Sometime after his parents' murder, Bruce swore vengeance against criminals, an oath tempered by a sense of justice[1] for which he trained himself physically and intellectually to become Gotham City's protector, the vigilante known as Batman, or simply the Bat, stylized as the Dark Knight[2] or the Caped Crusader.[3] As Bruce, he presents himself as an irresponsible playboy and womanizer, but that persona is nothing more than a façade[4] that he created in order to cover his double life.
In 2015, Bruce left Gotham after killing the Joker,[6][7] leading the local crime rate to rise higher than ever and the Bat-Signal to be finally switched off in 2018 to signify his permanent absence. After discovering his secret identity, Kate took on her cousin's mantle and became Batwoman.
In 2020, Bruce's former best friend, Tommy Elliot, took on his likeness with help from Alice but was soon discovered and sent back to Arkham. After Kate disappeared and was brainwashed into thinking she was the late Circe Sionis, Ryan Wilder succeeded Bruce's cousin as Batwoman. When her memories as Kate were restored, she embarked on an expedition to finally find Bruce and bring him back to Gotham.
Bruce Wayne was born on February 19 in Gotham City into the esteemed Wayne family to his parents, billionaires Thomas and Martha Wayne. One fateful night, his parents were assaulted by a mugger who stole the pearl necklace Martha was wearing before murdering both of them, leaving Bruce traumatized as the sole survivor.[2][4]
After this tragedy, he was raised on the Wayne Manor estate,[6] with help from the wise and loyal Alfred Pennyworth, the only person he really trusted and was close to growing up.[8] Bruce had very few friends during his childhood, one of them being his best friend, Tommy Elliot.[9]
Becoming Batman[]
"Batman brought out all the crazies in Gotham. If it weren't for him, there wouldn't have been a Joker!"
Bruce swore an oath to rid the city of the evil that had taken his parents' lives[1] and, years later, dedicated himself to protecting Gotham City and became a vigilante, crafting himself a bat-inspired persona to fight crime and strike terror into the hearts of his enemies.[2] He eventually became known as Batman, though many considered his existence as a sort of urban legend.[10] Bruce also used a car known as Batmobile during his time as Batman.[10]
The Bat-Signal, the iconic distress signal that Gotham City used to turn on whenever in need of Batman's help.
Over time though, Gotham and the GCPD[11] began relying on the vigilante to the point that the Bat-Signal, a projection lamp that cast the silhouetted shape of a bat across the sky when turned on, was created as a means of contacting Batman whenever he was needed.[2] Batman's presence in Gotham City generated a new breed of criminals, no longer the simple thugs and gangsters involved in organized crime, but more dynamic personalities such as the Joker,[11]Killer Croc,[4]Riddler,[12] or the Scarecrow.[3]
During Bruce's career as Batman, he was associated with a number of individuals, notably Lucius Fox, who designed much of his weaponry,[9] a young individual known to the public as "Robin",[13] and Alfred's daughter, the spy Julia Pennyworth.[8]
Owner of Wayne Enterprises[]
The Wayne Enterprises building.
At the same time, Bruce acted as the CEO of his family company, Wayne Enterprises, making it one of the most prominent multi-billion dollar corporations on the planet and becoming one of the world's richest men.[9]
Young Beth and Kate in Bruce's office.
For years, Bruce searched for his mother's stolen pearl necklace on the streets and spent $1,000,000 to repurchase it at auction.[4] He placed the jewelry in a square pyramid-shaped glass container in his office. The case also functioned as the entrance to an elevator leading to the Batcave, where Bruce kept his Batman suit and gadgets. Bruce's younger maternal cousins, Beth and Kate Kane, whom he was very close to, often visited him at Wayne Enterprises and would try to sneak into his office.[2]
Kane family car crash[]
"He thought he saved your mom and sister, too. I mean, his only living family, and he got it wrong. Haunted the hell out of him."
After having been Batman long enough for the public to be aware of him, Bruce was in pursuit of a school bus that was hijacked by the Joker on January 26, 2003.[14] Through happenstance, the bus impacted a car that contained Kate, Beth, and their mother, Gabi, causing it to crash on a bridge. Bruce tactically shot two hooks with his grapple gun at his family's car as it was about to fall off, securing it to the bridge and allowing Kate to escape, before quickly leaving to save the 34 children on the bus. Bruce managed to capture Joker, leaving him to be tried the following month. However, the trunk of Gabi's car separated the vehicle from the grapple, causing her and Beth to fall into the river below.
Batman's investigation on the Kanes' car crash.
