There are tons of unbelievable fighters in the DC Universe, from the likes of Lady Shiva to Richard Dragon, and a large amount of these fighters are all members of the Bat-Family. The Bat-Family has heavy hitters such as Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain, and Batman — some of the greatest martial artists to ever exist in comics. But none of these characters have a 100% win-rate. The only Bat-Family member who is truly undefeated is none other than Bat-Cow.
Batman has adopted, legally and metaphoricallt, many people over his years as a crime fighter: Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain, Duke Thomas, and many more. But without a doubt one of the most iconic members of the Bat-Family is the Bat-Cow, who is a cow that was adopted by Robin Damian Wayne — not Bruce himself — after the pair stopped a group of criminals in a slaughterhouse in Batman Incorporated #1 by Grant Morrison, Chris Burnham, Nathan Fairbairn, and Pat Brosseau. Unable to leave the Bat-Cow behind to her fate as a cheeseburger, Damian immediately moved her into Wayne Manor, where she has proven time and time again to be a dangerous and invaluable addition to the team.
Gotham’s Finest Hero Has Always Been Bat-Cow
Bat-Cow first hit appeared in main continuity in Batman Incorporated #1, but she’s appeared in several Bat-Family comics since then (and she even appeared in the Super Sons animated movie). Her track record speaks for itself: in the story “Panic at the Midnight Rodeo!” by Dan DiDio and Tom Raney from Dog Days of Summer #1, Bat-Cow faces down a rogue bull wearing Joker makeup on, saving a man’s life. In Batman and Robin #36 by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz, and Carlos M. Mangual, in order to help bring Damian back to life, Bat-Cow helps take down the New God Kalibak. And finally, in a story from Batman Incorporated Special #1 by DiDio and Ethan Van Sciver, she helps stop a car thief. This is a 100% success rate in fighting crime, which not even the best fighters in the Bat-Family, such as Batman and Cassandra Cain, can boast. But Bat-Cow’s amazing accomplishments aren’t just her 100% win-rate in fighting; she also has a 100% win-rate in saving people.
When Damian Wayne first appeared, he hadn’t yet learned to curb his violent impulses. Damian had no concern for anyone’s life other than his own, happily killing criminals and nearly beating Tim Drake to death. Damian was introduced as the inversion of the idea that a Robin keeps Batman from falling into darkness; instead, Damian was a Robin who started in darkness and had to be pulled out by his Batman. Damian had issues with empathy and expressing himself, but he consistently expressed kindness to animals. When Damian first met Bat-Cow, he not only adopted her, but he also immediately gave up meat forever, becoming a vegetarian, which is a character detail that persists to this day — over ten years later.
Bat-Cow Watches Over Gotham City
The Bat-Family has some of the best fighters and heroes in the DC Universe, but, because they’re only human, they still fail. Both Batman and Cassandra have lost fights, and Dick Grayson has often failed to save people. But, thankfully, Bat-Cow isn’t human and has never failed in her life. Not only has she won every fight she’s been in, but she played a crucial role in pulling Damian Wayne out of darkness — which is why Bat-Cow is the only undefeated Bat-Family member.
