- This page is about the character from the Joel Schumacher films. For the character from the Tim Burton films and Batman '89 comic book series see Batman (Burtonverse). For other uses, see Batman (Disambiguation).
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- "I see without seeing. To me, darkness is as clear as daylight. What am I?"
- ―Batman[src]
Batman is the savior of Gotham City, along with his partners Robin and Batgirl. By day, he is Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy celebrity covered by columnists like Gossip Gerty on a daily basis. It was long rumored that this was the same incarnation of Batman who'd previously fought the Joker, the Penguin and Catwoman.
Biography[]
Early life[]
- Bruce: “You make the kill. But your pain doesn't die with Harvey, it grows. So you run out into the night to find another face... and another and another... until one terrible morning you wake up and realize... that revenge has become your whole life. And you won't know why.”
- Dick: “You can't understand. Your family wasn't killed by a maniac.”
- Bruce: “Yes, they were. We're the same.”
- — Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson[src]
Bruce Wayne grew up in Wayne Manor under the care of both parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, and their butler, Alfred Pennyworth. At the age of eight, he witnessed his parents being mugged by a mugger in the dark while returning home from a night at the cinema. The gunman shot down both his mother and father for no reason right in front of him. Their violent deaths of Bruce's parents fractured his psyche.
Bruce finding the future Batcave as a child.
On the night of his parents' wake, the priest's words gave the distraught Bruce no comfort. Out of grief, he visited his father's office and noticed a red book lying on the desk. Bruce took the red book and ran out into a powerful storm, during which he fell into a centuries old cave. When he got up, he saw a figure approaching him in the darkness: a giant bat. Bruce was at first scared, but then he decided to take that image and put fear into the hearts of criminals.
Weeks after his parent's deaths, Bruce was examined by a psychiatrist at the Manor. In his assessment, the psychiatrist told Alfred that victims of such trauma usually displayed bursts of aggression, signs of catatonia or even despair. Yet for some reason he could see none in Bruce. According to the psychiatrist, despite Bruce's veneer of calm acceptance, there would come a day wherein Bruce would open up and react to the memory of the ordeal. The psychiatrist then emphasized that it would be essential that there would be someone there to encourage Bruce to come to grips with his fate, preferably sooner rather than later. While Alfred brought up Bruce's uncle Philip, the psychiatrist reiterated the uncle's statement that Alfred had a closer bond with Bruce in comparison. This then convinced Alfred to finally stay with Bruce for the long term despite having no written obligations to him.[3]
As Bruce grew older, he forgot the memories, though his vow remained a lifetime obsession.
Adolescent Years[]
Spending many of his adolescent years training to fight crime, Bruce set out to train from every skill that might be useful in stopping criminals. He learned martial arts and patience from a wizened old man in Korea while learning street smarts from a legendary man hunter in France named Ducard. He also came to learn fencing in the Soviet Union and auto racing in the streets of Rome. Along the way, Bruce became fluent across several different languages, gaining a working knowledge of several more. He also studied chemistry, biology, criminology and computer design from a dozen teachers in a dozen different locations.[3]
At around the age of 19, Bruce met the famous decathlete Victor Fries at a university as the decathlete was doing his daily training. Awed by the man's movements, Bruce pointed out his feats but Victor stated that he could still do better. When Bruce asked him for the secret of his success, Victor pointed out that it was mostly about the decision of whether or not to make a landing. Bruce then promised to remember the advice before noticing Victor's girlfriend arrive to pull him away. As he watched them disappear from view, Bruce endeavored to replicate Victor's decathlete feats, managing to come close to doing so with his first attempt.[3]
Early Years as Batman[]
- "You like strong women. I've done my homework. Or do I need skintight vinyl and a whip?"
"I haven't had that much luck with women."
"Maybe you just haven't met the right woman." - ―Batman and Chase Meridian[src]
Bruce eventually became a crime-fighter known as Batman, creating various gadgets and technology to use in his operations. He worked closely with the GCPD, including Commissioner James Gordon. Bruce also received help from his butler and guardian Alfred Pennyworth. He would later go on to battle villains such as The Joker, The Penguin, and Catwoman.
Batman was believed to be involved in the arrest of mob boss Sal Moroni. During the proceedings, he learned about the boss' planned attack on District Attorney Harvey Dent. Though he attempted to intervene, Batman arrived too late to stop the attack, which caused the Moroni to scar Dent with a vial of acid. The resulting disfigurement drove Dent insane and led him to become the criminal "Two-Face". Batman would subsequently capture Dent, who was later committed to Arkham Asylum.
