Bruce Wayne

* Bruce Wayne
* Batman

**Batman** is the superhero protector of Gotham City, a man dressed like a bat who fights against evil and strikes terror into the hearts of criminals everywhere. In his secret identity he is **Bruce Wayne**, billionaire industrialist and notorious playboy. Although he has no superhuman powers, he is one of the world's smartest men and greatest fighters. His physical prowess and technical ingenuity make him an incredibly dangerous opponent. He is also a founding member of the Justice League.

After witnessing the murder of his parents Dr. Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne as a child, he swore vengeance against criminals, an oath tempered by a sense of justice. Bruce Wayne trains himself physically and intellectually and crafts a bat-inspired persona to fight crime.

## Biography

#### Early Life

When Bruce was four, he fell down the family well into the caverns beneath Wayne Manor, attracting the attention of several bats. His father eventually came to his rescue. These caves would later become the Batcave.

At the age of eight, Bruce and his parents, wealthy physician Dr. Thomas Wayne and his wife Martha, were walking home from the Monarch Theater one night, when they were held up at gunpoint by a mugger who demanded the pearl necklace that Martha was wearing. When Dr. Wayne refused to surrender it, both he and Martha were shot dead in the streets. The killer was a criminal known as Joe Chill. Fortunately, physician and social worker Leslie Thompkins was making a house call that night, and arrived to give loving comfort to the traumatized Bruce. He was then raised on the Wayne Manor estate, with help from the wise and loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce had very few friends during his childhood.

#### Training

Bruce Wayne swore an oath to rid the city of the evil that had taken his parents' lives. He spent his youth traveling the world, training himself to intellectual and physical perfection and learning a variety of crime-fighting skills, including chemistry, criminology, forensics, martial arts, gymnastics, disguise and escape artistry.

At age 14, Bruce Wayne began his global sojourn, attending courses at Cambridge, the Sorbonne, Berlin School of Science and other European universities, only taking subjects that suited him and his plan. However, he never stayed long and would often drop out after one semester. While abroad, he studied and received training in multiple martial art styles from various instructors in different countries. He learnt man-hunting from Frenchman Henri Ducard, stealth and reconnaissance under the Japanese ninja Kirigi and other certified shinobi, hunting under the African Bushman (the Ghost Tribes of the Ten-Eyed Brotherhood, among others), hand-to hand combat under the tutelage of Ted Grant, a world-champion boxer and David Cain, one of the world's premier assassins; traditional healing disciplines under Nepalese monks and even ventriloquism under skilled practitioners. Bruce also trained with Chu Chin Li and Tsunemoto in martial arts. He was trained in kung fu by Richard Dragon. He was also trained in archery by Oliver Queen. At the age of 17, Bruce was trained by detective Harvey Harris to improve his detective skills. At age 20, he attempted to join the FBI, but after learning about its regulations and conduct, Wayne deducted that he would never be able to completely oppose crime while working within the legal system. The final mentor Bruce trained with was bounty hunter Willis Doggett, when Bruce and Willie were tracking a target, Willie was killed and Bruce managed to fight off the target by throwing him over a cliff, along with his parka. Luckily Bruce was rescued by a shaman and survived. After this, Bruce returned to Gotham after twelve years of training at the age of 25.

## Personality

Batman, in most of his incarnations, is a dark and grim hero with a personal vendetta against criminals. Traumatized by the death of his parents, Batman has sworn to rid Gotham from the criminal elements that took his parents from him. He is very paranoid and obsessive, which often makes it difficult for him to trust other people that aren't Alfred, the Robins, or the Batgirls.

Despite this, Batman has proved to have a great love for humanity, which was instilled by his parents. His father was a doctor, while his mother was a crusader against child abuse. Indeed, Batman's oath of vengeance is tempered with the greater ideal of justice. He refrains from killing, as he feels this would not make him any better than the criminals he fights. He is also a very prominent member of the Justice League and the founder of the Outsiders.

To protect his secret identity, Batman has constructed a fake persona he can use in his civilian identity. To the world at large, Bruce Wayne is a self-absorbed, superficial, irresponsible playboy and philanthropist. Only his closest allies know that this attitude is just an act.

### Who is "The Real Man?"

The playboy billionaire aspect of his character is a facade, while the masked and particularly dark, grim vigilante is marked as the "true" man. Usually, Batman is separated from Bruce Wayne by the raspy and stony bass voice he usually assumes while costumed. However, although even Bruce considers Batman his 'real' identity, when he briefly contemplated abandoning Bruce Wayne to live only as Batman after the murder of Vesper Fairchild, his decision to act to protect a small-time thug from being caught in the crossfire helped him recognize that Bruce Wayne was equally important to him, as that action was based on what his father would have done. When Bruce and Batman were split into separate people by the wish-granting Id, Bruce retained the memory of Thomas and Martha Wayne's deaths, leaving him angry at the world with no way to channel that rage, while Batman began to gradually lose focus, lacking any actual drive to avenge deaths he no longer truly 'remembered' even if he still had his existing skills.

