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Batman's newest story just saw him adopt a supervillain into the Wayne family, and it's exactly as fitting as you might think. Given the Dark Knight is often characterized as believing anyone can be a hero - and given his track record of adopting many characters over the course of his DC history - the concept of Batman adopting a supervillain isn't an entirely surreal one. That said, it's also a scenario that understandably doesn't crop up all that often, in part because the vast majority of the villains Batman faces are arguably too old to be adopted by the Caped Crusader, and also in part because the hero tends to have enough wards and adopted sidekicks to take care of without adding more to the mix. However, 2025's newest Batman installment navigates these issues to put a former villain in the Wayne family. Batman's New Show Sees Him Adopt A Notable DC Villain Throughout Its Story Bat-Fam, as the name suggests, focuses on the Dark Knight and his wider extended family. That said, the show doesn't feature many of Batman's nearest and dearest in the comics, with Damian Wayne being the only Robin who gets story focus. Interestingly, though, the Caped Crusader has more than one ward in the series, since he adopts another character into the family: namely, Claire Selton, also known as Volcana. Volcana has been a notable DC villain for years in the comic world, though she is often characterized as an enemy of Superman, not Batman. As such, her being a core character in Bat-Fam is interesting by itself, though it's even more interesting to note that, rather than being in her usual adult form, Claire is instead a brooding teen that Batman takes under his wing and adds to the Wayne family. This is explained in-universe, as Bat-Fam reveals that Volcana was in an accident that left her at death's door, and was saved by the regenerative Lazarus Pits - which restored her health, but also reversed her aging, and left her with few memories of her time as an adult supervillain. Adopting a former supervillain with fire powers that can rage out of control is certainly a risky move for the Dark Knight, but it's one that works decidedly well for the story of Bat-Fam, and adds some interesting dimension to the unusual familial setup that is the heart of the series. Indeed, Volcana's story in the show is a key part of what ends up making it work. Batman Adopting A Child Supervillain Is So Perfect I'm Surprised The Storyline Hasn't Been Used More Initially, Claire's presence in the animated Batman show seems as though it might be a jarring one. However, Volcana's story works well to highlight Batman's humanity, making him a truly endearing version of the iconic DC hero. This also helps to link the story of Batman's family together with the show's other narrative focus, which revolves around detailing the lives of various reformed Gotham villains. Seeing Batman strive to understand the complexities of Claire's life as he tries to be there for her as a mentor and parental figure is genuinely heartwarming, as is watching Damian's efforts to form a sibling bond with Claire despite their considerable differences. With Volcana's tragic backstory being detailed halfway through the season, it's hard not to root for Claire and her second chance at life, given the turmoil she experienced the first time around.
