Respect - Admiration

What heroes and villains in the DCU respect Batman despite not having powers? Who respects Batman the most? These are examples of both heroes and villains expressing their respect and even admiration for Batman as shown in the comics.

General

Is considered to be a meta human level threat according to Task Force X/Suicide Squad program director Amanda Waller (Suicide Squad #22 2017)

Is recognized as a national security level threat according to Director Bones (aka Mr. Bones) of the DEO (Batwoman #19)

President Ronald Reagan decides to follow Batman's advice over the advice of his own secret service based on his well known reputation as being the best there is at what he does (Batman #420)

Impressed by his Zero Year victory over The Riddler who even the US Military couldn't stop, a secret military black ops style program/team known as The Colony was formed and based on building an army of American Batmen to shut down terrorist networks worldwide which is similar to Bruce's Batman Incorporated idea only secret military created and driven (Detective Comics #937)

Even the KGB show respect to Batman and backs down from threatening him (JLI #8 1987)

Is acknowledged as being a great and formidable super hero (alongside Superman) even in Russia by the Rocket Reds (Justice League #3 1987)

Despite being out of his element underwater, his reputation as being the best fighter alive still seems to be well known by many as indicated by King Shark (Superman Batman #45)

VILLIANS

Kobra (who's switched bodies with Batman fighting against Superman in his body here) considers Batman to be a major threat to him due to his mind (JLA Foreign Bodies)

His ability to install fear impresses even Sinestro who believes he would be a great yellow lantern (Forever Evil #5)

Even Grail (daughter of Darkseid) considers Batman to be a serious threat and decides she has to take him out first (Justice League #41 2011)

Mary the Vampire Queen of Blood knowing of Batman's famous reputation wanted to make him her Vampire king (I, Vampire #6)

Lady Shiva

- Meeting Lady Shiva for the first time, he has developed a reputation as being the most skilled and determined fighter in the world as we then see Shiva eager to put him to the test (Detective Comics Annual v1 #1)

- After be retrained by her and proving himself a very capable fighter once again, Lady Shiva considers him to be a worthy opponent once again (Robin #8 1993)

- Being apart of The Outsiders (temporarily) even she has no desire to cross or betray Batman despite having her own agenda (Batman and the Outsiders #14 2020)

Deathstroke

- After their battle, a badly wounded Deathstroke thinks to himself that Batman is the best opponent he's ever fought against and that he'd be feeling the punishment inflicted on him by Batman for days despite his healing factor. In addition, Slade admits that he'd hate to fight Batman if not for his greatly enhanced physical abilities (Deathstroke #8 1992)

- Deathstroke has a great admiration for Batman's former ward/sidekick Dick Grayson aka Nightwing who is one of the best heroes/fighters he's ever seen which is thanks to having the best teacher (Batman) to rise him (Deathstroke #8 1992)

- In a fight against Batman being off even a millisecond means the difference between victory and defeat according to Deathstroke (Deathstroke v3 #5)

- Admires Batman's tactics, the work he does, and even believes he'd make a great assassin (Deathstroke v4 #4)

Lex Luthor

- Mentions the world needs a Batman just as the world needs a Superman while talking to Bruce and wanted to work alongside him again having been Justice League team mates once (Batman v3 #119)

- Admits to himself that the world needs Batman and even went as far as creating his own Batman inspired power armor suit (that he made for Bruce) plus funded Batman Incorporated in Bruce's absence (Batman v3 #120)

Ra's Al Ghul/Demon's Head

- Is very impressed by a young Bruce Wayne upon meeting him for the first time and even gives Bruce the major title of being called the Demon's Heart which is an honor no one else has ever received from the Demon's Head not even his own daughter Talia (Batman The Knight #10)

- Being impressed by Bruce's talents, Ra's names a young Bruce Wayne who he was training at the time his one true heir and legacy (Batman Killing Time #3)

- Admits that he actually respects his intellect and formidably as an enemy in a letter he's shown writing to him (Batman Ra's Al Ghul Year One)

- Explains to Nightwing that even death at Batman's hands would be considered a great honor given how much he respects him as both as a man and a hero (Nightwing #152)

- Even in the far alternate future where the Legion of Super Heroes exist and Ra's Al Ghul is still around he considers Batman (alongside Superman and Wonder Woman) to be the most formidable enemy and threat he's ever faced in history (Legion #4 and Legion #18 2001-2004 series)

The Joker

- Knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman but would rather keep his identity a secret from the world since he wants Bruce to continue being Batman for the fun of it all and so he alone can have the pleasure of being Batman's greatest pain until they both kill each other (Batman Three Jokers #3 2020)

- Believes there's no point in being crazy or the chaotic super villain that he is without Batman around to play with (Legends of The Dark Knight #65 and Batman #408)

- With Bruce Wayne/Batman out of the picture, he actually decides to fight crime (or be a hero of some sort) and even "help" out the new Batman (Dick Grayson) and Robin in his own way (Batman and Robin v1 #13 & #16)

