Summary
- The Dark Knight Trilogy showcases a range of heroic characters, from Batman’s close associates to public servants and civilians who stand against crime.
- Characters like Rachel Dawes, Commissioner Gordon, and Alfred Pennyworth exhibit bravery and heroism in their own right, assisting Batman in his mission.
- Other characters like Lucius Fox, Robin John Blake, and Harvey Dent have their own moments of heroism, contributing to the fight against injustice in Gotham City.
Christopher Nolan’s legendary The Dark Knight Trilogy features one of the most revered versions of Batman ever put to screen, but the universe is full of other heroic figures. The Dark Knight Trilogy is a darker take on Batman’s world, more grounded and realistic than most other comic adaptations. As such, the series’ villains and world-building portray a Gotham drowning in crime. While Christian Bale’s unforgettable dual performance as Batman and Bruce Wayne stands alone as the universe’s only superhero, he is assisted by many others in the line of duty.
The less dramatic heroics of the timelessThe Dark Knight Trilogyextend to many different sectors of life in Gotham City. From Batman’s close associates to public servants and even simple civilians, a surprising number of citizens in Nolan’s bleak depiction of Gotham aren’t afraid to stand against the horrors of the universe’s oppressive organized crime and villainy. Though they may not have the skills or resources of Batman and Bruce Wayne, these Nolanverse characters have proven themselves to be just as heroic.
10 Rachel Dawes
Rachel Dawes was a district attorney in Gotham City with a complicated relationship with Batman. Growing up as Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend, the possibility of a romance between the two of them was hinted at as Rachel became one of the few people aware of Wayne’s secret identity. But her brush with heroics extends far beyond her connection with The Dark Knight.
As a district attorney, Rachel fought against Gotham’s criminal element hard enough to draw the ire of notorious crime boss Carmine Falcone. She was also likely instrumental in the development of Batman’s no-kill rule, going so far as to slap Bruce Wayne upon hearing of his remorse for not murdering Joe Chill. Rachel was even brave enough to stand her ground against a villain head-on in a physical confrontation, defending a young boy from The Scarecrow by firing a taser at him. Rachel was much more than a simple damsel in distress, despite how her story in the trilogy ended.
9 Commissioner Gordon
A longtime friend and advocate for Batman, it’s unlikely The Dark Knight’s work would be nearly as successful were it not for Commissioner Gordon. Jim Gordon understands and acknowledges the deep-seated corruption within Gotham that extends to its police force and is able to recognize that sometimes the rules of the law he has sworn to protect sometimes need to be circumvented in order to protect the city. To that end, he is Batman’s closest (and only) advisor and advocate within The Gotham City Police Department. Commissioner Gordon is willing to stand against the grain to work with Batman, taking heavy criticism from his peers in doing so.
Gordon’s own actions make him more than a hero in his own right, however. In Batman Begins, Gordon was critical to Ra’s al Ghul’s defeat, driving the Batmobile himself to destroy the monorail tracks that would’ve allowed the mastermind villain to vaporize Gotham’s water supply. In The Dark Knight, he takes a literal bullet for the mayor, allowing himself to be declared dead in order to effectively work undercover to thrawrt the Joker’s coming plans. Well-accustomed to leading police teams into the chaos that Gotham frequently finds itself in, Gordon’s bravery and heroism among the GCPD are unmatched.
8 Alfred Pennyworth
Though a simple butler by trade, Alfred Pennyworth is not only Bruce Wayne’s caretaker and trusted advisor but the only person he can come to for guidance as Batman. A former member of the British S.A.S., Alfred dedicated his life to Bruce Wayne, keeping a watchful eye over Wayne Manor during his absence and protecting his shares in Wayne Enterprises upon his “disappearance.” Once Bruce began his career as Batman, Alfred did everything from sourcing equipment to helping him feign a social life to help dissuade others from thinking he could have a secret identity.
Alfred’s heroics in The Dark Knight Trilogy go far beyond a mere support role, however. He personally saved Batman from perishing under the weight of Wayne Manor after an attack by the League of Shadows and later provided suggestions on repairs. He even went so far as to actively attempt to convince Bruce Wayne to retire as Batman, fearful of his safety, arguably the most impossible task he actually succeeds in.
7 Lucius Fox
Originally a close friend of Bruce’s father, Thomas, Lucius Fox began his history in the Nolanverse as a relic, banished to Wayne Enterprises’ defunct research and prototypes division by CEO William Earle. There, he is found by Bruce Wayne, and goes on to essentially serve as the Q to Batman’s James Bond, developing his armor, vehicles and non-lethal weaponry in secret. Thusly, he is trusted with Bruce Wayne’s secret identity, willing to lie to maintain it.
Considering Batman wouldn’t be able to be anywhere near as effective as he is in the Nolanverse without Lucius help, his heroics through the gadgetry he is able to develop are unquestionable. From the iconic “Tumbler” Batmobile to the bulletproof suit that even lets him turn his neck, Bruce Wayne owes his life to Lucius Fox many times over. He’s even willing to help Bruce Wayne ensure his ethics are in place, only agreeing to work on the frighteningly invasive sonar cell phone detection device used to track down The Joker if Wayne agreed to have it destroyed after.