Guilt-ridden over his failure to save his aunt and cousin, Bruce was left haunted for years and spent hours pouring over his mistake, as well as searching for Gabi and Beth's bodies, but he was only able to find his aunt's. With Kate thinking that Batman didn't care about the rest of her family, most likely deepening his guilt, Bruce took it upon himself to comfort his cousin, which she greatly appreciated. However, Bruce never told Kate his secret identity.[2]
Saving Tommy Elliot's mother[]
"Thanks to him, instead of collecting my inheritance, I was left wiping the spittle of a jabbering madwoman's lips for 13 years."
Two years later, in 2005, Bruce would save Tommy's mother from a fiery car crash that claimed the life of his father. However, Tommy came to resent Batman for saving his mother as he was unable to receive his inheritance and instead spent the next 13 years being a nursemaid to her.[9]
Hiring Luke Fox[]
"Not about to get my ass fired twice by Batman, so find your own way."
Eventually, Bruce employed Luke Fox, Lucius' son, as the head of Wayne Security and shared his secret identity with him. Presumably due to a violation of his trust however, Bruce once fired Luke, despite eventually reinstating him.[2]
Later years in Gotham[]
"Honestly? In his last few months, I think Batman was easier for him than being Bruce."
In 2013, right after his cousin Kate was expelled from Point Rock Academy and sent to travel around the world by Jacob Kane, Bruce asked Julia to watch over his cousin when she was in London.[8] According to Luke, in his final months as Batman, Bruce found it easier to be his alter-ego rather than himself.[4] At some point in 2015, his longtime ally Lucius was murdered[11] by Miguel Robles.[7]
Disappearance[]
"Photos can be doctored. They could have put Bruce Wayne's head on that body. Has Bruce Wayne left Gotham to hang out in Star City recently? No."
Sometime around 2015, Bruce left Gotham City,[10] also leaving behind his identity as Batman.[2]
Wayne Tower vandalized after the company burnout.
At some point after his departure, Bruce's board of directors accepted get-rich-quick deals, but were scammed, causing Wayne Enterprises to go bankrupt. Wayne Tower was subsequently abandoned, though the company's subsidiaries still seemed to be running.[10] His cousin Kate was left in charge of Bruce's properties in Gotham, while Luke remained responsible for watching over Wayne Tower.[2]
In 2017, Oliver Queen mentioned Bruce at a press conference about Green Arrow's identity, citing that a forger could put anybody's head on Green Arrow's body, even Bruce's. He then jokingly asked whether Bruce left Gotham to hang out in Star City recently, but then said that it hadn't happened, indirectly hinting at his absence from the city.[15]
A mannequin dressed as Batman is left in front of the Gotham City Gazette as an intimidating message.
Batman's disappearance led to the local crime rate rising higher than ever before. His iconic symbol, the Bat-Signal, was finally switched off in 2018 by the Gothamites to symbolize the permanence of his absence.[2] After Kate began operating as a vigilante, many believed that Batman had finally returned to Gotham, prompting his former enemies to send intimidating messages to challenge him, until Kate decided to change the costume and act publicly as "Batwoman".[9]
"Now Batman, oh, there's a classic hero. Great voice, no shame. I mean, he built abdominals directly into his suit, right? And he kept trophies from every single nutjob he dumped at Arkham. Keeping them off the streets, my ass. He wanted to relish in the feeling of being powerful. Who can blame him?"
At first, Batman had a tense relationship with the city's police authorities, and Commissioner Loeb even sent in a force of most of the Gotham City Police Department to capture him.[21] Eventually however, a customized searchlight named the Bat-Signal was created to notify the vigilante whenever someone needed his help.[3]
Like in the original multiverse, Bruce was associated with a number of individuals during his career as Batman, notably Lucius Fox and his son Luke, who designed much of Batman's weaponry, a young individual known to the public as "Robin", and Alfred's daughter, the spy Julia Pennyworth.[6]
Batman entered into a romantic relationship with Catwoman. This allowed her to steal some of his nanotechnology and weave it into her whip, making it indestructible,[5] but eventually Batman defeated and arrested her.[28]
Collecting Trophies[]
Items from super-villains in the Batcave.