Another identity used by Batman is that of gangster "Matches Malone." Matches was a small-time arsonist who killed his brother and then committed suicide by burning himself to death. Becoming Matches allows Batman to operate within the criminal community as a respected member with pre-established credibility. Matches is often under suspicion of being a snitch to Batman however, and great lengths often have to be gone to maintain his "rep." Matches would later return to Gotham City, and reveal to Batman he had been innocent, and had faked his death. The real Matches was murdered by the Ventriloquist, for Batman's actions in his name, but Batman was able to preserve the identity and even avenge his death. He has since, when in the Malone persona, pursued it to the point of even being incarcerated as him in Blackgate Penitentiary.

#### Romances

For the most part, Bruce does not engage in serious romance, preferring to focus in his superhero duties instead. However, Bruce occasionally softens his heart and has been romantically involved with the following women:

* **Catwoman**: Quite possibly Batman's best-known romance, the master thief Catwoman has been Batman's lover at several points of his life. Selina Kyle was inspired to don the costume of the Cat after seeing Batman in action, and later proved herself as both an adversary and ally to Batman. The two regularly flirted in costume and also dated in their civilian identities as socialites on occasion, though Selina was then unaware of Bruce's identity as Batman. After years of attraction, Bruce confided in Selina by telling her of his identity, and the two pursued a relationship. This was short-lived as Bruce determined that his commitment to justice could not allow him to get so close with anyone else. Despite this, they remain close friends and reliable allies. Catwoman's morally ambiguous nature represents a gray area in Batman's otherwise black and white life.