Batman Forever[]
Two-Face Returns[]
On the second anniversary of Dent's capture, Batman learned that Two-Face had escaped Arkham Asylum and was committing a robbery of the Second Bank of Gotham. Arriving on the scene, Batman learned that from Gordon that Dent had taken a guard hostage and threatened to kill him. He also met with psychologist Dr. Chase Meridian, who gave him details on Two-Face's psyche. The two struck up an immediate attraction.
Using the elevator, Batman pursued Two-Face to the vaults, defeating the goons present. Whilst attempting to rescue a hostage from the main vault, he was sealed into it by Two-Face. Able to open the vault with the guard's hearing aid, Batman returned the vault back into the bank and pursued Two-Face as he attempted to flee in his helicopter. However, Dent escaped before the helicopter crashed into the Lady Gotham statue. Batman managed to escape moments before the impact.
The Riddles Begin[]
The following evening, Bruce visited the Wayne Enterprises R&D department to look at development projects. During it, he met the eccentric Edward Nygma, an employee who had developed device called The Box. Concerned about how Nygma's project seemed to manipulate brainwaves, Bruce cancelled the project on ethical grounds. He then left to respond to the Bat-Signal as Batman, using a tunnel connected from his office to the Batcave.
Upon arrival at GCPD Headquarters, Batman discovered that Meridan had lit the signal to summon him. Sharing observations of Two-Face's reliance on a coin, she flirted with the Dark Knight and attempted to seduce him.
Batman, however, was cross at the false alarm and told her the signal was for emergencies and not a beeper. He then politely rejected her advances and left shortly after Gordon arrived to investigate.
The following morning, Bruce learned that Fred Stickley had died and arrived to observe the scene. Though Gordon and the officers were willing to pass it off as a suicide, he remained suspicious regarding the circumstances. While in his office, Bruce discovered a riddle addressed to him. Another would later appear on the gates of Wayne Manor the following night.
Deciding to investigate further and wanting to pursue a relationship with Dr. Meridian, Bruce took the Riddles to her to gain further insight into the person. During it, he took notice of a Rorschach test (in which he saw a bat) and a dream doll, split with two colors. When Chase caught onto his intentions, Bruce finally asked her out to a charity circus performance at the Hippodrome.
The Circus Attack[]
With her accepting his invitation, Bruce and Chase attended the event. During the event, they observed the Flying Graysons perform. However, Two-Face attacked the performance and threatened to detonate a bomb unless Batman unmasked himself. Bruce attempted to give up his identity, but the audiences' shouts drown out his voice. While the Flying Graysons attempted to get rid of the bomb, he distracted Two-Face and his men by attacking them. However, Dent got wise to his intentions and, after deciding their fates with a coin toss, murdered the Graysons. Bruce was still on the scene when the only survivor of the troupe, Dick, returned to the scene. Bruce looked upward and spotted the young man looking down in horror at the corpses of his loved ones on the ground at Bruce's feet.
Meeting Dick[]
Bruce and Dick bonding over their mutual love of motorcycles.
After the events, Gordon approached Bruce to take Dick under his wing until Two-Face was caught. Though Grayson was intent on leaving immediately, Bruce recognized a lot of himself in the youth and convinced him to remain behind, giving him access to the manor's garage. Memories of his parents murder began to haunt him again. During a nightly patrol in the Batmobile, Batman was ambushed by Two-Face and his henchmen. However, he was able to escape the attack.
During the time, a new criminal called the Riddler began aiding Two-Face in complex schemes and robberies. Around the same time, Nygma, having left Wayne Enterprises, formed a rival company called NygmaTech, producing the Box on a mass scale. Bruce remain skeptical of the intentions and functionality of the devices, though also continued to receive the threatening riddles.
Whilst visiting Chase one evening, Bruce shared with her the return of visions of his parents deaths and how they'd been haunting him since the events at the Hippodrome. Suspecting they were repressed memories, she gave him the doll to help overcome them. Bruce also noticed she was obsessed with Batman and her interest in their duality. After sharing their first kiss, Bruce was contacted by Alfred, who covertly revealed that Dick had discovered the Batcave and gone joyriding in the Batmobile.
Tracing him to a street in Gotham, Batman watched him fight off the Golums and subsequently become overwhelmed. When the group noticed him and fled, he confronted Dick who then started punching him in a fury, but the Dark Knight shielded himself with his left arm and let him know he'd had have done anything to save his family. Taking him to the Batcave, Bruce learned that he wanted to join his crusade, mainly so he could kill Two-Face in revenge. Noticing the same inner darkness that had consumed him, he tried to dissuade him from doing so, worried he'd become what he was.
