# Ace the Bat-Hound

Ace the Bat-Hound is a superhero dog appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is commonly featured as the canine crime-fighting partner of Batman and as an ally of other animal superheroes, such as Krypto, Streaky, and the Legion of Super-Pets.
The character made his cinematic debut in the animated film DC League of Super-Pets, which was released in the United States on July 29, 2022.

## Publication history

Ace debuted in Batman #92 (June 1955) and was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Sheldon Moldoff. Ace's introduction followed on Krypto the Superdog's debut in Adventure Comics #210 (March 1955), and by German Shepherd Dogs from detective films and serials, such as Rin Tin Tin and Ace the Wonder Dog.
Ace, along with Batwoman, Bat-Girl, and Bat-Mite, was retired from the comic in 1964, when editor Julius Schwartz instituted a "New Look" Batman that shed some of the sillier elements in the series.

## Fictional character biography
### Pre-Crisis

Ace was a German Shepherd Dog originally owned by an engraver named John Wilker. He was found by Batman and Robin after his master was kidnapped by a gang of counterfeiters. Batman used Ace to try to locate Wilker. Because he had already placed a large number of "lost dog" announcements for Ace in his civilian identity of Bruce Wayne, he was concerned that anyone recognizing Ace might make the connection between Bruce Wayne and Batman. To forestall that problem, he improvised a hood-like mask for the dog that incorporated the bat-emblem as a dog tag. Ace was subsequently christened the Bat-Hound by a criminal that the dog helped Batman to apprehend.
Wilker later took a new job that made it difficult for him to take care of Ace, so he left the dog to Bruce Wayne. Wilker was never aware that Bruce Wayne was Batman.
An early case involved Ace tracking down a mentally unhinged ancient weapons expert. At one point, Ace acquired superpowers thanks to Bat-Mite, but this was short-lived. He did have his own training. For example; his specialized radio collar, when activated, told him to don his own mask (via a hands-free device) and track down Batman and Robin. Ace was used less and less over time, and for various reasons. When Bruce was overcome with night terrors, Robin suggested that Ace sleep beside him.
Ace disappeared from the Batman comics after Julius Schwartz took over as editor in 1964. His last appearance was a cameo in a story where Batman had lost his fighting spirit.

### Post-Crisis

The original Ace appears as a resident of Limbo in Animal Man and Final Crisis, while a new dog character based on him is introduced. He is a former guide dog who Batman adopts following the death of his owner Black Wolf.

### The New 52

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Damian Wayne adopts a Great Dane named Titus. Writer Peter Tomasi considered naming the character Ace, but decided against it.

### DC Rebirth

A new version of Ace is introduced following DC Rebirth, where it is depicted as a former guard dog of the Joker.

## Other versions

* An alternate universe variant of Ace appears in Kingdom Come. This version is the winged steed of the Fourth World Batwoman.
* An alternate universe variant of Ace appears in Batman: Castle of the Bat. This version is a dog-bat hybrid created by Bruce Wayne.
* An alternate universe variant of Ace appears in DCeased: Unkillables.
* A pre-Crisis variant of Ace called Nighthound appears in World's Finest #143 as the telepathic Kandorian companion of Nightwing.

## In other media
### Television

* Ace appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), with vocal effects provided by Frank Welker.
** First appearing in Batman Beyond, this version is a Great Dane mix who was involved in an illegal dog fighting ring as a puppy, but eventually escaped and was adopted by an elderly Bruce Wayne, becoming his sole companion in Wayne Manor until they meet Terry McGinnis.
** Ace makes a cameo appearance in the Static Shock episode "Future Shock".
* Ace appears in Krypto the Superdog, voiced by Scott McNeil. This version is a member of the Dog Star Patrol who uses various gadgets, similar to Batman.
* Ace appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, with vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley Baker.
* Ace appears in the "DC Super-Pets!" segment of DC Nation Shorts, voiced by Diedrich Bader.
* Ace appears in Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 2: Villains in Paradise.
* Ace appears in the Justice League Action episode "Best Day Ever".
* Ace appears in DC Super Hero Girls (2019), with vocal effects provided again by Dee Bradley Baker. This version is Barbara Gordon's pet and a retired Gotham City Police Department dog who was originally partnered with Barbara's father Commissioner Jim Gordon.
* A young Ace appears in Batwheels.

### Film

* The DCAU incarnation of Ace appears in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, with vocal effects provided again by Frank Welker.
* Ace appears in Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash as a member of the Justice League.
* A robotic Ace appears in Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts and Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem. It was originally created to serve in the Penguin's "Animiltia" before Batman reprogrammed it to help him thwart the Penguin.
* Ace appears in DC League of Super-Pets, voiced by Kevin Hart. This version is a boxer who was abandoned by his family after he bit their infant daughter's arm while saving her from falling down a flight of stairs. In the present, he gains super-strength and invulnerability from exposure to orange Kryptonite and joins forces with Krypto and other empowered shelter pets to rescue the Justice League. Following this, Ace is adopted by Batman and becomes a founding member of the titular League of Super-Pets.

### Video games

* Ace appears as an NPC in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
* Ace appears as an unlockable playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, with vocal effects provided again by Dee Bradley Baker.
* Ace appears as a playable character in DC League of Super Pets: The Adventures of Krypto and Ace.

### Miscellaneous

* Ace's appeal is discussed in Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross. Ross feels that as a child, the idea of Batman having a dog is "cool", but as an adult the same idea is "outrageous".
* Ace appears in DC Super Hero Girls (2015).
* The robotic Ace appears in the Batman Unlimited shorts.