—Batman to Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe |
Bruce Wayne, better known as Batman and sometimes referred to as The Dark Knight, is a Human superhero known for his appearance in the DC Universe in both comics and media. One of, if not the most iconic character of the DC Universe, Batman's popularity made him become one of the most famous and recognizable fictional characters ever created.
Batman is one of the many DC characters chosen to appear in the crossover video game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. With Batman's reputation for nearly superhuman resourcefulness and combat prowess, his counterpart in the crossover game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is the enigmatic Lin Kuei cryomancer Sub-Zero.
About Batman
Bruce Wayne was born in Gotham City, only child to Dr. Thomas and Martha Wayne, and the latest descendant in the city's generationally prominent and wealthy Wayne family. One night, after seeing a rousing adventure film, the Wayne family exited the theater through an alleyway and was confronted by a street mugger. When Thomas tried to stop the mugger from stealing his wife's pearl necklace, the mugger shot both Thomas and his wife right in front of 8-year old Bruce's eyes. Running away in fear of what he had done, the mugger was never brought to justice.
On that very night, on the street stained with his parents' blood, young Bruce made a vow to rid Gotham of the evil that had taken his parents' lives. He swore that what happened to him would never happen to anyone else again. Using his unnaturally strong will and his family's extensive wealth, he spent the next 10-12 years traveling the world, seeking out the best minds in martial arts, criminology, escapology, disguise, and the craft of detecting. He toned his body and mind to the peak of human physical and mental perfection. Upon his return to Gotham, after an unsuccessful first night as a crime fighter, he sat in his father's study as a bat burst through the window.
From his teachings, he remembered that criminals are superstitious and cowardly. Adopting the frightening image of the creature that had ominously come to him, he would strike terror into the hearts of those who committed evil in his domain. It was this symbol that brought about the birth of the Batman.
Biography
- MK vs DCU: "When his parents were gunned down in front of him, young Bruce Wayne resolved to rid Gotham City of the criminal element that took their lives. He trained extensively to achieve mental and physical perfection, in addition to mastering martial arts, detective techniques, and criminal psychology. Dressing as a bat to prey on criminals' fears and operating out of his secret Batcave below Wayne Manor, Batman fights crime with the aid of specialized gadgets and vehicles."
Storyline
Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe
After Darkseid's apparent defeat, invaders from another dimension began appearing. Batman intervened and stopped a rampaging Flash in Gotham City, who had been overcome by Kombat Rage, from killing a defeated Kano, only to be challenged by the Flash to a fight. Batman was overwhelmed by the Kombat Rage fueled Flash and was defeated, having to resort to taking him down with his taser.
Bringing Flash to the Bat Cave, he tried to run some tests on the rage that consumed his teammate, but Flash suddenly disappeared and was replaced with the ninja spectre Scorpion. Thinking the Dark Knight was his arch nemesis Sub-Zero in disguise, Scorpion attacked Batman, but was defeated in his dazed shape and captured. When another power anomaly appeared in Gotham, Batman was forced to take Scorpion with him.
Arriving in the city via the Batmobile, he was then forced to fight his own arch nemesis, the Joker, when the Clown Prince of Crime threw a bomb on the hood of his car. Defeating Joker and cuffing him, Batman was surprised by the sudden appearance of Liu Kang. The Rage in the monk made Batman appear as Shang Tsung and another fight ensued with Batman emerging the victor, but at the cost of Scorpion and Joker escaping.
Via Green Lantern, Batman took Kang to the UN Space Station, where he discussed that Earth might be in for another invasion. Raiden, the god of thunder, suddenly appeared and demanded Kang's release. Batman refused without obtaining answers and in a following fight, he was able to resist the god of thunder with his insulated armor, but Raiden still got away with Kang. Batman then realized how the dire the situation had become when he saw the two Earths merged together.
He would soon after contact Wonder Woman and urge her to find Superman.
Returning to the Cave, Batman found Sub-Zero searching for Scorpion. Even with the Rage powering him up, Batman was defeated by the Lin Kuei warrior. Batman then deduced that, through the magic of the two worlds merging, the other heroes and villains were gaining incredible strength.
