infiltration skills.
- Ryan Wilder/Batwoman
Publisher: DC Comics
Created by/1st appearance:: Ryan Wilder was created by Caroline Dries and Holly Dale, first appearing in Batwoman (TV Series) Episode: Whatever Happened to Kate Kane?. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, Ryan Wilder first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in Batgirl (Volume 5) #50 by Cecil Castellucci and Emanuela Lupacchino.
Biography
When Ryan was young, she used to go to a library where she met the employee Barbara Gordon. Eventually, she started taking programming lessons with Barbara. Later, Ryan started living in a van because of the crisis in Gotham City caused by the Joker War. Later, Ryan began investigating the murder of a game programmer, as she felt the cops couldn’t help. She left red cards at a crime scene that Barbara investigated and began collecting evidence. Ryan was found by Orphan and Spoiler at the scene. After a brief fight, she told them that the evidence was linked to the game programmer’s murder, and would be what they would need to track down his killers. As she fled, Ryan commented that the police would not help serve justice and that it is up to the Batgirls to do so. She then returned to her van.
- Helena Bertinelli/Huntress
Created by: Tim Seeley and Tom King
1st appearance: Nightwing #30, 2014
Biography
Helena was born a so-called “mafia princess”, a daughter of (a Black Sicilian family, in the New 52 era [dccomics.com]) the Bertinelli Family, an infamous crime family in Gotham City. When Helena was a child, her mother Maria had fallen in love with a mobster of a rival gang, Santo Casamento. Knowing that her husband Frank would never agree to a divorce and seeing no other way to live her life with Santo, the two hatched a plan to murder Frank and flee with the children. However, Cassamento betrayed Maria and used the opportunity to murder the Bertinelli children as well, with the aim of wiping out the Bertinelli lineage. Helena survived by hiding under a table during the attack, while her father and brother were killed. She was taken in by her aunt and uncle in Sicily and learned archery and how to fight. Helena swore to uphold Bertinellis’ original mission of protecting others.