6 Robin John Blake
An idealistic detective, John Blake, who preferred to go by his middle name, was raised in an orphanage, growing up with a strong admiration for Bruce Wayne. Inspired by the success Wayne had as an orphan, Blake also recognized the veil with which Bruce Wayne hid his true feelings from the world. Going on to become a detective, John Blake is the only one within the Nolanverse to deduce Batman’s true identity for himself.
By the time he appears in The Dark Knight Rises, Blake’s instincts for hero work seem well-honed. He was able to deduce that Bane’s henchmen were pouring concrete laced with polyisobutylene and motor oil and handles himself very well in several fights with Bane’s men, refusing to surrender the city to them easily. In the end, John Blake quits the police force and finds the Batcave, his real first name implying that if anyone were to take up the mantle of Gotham’s defender in the Nolanverse, it would be him.
5 Harvey Dent
Harvey Dent is better known for his tragic transformation into Two-Face at the hands of the Joker. But before his dark descent into villainy, he served as Gotham’s previous district attorney before Rachel Dawes took over the role. Known for being Gotham’s “White Knight,” his efforts in expunging Gotham’s criminal elements were so effective that, combined with the pressure of Batman, the collective mob bosses of the city’s underworld resorted to unleashing the Joker upon the city as a way to even the odds. He was even willing to face down a witness who pulled a gun on him in the courtroom during the trial of Sal Maroni.
Even in the face of the Joker, Dent comes out publicly as Batman to protect Bruce Wayne, who he’d come to see as a close friend. After his transformation, the people of Gotham continued to see Harvey Dent as a posthumous hero, never knowing the truth behind his death. While the Dent Act named after him may have been Draconian, it undeniably lowered crime in Gotham by the time of The Dark Knight Rises.
4 Ginty
Despite having a relatively minor appearance in only two of the Christopher Nolan Batman films, Ginty made a big impression thanks to his actions during the Ferry Ordeal. The Joker enacted a sick game in Gotham Bay, rigging two ferries with explosives that would both go off unless one of the ferries saved themselves by manually detonating the other’s explosives. One of the ships was filled with prisoners from Blackgate Prison, in which guards struggled to maintain order in the life-or-death scenario.
The tall, scarred, tattooed Ginty took control of the situation, calmly taking the detonator from one of the Ferries guards and tossing it out the window to ensure the civilian’s boat wouldn’t be prematurely blown up. The intimidating prisoner seemed even offered the guard a way to avoid getting reprimanded for giving it to him, offering to claim he had taken it by force. Despite being an intimidating prisoner, Ginty’s heroic actions prevented hundreds of lives from being lost, making him one of the most heroic characters in The Dark Knight.
3 Catwoman
While Selina Kyle’s thievery at the beginning of The Dark Knight Rises seemingly made her a clear-cut villain, her actions over the course of the film end with her being more of an anti-hero at worst. Motivated by a desire to put her criminal past behind her, Catwoman steals Bruce Wayne’s fingerprints for his business rival, John Dagget, in exchange for having her record erased. Later, she sells out Batman to Bane out of fear and self-preservation, despite her obvious remorse upon seeing The Dark Knight beaten within an inch of his life.
Selina redeems herself in the third act, choosing to risk her life for Gotham rather than simply flee the city. Catwoman herself lands the killing blow on Bane using the Bat-Pod’s cannons, bringing her heroic arc full circle. Considering she gets a happy ending in Florence sharing retirement with Bruce Wayne, it’s safe to say Selina Kyle ended her masked career on a heroic note.
2 Carl Finch
The original district attorney of Gotham and the first to hold the position chronologically, Carl Finch was the first in a long line of justice seekers trying to make a difference in the city’s judicial system. However, he was worn down by the job and, over time, grew apathetic about the rampant corruption running within Gotham. To Bruce Wayne’s disgust, he actually represented Joe Chill, the murderer of Thomas and Martha Wayne, in his parole hearing, seemingly putting him on the wrong side of the law.
However, this Gotham is not always so black-and-white. Carl Finch chose to represent Joe Chill due to his cooperation in testifying against Carmine Falcone, one of the most notorious mob bosses in Gotham City. This move put a clear target on Finch’s back, as he knowingly stepped into the crosshairs of a corrupt local government to put Falcone away. In the end, Carl Finch was killed by Ra’s al Ghul’s men while investigating Falcone’s shipments. While Finch’s methods may have rubbed Bruce Wayne the wrong way, he did care about reducing crime in Gotham and paid the ultimate price for it.
1 Thomas Wayne
As in most Batman stories, Thomas Wayne’s most significant role in The Dark Knight Trilogy was to die, leaving Bruce Wayne an orphan and sending him into the spiraling desire for revenge that would birth Batman. The Dr. Thomas Wayne of the Nolanverse could be said to already be a hero just by merit of his occupation alone, serving as a surgeon at Gotham General Hospital. But his ambitions to make the world a better place didn’t end there.
Thomas Wayne founded Wayne enterprises alongside Lucius Fox with the goal of making Gotham a better place. His final actions were to defend his wife and reassure his son, making him forever the ultimate hero in Bruce Wayne’s eyes, and perhaps the audience’s as well. As a martyr, philanthropist, and healer, it’s hard to imagine a bigger hero than Thomas Wayne in Christophe Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy, being responsible for Batman’s very inception.