## Weaponry & Abilities

### Abilities

* **Indomitable Willpower:** Although he has no superhuman powers, Batman's unstoppable determination and strength of will make him an extremely formidable opponent. This makes him able to function while tolerating massive amounts of physical pain, and also allows him to resist telepathy or mind control. His willpower is strong enough to operate a Green Lantern Ring when necessary as evidenced by his demonstrated ability to remove the rings of Hal Jordan, and Guy Gardner, a feat only capable of doing by those who possess a more powerful will than the wearer.
* **Harrowing Mastery of Fear (Intimidation):** It is widely known that Batman has the ability to instill fear in others, to the extent that even the people that know him best are intimidated by him, Batman regularly forces common criminals to flee in terror despite there being no evidence that he would actually kill anyone. Even those who aren't afraid of the likes of Superman fear Batman. His ability to inspire great fear has even impressed the likes of Sinestro.
* **Master Interrogator:** Batman is adept at interrogation techniques, often using law enforcement methods as well as torture. Several methods seen include hanging a person over the edge of a building by one leg or chaining a person upside down and beating them. He usually just plain uses his frightening appearance to get answers. "Fear is an excellent motivator" he often says. That said, Batman has in his darker moments been known to utilize more brutal means of interrogation such as extracting teeth, breaking bones, and mutilating joints beyond recovery.
* **Peak Human Condition:** Through intense training, specialized diet, and biofeedback treatments, Batman represents the pinnacle of human physical prowess. His physical attributes exceed that of an average Olympic level athlete. His strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, and coordination are all at peak, or near-peak, perfection. Bruce Wayne, since the age of 15, has created a strict diet to enable his body to develop and operate at its most proficient, along with biofeedback treatments (using machines to stimulate muscles to contraction). Batman has performed amazing physical feats due to his superior physique. He engaged in an intensive regular regimen of rigorous exercise (including aerobics, weight lifting, gymnastics, and simulated combat) to keep himself in peak condition, and has often defeated opponents whose size, strength, or other powers greatly exceeded his own. He has spent his entire life in pursuit of physical perfection and has attained it through constant intensive training and determination... even if he's slowed down a bit with age, you wouldn't dare say it to his face.
	+ **Peak Human Strength:** Batman regularly bench-presses at least 300 lbs. during his exercise routine. This means, in his prime, he was capable of amazing feats such as knocking a thug through a brick wall.
	+ ***Peak Human Reflexes:*** Bruce's reflexes were honed to such a degree that he has caught one of Green Arrow's arrows in mid-flight when he tried to shoot him. He has also been able to dodge point blank gunfire.
	+ ***Peak Human Speed:*** In his prime, Bruce could run at speeds comparable to the finest competing athletes.
	+ ***Peak Human Endurance:*** His endurance was comparable to that of the finest Olympic Decathlon participant. His lung capacity was so great that he could hold his breath underwater for 3 minutes and 15 seconds. He can survive in the airless vacuum of space for exactly 27 seconds, according to his calculations (untested).
	+ ***Peak Human Agility:*** Batman's main phase of movement is Parkour which he learned in France and used that to scale the cities rooftops in an acrobatic manner.
* **Acrobatics:** Though not as talented or skilled as Dick Grayson, Bruce is highly proficient in gymnastics and acrobatics.
* **World-Class Martial Artist:** Bruce is well trained in multiple martial arts, he is known as the man who has mastered many forms of martial arts. His primary form of combat is an idiosyncratic admixture of Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Muay Thai, Dragon Style Kung Fu, Boxing, Jujitsu, Ninjutsu, and Capoeira.
* **Weaponry:** Through his League of Assassins training, he has become an expert on all melee weapons. Wayne has displayed exceptional sword fighting capability and proficiency with knives, sticks, and various other weapons. He practices during his combat sessions to keep his skills intact, but he prefers unarmed combat.
* **Stealth:** Again, his League of Assassins training has made him a master at stealth and capable of breaching high-security facilities without being detected.
* **Marksmanship:** Bruce Wayne is an expert marksman. He is skilled with throwing projectile weapons, archery and firearms. He has been practicing such skills since the early days of his training.
* **Genius Level Intellect:** Batman is a brilliant, virtually peerless, detective, strategist, scientist, tactician, and commander; he is widely regarded as one of the keenest analytical minds on the planet. Given his lack of superpowers, he often uses cunning and planning to outwit his foes, rather than simply "out-fighting" them.
	+ ***Polymath:*** He has studied Biology, Technology, Mathematics, Physics, Mythology, Geography, History, Criminal Science, Forensic Sciences, Computer Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, Diverse Environmental Training, Security Systems, Slight of Hand, and Medical Sciences.
	+ ***Eidetic Memory:*** Batman has total recall and can remember just about anything in great detail.
	+ ***Investigation:*** He is widely considered as the World's Greatest Detective, capable of observation, forensic investigation, and inductive and deductive reasoning of the highest caliber. Human intuition is an unlearnable trait and one of Batman's most effective tools. Given any mystery, he can arrive at the correct conclusions with a fraction of the data.
	+ ***Multilingualism:*** He is able to speak Spanish, French, Latin, German, Japanese, English, Russian, Cantonese, Mandarin, Greek, Portuguese, Arabic, Sanskrit, Hindi, Thai, Farsi, Atlantean, Kryptonian, Themysciran, and possibly more that he isn't letting on (18+ languages).
	+ ***Tactical Analysis:*** He commonly utilizes cunning tactics to outwit his foes, relying on his plans and experience to outmaneuver many of his superhuman friends and adversaries. He is an excellent leader and at times commands the Justice League, Batman is known as one of the greatest strategists and tacticians.
* **Leadership:** He is known for having great leadership. He is the leader of the Bat Family/Batman Incorporated. Also, he leads a successful multi-billion dollar company and charity organization, though he does leave most of the day to day operations to Lucius Fox.
* **Escapology:** He has been described as second only to Mister Miracle as an escape artist. He has been seen escaping from a Posey straitjacket in less than 52 seconds and remarked afterward that the time was way too slow for him.
* **Driving:** Bruce is proficient at driving many vehicles like cars, motorbikes, trucks and he is also skillful at driving jets, helicopters and auto boats and small ships.
* **Tracking:** Expert in tracking, both in urban and wilderness environments.
* **Disguise:** Batman has many aliases he uses to infiltrate the underworld or just to go undercover in public situations. The aliases he has used, which I am aware of, are Matches Malone, Thomas Quigley, Detective Hawke, Sir Hemingford Grey, Frank Dixon, Gordon Selkirk, and Mr. Fledermaus.
* **Master Businessman (Business Management):** Bruce Wayne has extensive skills and experience in business management, has a thorough understanding of financial marketing and management and is often known as an example of successful industrialist and businessman on par to Lex Luthor.
* **Strength Level:** Peak Human Strength. Batman engages in an intensive exercise regimen, and because of this, his strength, like all other physical attributes, is at the peak of human perfection.
* **Batsuit:** The costume Batman wears is composed of reinforced Kevlar and a small percentage of titanium; it's bulletproof and resistant to various types of attack (explosions, impacts, falls, etc...). It's also flame-retardant and insulated. The gloves and the boots are reinforced to rebound the impact of punches and kicks. The gloves have also some metallic blades on their sides, which are used for climbing and to defend against melee attacks. The cape is designed to provide the wearer with controlled gliding functionality with the ability to change directions and heights while in mid-air. The mask has a little percentage of lead, which shields the face of Batman from x-ray powers or x-ray technology, and incorporates an infrared and night visor, auditory sensors and sonar. The mask is accessorized with some security systems (aggravating gas, electric blasts, etc.), like the utility belt, and integrates a transmitter-receiver device and video.
* **Utility Belt:** Batman keeps most of his personal field equipment in a signature piece of apparel, a yellow utility belt. The utility belt has a button to call his Batmobile. Over the years it has contained items such as plastic explosives, nerve toxins, batarangs, smoke bombs, a fingerprint kit, a cutting tool, a grappling hook gun, torches, a "re-breather" breathing device, and lock picks. Superman had entrusted Batman with a ring made of Kryptonite, to be used should the Man of Steel ever need to be reined in (due to being mind-controlled by a villain, etc.). The Kryptonite Ring is contained in a lead pocket, in order to shield Batman from its radiations. The belt has also its own automatic security systems.
* **The Fleet:** Can't forget the car. Batman has an impressive fleet of Batmobiles for a variety of needs but most are armored and outfitted with upgraded engines and mobile forensic labs. Many of the Batmobiles are essentially tanks that drive like a sports car with a jet engine strapped to the back and have become Batman's signature vehicle. He also has a supersonic Batplane with spaceflight capability and a submersible Batboat. All of which contain the most state of the art equipment as Batman employs multiple of them, utilizing Harold to upgrade the back-ups regularly with even better tech.

