Batman

* Batman
* Bruce Wayne

*"I'm starting to see now. I have had an effect here, but not the one I intended. Vengeance won't change the past, mine or anyone else's. I have to become more. People need hope, to know someone's out there for them. The city's angry, scarred, like me. Our scars can destroy us, even after the physical wounds have healed. But if we survive them, they can transform us. They can give us the power... to endure, and the strength to fight."*
―Batman[src]
**Bruce Wayne** is a reclusive billionaire, the current owner of Wayne Enterprises, and the heroic figure known as the **Batman**. After the ruthless murder of his parents, Wayne swore vengeance against all criminals, an oath tempered by a sense of justice for which he trained himself physically and intellectually, all to become Gotham City's guardian and protector, using a lethal combination of mental mastery, physical strength, and expert technology to fight crime at night.

## Biography

### Early Life

#### Happier Times

Bruce Wayne was born in 1991 in the wealthy Wayne Family to Thomas and Martha Wayne in Gotham City, New York. Bruce originally grew up in Wayne Manor until he was six, after which he and his parents moved into Wayne Tower upon turning the manor into an orphanage when Thomas began his mayoral campaign.

At one point, Bruce watched as his father performed life saving surgery on Carmine Falcone on the dining room table of Wayne Manor after he had been shot in the chest. Carmine recalls making eye contact with a young Bruce as he secretly watched from the top of the steps.

#### A Great Loss

At age ten, Bruce's parents were brutally gunned down by an unnamed killer while walking home from The Monarch Theater. It is later revealed that Alfred suspects the gunman to be an assassin sent by Carmine Falcone but could never confirm it. That event that would drastically change Bruce's life forever.

### Teenage Years

Bruce was thirteen when he first discovered the abandoned Wayne Terminus train station that had been located underneath Wayne Tower, the location which would later become the Batcave. Wayne chooses to keep its existence a secret out of respect to his parents, although Alfred Pennyworth ultimately became aware of its existence. When he is sixteen, Bruce got his driver's license and began using a vintage sports car, unbeknownst to him that it would later become the Batmobile.

As Bruce grew older, Alfred began training Bruce extensively in various different styles of martial arts in order for Bruce to able to defend himself in a dangerous situation in a place like Gotham.

At seventeen, Wayne returns to Gotham City for the summer after completing his junior year at boarding school abroad. While initially unsure of how to spend the summer, Wayne decides to take up street racing by using the vintage car he had received the year prior. Through this, he meets Dex Starling, a fellow street racer, who introduces him to her group of friends who are also street racers. Wayne never tells Starling or her friends that he is actually Bruce Wayne, instead going by the alias "Paul".

Wayne's street racing activities eventually come into contact with a seventeen-year-old named Edward Nashton who, after nearly being killed during one of the group's illegal street races, decides to get revenge by planting a bomb on Starling's car. This causes Starling's car to explode and burst into flames. Starling is almost engulfed in the flames before Wayne kicks in the window and saves her. Wayne leaves the scene before the GCPD arrives, but not without first taking a piece of evidence from the car bomb. Starling never finds out that "Paul" is actually Bruce Wayne.

After running tests on the piece of evidence, Wayne realizes that someone had planted the bomb and attempted to kill Starling. However, due to his inexperience and lack of proper training, he is unable to identify Nashton as the culprit. It is because of this experience that Wayne decides to give up street racing altogether. While examining the piece of evidence in the Wayne Terminus, Pennyworth surprises Wayne by revealing that he knows about both the terminus' existence and Wayne's nighttime street racing. Pennyworth proceeds to tell Wayne that instead of running from what happened to his mother and father in the past, he should find "something to run towards." It was in this moment that Wayne decides to start training to avenge his parents' murder. He would not come into contact with Starling or Nashton again for over a decade.

#### Years of Traveling & Training

The following year, Wayne graduated from boarding school at the top of his class. He then spent the next ten years attending multiple colleges around the world and constantly switching universities based on the field he was studying. He studied multiple different branches of science including biology, chemistry, and physics.

While traveling abroad, he also studied various different styles of martial arts from masters in multiple countries. From each teacher he learned many defenses and tactics, which turned Wayne into a truly dangerous fighter. At some point, Wayne also trained in some form of base jumping, which later gave him the knowledge to design a wingsuit.

### The Dark Knight Begins

#### Year One

*"When you wake, don't mistake this for a bad dream. And don't let me find you again."*
―Batman[src]
Upon his return to Gotham after years of training, Bruce began to formulate a plan of how he would go about stop crime in the city. Bruce then designed a protective tactical suit that resembled that of a bat, based on the horde of bats that resided in the Batcave. On his first night out, Bruce attempted to stop a robber who caught Bruce off guard with an unknown acid. Upon further investigation, Bruce managed to stop an explosives ring run by Piggy Porcello, an enforcer who worked for Oswald Cobblepot and Carmine Falcone.

It was also during this time that Bruce unexpectedly reunited with Dex Sterling, who was being forced to work for Porcello at the time due to him having control over her father. Batman managed to set Dex and her father up with new lives in Metropolis. Batman met with Dex one last time before parting ways. Dex never learned that Batman was actually Bruce Wayne.

While Bruce initially hid his actions secret from Alfred, it wasn't long before Alfred managed to figure out what Bruce was really doing at night. While Alfred initially tried to persuade Bruce to become more active in the day-to-day operations of Wayne Enterprises, Bruce refused and instead had Alfred manage the company, creating a bit of a rift between the two. Despite Alfred's best efforts to manage the company, Wayne Enterprises began to suffer due to Bruce's focus on fighting crime.

Over the course of his first year as a vigilante, the Batman formed a close working relationship with the Gotham City Police Department, in particular the young lieutenant Jim Gordon, whom he even came to call a friend. The duo placed a spotlight on top of an abandoned skyscraper that would shine a bat-shaped shadow on the clouds, signaling Batman to come to Gordon's aid.

