Summary
Batman is perhaps the most popular superhero of all time,with multiple movie franchises and TV shows to his name. The Tim Burton movies showcased the darkness of the character, and then Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy explored a gritty and realistic look at Gotham. Snyder’sDCUshowed a world in which Batman was a part of the Justice League, and Matt Reeves’The Batmantook the dark tone and escalated it to levels yet to be seen on the big screen.Batman has seen some stellar movie adaptations and the same can be said for animated series.
DC’s Batman has had multiple different animated TV shows over time, with the earliest being released in 1968. As is the territory with Batman, deaths follow along the way as he aims to take down Gotham’s underbelly despite his no-killing rule. But what are the most heartbreaking deaths to happen in Batman’s various animated series?
Batman: The Animated Seriessmartly decided not to explicitly feature the deaths of Martha and Thomas Wayne. However, without the death of his parents, Bruce Wayne’s primary motivation would have been taken away.
Instead,Batman: The Animated Serieschooses to explore their death through the use of hallucinations and flashbacks, with the psychological impact on Bruce taking center stage. During the episode “Dreams In Darkness”, viewers watch Batman as he sprints after his parents, trying to stop them from entering Crime Alley. While Batman is stopped by the ground erupting around him, a giant gun takes aim and fires.A haunting rendition of Batman’s origin told in a dream, makes it one of the most heartbreaking deaths in an animated Batman series.
Batman Beyondtakes a leap into the futurefromBatman: The Animated Series, showcasing Bruce Wayne’s training of the new Batman, Terry McGinnis. Along with the costume come new and returning villains for Batman to face.
Mr. Freeze has always been a tragic villain, often committing horrible acts to save his wife.Batman Beyondsees Victor Fries battling Batman and, after a few twists and turns, saves Batman from certain death at the hands of Blight. In the ensuing carnage, the compound surrounding them begins to collapse, with Fries telling Batman to evacuate whilst he can, stating “you’re the only one who cares”, before erecting an ice wall stopping Batman’s attempts to save him. A truly heartbreaking moment for a great villain, placed firmly on this list.
3Warren McGinnis
Tim McGinnis' Father Met A Horrible End In Batman Beyond
A member of the Wayne-Powers research divisionand father to Terry, Warren McGinnis, was murdered in a cold and sadistic fashion by Mr. Fixx.
After an argument, Terry leaves Warren to attend a party where he is attacked by a group of Jokerz, who he defeats with the help of Bruce Wayne. As Terry arrives home, he is greeted by the police and his mother. The police explain that Warren is dead and place the blame on the Jokerz. It’s later revealed that Mr. Fixx is responsible for Warren’s death on behalf of Derek Powers, after learning they were developing a lethal nerve agent.The element that makes the death heartbreaking is the impactit has on Tim McGinnis, having a similar effect to the murder of Bruce’s parents and well worth a spot on this list.
2The Joker
The Clown Price Of Crime Is Finally Killed
The Joker is Batman’s most famous villainand his death inBatman Beyond: Return Of The Jokerprovides a real powerful moment for the bat family.
Through Barbara Gordon, the day the Joker is killed is retold. After kidnapping and brainwashing Tim Drake and turning him into Joker Junior, the clown prince of crime. This horrifies Batman with what he’s done to Drake. Taunting Batman with his no-kill rule stating he doesn’t “have the guts for that kind of fun”. At this point, Joker Junior emerges from the shadows maniacally laughing, aims, and pulls the trigger, firing a fake shot at Batman, before seemingly breaking the Jokers' hold to fire a killing shot at the villain. This moment is not heartbreaking due to the death, but the trauma being forced onto Tim Drake,enduring all those injuries, and being the Joker’s puppetis more than enough to land the Joker’s death on this list.
1Talia and Ra’s Al Ghul
The Death Of Both Ra’s And Talia Tops This List
Ra’s Al Ghul is one of Batman’s most cunning and evil villains, obsessed with immortality and control. WithinBatman Beyond,Ra’s Al Ghul hijacks Talia’s body in an effort to seduce Bruce Wayne and take over Bruce’s body next.
The cunning plan is put to a stop by Tim McGinnis. Afterward, a fight ensues, and the building begins to collapse. Obsessed with immortality, Ra’s still inhabiting Talia’s body and charges back in whilst the facility crumbles with them inside, killing him and destroying the Lazarus pit. What makes this death heartbreaking is that Talia is an unwitting passenger in the situation, dying due to her father’s actions whilst not being in control of her body.The impact this has on Bruce is also gutwrenching, making this the most heartbreaking death in a Batman animated series.