- Acknowledges Batman as being a dangerous enemy (Legends of the Dark Knight #144)

- Understands the reason Batman always wins is because he's so good at controlling the battlefield and manipulating his enemies/opponents (Brave and the Bold #27 2009)

- No matter what he does and how crazy or out of the box his plans are he knows Batman will just find a new way to stop him every time. He also knows the Black Glove has already been defeated by Batman despite thinking they've already won (Batman #681)

HEROES & ANTI-HEROES

The hero known as Manhunter from the Tangent universe mentions that Batman is the most capable person in the world that she's ever met, that he could take on an entire army and win, and notices that others follow him because he knows what he's doing and usually gets results (Tangent: Superman's Reign #9)

Is the toughest man Starman's ever met (Starman #10 1989)

His deductive prowess is well known and respected even by the likes of Lobo who is known as the best bounty hunter in the galaxy capable of tracking down practically anyone and warns his employer of Batman ahead of time then even offers to kill him just so he wouldn't be a future problem (Batman Superman #28)

Mr. Terrific is actually honored and even happy that Batman thought highly enough of his T-sphere technology to the point where Batman copied and used it for his own purpose (JLA #69)

Zantanna thinks so highly of him that she knows the world can't afford to lose him (Justice League Dark #1)

Is liked by the Demon Etrigan who considers Batman to be very much like himself (Detective Comics #603)

Andrew Bennet (600 year old Vampire)

- Admits to liking him after a brief fight between the two (I, Vampire #5)

- Actually listens to Batman who orders him to stop killing (I, Vampire #6)

Karate Kid(s)

- Is honored to fight Batman who's fighting skills are said to be fabled or legendary plus he even says that he could learn much from him and that Batman would be ready for him next time (Brave and the Bold #5 2007)

- Approaches Batman out of respect and mentions how grateful it was to have fought such a skilled martial artist (Countdown #42)

Green Arrow(s)

- Sees Batman as a brother or family who he will gladly come to aid when asked (Green Arrow #31 2016)

- Comes to Batman for help before he goes to anyone else in order to find his son (Conner Hawke) since he's knows how great of a detective he is (Green Arrow Black Canary #5)

- Conner Hawke (son of Green Arrow also the 2nd Green Arrow) is impressed how he moves like a master and his focused determination to get the job done (Green Arrow #134 1998)

Black Adam

- Mentions that he respects Batman for what he does for Gotham City (Batman Urban Legends #17)

- Black Adam offers to make Batman apart of his family by sharing a portion of his godly powers so he can seemingly live forever (or for a centuries just like him) in order to protect Gotham which Batman declines seeing how the power has corrupted him (Batman Urban Legends #17)

Captain Marvel/Shazam

- Respects Batman and follows his leadership mostly due to being a far more experienced super hero (Justice League #5 1987)

- Looks up to Batman believing him to be very cool and even learned a new technique that he uses on a bully after watching him fight (Power of Shazam #22 1997)

Martian Manhunter

- Upon their first meeting, J'onn is impressed by his focused mind and instincts being able to deduce he is a telepath fairly quick (Martian Manhunter #22 2000)

- Decides to shapeshift into Batman in order to scare thugs having perfected his imitation of him (Martian Manhunter #22 2000)

- Has a deep respect for Batman due to his mind and instincts because of this he wanted Batman to join the Justice League (JLA Incarnations #2)

- Believes Batman is a great leader mentioning that he would've made a brilliant military field general (JLA Classified #33)

Aquaman

- Before Aquaman even met Batman, he considered the Dark Knight to be a serious threat against him and included him within his Atlantean war plans against the surface world (Aquaman #15)

- Believes Batman's mind is the most dangerous thing about him since Batman has a habit of studying his opponents in advance (Justice League #24 2017)

- Defends Batman against his own Atlantean people who want to give him up to save themselves by making a very good point about how many times Batman's saved the world (and in turn Atlantis) plus the oceans with it (Batman v3 #129 2022)

Green Lantern(s)

- Showcasing the more open mutual respect and admiration they had for each other before Hal was corrupted by Parallax (Green Lantern #1 1990)

- Actually considers Batman someone he can relate to given their past childhood trauma and sees him as a friend (Blackest Night #0)

- Hal Jordan admits to being jealous of Batman because of how smart he is plus the fact that he's such a great super hero even without super powers (Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular 2020)

- Explaining how he would defeat his Justice League team mates, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) acknowledges Batman as the most dangerous member of the JLA who's plan against Bruce is battle field removal and the first leaguer he would deal with after defending himself against The Flash and Martian Manhunter's opening attacks (Green Lantern Legacy - The Last Will and Testament of Hal Jordan)

- After leaving the Justice League, Guy Gardner actually begged Batman to come back knowing that the Justice League wasn't the same without him (Justice League International #15 1988)