Over the next few months, word quickly spread that there was a vigilante brutally stopping criminals across the city, which helped instill fear into Gotham's underworld. Batman stopped a number of criminals, such as saving a kid from being beat up by a group of gang members. Batman also topped a drug dealer, Mr. Higgins, where he caught the man with Drops and cash on hand. Batman stopped Higgins and left him for the police.

In one of these instances, Batman saved a woman named Ani from a group of muggers. This incident, unbeknownst to Batman, was witnessed by Edward Nashton.

As Bruce began to spend more time focused on being Batman, he became more nihilistic and obsessed with the idea of stopping criminals through fear and intimidation. During this time Batman was a vigilante known only as "Vengeance", and was feared not just by criminals, but by citizens alike. Although Bruce began to feel as if his mission was pointless, and that Gotham would never truly be free of crime.

#### Capturing a Monster and the Beginning of the Rivalry

Towards the end of his first year, Batman came into contact with a monstrous criminal known as the Joker. Joker was later defeated by Batman and incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital.

### Riddler's Game

#### Taking on a Gang of Thugs

*"Who the hell are you supposed to be?"
"I'm vengeance."*
―Train Gang Leader and Batman[src]
On Halloween night, during his second year as a vigilante, Batman confronts a group of thugs harassing a man in a subway station. As the thugs encourage a gang initiate to knock out the innocent commuter, Batman steps out of the shadows and subdues them. Batman leaves the initiate unharmed, as he had stayed clear of the brawl and attempted to de-escalate. Cowed, the thugs and initiate run off. Despite his rescue, the victim begs Batman not to hurt him.

#### Death of The Mayor

Shortly thereafter, Batman is summoned by Lieutenant Gordon via the Bat-signal to help with the investigation of the murder of Gotham's mayor, Don Mitchell, Jr., the first major casualty of the serial killer soon to be known as the Riddler.

While investigating the mayor's murder and the cypher left behind by the killer, Batman and Lt. Gordon discover a thumb drive. The drive contains incriminating pictures of the mayor with a bruised and beaten mystery woman. The pictures also link the mayor to a notorious gangster known as the Penguin, and a popular club known as the Iceberg Lounge.

Batman infiltrates the lounge in order to get to the Penguin and interrogate him about the woman in the pictures. While the Penguin has no useful information, Batman does encounter Selina Kyle, a waitress, who Batman notices eavesdropping suspiciously.

#### Meeting Catwoman

After interrogating the Penguin, Batman follows Catwoman home in his Drifter disguise. Peering into her apartment, he witnesses her comfort the mystery woman and then suit up as Catwoman. Batman tails Catwoman to the Mitchell townhouse, where she breaks in and cracks a safe inside. Batman confronts Catwoman, believing she is the mayor's killer. Batman and Catwoman tussle until a cop walks by on patrol, and they cease fighting to hide. After the cop leaves, Catwoman reveals her goal of retrieving her friend Annika's passport, which Mitchell had confiscated prior to his death. Batman decides to team up with a reluctant Catwoman to discover more about the corruption among Gotham's elite.

Selina leads the way back to her apartment, where she finds Annika and her phone missing and her apartment overturned. The TV is still on and playing the news channel, and Batman and Catwoman watch as the Riddler publicly claims responsibility for the mayor's murder and reveals his next victim: police commissioner Pete Savage, who he has kidnapped. The commissioner is shown conscious and trapped in a large helmet made from an elaborate rat cage, implying that he dies when the rats eat through his face. Selina recognizes the commissioner from the hidden mob hangout within the Iceberg Lounge, 44 Below, and explains that Savage and other Gotham elite visit the club regularly.

#### Visiting An Old Friend

After examining the dead body of Pete Savage and discovering a new message from the Riddler, Batman decides to pay a visit to the Joker in Arkham State Hospital. During the consultation, Joker reveals how Riddler is a nobody who wants to be somebody, and how his motives are very personal, along with telling Batman how similar he is to Riddler, claiming both of them to be "masked avengers". Batman is told by Joker that he speculates his fear over the Riddler's killings is how they're not actually wrong, and how his victims deserved what came to them.

#### Working with Catwoman

After Selina Kyle informs Batman about 44 Below, Batman tells her to go there and investigate, giving her his Advanced Contact Lens so he can see everything she sees. While investigating, Selina runs into district attorney Gil Colson and finds out that he is on Carmine Falcone's payroll, as were Don Mitchell, Jr. and Pete Savage before they died. Selina bumps into Carmine Falcone while trying to leave, exchanging uncomfortable small talk while Batman looks on. Batman presses Selina on her relationship with Falcone, but she refuses to tell and cuts ties with him.

#### The Funeral Incident

Wayne decides to go to the funeral of Don Mitchell, Jr., assuming that Riddler would be there. This marks one of the few times he is seen in public as Bruce Wayne. Wayne runs into Carmine Falcone, who is also rarely in the public. The pair exchange a few tense words about Thomas Wayne before heading inside the church. Wayne listens to a bitter spectator at the funeral claim that Mitchell had it coming, but Bella Reál, a candidate for the upcoming Gotham election, interrupts and claims Bruce's attention.
Wayne walks with her, and she addresses Bruce's lack of philanthropic outreach in comparison to his parents' before going to pay her respects. Wayne then looks at Mitchell's son, empathizing with him, before he hears Jim Gordon telling Chief Mackenzie Bock that Gil Colson is missing. Martinez notices and waves at Wayne, who ignores him. Screams are then heard, and the roaring of an engine. Wayne looks up and sees a mysterious figure, presumably the Riddler watching from the balcony. A car then crashes into the church, and Wayne tackles Mitchell's son to get him out of danger. Gordon orders the driver to get out, and it is revealed to be Colson behind the wheel, holding a cellphone. Gordon lowers his gun, but someone screams that he is wearing a bomb, and the church is evacuated.

