Main Characters (Bruce Wayne) | Villains (One-Shot Villains, The Joker) | Recurring Characters | Justice League Unlimited (Superman) | Comic-Only Characters
The recurring characters of Batman Beyond.
McGinnis family

Terry's younger brother.
- Alliterative Name: Matt McGinnis.
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Understandably he is very young, and some of his antics could be seen as a coping mechanism for losing his father at a young age.
- A good example of this is one episode where, even being told that the ghost at Hill High is being destructive, he wants to have a seance. The reason? He's scared he'll forget what his father was like and wants to contact him.
- Bratty Half-Pint: Not much to describe since he acts like a standard younger brother to Terry: a sweet, but annoying kid.
- Chocolate Baby: As with Terry, his and his brother's black hair makes it somewhat unlikely that their biological father could be the auburn Warren McGinnis, given their mother's red hair. The Justice League episode Epilogue explains why.
- Curtains Match the Windows: Black hair and eyes.
- Demoted to Extra: Had less and less screentime as the series continued. Even the comic continuation barely used his character.
- Heroic Bastard: "Epilogue" reveals that Matt is another biological son of Bruce when Warren McGinnis's DNA was overridden with Bruce's. And while Matt may be annoying he's not a bad kid.
- Loves My Alter Ego: Matt admires Batman (a fact Terry wholeheartedly approves of), but considers Terry a boring workaholic who's hardly ever around.
- Strong Family Resemblance: He is basically a smaller version of Terry, right down to the hairstyle.

Appearances: Batman Beyond | Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker | Justice League Unlimited
Terry's mother, who works at Astro-Tech as an astronomer. She approved Terry working for Bruce Wayne, having no clue that it's more than just being a chauffeur to the multi-millionaire.
- Alliterative Name: Mary McGinnis.
- Amicable Exes: Though the JLU episode "Epilogue" reveals that Bruce is the boys' biological father, opening up the possibility that Warren suspected Mary of infidelity since Terry and Matt's black hair is genetically improbable, given his brown hair and Mary's red hairnote . Terry says that, even though they were separated with split custody of their children, Warren was always willing to help Mary if she needed it.
- Demoted to Extra: She had less and less screentime as the series continued. She didn't appear at all in Season 3.
- Former Teen Rebel: According to Terry in "Splicers", she had a lot in common with her delinquent son at his age.
- Hypocrite:
- In "Sneak Peek," Mary initially disapproves of The Inside Peek and tells Terry that it might be "just entertainment" to him, but he'd think differently if he was the one being exposed on the show. When Peek discovers Batman's Secret Identity and intends to expose it on the show, she's suddenly very eager to watch the show, which Terry calls her out on:Terry: I thought you said it wouldn't be entertaining if you were on the receiving end.
Mary: Yeah, well, what do I know? - She has a tattoo on her ankle as shown in "Splicers" that Terry compares to the newest body modifications craze of splicing. Mary derides her youthful indiscretion as being harmless in comparison, and considering how violent the full body splicers become as they start to look down on normal humans, she's not really wrong.
- In "Sneak Peek," Mary initially disapproves of The Inside Peek and tells Terry that it might be "just entertainment" to him, but he'd think differently if he was the one being exposed on the show. When Peek discovers Batman's Secret Identity and intends to expose it on the show, she's suddenly very eager to watch the show, which Terry calls her out on:
- Mistaken for Cheating: In light of revelations in "Epilogue", it's implied that her marriage fell apart because of incorrect (if not unfounded) accusations of infidelity. Warren's reproductive DNA was secretly overridden with Bruce Wayne's, making his children biologically Bruce's despite him conceiving them. With this in mind, it's very likely that when Warren saw Mary's children looked nothing like him, he assumed the worst and left her.