Over the years, Batman collected many dangerous items from these supervillains and placed them in the Batcave for safekeeping, such as Bane's Venom, Clayface's mud, an umbrella, Joker's acid flower, and a sample of Poison Ivy's plants.[25]
Batman came into conflict with Jervis Tetch aka "The Mad Hatter". Following one of their altercations, Batman took Tetch's top-hat and had it disabled before placing it with his trophies from other defeated villains.[28]
He also faced the cannibalistic Waylon Jones aka Killer Croc. However Bruce Wayne took pity on him, believing his actions were the result of an unknown infection and even had Wayne Tech labs working on a cure, however they found nothing. Eventually the GCPD found Waylon but instead of capturing him they killed him with explosives, this left behind nothing of Waylon except a tooth. Batman found the tooth, which was later stored in the Batcave.[20]
Stopping Poison Ivy[]
One of Batman’s most powerful enemies was the eco-terrorist Poison Ivy, who’s power to control plant life made it difficult for him to capture her. In 2011, Ivy’s lover, GCPD officer Renee Montoya, contacted Batman for help in stopping Ivy, who was preparing to destroy the Gotham City Dam and flood the city. He created a desiccation serum that would mimic the process a plant goes through when denied water or sunlight and gave it to Renee so she could get close enough to use it on Ivy. The serum worked and Ivy was reduced to a dehydrated grey husk in a comatose state. Under Renee's wishes, Batman buried Poison Ivy deep underground within the Batcave to ensure she couldn't regain her powers and wake up.[5][29]
Facing Ra's al Ghul and Suit of Sorrows[]
Batman has history with Talia al Ghul and her father.
At some point in his life, Bruce also faced Ra's al Ghul, the leader of the League of Assassins, and his daughter Talia,[30] who seemingly became a recurring enemy of his.[31] However, Talia also provided Bruce with an ancient suit of armor known as the Suit of Sorrows that once belonged to the Order of the Pure, a splinter faction of the Order of St. Dumas, implying the two have a complicated relationship. According to the armor's legends, it can impart strength and speed of its wearer but also completely corrupt anyone whose heart and soul is not pure.
Lucius Fox's journal passage about Batman's encounters with the Suit of Sorrows and Azrael.
At first, the Dark Knight was skeptical of the legend, but soon exhibited aggressive behavior while wearing the Suit of Sorrows during patrols. Bruce later learned from a member of the Order of the Pure that the armor once belonged to a knight named Sir Geoffrey de Cantonna, who massacred hundreds of people in an alpine valley in 1190. Thus, the Suit of Sorrows became one of the trophies displayed within the Batcave to remind Bruce that he must be ever vigilant not only in his crusade against crime, but also himself. Eventually, Bruce passed on the armor to a new vigilante, Azrael, who was seemingly able to wear it without any side-effects.[30]
"You are holding the only shard of Kryptonite on the planet." "Why was this in a puddle in the Batcave?" "Safekeeping. Bruce was holding onto it for a friend. "
Sometime in the past, Bruce met Clark Kent, gaining his trust to the point that the latter gave him a piece of Kryptonite for safekeeping. Bruce stored the object in the Batcave.[21]
Bruce Wayne, Playboy of the Year.
In 2012, Business Intuition did a cover story featuring Bruce and named him "Playboy of the Year".[21]
Killing the Joker and disappearance[]
"I broke Batman's code." "You think you're the only one? Ever wonder why the Joker hasn't reared his head in five years? He's not in Arkham, Kate. Both you and Bruce stared into the abyss. The question is... how long are you gonna let it stare back at you?"
After years of brutal encounters, Bruce killed the Joker.[7] Sometime before he left Gotham, Bruce hid the Batmobile so well that even Luke Fox did not know its location.[6]
Tommy Elliot as Bruce Wayne.
In 2020, Tommy Elliot's face was disguised by Alice to look like Bruce's so that he could procure Kryptonite.[21] Tommy was able to fool others that "Bruce Wayne" had returned to Gotham under the guise of searching for his missing cousin, Kate, even staying in Wayne Manor. In a conversation with Julia Pennyworth regarding Alfred, Tommy unwittingly revealing to her that he was an imposter. He then stole a shard of Kryptonite and attempted to use the Batmobile to steal the Batwoman suit in an attempt to become Batman. However, Tommy was thwarted by Ryan Wilder, the new Batwoman, and sent back to Arkham Asylum.[6]
Noting that Bruce had a set of rules that he followed as Batman, Ryan, as leader, established a set of rules she wanted the Bat Team to follow.[32]
Bruce Wayne in Luke's hallucination.