That night, Batman arrives at the church to answer the Riddler's phone call. He takes the tape off of Colson's mouth and answers the call. Riddler tells Batman that he has been trying to reach him, and that Batman is a part of his plans. Riddler begins a livestream of the interaction between him, Batman, and Colson to many of his followers as well as the public. Riddler tells Colson that if he can answer three riddles in two minutes, he will provide the combination to unlock the bomb from his neck. Batman helps Colson answer the first two, but when the Riddler asks Colson to give the name of the informant who ratted out Maroni to the Gotham City Police Department, Colson refuses to tell. Colson claims that if he tells, he and his family would be killed, but if he does not tell, he alone will die, and his family would be spared. The bomb explodes, and Batman is knocked unconscious by the blast and subsequently arrested.

#### Escaping the GCPD station

*"I've got you on assault on an officer!"
"You've got me on assaulting three."*
―Mackenzie Bock and Batman[src]
Still unconscious, Batman is taken to Gotham City Police Headquarters, where they attempt to unmask him, but he wakes up and fights off a few officers. Mackenzie Bock confronts him, but Batman lashes out. Jim Gordon attempts to restrain him and de-escalates the fight. He asks Bock to talk to Batman alone, to which Bock consents, giving Jim two minutes to get Batman to cooperate.

Gordon gives Batman a key and tells him how to get to the roof to escape the GCPD. Batman punches Gordon to make it look like he had no involvement and runs to the staircase. Batman grapples up to the roof with the cops in hot pursuit. When he reaches the roof, Batman hesitates at the height before putting on his wingsuit and leaping from the building. Although his chute catches on a bridge and he glides right into a bus, Batman is not heavily injured and manages to limp away.

#### Chase of the Penguin

Having translated the Riddler's cypher within the rat trap used to kill Pete Savage, Batman's next clue is the phrase "You are El Rata Alada", which translates roughly into English as "The Winged Rat." Batman suspects that the Penguin is the winged rat they are looking for. Jim Gordon agrees that it is a possibility and asks how Batman wants to do it. They try to stake out Penguin's drug deal involving Drops, but Catwoman complicates the situation after showing up to steal Falcone's drug money.

Batman revs up the Batmobile and chases after the escaping Penguin. After staying close on Penguin's tail, Penguin tries to shoot through the Batmobile's windows to no avail. Batman is then forced to veer left to avoid a truck, but he gets back on his tail in the opposite line of traffic, and gains on the Penguin with the help of the Batmobile's afterburner. The Penguin causes a crash in Batman's path to try and lose him, but Batman is able to ride up one of the truck's ramps and soar right through flames, to Penguin's dismay.

After capturing the Penguin, Batman takes him to Gordon, where they interrogate Penguin on whether or not he is El Rata Alada, The Winged Rat. The Penguin is confused and asks if the Riddler is stupid, mocking his terrible Spanish. Penguin reveals the correct Spanish phrase is "La Rata Alada", not "El Rata Alada". The correction reveals the hidden pun in the original "You Are El Rata Alada" clue: "URL Rata Alada". This clue allows Gordon and Batman to find the Riddler's website and ask Riddler directly whether the Penguin is the rat with wings. Riddler is disappointed by their conclusion and directs them to the Gotham Orphanage for more clues. They leave immediately, leaving the Penguin tied up.

#### Visiting the Orphanage of Horrors

When Batman and Jim Gordon reach the Gotham Orphanage, they encounter a few dropheads, who are using the abandoned orphanage as shelter. Batman and Gordon enter a room with "WHERE IT ALL BEGAN" painted in green on the door. A video of Thomas Wayne's mayoral campaign ad is projecting on the wall, with several messages painted around the room including "SINS OF THE FATHER" and "RENEWAL IS A LIE". Batman realizes that he is the Riddler's next target and disappears to return to Wayne Tower, leaving Gordon alone, as he feared that Alfred Pennyworth would likely be in danger from the Riddler's attacks.

#### Riddler's Letter Bomb

On his way back to Wayne Tower, Bruce desperately tries to contact Alfred and warn him of the impending danger. Eventually, the call is answered, but not by Alfred. Instead, Dory answers, and Bruce tells her that "something terrible is about to happen". To his dismay, Dory informs him that it already did, and Bruce realizes she is telling the truth as he sees smoke rising out of Wayne Tower.

### The Sins of the Father

#### Talking to Falcone and Alfred

*"You lied to me... my whole life. I spoke to Carmine Falcone. He told me what he did for my father. About Salvatore Maroni."*
―Bruce Wayne to Alfred Pennyworth[src]
A short while after sending the letter bomb, Riddler leaks Thomas Wayne's involvement in the death of reporter Edward Elliot. The Riddler reveals that Thomas Wayne went to Carmine Falcone to have Elliot killed. Trying to find out if the Riddler was telling the truth, Bruce returns to the Iceberg Lounge as Bruce Wayne and speaks with Falcone. Falcone confirms that it is indeed true, claiming that Thomas asked him to "put the fear of God in this guy". Falcone then says that fear isn't enough, implying that he had the reporter killed for Thomas Wayne.

Distraught and angry, Bruce confronts Alfred, who tells him that Thomas had made a mistake, to which Bruce responds by saying that getting someone killed isn't a mistake. Alfred tries to reason with him, saying that Thomas was trying to protect him and his mother. Alfred says that when Thomas found out the reporter was dead, he threatened to turn Falcone and himself over to the Gotham City Police Department, which Alfred suspected was the reason Bruce's parents were killed. But he was never able to confirm it. Bruce apologizes to Alfred but sees the Bat Signal in the sky and leaves to go meet with Jim Gordon.

#### Interrogating Kenzie

Batman arrives at the same time as Gordon, much to their confusion. Gordon assumed Batman had lit the signal, while Batman assumed the opposite. The two head up to investigate and see Catwoman has captured and tied up William Kenzie. Kenzie pleads with Gordon to help him, but Selina shuts him up and shows Batman and Gordon the voice message Annika Kosolov had left her the night she went missing. Batman pressures Kenzie, and Kenzie reveals everything about the lie of the Gotham Renewal Corporation and the rat that ended Salvatore Maroni's Drops operation. Kenzie said that after the death of Thomas Wayne, the renewal fund had no oversight, so everyone jumped in to get a slice of money. However, Falcone got greedy and ratted out Maroni to Don Mitchell, Jr. and the Gotham City Police Department, which led to the arrest of Maroni.

