10 Worst Things That Ever Happened To Batman

2. When He Broke His Own Vow - Batman Beyond

Batman Beyond shouldn't have worked. The idea of transplanting Batman to the future with a teenager in the suit sounds like the exact kind of nonsense cooked up by Lindsey Naegle if she were given the keys to make the Dark Knight "biz-zay". Thankfully, Batman Beyond ended up proving everyone wrong, providing fans with one of the most exciting and indeed compelling takes on the character ever committed to print.

Once again assembling the dynamic minds behind Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm and co. ensured Batman Beyond pushed boundaries, and made sure that was clear from the off, even from the intro.

In a series about a Batman who isn't Bruce Wayne, one question must be answered - why did he stop being Batman? Beyond's answer is soaked in tragedy, showing a 50-60-year-old Wayne as he suffers a heart attack in the line of duty, leading to the heartbreaking moment where he's forced to pull a gun to defend himself from a would-be attacker.

The moment is rendered in heartbreaking detail, as Bruce immediately rips off his mask and stares in horror at the weapon he just brandished, one he'd vowed never to wield after his parents' deaths. It was at that point he knew he could no longer be Batman - a moment that would kickstart decades of isolation, the loss of his company and, although unknowingly, the chain of events that would lead to Terry McGinnis' assumption of the Batman identity. They don't make 'em like they used to.