A hallucination of Bruce appeared in a vision of Luke Fox when he was shot by Russell Tavaroff and went into a coma. Luke found himself in a dream-like world where he envisioned his father looking over the city from Wayne Tower. Bruce suddenly appeared to Luke and explained his situation; in the real world, Luke was hospitalized after being shot. Bruce offered Luke a chance to see his father again, implying it meant giving up living, or decline and return to the real world. As Luke found himself struggling to come to terms with the choices at hand, he eventually conceded that he wanted to see his father again, which Bruce understood. However, as Luke approached Lucious, Bruce disappeared alongside the dream-world, as he had woken up after being administered the Desert Rose cure.[33]
Later, Kate (who'd been brainwashed into believing she was Circe Sionis) convinced the Bat Team to give her back the Batsuit and stole several objects from Batman villains who were in the Batcave; for Roman Sionis. During the final fight, Kate and Ryan fell into Gotham River along with the objects, that were found by other people who assumed the identity of their former owners. After Alice helped Kate get back to normal, she decided to leave Gotham to find Bruce.[26]
After Bruce's successor, Ryan was coerced into signing ownership of Wayne Enterprises over to her maternal half-brother, Marquis Jet, Bruce's entrepreneurial legacy was put under strain; as pointed out by both the news reporters and Luke respectively.[34]
"You know, apart from my father and Lucius of course, Bruce Wayne never trusted a soul. Now I'm not judging his choices. I wasn't in his shoes, but... when you don't trust anyone, it means that you can disappear for four years without a single person on the planet having any idea where you are. Now, call me sentimental, but I don't think that's a good thing."
According to Luke Fox, Bruce is a very compassionate and selfless individual, as he not only cares about protecting the citizens of Gotham City from criminals, but his remaining family members as well, possibly due to the death of his own parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne. Bruce has a very close relationship with his cousin, Kate Kane, as he provided her with emotional support after the death of her mother, Gabi, and (apparently) sister, Beth, something which Kate appreciated despite Bruce's stoic personality.[2] He is a very charismatic individual, quite popular to the press[15] due to his very active social life (having "slept with half Gotham", according to Kate),[4] and well-liked by his fellow Gothamites.[9]
Although Kate described Bruce as being her "fun and irresponsible" big brother-figure, she has taken great considerations in remembering with nostalgia the many advices he gave her over the years as she grew up, proving that Bruce is also extremely deep and wise; Kate herself has the greatest respect for him.[2]
According to Luke and Jacob Kane, Bruce achieved a lot with his life and shares many traits with Kate[2] while Tommy Elliot noted that "nothing could be average with Bruce".[9] Bruce also seems to have a great passion for theater and theatricality, as suggested by the bust of Shakespeare in his office[10] and his alter-ego's methods, and whole figure. In order to cover his double life, Bruce puts up a fake façade of him being an arrogant playboy and womanizer. Sophie Moore mentioned Bruce was likely to know the bra size of female corporate rivals, an example of the faux persona he projected.[20]
According to Luke, "[having] different women meant that Bruce could use the same lies easily" but he too despised that attitude and deep down, felt "miserable".[4]Julia Pennyworth has also described him as distrustful.[8] Despite Bruce's public persona and status as the wealthiest and most powerful individual in Gotham, he remained an ultimately humble and amicable individual who is admired and well-respected by the majority of Gotham, to the point where many individuals to prefer him instead of the extremely arrogant and snobby Tommy.[9]
When Kara Danvers, Oliver Queen, and Barry Allen were bailed from detainment by the Gotham City Police Department and questioned on whether Bruce was the one who posted their bail, Kara stated that getting individuals out of jail like that doesn't sound like Bruce. Comparing Bruce to his Earth-38 counterpart, Kara mused whether trying to keep his private life from the public eye just got to be too much for Bruce and he broke, in both universes.[10]
Bruce is slightly sentimental since as noted by Julia, he would be happy to know that Kate kept Dino, his toy dinosaur, in the Batcave[8] and took great pains to find his late mother's stolen pearl necklace.
Bruce is very well-read, as indicated by the full bookshelves in his office.[2] He is also a strict teetotaler,[6] although he kept a collection of liquor (referred to by Luke as his "good stuff") in his office.[2]Charlie Clarke mentioned that Bruce had addictions and the former needed to bribe him with alcohol to remember the company's talking points with the press, which was likely part of his playboy ruse.[35]
Bruce as Batman.
"Did it ever get to you, Bruce, the loneliness? Did you ever let yourself trust anyone? How'd that work out for you?"