After learning this, Catwoman kicks Kenzie off the building and runs away to confront Falcone. Batman is able to grapple him, and he and Gordon pull Kenzie up. Batman then goes to pursue Catwoman to the Iceberg Lounge while Gordon goes to round up as many honest cops as he can.

#### Assassination of Carmine Falcone

Batman successfully infiltrates the Iceberg Lounge and finds Carmine Falcone trying to strangle Selina Kyle with a pool cue. Batman stops Falcone and takes him out to Jim Gordon and the honest cops of the Gotham City Police Department. Gordon reads out Falcone's Miranda rights, while Penguin insults Falcone, calling him a rat. Falcone responds by calling Penguin a gimp in an empty suit, and Penguin pulls a gun on him. A gunshot is heard, and Falcone falls dead. Penguin is restrained while insisting he did not shoot. Batman then realizes that Falcone had been killed under a streetlight, fulfilling the task Riddler had given Gordon and Batman to "bring the rat into the light." Batman looks for where the shot had come from, when Martinez pointed out they had come from across the street.

### Arresting the Riddler

#### Investigating the Apartment

Batman and the rest of the Gotham City Police Department infiltrate the Riddler's Apartment, and Batman looks through an open window to see where the Riddler has gone to no avail. Batman tells Gordon this, but Martinez reports to Gordon that a witness saw a person use the fire escape and enter the corner diner, where he is sitting at that very moment. Batman and the GCPD surround the diner and arrest the Riddler.

#### Confronting the Riddler

The police rush into the diner, where Edward Nashton, the Riddler, sits at the counter. As soon as he was ordered to do so, Nashton surrenders. He tells Gordon that he had just ordered a slice of pumpkin pie, but is slammed into the counter by Martinez and another cop. When he sees Batman standing in the window, Edward smiles. The Riddler is then arrested and moved to Arkham State Hospital.

#### Speaking to Nashton

*"You think you'll be remembered? You're a pathetic psychopath, begging for attention."
"No."
"You're gonna die alone in Arkham."
"No. No, no, no!"
"A nobody!"*
―Batman and Edward Nashton[src]
Following the arrest, Gordon and Batman, along with detectives from the Gotham City Police Department, investigate the Riddler's Apartment further. They discover that the Riddler was actually a forensics accountant by the name of Edward Nashton, which is how he was able to verify the bribes the corrupt city officials such as Gil Colson had been making, and the corruption of the Renewal Project. During the investigation, Gordon informed Batman that Nashton was requesting to speak with him at Arkham State Hospital.

Upon arrival, the Riddler talks reverently about how Batman had inspired all his killings, saying that the two were a great team. Batman furiously denied this, calling Nashton a psychopath, and saying that he would die alone. Nashton breaks down, yelling that he had everything planned out, and that he and Batman were going to be safe at Arkham State Hospital while everything unfolded. Batman asks what he is referring to, much to Nashton's disappointment. Nashton says that Batman is not as smart as he thought he was. Frustrated, Batman returns to Nashton's apartment to find out what Nashton was talking about.

#### Revisiting the Apartment

Batman arrives back at Nashton's apartment and is confronted by Martinez while looking at the evidence. As Batman reaches out for the tool the Riddler had used to kill Don Mitchell, Jr., Martinez noted that the tool is used to tuck in carpets, as his uncle works with them. Batman uses the tool on the Riddler's carpet, and he and Martinez stare in horror at a map of Gotham carved into the floor, with beeping lights placed around the edge. Batman uses the words carved into the middle of the map, "A REAL CHANGE", as the password for the Riddler's locked social media page.

The most recent post reveals that the Riddler has strategically placed vans along the Gotham seawall, which begin to explode as Batman watches the video. The page also reveals that the Riddler had persuaded his followers to dress as him and attempt to assassinate mayor-elect Bella Reál at Gotham Square Garden, as well as terrorize the general public, when the seawall is destroyed, and the resulting flood directs evacuations to the Garden. Batman rushes to the Garden to stop them, leaving Martinez desperately trying to call Gordon.

#### Battle at Gotham Square Garden

*"I'm starting to see now. I have had an effect here... but not the one I intended. Vengeance won't change the past, mine or anyone else's. I have to become more. People need hope. To know someone's out there for them."*
―Bruce Wayne[src]
Riddler's followers were able to shoot Bella Reál from the rafters, but it wasn't enough to kill her. Batman crashes down through the glass roof to subdue them and begins taking them out one by one. One goon grabs a shotgun and shoots Batman in the chest. Batman stumbles backward and is barely able to hang onto the walkway. The goon readies the killing shot but is stopped by Selina Kyle. Catwoman pulls Batman up and gives him a kiss before she is dragged away by one of Riddler's followers. Batman takes a shot of adrenaline and proceeds to beat up the goon until Jim Gordon arrives and stops him from going too far. Shortly after, the building begins to collapse from the flood, and electrical wires are dangling dangerously over the water. Bruce jumps off the catwalk and slices the wire with his batarang, cutting off the power and removing the danger. He falls into the water below but is able to recover quickly. He lights a flare and leads Bella Reál, Don Mitchell, Jr.'s Son, and other civilians out of the wreckage to higher ground so they can be evacuated or tended to for injuries. Bruce realizes that Batman needs to be more than vengeance for the people of Gotham City and acknowledges that he has had the unintended effect of giving people hope. He understands now that vengeance can't change the past, but hope could be what the city and its people need.

#### Farewell Good Lover

After assisting Gotham City after Riddler's attack, Batman finds Selina Kyle, who is visiting her mother's grave. Selina tells Batman that she is leaving the city and moving upstate to somewhere like Blüdhaven. She warns him about the dangers of protecting the city, and how it could cost him his life, but he already knows and still wants to defend it and see it change. Catwoman invites him to come with her, but she sees him distracted by the bat-signal and understands that he won't leave Gotham for anything or anyone. Batman's final words to Selina are to take care of herself, and they both ride their bikes their own separate ways.