Terry's father, who was killed during the first episode of the series.
- Amicable Exes: Though the JLU episode "Epilogue" reveals that Bruce is the boys' biological father, opening up the possibility that suspicions of infidelity on Mary's part may have been a factor, since Terry and Matt's black hair is genetically improbable, given his brown hair and Mary's red hair.note Terry says that, even though they were separated with split custody of their children, Warren was always willing to help Mary if she needed it.
- Clone by Conversion: Incredibly downplayed. As revealed in the Justice League episode, Epilogue, Warren unknowingly had his reproductive DNA overwritten to match Bruce Wayne. So while Warren and Bruce are still genetically different people, any child who Warren would sire will be genetically related to Bruce instead.
- Death by Origin Story: His death is what prompts Terry to become Batman. Interestingly, backstory revealed in "Epilogue" makes him an invoked example and ultimately a double subversion. Amanda Waller ordered him and his wife killed to turn Terry into the next Batman, but the assassin got cold feet and pointed out that to commit murder in Batman's name would defile his legacy.
- Disappeared Dad: He dies before the third act of the pilot.
- Good Parents: Terry remarks on what an amazing and great father Warren was in "Epilogue".Terry: (to Bruce) My dad was no superhero. He didn't save the world from the near apocalypse of '09. He never went toe-to-toe with Mr. Freeze, but he was a good man just the same. Even after he and mom got divorced, he always tried to do the right thing. My brother and I were always provided for. When mom couldn't quite make the bills, he always helped out. Tried to teach me right from wrong. Would've too if I ever listened to him. And he never laid a hand on me, although Lord knows I was asking for it.
- He Knows Too Much: He gets killed for learning about the mutagenic nerve gas.
- Nice Guy: Warren was often described and shown as a decent person.
- Sacrificial Lamb: His death starts Terry's path to becoming Batman.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: He was only around for part of the first episode and a cameo in the season two finale of Justice League Unlimited.
Others

Gotham City's District Attorney and Barbara Gordon's husband.
- Ambiguous Situation: It's not made clear if he knows his wife used to be Batgirl.
- Bald of Authority: He's Gotham's District Attorney and hasn't got a hair on his head.
- Distressed Dude: He is frequently the target of assassinations and other attacks, usually requiring Batman and/or Barbara herself to rescue him.
- Happily Married: To Barbara.
- Older Than They Look: While Sam's age isn't specified, he's presumably close to that of his wife (mid-sixties), but looks to be in his late forties at the latest.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: A better example than his wife. He utterly refuses to discuss the police's and court's dealings with her after hours, and doesn't seem to have that much of a problem with Batman running around.

A nerdy student and Terry's friend. He tries to find ways to make himself popular.
- Lovable Nerd: Although not very popular, Terry, Dana, and Max hang out with him regularly as friends.
- Nerd Glasses: They may be future, green-tinted glasses, but they're still huge glasses.
- Self-Deprecation: Paul Dini based Howard on his teenage self.

The most popular girl at Hamilton Hill High.
- Alpha Bitch: She's more apathetic than downright mean, but has the look down pat, and is more than content to do things such as throw most of a school assignment on Terry or manipulate a classmate to make another guy jealous.
- Bare Midriffs Are Feminine: Her outfits constantly depict her belly.
- Dating Do-Si-Do: Seems to have a new boyfriend every episode.
- Dude Magnet: Almost every boy at school found her attractive and Blade knew it. Willie Watt was infatuated with her, and twice tried to win her with help from his telekinetic powers.
- Emotionless Girl: She has this vibe normally, but does show emotion on several occasions.
- Lovable Alpha Bitch: On some occasions. She's very in favor of nerd Howie scoring with a hot girl, as long as that hot girl wasn't herself.