As Batman, Bruce is described by Kara Danvers and Kate Kane as a heroic,[10] yet no-nonsense and blunt individual. He is very ruthless and committed to helping Gotham City, to the point of seemingly being cold and detached enough to have a reputation of prioritizing stopping powerful criminals over saving civilians if need be. This even extended to his own family members, as Batman unwittingly risked his aunt and cousins' lives by only attaching their damaged car to the bridge rather than actively helping them in order to capture the Joker, who had taken 34 schoolchildren hostage. This indirectly led to Gabi dying, Beth being kidnapped, and Kate bitterly believing for the next 15 years that Batman didn't care of what happened to them.[2]
Indeed, Batman was known for being capable of borderline brutality and violence, willing to torture enemies to the point of breaking them to get information, striking terror into the hearts of criminals, and "[playing] by his own rules".[2][4] Some Gothamites such as Jacob even went as far as to consider Batman a "nutcase", stating that it was his presence that "brought out all the crazies in Gotham" and if it weren't for him, there wouldn't have been so many deranged criminals in the city.[11]
Despite such infamy, Bruce's great heroism and efficiency as Batman ultimately triumphs, as he is admired by several vigilantes such as the Flash who stated that he would never compare himself to a "total badass" like Batman.[10]. The majority of Gotham also remained loyal and faithful that the Dark Knight will one day return.[2] During the kidnapping of Steven Forbes and Bryan Akins, Kate told Luke that she believed Bruce would have rescued the hostages regardless of whether or not the Bat-Signal was on, as he didn't care of quibbles or politics.[14]
In spite of Bruce's brutality and reputation as Batman, he has a strong moral compass, as he is against the use of lethal methods. Bruce refuses to take his enemies' lives regardless of the circumstance, holding himself to this oath with every fiber of his being in order to be better than the criminals he fights against.[1] However, Bruce eventually "broke" said code when he supposedly killed his greatest enemy, the Joker, which lead to him leaving the city and his vigilante identity behind out of sorrow and self-deprecation.[7]
While protective of his family, Bruce has a strained relationship with his maternal uncle, Jacob, as seen when Tommy briefly impersonated him. It was implied that he resented Jacob over wrongfully holding Batman responsible for what happened to Gabi and Beth. As a result, Bruce could never trust his uncle with his secret identity.[6]
Abilities[]
"I don't know how you did it, Bruce. You spent night after night in these same shadows, prowling, hunting, hiding, and you did it in secret all alone."
Peak of human physical condition: As a vigilante, Bruce is in top physical condition, having an incredibly powerful physique from years of intense, strenuous training as well as fighting crime in Gotham City for over a decade.[2] His physical prowess has garnered such a reputation for being "a total badass" that has left even Oliver Queen jealous of him, with Barry Allen noting that not even with Oliver's abilities he would compare himself to Batman, implying that Bruce's physical condition surpasses that of Oliver's.[10]Luke Fox has also noted that Kate Kane is an inferior vigilante compared to Batman and Tommy Elliot noted that "nothing could be average with Bruce".[9] Bruce's infamous physical strength is such at an inhuman level that, after seeing Kate lift and throw around full-grown men with ease, Kara Danvers stated that she's really like him,[10] and Zsasz noted him for his strong kicks.[22] Bruce is fast enough to enter and exit a room unnoticed. He has great reflexes, allowing him to throw and catch batarangs with tremendous accuracy and even strike before armed foes can fire at him in point-blank range.[4] Bruce's durability and resilience are also remarkable as the Batsuit he wears doesn't completely absorb the pain of close-range gunshots.[9] His physical attributes were temporarily elevated while donning the Suit of Sorrows.[30]
Honed senses: Bruce has sharp hearing and sight, as well as keen skills of perception. He is able to pick up an incoming danger and react extremely quickly. Luke stated that Bruce's senses are so heightened that he doesn't require night-vision goggles to see in the dark.[36]
Swimming/Free-diving: Bruce is an impressive swimmer, capable of long periods of free-diving without proper equipment or stopping for air. He also designed the Rebreather to further increase his diving performance.[13]
"I'm sorry...I was a detective for eight years and I'm just learning now that Bruce Wayne was...Batman?"