Identity Compromised[]
Bruce later attended the NygmaTech showcase of the newly developed Box with Chase. Goaded into investigating the device by Nygma, Bruce attempted to safely look at it without a necessary component. Unknown to him, Nygma's assistant installed a backup, leading his knowledge to be absorbed by the device. Bruce finally broke out of his trance when Two-Face attacked the event and shot the Box he was using. Suiting up as Batman, he apprehended several of Dent's men. After checking on Chase, he pursued Dent to a subway line under maintenance. Two-Face escaped by collapsing the structure on Batman, causing him to be buried. However, he was quickly rescued by a disguised Dick.
Returning the Batcave, Bruce chastised Dick for putting his life at risk and refused to bring him as his protégé. After the incident, he began to doubt his capabilities and began to ponder leaving the life to be with Chase. Visiting her later as Batman, he learned she'd fallen for Bruce instead. Recognising he'd been using Batman to fight against their greatest fear, Bruce finally decided to abandon the identity and lead a normal life. Unknown to him, however, Riddler and Two-Face learned his dual identity through the brainwaves they'd recorded through the Box.
The following Halloween, Bruce called Chase to visit him at Wayne Manor to spend the evening together and reveal his identity. After she knocked over a vase, Bruce's repressed memories began to return, which he recited to Chase. Through them, she quickly realized that he was Batman. Shortly afterwards, the Riddler and Two-Face invaded Wayne Manor. With Chase's help, Bruce attempted to fight their men while Two-Face attempted to decide whether to get involved in the confrontation. Eventually, his coin gave the desired outcome, leading Dent to shoot Bruce. However, the shot grazed his skull and Riddler stopped Two-Face from finishing him off. Instead, the villains destroyed the Batcave and kidnapped Chase, leaving a final riddle for Bruce.
Upon waking up, Bruce learned from Alfred that the criminals had destroyed the Batcave, kidnapped Chase, Dick ran away and a riddle was left. Deciding to redon the Batman identity, he worked to solved the last riddle left, deducing from the others that Riddler was none other than Edward Nygma. Donning the new prototype Sonar Batsuit, Batman decided to confront them at Nygma's fortress on Claw Island. While deciding whether to confront them by air or sea, he was met by Dick. Having noticed he'd assumed the identity of "Robin", Batman decided to accept his help to confront the villains.
Battle on Claw Island[]
Batman victorious over the Riddler.
While Robin approached in the Batboat, Batman flew the Batwing through Gotham to let Gordon, the GCPD and citizens know he was responding to the situation on the island. After being forced to crash by energy beams located in the main fortress building, he transformed the airplane into its submarine form, using the nets to subdue Riddler's Frogmen. Making it to the shores with Robin, the two were separated when the metal ground detached. Entering through a hatch, Batman discovered a trap set up by the Riddler, though he managed to escape it using the Sonar Batsuit's rocket boots.
Arriving in Riddler's main control room, Batman confronted the villain and Two-Face. There, he learned they planned to absorb all the knowledge from Gotham, planning to use it to rob or blackmail all its citizens. With Robin captured in a separate confrontation, Riddler planned to drop both him and Chase to their deaths to see which Batman would save, thereby indicating which identity was more dominant. After distracting Nygma with a riddle, Batman destroyed the main control with a Batarang, which caused great damage to Riddler's mind in the process. When the distorted Nygma dropped both, Batman was able to catch and save both of them using his grappling hooks.
While ensuring they were safe on a structural beam, Two-Face confronted the trio, planning to execute them. Reminding him his about his need of his coin, Batman was able to goad him into flipping for his decision. However, as he did so, Batman threw a handful of coins at him, causing him to lose track of his coin. In a panicked frenzy, Two-Face tried to grab all of them and lost his balance, causing him to fall to his death. Confronting the now-crazed Nygma, Bruce told him he was Batman not because he had to be, but because he chose to be. He then arrested Riddler and took him to Arkham Asylum.
Moving On[]
After ensuring Nygma had forgotten his identity, Bruce decided to continue operating as Batman, with Dick's help as Robin. Giving Chase the dream doll she'd given him, he said his goodbyes to her and subsequently broke up. Rebuilding the Batcave, he developed new equipment and technology to use, including a new vehicle for Robin. Some time after the events of Claw Island, Bruce began dating Julie Madison, though did not inform her of his double-life as Batman.