Appearances: Batman Beyond | Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Dana's best friend and a student at Hamilton Hill High.
- Animal Eyes: Provides the trope picture from the episode "Splicers," when she is revealed to have literal cat-eyes due to undergoing a trendy but controversial splicer treatment. In later appearances her eyes are back to normal.
- Bare Midriffs Are Feminine: She's always seen wearing a black-and-white sleeveless top that never covers her navel.
- Boyish Short Hair: Sports a blonde Pixie Cut.
- Break the Cutie: Before being sent to David Wheeler's clinic, she was vivacious and had a cool yet cordial relationship with Terry. After an extended period in the camp, when Terry sees her again, she's overjoyed to see him, has bags over her eyes from sleep deprivation, is physically and emotionally worn down, and starts crying - begging Terry to get her out. It was clear to her friends and even the audience that Chelsea simply had no reason to be there. The clinic was so traumatic for her that when she's released at the episode's end, she refused to forgive her father for sending her there, in contrast with the reunions with the other kids with their parents.
- Dating Do-Si-Do: Has a new boyfriend in every episode.
- Easily Forgiven: Averted with Chelsea and her father at the end of "The Last Resort", in contrast to the joyful reunions with the other kids and their parents.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Dana.
- Little Black Dress: Tends to wear this when she goes clubbing
- Lovable Alpha Bitch: She's actually a rather nice person, as seen in "The Last Resort," and except for being dismissive of Howard Groote, doesn't really do anything bad. Though she sometimes tries to get Dana to see other guys, it's because she thinks Terry isn't good for Dana, due to him always brushing her off (she’s unaware that Terry’s the new Batman).
- Parental Issues: She mainly acts out due to her rough relationship with her father.
- Special Guest: When she was voiced by Rachael Leigh Cook, though Rachel did enjoy playing the role. The production team reportedly felt awful about calling her in to record a single line for The Movie, though she was a good sport about it.
- Took a Level in Kindness: She becomes noticeably nicer after Rachel Leigh Cook replaced Yvette Lowenthal.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: She is the Tomboy to Dana's Girly Girl, but the Girly Girl to Max's Tomboy.

The jock and bully of Hamilton Hill High. He and Terry don't get along, to put it mildly.
- Alliterative Name: Nelson Nash.
- Berserk Button: His car being damaged. He wanted to beat up Willie Watt just because he almost scratched it.
- Bullying a Dragon: Once he brands someone as an acceptable target, he will continue to hound him even after it's been established that said guy could beat him up. This includes insulting Terry after seeing him take down several Jokerz.
- Dating Do-Si-Do: He's implied to be in a relationship with Chelsea in one episode, hits on Dana in another, and has a messy break-up with Blade in yet another.
- Dirty Coward: Zigzagged. On one hand, in general, Nelson likes picking on teens weaker than him, and when he is chased by the "Golem" robot, he ditches Blade, whom he's trying to woo, and runs for his car. On the other hand, Nelson never cowered before someone and mouthed off to them despite knowing they could easily beat him up.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: In the first episode of season one, he gets angry at seeing Scab and his gang of Jokerz to the point of wanting to pick a fight with them, but decides they're not worth his time.
- Hated by All: In "Golem" and "Terry's Friend Dates A Robot", Terry makes it clear that almost everyone in school hates Nelson just as much as he does. Even the girls who dated him and spoke positively of him before end up growing to hate him.
- Hidden Depths: "The Eggbaby" revealed that Nelson is surprisingly good as a father, if his grade was anything to go by. Remember, Max did his math homework so he'd raise the kid by himself.
- Hypocrite: In "Revenant", when Nelson is attacked by Willie Watt, who has gained telekinesis, Nelson complains that it’s not fair because he doesn’t stand a chance against Willie. Nelson didn’t care about things being fair before Willie went to juvie, when Willie was a scrawny wimp with no powers, and Nelson would bully the defenseless nerd.
- Jerk Jock: A massive one. In the pilot alone, he introduces himself by spitting in Terry's face. He also picks on weaker kids who can’t fight back, like Willie Watt.
- Karmic Butt-Monkey: Karma often gives Nelson a kick in the balls for his bullying ways every time he appears. In the first episode, Terry punches him in the face, and Nelson later gets harassed by a gang of Jokerz. In "Terry's Friend Dates A Robot", Cynthia pushes a row of lockers onto him, nearly killing him in the process. Also, Willie Watt has repeatedly attacked Nelson and destroyed his beloved car twice.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: In "Golem", he's bullying Willie Watt. When Terry steps up to defend him (Nelson has witnessed Terry kicking the asses of a Jokerz gang), Nelson considers it for a moment and backs down.
- Laser-Guided Karma: There are some times when Nelson's jackass tendencies come back to bite him, especially in "Terry's Friend Dates A Robot", when said robot pushes a row of gym lockers on top of him. If Nelson hadn't been wearing his sports gear, he'd have died.
- The Precious, Precious Car: Nelson loves his car.
- Spiteful Spit: In the first episode, he spits on Terry's face after the other insults him during a wrestling match. Terry punches him, causing him to get in trouble and get grounded by his father.
- Teens Are Monsters: While not a supervillain, Nash is easily a massive bully and causes Willie Walt's Start of Darkness. Aside from being willing to beat up weaker teens like Willie to a pulp if they managed to make him angry, Nash goes so far as showing Willie off the pier and into the water, not caring that Willie could've drowned if he didn't know how to swim.