Genius-level intellect/Great business acumen/Master tactician/Leader: Bruce is an extraordinarily intelligent individual and almost flawless tactician, as he was able to fight against crime in Gotham City for several years with tremendous efficiency - that according to Luke far exceeded Kate's when she took up his mantle - all without exposing his real activities to the public or his remaining living family members, to the point that when she found the Batcave, Kate was deeply shocked by her cousin's secret identity. During his missions, Bruce can think fast and seamlessly calculate the variables of every situation in his head to predict the results of his actions and quickly react as he sees fit with tremendous efficiency. When he tried to prevent the Kane family car crash caused by the Joker, Luke noted that almost all of Bruce's calculations, including the angle and weight of the grappling hooks he fired to secure the car were perfect. The only factor not accounted for was a slight miscalculation of the faulty engineering of Gabi Kane's car, which tragically failed to prevent her and nearly Beth Kane from being killed.[2] Bruce's tactical abilities are so thorough that he planned contingencies for his contingencies should his plans go awry, as he not only designed a rail gun to penetrate his suit in case it ever fell in the wrong hands, but he also designed a disruptor to neutralize the rail gun and incorporated it into the suit's gauntlet.[9] He also made sure to confiscate his enemies' weapons.[25] Bruce is also an exceptional businessman and leader, as he was able to successfully run and oversee Wayne Enterprises' daily activities for years, effectively acting as the company's CEO and maintaining its status as a multi-billion dollar corporation despite his heroism, without any perceivable difficulty.[2] Bruce accumulated such a significant amount of wealth that even after his disappearance, he still held a reputation for being the wealthiest man in the planet, which took Tommy, with his own company Elliot Estates, years ("half his life") to finally surpass, although it was only because Bruce had not been present in Gotham for over three years.[9]
Master detective: Bruce is a brilliant detective, capable of meticulous investigative work. He searched the streets for years in order to recover his mother's necklace.[4]
Master of deception/Manipulator: Bruce is an extraordinarily skilled master of the arts of deception and manipulation, as he managed to successfully keep his identity as Batman a secret for many years, not only from the public, but also from his remaining family. He also puts up a fake façade of him being an arrogant playboy and womanizer in order to avoid other individuals from suspecting that he is Batman. The only individuals aware of his secret identity are Alfred Pennyworth, Julia Pennyworth, Lucius Fox, Luke, Kate, a "riddler", Tommy, Mar Novu, Kara Danvers, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Barry Allen, Ray Palmer, Beth Kane, Jonathan CartwrightMary Hamilton, Ryan Wilder, and Renee Montoya; Kate only discovered Bruce's secret due to finding his cave by accident, Tommy only found out from the unnamed riddler, Clark, Lois, Barry, and Ray learned from Mar Novu, Beth and Jonathan learned from Tommy, Luke accidentally revealed it to Mary, Ryan learned through unknown means (likely from reading Kate's messages to Bruce) and Montoya learned from Luke. Furthermore, even the highly intelligent Oliver Queen doubts the existence of Bruce's alter-ego, Batman, dismissing him as an "urban legend concocted by the Gotham City Police Department to scare criminals", which persisted even after seeing the Bat-Signal and a confirmation of his existence by Kate,[10] however, in Oliver's case, his disbelief of Batman's existence was out of jealousy; due to the fact that he was the first/original vigilante.[8]
Master engineer/Gadgeteer: Bruce is an extremely talented engineer, having been able to develop devices that would be deemed by both Luke and Kate as the best on the entire planet. He is also exceptionally skilled in the use of gadgets, effectively carrying and using tons of them to fight crime. Bruce fired two grappling hooks to secure Gabi's car, because he knew it would go over the bridge.[2] Even the highly intelligent Luke, as well as the intuitive Kate, don't know how to operate most of Bruce's gadgets.[13] Indeed, his engineering skills are proven to be even greater than that of Lucius', as Bruce was able to built a rail gun capable of penetrating military-grade kevlar woven with enriched carbon nanotubes of the latter's design, which is considered to be the most lethal weapon he ever designed. Bruce also built a disruptor designed to stop the rail gun.[9] It should also be noted that it took Hamilton Dynamics years to develop a device with similar capabilities.[11]
Master scientist: Bruce is very knowledgeable in various fields of science, as he managed to design a desiccation serum to neutralize Poison Ivy.[29]
Master interrogator/Torturer: As Batman, Bruce has had a history of torturing his enemies in order to get information out of them. He also used to bring prisoners to the Batcave and torture them for several days.[4]
Expert driver/Pilot: Bruce is capable of driving multiple vehicles, such as cars; as Batman, he utilizes the "Batmobile" when out on patrol.[10]
Multilingualism: According to Tommy, Bruce is fluent in more than 40 languages, making him one of the most polyglottic individuals in the world. However, it's unknown how many of them he can both read and speak.[7]
"I would never compare myself to a total badass like Batman."
Master hand-to-hand combatant/Martial artist: Due to over a decade of fighting crime in Gotham City, Bruce is an exceptional hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist, which led him to having a reputation of, as described by Barry Allen, a "total badass" as Batman, Barry also noting that not even with Oliver Queen's combat skills he would compare himself to Batman, implying that Bruce's combat skills are superior to Oliver's; the latter who had been trained by Ra's al Ghul himself. The Dark Knight's combat skills are widely known and feared throughout criminal underworld[13] and Gotham greatly relied on him for protection during the years.[9][11] Bruce's combat skills are so advanced that he managed to face and defeat more than once master combatants like Ra's and Talia al Ghul, both of whom were extensively trained in the League of Assassins.[30] He also once fought against the prolific killer, Zsasz, who noted him for his kicking prowess.[22]
Master stick-fighter: Bruce is a greatly accomplished stick-fighter, having an expandable staff among the weaponry he carries as Batman,[36] as well as two separate batons.