## Personality

*"It's gettin' serious, Bruce. If this continues, it won't be long before you've nothing left."
"I don't care about that. Any of that."
"You don't care about your family's legacy?"
"What I'm doing is my family's legacy. If I can't change things here, if I can't have an effect, then I don't care what happens to me."*
―Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne[src]
Bruce Wayne is defined by the very tragedy that occurred all those years ago. When his parents died, he was forever changed and determined to rid Gotham City of its crime and corruption. This lifelong dedication is shown by how he honed his skills, strength, and intellect to become the protector that Gotham needs.

However, he grew to be a vengeful, nihilistic and socially inept young man, unable to let go of the past or come to terms with his parents' deaths and would become a reclusive scion of Gotham’s richest family while questioning his family’s legacy. He would lash out his anger and frustration at Gotham's criminals with his brutal and terrifying demeanor. By the end of his first year, the Batman's notorious reputation had grown to the point where the police were now actively hunting him, most of the city's criminals truly feared him, and everyone believed that he either didn't exist or that he was some kind of supernatural being.

Bruce is unbothered by how all this affects him given his rugged, gaunt appearance and the many scars he's accumulated, suggesting that he's completely willing to face imprisonment or even die for his crusade. He also possesses an apparent fearlessness, which could be interpreted by some as suicidal insanity—much to the dismay of his butler and legal guardian Alfred Pennyworth who fears that one day Bruce's luck will finally run out. Despite this, he is still able to feel afraid, especially when he feels someone he cares about could get hurt or worse, confessing to Alfred that he feared he could've lost him.

In spite of his dark frame of mind, he is still a good and heroic man as his efforts are for making his city a better place. He will do everything he possibly can to try and save the innocent and won't actually go so far as to try and kill any of his enemies believing that to do so would make him no better than the very criminals he's fighting against. All of this he says is his way upholding his family's legacy. And even though he would prefer to work alone, he's willing to accept help from others like Alfred, Jim Gordon, and Selina Kyle when he knows he needs it. Bruce also begins to question what his true purpose as Batman is during the aftermath of Gotham's flooding, seeking to become a leader with a more hopeful mindset and a symbol of justice for the people of Gotham rather than just a vengeful figure of urban myth.

Bruce also strongly believes in the possibility of redemption and new beginnings likely as a result of his own perceived feelings of failure to act when his own parents had needed saving. After seeing how one of the Train Gang members was visibly hesitant with the idea of robbing and beating a defenseless man, he allowed that member to escape unharmed despite the fact that he could've still apprehended him. When Selina Kyle became fixated on the idea of killing Carmine Falcone for all of the pain he's caused her in the past, rather than attempt to incapacitate her, Bruce instead tried to reason with her pointing out that her killing her own father would only end up making her more miserable in addition to making her just another wanted murderer in the eyes of the law and that he believed she was better than that.

Outside of his mission, Bruce has a few hobbies. He enjoys listening to grunge music, namely Nirvana while working in the Batcave. He owns an electric guitar which he practices in his free time. Bruce can be also a bit of a gearhead and enjoys his family's car collection. He carries this interest into upgrading the Batmobile to aid him in his mission.

Bruce has a soft and empathic side for children, as he showed genuine concern for the Mayor's Son when he found him at the crime scene of the murder of Don Mitchell and later at his funeral, he jumped to save him from being hit by a car.

Aside from the given PTSD and depression from his parents' murder since he was a boy, Bruce has also showed signs that he's on the Autism spectrum.

## Abilities

*"You could have pulled that punch, man."
"I did."*
―Jim Gordon and the Batman[src]

* **Peak Human Condition**: Bruce spent years training in intense weightlifting techniques and martial arts, as well maintaining a strict diet, and as a result is in peak physical condition. As a teenager, he would regularly engage in hour long workouts involving weightlifting in the gym and sparring sessions with Alfred. During his years of training abroad, he would constantly augment his workout routine, ranging from working out in the finest gyms at one time and lifting milk jugs filled with sand as kettlebells the next time. Bruce regularly engages in intense physical exercise to keep his body in the best shape possible, to the point that he has developed a muscular physique.
	+ **Peak Human Strength**: Batman's strength is at peak human levels, being easily strong enough to break a gang member's arm with minimal effort. He can casually send grown men flying off their feet with his attacks alone. In addition, his superior strength is further demonstrated by being able to perform agile and acrobatic maneuvers while wearing over 60 pounds of armor. When he first began his crusade, he was strong enough to lift a man off the ground and against a wall. He could drop the Twins with only a few hits, knock down Jim Gordon with a single punch while holding back, and he was able to push a large, heavy dining room table on his own.
	+ **Peak Human Durability**: Bruce shows to have little to no effect when taking damage. This feat is shown when he is fighting off a small gang of criminals and is struck multiple times and able to shrug off the hits. When Gil Colson explodes only a couple feet away from Bruce, he is only knocked unconscious. When gliding through the city, Bruce crashes and tumbles but is able to recover within seconds, though visibly staggered. Further, Bruce is able to shrug off and endure multiple gunshots from handguns to rifles, albeit heavily armored and still show little to no pain beyond the occasional grimace. It’s not until he’s shot with multiple high caliber rounds that it begins to show its effect.
	+ **Peak Human Speed**: Bruce is very fast, as he saved Don Mitchell, Jr.'s son from getting hit by Gil Colson's speeding car.
	+ **Peak Human Agility**: Bruce is very nimble and agile in combat, being able to clear an entire hallway of gunmen in mere seconds before many of them could even react. Bruce further demonstrates his superior agility by being able to dodge being shot by two of Riddler's followers, that were positioned directly in front of and behind him with their guns drawn.
	+ **Peak Human Stamina**: Bruce stamina helps him get back up, especially when he's gone through the worst.
	+ **Peak Human Reflexes**: Batman has extremely quick reflexes, swift outmaneuvering a gang leader's attack and beating him into the ground before he had a chance to react. He also caught William Kenzie with his Grapple Gun after Catwoman pushed him over the ledge of a building.

