Harley Quinn joined the Bat Family in her HBO Max animated series, as she’s done in recent DC Comics storylines. That instantly ranks her among the most powerful members of the extended group that Batman relies on in his fight against crime, but she’s far from the most powerful. Season four may explore how powerful some Bat Family members truly are.
Shifting continuity in DC Comics makes establishing a baseline for the Bat Family’s most powerful members difficult. Their powers or circumstances change with different iterations, including Harley Quinn. But across DC history, some members remain consistently at the forefront in the ongoing battle against Gotham’s greatest villains.
Commissioner Gordon
Commissioner Gordon brings practicality to the cause above all else. He recognized from early on the need to ally with Batman against Gotham’s corruption and crime and his support and dedication have proven invaluable over the years. His tacit sanction of Batman largely prevents GCPD from going after the Dark Knight.
Gordon’s experience and skill in detective work also make him a key ally in the crimes Batman often faces, and he also leverages the police’s resources and efforts to help stop Gotham’s worst criminals.
Damian Wayne
The League of Assassins raised and trained Damian Wayne in martial arts and spycraft, transforming a young boy into a lethal fighter. The son of Batman and Talia al Ghul and the grandson of Ra’s al Ghul, among Batman’s best comic book villains, Damien brings skill, resources, and the requisite ego to the fight.
Damian also gained superpowers after being resurrected in the Lazarus Pit, including the ability to fly. These powers eventually disappeared with changes in continuity, but in other timelines, he still has some powers.
Red Hood
Red Hood also benefited from resurrection in the Lazarus Pit. Jason Todd once counted among the most shocking deaths in DC Comics but when he returned, he gained superior fighting ability. He also displayed some proficiency in magic, but revisions to continuity during the Rebirth era stripped these away.
Todd remains a superior hand-to-hand combatant, trained by Batman as the second Robin and later the League of Assassins. He also displays a much more ruthless approach to his mission, going so far as to kill one of the Jokers in the Three Jokers storyline.
Batwoman
Comic book fans know Batwoman exists as a few different characters in DC continuity, but Kate Kane tops the list in terms of power. Kane served in the military, becoming an expert marksman in numerous weapons as well as fighting styles. Her advanced armor and equipment also give her a decisive advantage against most villains in Gotham.
Kate displays some superpowers depending on the story. An injury left her able to detect electromagnetic fields and in the Future’s End storyline, she became a vampire with all the attendant ability.
Nightwing
Dick Grayson proved an elite acrobat and gymnast from an early age, which he later translated into becoming the first Robin. His training with Batman made him a superior martial artist and a detective, with skills easily rivaling that of Bruce Wayne. This eventually resulted in Grayson becoming Batman for a time.
Nightwing currently possesses a massive fortune inherited from Alfred Pennyworth. This gives him resources he never had on his own before, which he uses to fight crime and injustice in Blüdhaven in his own unique way.
Batgirl
Like most other Bat Family members, Batgirl possesses no superhuman abilities. Nevertheless, she ranks among the most powerful in the group thanks to her steadfast determination. After a debilitating injury, she adapted her role within the Bat Family to become Oracle, applying her high intelligence and technological proficiency to help the team immeasurably.
She also rivals most members in fighting ability with deep knowledge of many martial arts. Barbara Gordon in some ways also acts as the glue in the family in various media, keeping them together despite their disparate locations and sometimes points of view.
Cassandra Cain
Cassandra Cain counts among the best martial artists in DC Comics. The League of Assassins trained her from a young age to become a master spy and assassin, which she eventually did. Her skill in combat as well as her peak human abilities in many ways equal and in some cases surpass other Bat Family members.
Though she possesses no superpowers, she did gain the powers of Shazam in recent comics. DCeased: Dead Planet featured the character becoming Shazam and gaining extraordinary magical power and ability.
Harley Quinn
Comic book fans know Harley Quinn originally had no superpowers in Batman: The Animated Series, but that changed when she crossed over into print. Different accounts gave her superhuman strength, speed, and stamina, either as a result of falling into toxic chemicals or being exposed to Poison Ivy’s toxins.
Harley also rates as an elite gymnast and her training in numerous fighting styles and weapons makes her incredibly powerful. Her greatest power remains empathy, which she has used to diffuse cataclysmic situations, including Ivy trying to destroy the world.
Batman
Batman lacks superhuman powers but that never stopped him. With unlimited wealth and resources, he brings a small army to bear against injustice in Gotham. An unparalleled martial artist, detective, and engineer, Batman mitigates any natural limitations he has through sheer force of will.
His relentless determination to stop crime pushes him beyond the limits of most people. His capacity to endure even in the face of tragedy and defeat makes him a powerful deterrent to crime and arguably the best superhero in DC Comics.
Duke Thomas
The Bat Family mostly represents characters with peak human abilities, but some are superhuman. Duke Thomas possesses several superpowers including Ghost Vision, which he uses to perceive people and moments in the past and the future. He also wields a cosmic awareness that extends into other realities, making by far the most powerful Bat Family member.
He also uses this ability to travel across dimensions by light and shadow. On top of his metahuman powers, he trained in martial arts, becoming such a skilled fighter that he rivals Batman and Robin.