Master knife wielder/Knife thrower: Batman has great accuracy in throwing batarangs, his signature non-lethal weapon, at his enemies.
Expert marksman: As Batman, Bruce possesses an almost infallible aim, as proven when he uses his grapple gun, both for transportation in order to ascent rooftops, as well as to pull individuals or objects. He also had a sticky bomb launcher at the ready in the Batcave, as well as a crossbow loaded with titanium bolts. Bruce could also use the Batmobile to fire rubber bullets and bolas.
"That's why Bruce became Batman, to play by his own rules. It made him terrifying to his enemies."
Intimidation: As Batman, Bruce commands an intimidating presence, to the point where many criminals fear him. Even Beth, a now dangerous psychopath, is visibly terrified of the idea of crossing paths with him, as demonstrated when she initially mistook Batwoman for the Dark Knight.[2] According to Kate and Luke, what made Bruce so terrifying is him playing by his own rules, which scared criminals and citizens alike. Batman's mere shadow puts the fear of God into most individuals, because they know who follows soon after. Batman is considered to be even much more frightening than Green Arrow and Batwoman. Black Mask knew Batman for his intimidating voice.[26]
Stealth/Infiltration/Escape artist: Bruce is extremely secretive, being able to approach other individuals without being sensed. He can quickly vanish from sight after performing his heroic deeds[2] and managed to act as a vigilante for over a decade with very few individuals having actually seen him.[10] Bruce is also a master escape artist, able to free himself from various confinements, such as handcuffs; after witnessing Kate performing such a deed, Luke stated that he could now see the resemblance between the two cousins.[2]
Network: According to Luke and Kate, Bruce had access to the best technology on the entire planet. Due to heading Wayne Enterprises, it is conceivable he possessed technology very few individuals in the world had access to, which is backed up by his own equipment, that also aided Kate in her crusade as Batwoman.[2] Bruce also knew someone with access to a cryogenic tank.[37] He had Lucius Fox deactivate the Mad Hatter's mind control hat[28] and for Wayne Tech's labs to search for a cure to Killer Croc's condition.[20]
Indomitable will/High tolerance for pain: A driven and determined individual, Bruce is nearly fearless and almost never gives up under most situations. He remained in Gotham City after the death of his parents, fighting crime even as he witnessed the putrefaction of the city he grew up in, all while following a strict non-lethal code.[1] Thus, he likely "didn't leave Gotham without a fight".[10] Bruce never stopped looking for Beth after he failed to save her and Gabi,[13] and tirelessly searched for his mother's pearl necklace until he located and purchased it back it at an auction.[4]
Batsuit: Whilst fighting crime in Gotham, Bruce wore a protective black suit stylized like a bat designed to both terrify his enemies and hide his identity from them. After his disappearance, he abandoned the suit and it was later redesigned by Luke Fox and utilized by Kate Kane as Batwoman.[2][9] The suit cost $10.8 million to create, is comprised of military-grade kevlar braided in enriched carbon nanotubes,[9] making it completely bullet-proof; also it can blend into the darkness, is equipped with a remotely activated defibrillator, can adapt the wearer's body temperature to the surrounding,[4] has a cape that allows glider-like capabilities,[2] and a cowl with infra-red visors that fit perfectly on its eye-slits,[36] as well as a direct comm link to the Batcave.[13]
Batmobile: Bruce used a vehicle equipped with advanced technology and weaponry, dubbed the Batmobile, whenever he was out on patrol as Batman.[10]
Bat-Belt: As Batman, Bruce carries with him a utility belt[4] consisting primarily of a strap and buckle, that houses many pouches or cylindrical cartridges attached to its outside each containing one of his various gadgets.
Batman uses a roughly bat-shaped throwing non-lethal weapon.[2] The batarangs serve as instruments of disarming, distraction, confusion or simply to warn his would-be adversaries that Batman is present.[13]
Recording device: Bruce has a special Batarang with an audio-recording device built inside in order to listen in on his suspects during investigations.[38]
Grappling gun: As Batman, Bruce uses a length of monofilament wire attached to a spool. It could be used to make a quick ascent to a rooftop or offensively to pull people or objects.[2]
Subdermal transmitter: Batman uses a subdermal tracking device the size of a microchip in order to locate and pursue some criminals.[4]
Voice filter: Bruce uses a voice filter to disguise his voice; whenever he is talking to individuals who do not know his true identity.[13]
Expandable baton: Bruce has an hi-tech baton that can be extended to the size of a bo-staff.[36]
Laser saw: A device that can cut through anything, the laser saw is a laser-like weapon that Bruce previously used as Batman.[13]
Rebreather: As Batman, Bruce would use this device to breath underwater without needing an oxygen tank.[13]
New multiverse[]
Former equipment[]
The Batmobile in the Batcave.