In Batman Beyond, Tim Drake is now a grown family man and a top-level communications engineer. Like Barbara, his relationship with Bruce is strained at best.
See here for info dealing with him in the rest of the DCAU.
- Brainwash Residue: Still has after-effects of his last encounter with The Joker (of the "uncontrollable shaking and bad dreams" kind) after 40 years. Given what Joker put him through, that's really not that surprising.
- How much of it was trauma and how much of it was Joker's mind chip can be debated, though one residue was him hating being Robin, something which went away with the chip.
- Break the Cutie: Will the cute little boy who wants to be a hero end up targeted, tortured, brainwashed and driven insane? Yes.
- Deprogram: It is mentioned offhand that it took well over a year of intense therapy to make him sane again. Judging by some of his reactions, he still isn't entirely over it some 40-50 years later. Of course, how much of it was trauma and how much of it was the Joker's microchip can be debated.
- Fan Disillusionment: He now says that he regrets ever taking up the Robin mantle, saying that appeasing Bruce was impossible no matter what he did, a far cry from his younger self's massive admiration for the Dynamic Duo and delight at becoming a part of it. At least part of this may have been due to Joker's microchip, as he lacks his former hostility towards Bruce and Barbara once Terry freed him from the Joker's influence.Tim: We gave our best, but in the end that wasn't good enough for the old man. When I was younger, part of me thought I would go on and on and someday...ah, capes, costumes, playing hero—it was kid's stuff! Bruce probably did me a favor. In the end, I was so sick of it I never wanted to see that stupid Robin suit again...!
- Grand Theft Me: The Joker did this to him, having implanted a microchip in his neck during his time as a captive. The chip made the Joker's mind into adult Tim's sort-of Superpowered Evil Side.
- Happily Married: Has a wife and two children, with his wife frequently calling him when he's working late out of concern for his well-being.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's gruff and cynical, but still a nice guy who approves of Terry's work as the new Batman.
- Kid Hero: Used to be one, as the second Robin.
- Legacy Character: Aside from being the 2nd Robin, some of Tim's dialogue with Terry indicates that he had once hoped that it would've been him who succeeded Bruce as Batman. Obviously, that didn't pan out.
- Mythology Gag:
- His job as a communications engineer is one to his comic counterpart's increasing portrayal as The Smart Guy of the Batfamily.
- His unnamed wife, when she briefly appears onscreen, is shown to be blonde and is wearing purple-and-black; this is a nod to Stephanie Brown, comic Tim's long-time girlfriend who is blonde and wore purple-and-black costumes as both Spoiler and Batgirl.
- Never-Forgotten Skill: He's been retired from Robin for over 40 years, but he retains some measure of his old skills, able to hear an invisible Batman coming "from a mile away."Tim: I'm no Boy Wonder anymore, but that old training never goes away, even at my age.
- Passing the Torch: By the end of the movie, he gives Terry his support in being Batman, to which Terry replies that it meant a lot coming from him.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: After what the Joker did to him? Can't be blamed. He does become better when Terry destroys the chip with Joker's mind that was implanted on Tim.