*"I saw some guy dressed as a bat kicking a gang's ass. They were beatin' up on some kid. He came out of nowhere!"*
―Man[src]
* **Master Martial Artist**:      Bruce is a "truly dangerous" fighter, having been initially trained by Alfred, a former British intelligence officer, in Karate, Judo and Taekwondo, and he has studied martial arts with masters in different countries, borrowing moves and tactics from each discipline, including Eskrima, Pencak Silat, Muay Thai, Boxing, Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is a very aggressive hand-to-hand combatant, because in his mind, every single person he is fighting is the person who killed his parents. His movements have been described as inconceivably fast and brutal, as well as fluid and street-fight realistic. Gordon himself stated that even when Bruce pulls his punches, he still hits hard. After two years of fighting crime, he was able to swiftly beat down an armed Train Gang member in mere seconds, and defeat the rest of the gang with minimal difficulty. He took down multiple members of Penguin's security with ease, including the Twins and William Kenzie. He stalemated the highly skilled Catwoman and later defeated more goons when attempting to stop her from killing Carmine Falcone. Bruce also took down Riddler's cult in the Gotham Stadium. Bruce frequently disarms his enemies, such as the gang member with a machete, a man with a baseball bat in the Iceberg Lounge, and a cultist's rifle. Alfred and Bruce regulary engage in sparring sessions to keep their combat skills in top performance.
* **Expert Marksman**: Bruce is capable of firing his grappling hook with pinpoint accuracy to repel him to safety. He did so when escaping GCPD officers at Gotham City Police Headquarters by firing the hook and pulling himself up the stairwell. He also managed to take down The Twins simultaneously in the Iceberg Lounge and used two of Riddler's followers as counterweights during the final battle. He accurately threw a baseball bat at William Kenzie's face, breaking his nose.

*"It's been two years now and I don't even know who you are, man."*
―Jim Gordon to Batman[src]
* **Master Spy**: Bruce is skilled in espionage, disguise, intelligence gathering, stealth and infiltration. He often travels through Gotham in a drifter disguise in order to move around the city without drawing attention to himself. While operating as Batman, Bruce has also managed to keep his identity a secret to the public, with only Alfred Pennyworth knowing his true identity. Jim Gordon commented how even after two years of working together, he had no idea who Batman really was. Bruce is a master of stealth and can easily blend into the shadows, to the point where criminals believe he’s lurking around every corner and every shadow. In addition, He was also able to sneak up on Selina Kyle and disappear on Jim Gordon and Officer Martinez without any of them noticing. He has an easy time gaining access to sealed off crime scenes when he needs to conduct his own detective work. He was able to tail Selina from the Iceberg Lounge to her apartment and to the Don Mitchell, Jr.'s mansion while in his drifter disguise. Bruce possesses extensive knowledge of various activities across Gotham's criminal underworld, such as drug dealings in the East End.

*"Really? You're normally so ahead of the curve."*
―Joker to Batman[src]
* **Genius-Level Intellect**: Bruce is a highly intelligent and polymathic genius, with extensive knowledge in chemistry, biology, physics, and applied science. In addition to being well versed in investigative techniques and forensic science. Bruce is an obsessive tinkerer with an extraordinarily inventive mind, with great knowledge in mechanical and electrical engineering. This extensive knowledge in engineering would go onto help him build the Batmobile, in addition to the Batsuit and various gadgets. All of his tools and gear are meticulously crafted with his own two hands. In high school, he consistently made the Dean's list and got straight A's due to the sense of pleasure he would get from spending long hours just studying. He enjoyed studying and learning as it allowed him to bury himself in books to avoid socializing with other classmates. He not only graduated from high school at the top of his class, but also attended multiple different colleges where he studied various subjects, including biology, physics, and chemistry. According to the Joker, Bruce is normally ahead of the curve.
	+ **Master Detective**: Bruce is an exceptionally observant genius detective. He knew that Don Mitchell, Jr. was alive when the Riddler cut his thumb off due to ecchymosis around the wound and saw blood spatter before a forensic photographer did. He was able to solve several of the Riddler's puzzles with limited help from Alfred and Gordon. In the Riddler's apartment, he deduced the murder weapon to be a carpet tucker after barely looking at it, because he knew the edge would match the floorboard impression in Mitchell' study, although he mistook it for a chisel.
	+ **Master Engineer**: Bruce has extensive knowledge when it comes to engineering and vehicle operations. Being a bit of a gearhead, even as a teenager, Bruce was able to design and build all of his gadgets and technology. Bruce began working on the Batmobile at sixteen, and later would go on to add several modifications to the car. Including a custom afterburning turbojet engine for sudden bursts of extreme speed. by the time he was operating as a vigilante. He was able to design and build his Batsuit from scratch from experimental, high-tech ballistic materials unavailable to commercial manufacturers through his access to research files from the R&D division of Wayne Enterprises. He also designed a form of contact lenses which allowed him to view and record everything around him, as well as identify any individual simply by looking at them with the aid of facial recognition technology and access to various databases. He designed the Batcomputer which is more advanced than most computers on the public market.
	+ **Master Scientist**: Bruce has displayed extensive knowledge of chemistry. At a young age, Bruce began to experiment with figuring out what random compounds were that he would find, such as identifying a piece of gum that he found on a bench. By the time he was seventeen, he already had a chemistry lab set up in Wayne Terminus which allowed him to discover that someone had tampered with Dex's car. Eleven years later, his skills in chemistry grew even better after spending years studying multiple branches of science at some of best colleges around the world. He was able to identify the military chemical being used by Piggy Porcello in his illegal explosives' operation. When sending anonymous letters to the GCPD with chemical analysis's, one officer commented that whoever was sending them knew what they were doing.
	+ **Multilingualism**: In addition to English, Bruce is also capable of speaking some Spanish. He used his knowledge o Spanish to to translate one of Riddler's ciphers.
* **Expert Driver**: Bruce is a very capable evasive driver in multiple vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles. As a teenager, he briefly took up illegal street racing. During the few races he took part in he left another driver in the dust and nearly won his first race. As Batman, he utilizes the "Batmobile" and "Batcycle" when out on patrol. He was able to chase down Penguin while driving at a very high rate of speed on a crowded highway, while avoiding multiple vehicles and driving off a ramp through a tanker explosion.