This was demonstrated when Joker defeated Batman in a fight after luring him to Gotham City. Subduing the maniac clown, Batman then confronted Lex Luthor about his current state and told him that he better be on the good side. He brought them both to the formed team of heroes and villains where they learned that a being named Dark Kahn was causing the worlds to merge and everyone falling into the Rage. Batman then joined the allied heroes and villains in going to Apokolips via the invaders' portal technology.
Once they arrived at the merged Apokolips/Outworld, Batman again fought Sub-Zero when the defenders of Earthrealm and the DC heroes were forced into in a final battle by Dark Kahn's Rage. Batman was one of the few still standing in the aftermath and intervened in a Rage afflicted Superman and Lex Luthor's battle. The Dark Knight faced the Man of Steel, but was defeated, yet still managed to calm Superman when he made him realize how close he was to breaking his moral code.
Superman then teamed up with Raiden to defeat Dark Kahn and separate the worlds. Shao Kahn remained and was banished to the Phantom Zone.
Combat characteristics
Powers and Abilities
Despite being one of the few members of the Justice League without any extra-human enhancements, Batman has proven himself to be just as formidable as any super-powered hero against the forces of evil. Batman's preparedness for just about every situation and predicament is legendary. His peak human strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability, reflexes, willpower and intelligence are as sharp and toned as could possibly be without being a superhuman. He is proficient in most known forms of martial arts. His primary form of combat is a mixture of Jujutsu, Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Muay Thai, Savate, Karate, Kung Fu, Boxing, Capoeira, Krav Maga, Aikido, and Ninjitsu. He also possesses incredible reaction skill and superb intellect and wit. In addition to his high levels of training in combat, Batman employs the use of military-grade technologies and gadgets developed by his family's company that assist him in his war on crime. Batman is never seen without his famous Utility Belt, which he equips to possess any item needed for any problem that could present itself in the field, primarily in combat and investigation.
In addition, his Batsuit is reinforced with triple-weaved Kevlar inlays and carbon nanotube fibers, making it resistant to many forms of physical and projectile attacks and even some magical varieties. It functions as both a disguise and a symbol that strikes fear into his opponents, due to its dark and menacing appearance.
Special Moves
- Batarang: Batman throws a batarang at his opponent.
- Dark Absorption: Batman holds his cape in front of him, absorbing any projectiles thrown at him.
- Smoke Escape: Batman throws down a smoke bomb and reappears from the top of the screen, landing on his opponent.
- Smoke Batarang: Batman throws a batarang down at the ground. This batarang explodes at or away from his opponent.
- Leaping Shadow Kick: Batman jumps up and does a flying back kick at his opponent.
- Leg Take Down: Batman puts his legs around his opponent's legs and slams him/her back and forth.
- Sneaky Batarang: He throws a batarang that will hit his opponent in the back of the head.
Other Moves
- Free-fall Super Move: Batman throws an electrified Batarang into his opponent's chest.
Heroic Brutalities
- Bat Swarm: Batman throws a batarang at his opponent, which emits sonic waves that summon a swarm of bats to attack the opponent.
- Grappling Hook: Batman strikes the opponent and grabs them. He shoots his grappling hook up, and starts ascending. He then throws the opponent down, still holding onto them, and slamming them into the ground at full force.
Ending
- MK vs DCU: "Concerned that other worlds might once again invade Earth, Batman created an autonomous global security system to monitor any temporal breaches. His system, OMAC (Outerworld Monitor and Auto-Containment), is designed to detect and trap invaders from alternate universes. OMAC has already discovered a breach in Metropolis...."
Quotes
- "Who is that man and what are you doing in Gotham?"
- "No, you're not. It's clear something's wrong with you. The Flash I know doesn't kill."
- "I am."
- "Why did you attack me?"
- "What are you doing in Gotham?"
- "I like to run some tests."
- "What's happening?"
- "Interesting..."
- "Whatever Scorpion is, Wonder Woman, it isn't human."
- "I believe Flash and this "Scorpion" creature switched places through some kind of teleportation effect."
- "I will. Batman out."
- "Another energy anonymous similar to that of Scorpion frequency? In the heart of Gotham?"
- "I don't have time for this nonsense."
- "Sorry to ruin your night, Joker."
- "I've heard that before."
- "This night's just keep getting better and better."
- "Stay where you are."
- "Who are you?"
- "Are you injured? I can help you."
- "No Joker, and no Scorpion."
- "Your little distraction means two deadly menaces are out on the loose."