Batman & Robin[]
Initial Encounters with Mr. Freeze[]
After receiving a call from Gordon, Batman and Robin responded to a break-in at the Gotham Museum of Art organized by a ice-themed criminal called Mr. Freeze. Arriving shortly after he stole a valuable diamond, they fought off his Hockey Thugs to retrieve the diamond and chased him through the Gotham skyline. However, during the confrontation, Robin was frozen by Freeze and, rather than let him die, Batman chose to revive him at the cost of letting Freeze go. After the fight, Bruce reviewed footage to discover Freeze's past, including his wife,her disease and his lab accident. Deciding to set a trap for Freeze and his men, he donate some of his family's diamonds to an auction to lure him into another heist.
Sometime later, Alfred's niece Barbara arrived at Wayne Manor. Knowing that he'd asked her to visit because of his recent diagnosis, Bruce allowed her to stay at the manor with them. Meanwhile, he presented a new telescope at the Gotham Observatory with Julie. During the event, Bruce was confronted by Dr. Pamela Isley on several radical environmental reforms. Recognizing her as an employee of the disgraced Dr. Jason Woodrue, he politely refused her offers and instead suggested she'd meet with Batman.
Attacks on the Charity Action[]
Attending the auction as honorary guests, Batman and Robin fell under the pheromonic control of Poison Ivy, who sought to steal the funds of Gotham's wealthiest to fund her schemes. Under her influence, they bid against each other to extravagant amounts of money. This finally ceased when Freeze attacked the auction and stole the diamond, forcing them to chase him. As Robin attempted a potentially dangerous stunt to chase after the criminal, Batman overrode the Redbird via remote controls to stop him from endangering his life. He then subdued Freeze himself, ensuring that he'd be taken to Arkham. Though he'd stopped the criminal, Bruce's actions shattered Dick's trust in him and, as a result, fractured their partnership.
Fighting Over Poison Ivy[]
Batman and Robin, both got affected by Poison Ivy's mind control dust, which caused them to fight over her throughout the film. Batman soon realized what happened, and avoided her beauty and charms while Robin was still influenced. Eventually, Batman was able to gain Robin's trust again and the Dynamic Duo, along with their new partner, Batgirl, managed to apprehend Ivy, who was then imprisoned at Arkham Asylum.
Thawing Mr. Freeze[]
Batman with Robin and Batgirl.
Batman stopped Freeze, along with Robin and Batgirl, from freezing Gotham with the new telescope at the Gotham Observatory, and revealed to Freeze that Poison Ivy had tried to kill his wife, Nora, in order to be the only woman in his life. Batman promised to have Freeze's wife moved to the lab at Arkham Asylum, where he would be able to continue his research and find a cure for her disease. Freeze also provided Batman with an antidote to save a dying Alfred, who suffered from a lesser case of the same disease: MacGregor's Syndrome. Freeze was locked up in Arkham, where he promised to make Ivy's life "a living hell"
Back at Wayne Manor, Bruce gave Alfred the antidote, and saved his life. After initial hesitation, Bruce allowed Alfred's niece, Barbara Wilson, to continue being Batgirl and join the crime-fighting team.
The Flash[]
Barry discovers it is another Bruce Wayne.
After Barry Allen changed the timeline to restore his mother's murder but create evidence to exonerate his father, the multiverse altered it so that Bruce took the place of another of his incarnations from Allen's original universe. When Allen called to update him, Bruce congratulated him on proving his father's innocence and offered to meet him at the courthouse. Upon arrival, his changed appearance surprised Allen, with Bruce questioning the speedster when he openly doubted his identity.
Characterization[]
Abilities[]
- Peak Human Condition: As a vigilante with years of experience, Bruce Wayne is in peak physical condition for a man of his age, height, and weight.
- Peak Human Strength: Bruce can generate low-level superhuman strength. As Batman, he physically overpowered several of Two-Face's goons at once, knocking them all down in a single motion. He also knocked Chase Meridian's door off its hinges and easily picked it up. Bruce was able to break a Muk Yan Jong in half with a single kick.[4] Batman could also effortlessly carry a frozen Robin.
- Peak Human Speed: Batman is incredibly fast, able to disappear from sight instantly.
- Master Martial Artist: Bruce is an accomplished martial artist, with knowledge of Boxing, Wing Chun, Karate, Taekwondo, Brazilian, Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido and Judo.
- Stealth: As Batman, Bruce is master of stealth and can easily blend into the dark.
- "You really are quite bright despite what people say."
- ―Alfred Pennyworth to Bruce Wayne[src]
- Genius-Level Intelligence: Bruce is a highly intelligent man. Ed Nygma described him as "intelligent, witty, and charming."[1] His intellect extends itself to his detective, tactical, deceptive and business skills. He also studied chemistry, biology, criminology and computer design from a dozen teachers in a dozen different locations.[3]
- Master Detective: Batman is the world's greatest detective. He solved several of the Riddler's riddles, figured out that Alfred was dying and accurately deduced that Poison Ivy's lips were poisonous.