*"Fear... is a tool."*
―Batman[src]
* **Intimidation**: As Batman, Bruce commands an intimidating presence using the dark streets of Gotham to his advantage, to the point where many criminals fear him. After two years of operating as a vigilante, Bruce had already managed to put enough fear into the hearts of most of Gotham's criminals to the point that just the sight of the Bat-Signal in the night sky was enough to deter several criminals from committing illegal acts simply out of fear that Batman might be nearby waiting to pounce.

*"Don't be sorry, Alfred. God. I never thought I’d feel fear like that again. I thought I'd mastered all that. I mean, I'm not afraid to die. I realize now there's something I haven’t got past. This fear... of ever going through any of that again. Of losing somebody I care about."*
―Bruce Wayne to Alfred Pennyworth[src]
* **Indomitable Will**: Bruce has tremendous strength of will and incredible determination. After witnessing his parents' murder, rather than let it destroy him, he resolved to avenge them fighting crime in Gotham as a vigilante.

## Equipment

### Suit

*"Who are you under there? What are you hiding? Are you just... hideously scarred?"
"Yeah."*
―Catwoman and the Batman[src]

* **Batsuit**: Whilst fighting crime in Gotham, Wayne wore a protective black suit of armor, stylized like a bat designed to both conceal his identity and terrify his enemies.
	+ **Utility Belt**: As Batman, Wayne carries with him a utility belt 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.
* **Drifter Outfit**: While out on patrol, Wayne disguises himself as a drifter to prevent anyone from recognizing him while in public. This outfit consists of a black jacket, red baseball cap, scarf, beige cargo pants, black combat boots, white hand wraps, and a backpack to carry the Batsuit in.

### Weapons and Gadgets

* **Laptop**: When Bruce first began operating as Batman, prior to setting up the Batcomputer, he initially used a laptop as a way to gain information via the internet. He used this investigating Piggy Porcello's explosives operation. After setting up the Batcomputer, Bruce primarily uses this for internet access when out on patrol and doesn't have access to the Batcomputer.
* **Binoculars**: Wayne used a pair of binoculars to watch a meet up between Dex Starling and Piggy Porcello from a distance in an attempt to take down Porcello's explosives operation. He also used them to spy on Selina Kyle in her apartment from a rooftop.
* **Tracking Devices**: Bruce used a tracking device he planted on a robber connected to Piggy Porcello's explosives operation to track him down.
* ***The Gotham Project***: As part of his plan to help save Gotham City, Wayne keeps a series of journals entitled "The Gotham Project" which he uses to catalog his patrols and write down his inner thoughts about progress and failures regarding his actions as Batman.
* **Taser**: Bruce uses a taser which is located in the index fingertip of his right glove.
* **Batcomputer**: In the Batcave, Batman can be seen looking at the news and using programs installed on the Batcomputer to help him with his investigations and crime solving.
	+ **Advanced Contact Lens:** Batman always records his encounters with a contact lens with a built-in camera and possible microphone, this is most useful when Batman is investigating a crime scene such as Don Mitchell's murder, being able to take photographs of evidence and sightings of interest without being confronted by police for taking pictures. Batman also uses the lens when Selina Kyle is working together with Batman in 44 Below to make I.D.s of the club's members. The lens can be connected to the Batcomputer in order for Batman to review the footage.
* **Ultraviolet Flashlight**: Batman uses an ultraviolet flashlight during the Riddler investigation, using it to find hidden messages and symbols.

* **Grapple Gun**: Batman 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. Different from previous Batman movies, it's an arm-hidden design for quick deploy and surprise attack. The replacement hooks seem to be stored in the forearm armor. The Batman has two of these grapple guns hidden under both of his arms.
* **Glock Knife**: Batman's chest plate carries a bat-shaped Glock knife which he can utilize at any time and is also his bat emblem.
* **Sticky Bombs**: Bruce used sticky bombs during the Battle at Gotham Square Garden to attack Riddler's Followers.
* **Adrenaline Shot**: During the Battle at Gotham Square Garden, Wayne used a vial containing an unknown green liquid to inject himself with some form of adrenaline-like boost of energy which he used to beat down on a member of Riddler's Cult. It is located in one of his front pouches.
* **Flares**: Bruce lights a flare during the aftermath of the Battle at Gotham Square Garden when guiding the Gotham mayor candidate Belle Reál, and the other civilians trapped within the wreckage, to safety.
* **Compact Nunchaku**: Bruce keeps a small baton which can be extended into nunchaku at the back of his belt possibly next to the flare.

### Vehicles

* **Batmobile**:      Wayne uses a black 1969 Dodge Charger dubbed the Batmobile, whenever he was out on patrol as Batman.
* **Batcycle**: Wayne used a motorcycle whenever he was out on patrol as Batman or whenever he was needed to do stealth recon.
* **Drifter Motorcycle**: Wayne uses a 1960's Café racer motorcycle to get around the city whoever he's on patrol in his drifter outfit.
* **Chevrolet Corvette**: Wayne drove a black 1963 Chevrolet Corvette to funeral of Don Mitchell, Jr. while in his civilian attire.

## Facilities

* **Wayne Manor**: As a child, Wayne lived in Wayne Manor. He later moved into Wayne Tower when he was six.
* **Wayne Tower**: After moving out of Wayne Manor, Bruce moved into Wayne Tower with his parents and Alfred, where he and Alfred still reside to this day.
* **Wayne Terminus**: Wayne used Wayne Terminus as his main base of operations.
	+ **Batcave**: After discovering Wayne Terminus, Wayne used it as his main base of operations as Batman.