- "At least, you're not going anywhere."
- "Green Lantern, this is Batman. I have a prisoner I need to examine in a secure location. I need an extraction to the UN Orbital Station."
- "Something about him isn't making sense. I could buy that Scorpion came from Apokolips, but this man is different."
- "I'm not sure. But we may be witnessing the beginning of another invasion."
- "Computer, run the blood sample from Liu Kang against the known alien blood types we have in the database."
- "I need to know if we should expect any more... visitors."
- "Let me guess... You're from the same places as Liu Kang and Scorpion."
- "Insulated armor."
- "First, I need answers."
- "It's worse than I suspected. Much worse." (Witnessing the merging)
- "That's a good question. Where are you, Superman?"
- "Wonder Woman, this is Batman. We need you immediately."
- "I can't reach Superman and Earth may be in for another invasion."
- "Do you need help?"
- "I have more bad news. Earth is in the process of merging with another planet."
- "Our world and the alien world occupied the same time and space as fragment separated only by a large..."
- "We need Superman, but no one knows where he is."
- "Wonder Woman. This is Batman. Superman's not in Metropolis. The Fortress of Solitude has been breached."
- "Superman may be in serious trouble."
- "It's the Batcave."
- "Your world is invading mine, affecting everything and everyone in it. Don't think you'll take me so easily."
- "Alright Joker. You wanted me, here I am."
- "I know a few tricks up your sleeve."
- "I don't have time for this."
- "Not yet, Joker."
- "Funtime is over. You can't rage when you're out cold."
- "Luthor, this is Batman. Your strike team failed."
- "Joker's been exposed to the planetary merger and the power went to his head. You shouldn't have trusted the clown with such an important mission."
- "You'd better be on our side for this one, Luthor. If not, I'll be the first one you'll answer to."
- "Here's your pet clown."
- "Joker and Flash are infected. We can't trust them."
- "This is what's in stored for Earth, if we don't stop Dark Kahn, grinding two universes together will eventually rip them both apart."
- "Wait. They may not be aligned with Dark Kahn."
- "Superman, stop!"
- "You're under the influence of rage! You have to fight it!"
- "If you're not going to fight it, then I'll beat it out of you."
- "Superman... Clark, I know you can hear me."
- "Look at yourself. Look at what you're doing. You're trying to kill me."
- "If we lose here, if you lose to the rage, then the Earth is doomed."
- "I'm not going to give up. I never give up. And neither do you."
- "Not alone. Darkseid himself nearly killed you. This "Kahn" creature is much more powerful."
- "Damn impulsive. Good luck."
Trivia
Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe
- The OMAC computer in Batman's ending is a nod to the DC Comics character OMAC (One-Man Army Corps), which has had several incarnations across the vast history of DC Comics. The ending also references comics stories like Identity Crisis and JLA: Tower of Babel, where Batman grows distrustful of his fellow super-powered heroes and launches a global monitoring system. OMAC acts similarly to the Outer World Investigation Agency.
Injustice 2
- Batman references Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe during interactions with both Sub-Zero and Raiden, who both appear as playable guest characters.
Mortal Kombat 11
- He was indirectly mentioned in an interaction with Sub Zero and Raiden. Both recall a dream where they were in the Injustice universe, and Sub-Zero refers to Batman as a "Dark Knight".
- Cassie Cage's Harley Quinn skin features a Batman button on Cassie's weapon bag.
- Batman's Cowl appears in one of Baraka's War Banners as part of his Killer Croc Skin released with the Joker for the Joker's guest appearance in the game.
- Batman as The Batman Who Laughs is used as DLC Skin for Noob Saibot for the DC Elseworlds Pack.
- He is indirectly referenced again during an interaction with Raiden and Spawn, with Raiden stating Spawn reminds him of "another Dark Knight", to which refers to Batman as the "Billion-Dollar Cursader".
- Raiden's response to Spawn is also referencing both Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and Raiden's inclusion in Injustice 2 as a guest character.
- Interestingly, Spawn knows of Batman from their crossover comic called Spawn/Batman that was published and released in 1994.
- Batman makes a non-physical cameo by throwing his Batarang at the Joker during the Joker's Friendship.
Mortal Kombat 1
- Batman is mentioned in one of Peacemaker's Brutality quotes: "Let's see Batman do that."