- Expert Engineer: Batman invented sonar modifications for one of his prototype Batsuits.
- Expert Businessman: Bruce is a successful businessman with the wealth to fund his crimefighting crusade. He was the largest single donor to Gotham's Children Hospital.[1]
- Multilingualism: Bruce is fluent in several different languages and has a working knowledge of several more.[3]
- Intimidation: As Batman, Bruce commands a terrifying presence and instills fear into the hearts of criminals.
- "You see, I'm both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Not because I have to be. Now, because I choose to be."
- ―Batman[src]
- Indomitable Will:
Equipment[]
- Batsuits
- Utility Belt:
Vehicles[]
Appearances[]
- Batman Forever
- Batman & Robin
- The Flash (Cameo)
Other/Non-Canon[]
- Video Game Tie-Ins
- Batman Forever
- Batman Forever: The Arcade Game
- Batman & Robin
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold
- The Lego Batman Movie (In a photograph only)
Behind the Scenes[]
Recasting of Bruce Wayne in both movies[]
This version of Batman was originally intended as an continuation of the version seen in Batman and Batman Returns at the start of development. Michael Keaton, who portrayed the character in both films, was originally set to reprise the role. However, the actor dropped out due to Terry Semel & Bob Daly mandating that the one of the movie be lighter and brighter, and he must share the screen with an adult version of Robin. Keaton also disliked Joel Schumacher's ideas in the meetings he had with the director. Keaton also disliked Janet and Lee Batchler's script, so Schumacher hired Akiva Goldsman to appease Keaton by making the tone less broad and give the Bruce Wayne character more to do. Semel & Daly also refused to pay Keaton the fee he was asking for he parted ways with Warner Brothers. This lead to the role's recasting in subsequent films. Though initially regarded as the same version during filming, the character has subsequently been disassociated from the preceding films' version, with Schumacher envisioning a "fresh take" on the franchise. Most of the references to previous events were removed from the final cut, leaving the movie to stand on its own and be inviting to new audiences. Val Kilmer had signed on without ever seeing the script, and fought with Schumacher constantly while filming. Schumacher was anxious to recast the part with George Clooney for the sequel, whom he got along with better.
Clooney's comeback[]
Subsequent continuations in later media continued this trend of thinking, such as The Flash and the Batman '89 comic series. Clooney returned as the character shortly thereafter in The Flash as part of a rebooted timeline. The original plans were to feature Keaton's Batman, who was going to be integrated into Walter Hamada's new WB Earth Two reality as the permant Batman in a mentor role to the younger heroes. This was changed after it was decided to end the continuity with The Flash, with the idea being suggested by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Clooney's appearance being filmed over a single day and was not shown in test screenings to prevent it from being leaked.[5] Despite this, several rumors surfaced that Clooney would return and take over as Batman in the next DC Films' universe, though these were denied by Gunn. It is currently unconfirmed whether the character will return in the foreseeable future.[6]
Deleted Scenes[]
- One of the deleted scenes from Batman Forever shows GNN anchor Kenneth Frequency on the Batcave's computer monitor urging Batman to retire, adding to Bruce's guilt in his decision to give up his crusade for a life with Chase.
- Another notable scene showed the Riddler hacking the Batmobile's crime tracking computer, leading Batman to an urban beauty salon where no crimes are taking place. Batman is promply mocked by an Obese Barberette and the entire salon laughs at him.
- The most major deleted segments had an amnesiac Bruce revisited the part of the Batcave that he'd originally fallen down as a child. There, he discovers his father's missing journal, learning that his parents would have visited the theatre regardless. Bruce would the encounter the Monarch Bat he'd originally encountered, leading him to regain his memories and reaccept the Batman identity.
The deleted Batcave scene.
- Clooney had a few deleted scenes relating to the Poison Ivy character and Julie Madison. After Madisson breaks off their relationship for good Clooney brooded over the Batcave's central computer console, until a sudden realization leads to go his partner asking for his trust to defeat Ivey and Freeze once and for all.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Batman Forever
- ↑ Batman & Robin
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Batman & Robin (Novelization)
- ↑ Batman Forever (Deleted Scene) | Robin training
- ↑ The Flash: Inside George Clooney’s Return as Batman – The Hollywood Reporter
- ↑ James Gunn Shuts Down George Clooney Batman Return After The Flash (thedirect.com)