## Relationships

	+ Grandfather †
	+ Grandmother †
* Wayne Family
	+ Thomas Wayne † - Father
	+ Martha Wayne † - Mother
* Alfred Pennyworth - Butler, Friend, Mentor, and Adopted Father

Allies* Dory - Employee
* Wayne Enterprises
* Gotham City Police Department - Temporary Enemies
	+ Janice Dure - Friend
	+ Jim Gordon - Friend
	+ Sean
	+ Mike
	+ Martinez - Admirer
* Dex Starling - Former Love Interest, Rescuee, and Friend
* Hannah
* Federal Bureau of Investigation
* Don Mitchell, Jr.'s Son - Rescuee
* Gil Colson †
* Selina Kyle/Catwoman - Temporary Enemy, Love Interest, and Friend
* Bella Reál
* Smitty
* Falcone Crime Syndicate
	+ Carmine Falcone †
	+ Oz Cobblepot/Penguin
	+ Piggy Porcello
	+ Mr. Higgins †
	+ The Twins
	+ William Kenzie
	+ Vinnie
	+ Briscoe
* Joker
* Train Gang
* Pete Savage †
* Riddler's Cult
	+ Edward Nashton/Riddler - Rival
	+ "Ogleman1029"
	+ "WarIsMyName"
	+ "RatchetThatShit"
	+ "PleaseHold"
	+ "xxREIGNITINxx"
	+ "Cheismyname"
	+ "ShitThatRat"
* Mackenzie Bock
* Clayface

## Trivia

* Bruce is 30 during the events of the first film. The film takes place in 2021 as evidenced during the Thomas Wayne's mayoral campaign footage, which is labeled "2001 campaign ad". the film also makes it clear it takes place just a few days after the twentieth anniversary of the Wayne's murder.
	+ This also means that Bruce was born in 1991, since it is confirmed in Before The Batman: An Original Movie Novel that Bruce was ten when his parents were murdered.
	+ Bruce was twenty-eight when he first started operating as Batman, since by the time of the first film, he's been Batman for two years.
* Bruce is a fan of Nirvana's Something in the Way, as he can be seen listening to it when working in the Batcave.
* The Grapple Guns mechanism for this version of Batman is very identical to the 1976 film Taxi Driver, where the protagonist Travis Bickle made a sleeve gauntlet to holster his gun and be ready to fire when extended to his fist. Interestingly Taxis Driver was one of Matt Reeves inspiration of The Batman’s theme.
* Bruce is referred to as "Vengeance" more often than "the Batman," with the former being used to refer to him six times in the film while the latter is spoken only twice.
* Bruce's current address is 139 Kane Street, Midtown, Gotham City.
* Bruce is a fan of Mickey Thompson as evidenced by him wearing a T-shirt with his logo on it. Bruce also used Mickey Thompson tires when building the Batmobile.

## Behind the Scenes

* Batman is said to not yet be an experienced crime fighter, as director Matt Reeves wanted to explore the character before he becomes "fully formed". Reeves and Pattinson described Batman as an insomniac who cannot delineate between the Batman persona and his "recluse rock star" public identity as Wayne. Pattinson said the film would question the nature of heroism, as Batman is more flawed than traditional superheroes and unable to control himself, seeking to work out his rage and "inflect his kind of justice".
* In the DC Comics, 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.
* Batman in *The Batman* is the fourteenth live-action incarnation of the character, following incarnations portrayed by Lewis Wilson, Robert Lowery, Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, David Mazouz, Ben Affleck, Iain Glen, Dante Pereira-Olson, Kevin Conroy, and Warren Christie.
* Batman's line "I'm Vengeance" is a reference to a particular panel in the 2012-2021 DC Comics "Elseworlds" storyline *Batman: Earth One*, which similarly depicts a version of the character in his earlier years on the path to becoming an experienced crimefighter.
* Ben Affleck was originally set to reprise the role from the DC Extended Universe for *The Batman*, before he dropped out.
	+ Matt Reeves stated in an interview that Alfred and Bruce spar regularly in order to keep their combat skills at top performance, something that they started doing when Bruce was a teenager. Reeves also states how originally the first film was going to include a scene of the pair sparring after Bruce returned from a long night on patrol, but was cut because it didn't work with the scenes they had planned.
* Nicholas Hoult, Armie Hammer, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson auditioned for the role of Batman.
* Scott Kirkbride and Rick English were stunt doubles for Robert Pattinson in the role of Batman.
* Reeves has stated that Kurt Cobain, the late lead singer of Nirvana, was an inspiration on this incarnation of Bruce Wayne.

## References

Reeves, Matt & Craig, Peter (writers); Reeves, Matt & Clark, Dylan (producers); & Reeves, Matt (director) (March 4, 2022). *The Batman*.
2. ↑ Batcave: The Riddler Face-off
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *The Batman: The Official Script Book*
4. ↑ BRUCE WAYNE DRIFTER (UNMASKED)
Lewman, David (February 1, 2022). *Before The Batman: An Original Movie Novel*. United States: Penguin Books.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 *Chapter One: A New Beginning*
7. ↑ "'The Batman 2' Is Happening & Robert Pattinson Is Returning — CinemaCon" - Deadline
8. ↑ BJJ World: Does Batman Know BJJ? The New Batman, Robert Pattinson Certainly Does!
9. ↑ How Robert Alonzo taught Robert Pattinson Filipino martial arts in 'The Batman'
10. ↑ The Batman: Robert Pattinson and Matt Reeves Confirm Exclusive New Details About the Film
11. ↑ *The Art of The Batman*
12. ↑ [1]
13. ↑ Looking for Vengeance | The Batman (2022) Blu Ray Featurettes
14. ↑ "The Batman’s Stunt Double is South African" - Fortress of Solitude
15. ↑ The Batman: Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne Is Inspired By Kurt Cobain, Says Matt Reeves – Exclusive Images | Movies | Empire (empireonline.com)

## External Links

* Batman on DC Database
* Batman on Wikipedia