### Weaknesses

* **Single-Mindedness:** Batman's drive to protect Gotham has been used against him on several occasions, most notably when Bane decided to confront Batman only after wearing him down by destroying Arkham Asylum, knowing that his foe would try and capture all the escaped inmates himself and thus push himself to the brink of exhaustion.
* **Loved Ones:** According to Batman's Level 7 Protocols on himself, he considers Dick, Jason, Tim, Cassandra, Harold, Sasha, Alfred, Selina, myself, and both Helena's to be his primary weakness. I am not happy to be listed as a weakness as I feel we are the only thing that keeps Bruce from getting lost in some deep dark hole that he'll never be able to escape, but I can see his point. Bruce goes off the rails when we are threatened and absolutely goes bat[expletive] crazy (pun intended) when we are actually hurt or worse... Exploit this 'weakness' at your own peril.
* **Chiroptophobia:** Phobia of bats.

## Trivia and Notes

### Trivia

#### General

* Bruce's Net worth is $27.52 billion.
* Bruce eats hamburgers with a knife and fork. I know, sick, right?
* Bruce is a big-time movie buff but prefers to only watch movies made before 1980.
* Once upon a time, Bruce abstained from alcohol, even to the point where he would drink ginger ale instead of champagne at galas where drinking was expected. However, after the death of Jason, Bruce has picked up drinking actual alcohol.
* He endorsed Marian Grange during the election.
* His car is a Murcielago Lamborghini.
* In the old Oracle Files his weight was listed as 225 lbs. He weighted 200 when he was with the League.
* Bruce doesn't want to admit if he actually killed anyone (Oracle has suspicion of seven people), but he does admits to being one of the assassins sent to kill Lucius Fox.
* When they were children, Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent made a pact - Harvey agrees to kill Joseph Chilton and Bruce agrees to kill Christopher Dent. The pact fell apart when young Harvey forgave his father.
* He and Oliver Queen co-own the Legends Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.
* He owns a pair of Superman boxers. He wore them during his honeymoon after marrying Selina Kyle.
* Bruce's blood type is AB-.
* He helped Kate and Maggie with their wedding and got Wonder Woman to officiate it. He wore pastels to it.
* A young Bruce Wayne found coal in his stocking one year. Alfred told him that it must have gotten in there by accident during storage.

#### Batman

* His archenemy is the Joker.
* According to rumors, Batman was so impressed by Elastic Man realizing Flash is Barry Allen he said "He's in."
* After the death of Jason Todd he created Server Seven and countermeasures for superheroes. He started experimenting with Kryptonite and Phantom Zone, but his findings are secret.
* He doesn't have an X-Ray visor in his Batsuit because he doesn't want to get brain cancer.
* He saved the life of William Great Eagle, and was shot in the process. William scavenged various tools and gadgets from his utility belt to improvise surgical instruments and saved him.
* There are movies based on Batman: Dark Knight and Dark Knight Rises.

### Notes

* Location of Wayne Manor, Kane County, is a nod to one of Batman's creators, Bob Kane.
* Bruce's paternal grandmother is Jacqueline Crowne, a nod to one of Gotham's prominent dynasties.
* Bruce's maternal grandmother is Elizabeth O'Hara, a nod to Chief O'Hara, a policeman from the Adam West's Batman TV series.
* Operator's comment about dragging tires around the Batcave is a reference to the film *Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice*.
* Bruce abstaining from alcohol and drinking ginger ale is a reference to the Frank Miller story *The Dark Knight Returns.*