Batmobile: Bruce used the Batmobile, a car equipped with advanced technology and weaponry; whenever he was out on patrol as Batman. The car was later hidden in the Batcave, where Tommy Elliot briefly stole it.[6]Ryan Wilder now uses the car as Batwoman.[39]
Suit of Sorrows: Bruce once used this suit of armor when operating as Batman. The suit can impart strength and speed of its wearer but also would completely corrupt anyone whose heart and soul is not pure. After getting more aggressive, Bruce stopped wearing the armor.[30]
Green Kryptonite: Bruce had some Green Kryptonite stored in the Batcave.[21] According to Lucius Fox's journal, the substance is one the few things capable of penetrating the Batsuit. For Batwoman's safety, Luke subsequently destroyed the sample of Green Kryptonite Bruce had kept.[30]
Items in theBatcave: Over the course of Bruce's many adventures as Batman, he has recovered several artifacts; like Bane's Venom, Clayface's mud, Killer Croc's tooth, a hat, a umbrella, Joker's acid flower, and a sample of Poison Ivy's plant. In 2021, these items were stolen by "Circe Sionis" when she raided the Batcave.[25]
Given that Bruce began his career as Batman before 2003 and continued for 12 more years, he is the first known vigilante on Earth-1 and is one of the most experienced superheroes in the known multiverse (aside from J'onn J'onzz).
Similar to Clark of Earth-38, Bruce is the earliest known vigilante of Earth-1 and his cousin, Kate Kane acts as a vigilante, inspired by his heroic acts.
Given that Kate and Beth Kane were born in 1990,[14] it stands reason to believe that Bruce is at least a good decade older than the twins as he was already Batman in 2003 when they were 13. Therefore, it can be deduced that Bruce was born sometime around late 1970s to early 1980s. This deduction carries more weight since Warren Christie, who portrays Bruce, was born in the mid-1970s.
If said estimation is correct, Bruce would be a contemporary of Clark Kent.
Bruce's decision to leave Gotham bears similarity to his Earth-203 counterpart; with both deciding to leave the city after a run-in with the Joker.
However, Earth-203's Joker was spared, whereas this Bruce apparently killed the Joker. However, it might be a scenario as what happened in the game franchise Arkhamverse, where Bruce indirectly killed the Joker (in Arkham City, Bruce accidentally dropped the vial that would cure the Joker, letting his enemy die of Titan Disease).
On Earth-9, Bruce also killed the Joker; albeit for murdering the second Robin, Jason Todd.
Behind the scenes[]
In the main DC comics continuity, Bruce Wayne is a vigilante superhero known as Batman, the protector of Gotham City, a man dressed like a bat who fights against evil and strikes terror into the hearts of criminals everywhere. He is also a former mentor of Dick Grayson/Nightwing, who is the protector of Blüdhaven. He is also an occasional ally of Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, Barry Allen/Flash, and Clark Kent/Superman, the latter of whom is his most frequent ally.
In some versions of the DC comics, Bruce is ironically terrified of bats; despite the fact that he designed the Batsuit to physically resemble a bat.
Unlike his version in the Arrowverse, the main version of Bruce Wayne has a middle name, Thomas, making him Thomas Jr. in relation to his father. In certain continuities Thomas Wayne Jr. is a separate character: a brother of Bruce on Earth-3, who became the Owlman; or a spiritual essence of the Batman in Batman: Creature of the Night. Another Owlman, Lincoln March, also claimed to be Thomas Jr., although the nature of his claim is ambiguous.
In the original script for "Tribute", it was not Bruce Wayne but some other unrelated person's name on it. Stephen Amell himself suggested Bruce Wayne's name on the script after receiving approval from Warner Bros. Entertainment CEO Kevin Tsujihara, Greg Berlanti and DC Entertainment executive Geoff Johns.[43]
The bust of William Shakespeare seen in Bruce's office in "Elseworlds, Part 2" is a reference to the 1960s Batman TV series where it has a button to the entrance of the Batcave.
It is possible that Batman has met Rip Hunter; in the episode "Blood Ties", Rip remarked that he had seen "Dark Knights fall", which is a reference to the classic Batman: Knightfall story.
Oliver does not believe in Batman, thinking he is a myth created by the GCPD to scare criminals. Ironically, the Arrowverse version of Oliver takes many traits after Batman, albeit initially in a more violent and murderous way, prior to the former's many promises of refraining from taking lives.[10]
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