- Kyle Rayner thinks very highly of Batman and likes how cool he is (Green Lantern #103 1998)

- Out of the trinity, its only Batman who he addresses with full proper respect (Green Lantern #125 2000)

- After an agruement about time travel with The Flash (Wally West), Kyle then has a heated verbal exchange with Batman who convinces him that time travel is a bad idea and to back down completely (Green Lantern #155 2002)

- Out of respect for Batman and for his own good, Green Lantern (Simon Baz) actually gives up using his gun and decides to only use his power ring from now on (Green Lanterns #17 2017)

- Simon Baz attempting to give Batman a high five which he quickly turns into a respectful handshake and proper greeting (Justice League #22 2017)

The Flash(es)

- Barry Allen aka The Flash (a forensic scientist himself) thinks of Batman more as a scientist than a detective due to the way he solves crimes (The Flash Rebirth #1 2016)

- Barry acknowledges Batman as the greatest detective he's ever known (The Flash #64 2016)

- Being lost and forgotten by everyone, The Flash/Kid Flash aka Wally West actually goes to Batman as the first very person in the world for help (even before his uncle Barry Allen) due to Batman being known as the World's Greatest Detective having solved every mystery (even other cosmic level/other worldly mysteries) he's encountered (DC Universe Rebirth #1)

Wonder Woman

- Admires Batman and is the most fearless man she's ever met (Wonder Woman #165)

- Sees Batman as something more than just the Dark Knight that he shows the world (Wonder Woman #167)

- Believes Batman's real purpose is about teaching and inspiring people to achieve what they think is impossible (Dark Nights Death Metal #2)

- Sees him as brilliant, driven, a warrior, and even inspiring to the point of wanting to fight harder whenever they work alongside each other as equals (JLA #90)

Superman

- Superman explains to Wonder Woman why he respects Batman so much (Batman Superman Wonder Woman - Trinity #3)

- Mentions that he couldn't imagine having a better partner than Batman and that there's a lot he likes about him (Man of Tomorrow #19 2020)

- Sees him as a brother having been friends for so long and knows his heartbeat almost as well as he does his own wife's (Lois Lane) heart (Dark Nights Metal #2)

- Is acknowledged by Superman as being among the most brilliant minds on the planet and is seen working on a cure for the Doomsday virus that's infected Superman alongside a handful of the most highly intelligent people in the world which includes the likes of Ray Palmer (The Atom) & Lex Luthor (Superman v3 #31)

- Only when Batman's out of the picture (Bruce had amnesia at the time) is Lex Luthor said to be the smartest man in the world according to Superman (Grayson Annual #2)

- Is called the most dangerous man on earth by Superman after he defeats 4 White Martians on his own which confuses Protex (White Martian/Hyperclan leader) who made the big mistake of underestimating him since he has no super powers (JLA #3)

- Has given Batman kryptonite should he ever go rogue on a few occasions being the one person he trusts with his life (Action Comics #654 & Superman Batman #49)

- To show how high his level of respect for Batman goes, Superman gives him a piece of rare platinum kryptonite which grants anyone permanent Kryptonian super powers just like Superman by touching it just once. However, later on we find out that Batman generously gives it to Gotham Girl in order to restore her lost super powers (Batman Secret Files #1 2018)

GODS

Is considered to be the most dangerous person on earth alongside Superman according to a Apokolips trickster goddess (Batman Superman #2)

Able to persuade even the new god warrior Orion (son of Darkseid) to follow his plan (JLA #33)

Darkseid

- His willingness to do whatever was necessary to ensure victory even at the cost of killing his own people (actually just a very good poker face bluff) impressed Darkseid enough to let them leave without a further fight and conceded the battle to him (Superman Batman #12)

- Spots someone fighting parademons at a distance and immediately knows its Batman (Superman Batman #39)

- Out of all the powerful super powered beings Darkseid could've cloned, he actually chose to make an army of Batman clones since it would prove most useful to him given how dangerous and formidable of an enemy Batman has proven to be despite being human (Batman and Robin #8 2010)

- Was actually excited to face Batman in battle again (after the Justice League defeated him) despite knowing he's only a human from earth which says a lot about how formidable of an enemy Batman is to him since he normally ignores humans and sees them as ants (Batman and Robin #37)

The World Forger

- Has one of the best strategic minds in all of existence (Justice League #23 2018)

- Gave him his own throne room, refers to him as the maker and breaker of the universe, plus calls him the greatest knight of the universe (Justice League #24 2018)

The Spectre (Hal Jordan is the host at the time) mentions that Batman is the most powerful of the JLA due to his mind despite having no super powers (JLA/Spectre Soul War #2)

 

Is mysteriously teleported to a otherworldly dimension by an unknown cosmic entity/god who challenges him to a test in which Batman responds in the most epic way possible resulting in the entity quickly teleporting him back to the Batcave seemingly being impressed by his courage and his answer (Batman Annual #4 2019)