| Main Article |
- "I don't care how many demons he's fought in how many hells. He's never fought us. Not us united."
- ―Bruce Wayne about Steppenwolf[src]
Batman was the alias and second identity of Bruce Wayne, a billionaire who fought against crime in Gotham City. The one of the earliest "superheroes" operating in the world, he was in operation for twenty years, during which he become more jaded as the years continued. Upon the arrival of Superman, Batman was initially clashed with the Man of Steel due to the damage he caused in Metropolis and his abilities. After Superman's death, Batman helped form the Justice League to counter threats greater than one hero to take on alone. Batman would serve as the mentor to the Flash.
Biography
Early life
Bruce screams in horror at the death of his parents.
Having witnessed his parents' death at the hands of a mugger as a child, young Bruce Wayne resolved to rid Gotham City of the criminal element that took their lives. With the aid of his butler Alfred Pennyworth, who operates mostly within the Batcave, Bruce became a mysterious caped crusader known as "The Batman". For years Bruce fought in his crusade, taking on a ward in Robin who helped him protect Gotham. However, through unknown circumstances, Robin was killed by the Joker, who left a taunting message ("Hahah, Joke's on you Batman") spray painted on his suit. Bruce would keep the Robin suit enclosed in a glass case found in the Batcave. This event led Batman to become much more brutal but continued his crusade on crime.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Bruce helds a little girl on his arms while watching Superman and Zod in the sky.
When the world was introduced to Superman, the Earth was invaded by General Zod and his Kryptonians, which led to a battle taking place in Metropolis. Arriving in Metropolis, Bruce Wayne tried warning his friend Jack to evacuate the Wayne Financial Building. However, while Superman was fighting Zod, Wayne's building was among the structures destroyed with at least one of Bruce's employees, Wallace Keefe, surviving but with the cost of his legs. After saving a girl, who lost her mother, Bruce held her among the collateral damage as he stared at Superman, who he made responsible for the countless deaths.
The trinity joins forces.
About two years later, Bruce went to a very dark place that was rooted in trauma. As Batman, he became more brutal on how he deals with criminals, and among his "new rules" branded at least one criminal. He was also determined to go to war against Superman, going through great lengths to stealing Kryptonite from Lex Luthor, who manipulated the two into fighting by kidnapping Superman's mother Martha Kent. Batman and Superman would initially fiercely battle one another, with the former wearing a armored exoskeleton suit as well as using a Kryptonite grenade launcher and spear. Before Batman can kill Superman with the spear, Superman urges Batman to "save Martha", whose name is also shared with Wayne's late mother. Lois Lane arrives and explains the situation, convincing Batman that Superman is not a threat. Upon learning of Luthor's plan, Batman helps rescue Martha while Superman confronts Luthor on the scout ship. With the help of Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman join forces to take down Luthor's creation, Doomsday. Superman ultimately kills Doomsday, but succumbs to his own injuries and seemingly dies.
After confronting Luthor in prison, Batman learns that a more powerful threat is coming to Earth. Bruce Wayne later attended a funeral for Clark Kent in Smallville, where Wayne reveals to Prince that he plans to form a team of metahumans to help protect the world in Superman's absence. After they leave, the dirt around Clark's coffin begins to levitate.
Suicide Squad
After her Suicide Squad successfully defeats the mystical duo of Enchantress and Incubus in Midway City and save her, Amanda Waller meets up with her situational ally Bruce Wayne, asking him to take care of the rumors following the aftermath of the calamitous events, and in exchange, she gives Bruce her files on multiple notable metahumans, including that of Enchantress, Aquaman, and the Flash. As Bruce turns to leave, Waller lets him know that she is aware that he is Batman. Unfazed, he immediately sternly warns Waller to shut down Task Force X, letting her know that if she doesn't, he and his new "friends" will shut it down for her.
Justice League
After discovering about Steppenwolf and his plans to take over Earth, Batman set about forming the Justice League with Wonder Woman and other metahumans. Two different accounts cover the events of their first mission, which shared a number of events but several differences.
In 2017, Wayne and Prince follow on their plans to locate more metahumans in the wake of Superman's death. A global threat has arisen with the emergence of the New God Steppenwolf, who has sent his Parademons from Apokolips to plague Gotham. Wayne easily manages to persuade Allen, also known as "The Flash", to join, but faces difficulty in recruiting Curry, also known as "Aquaman", until Steppenwolf attacks Curry's home of Atlantis. Wayne and Allen join up with Prince and Victor Stone, also known as "Cyborg", as they receive intel from Gotham City Police commissioner James Gordon. The team sets out to an underwater facility between Metropolis and Gotham City in order to rescue Stone's father Silas and other employees of S.T.A.R. Labs, whom Steppenwolf and his forces had kidnapped in an attempt to locate the last Mother Box, one of three devices sought to reshape the world. After the group rescues the employees and seizes the Mother Box to analyze it following a skirmish, Wayne decides to use the device to resurrect Superman after hearing from Stone that Silas had used it to revive him after a horrific accident. Diana and Curry are hesitant about this idea, but Wayne forms a secret contingency plan in case Superman returns as hostile. After exhuming Kent's body, the team successfully revives Superman using the Mother Box and amniotic fluid in the Kryptonian scout ship that was used to create Doomsday. However, Superman has lost his memory, and he attacks the group after Stone accidentally launches a projectile at him. Superman remembers Batman's aggression towards him, grabbing Batman off the ground and nearly killing him, but Batman enacts his contingency plan: Lois Lane. Superman calms down and leaves with Lane to his family home in Smallville, where he reflects, and his memories slowly come back. In the turmoil, the Mother Box is left unguarded, allowing Steppenwolf to retrieve it with ease. Without Superman, the five heroes travel to a village in Russia, where Steppenwolf aims to unite the Mother Boxes once again to remake Earth. Batman risks his own life to distract Steppenwolf while the other members separate the Mother Boxes, though the plan is unsuccessful. Superman, having regained his memories, arrives and assists Allen in evacuating the city, as well as Stone, in separating the Mother Boxes. The team defeats Steppenwolf, who, overcome with fear, is attacked by his own Parademons before they all teleport away.
After the battle, Wayne and Prince agree to set up a base of operations for the team, with room for more members, and Bruce begins rebuilding the destroyed Wayne Manor for this purpose. Wayne then makes amends with Kent, buying out the bank trying to foreclose Martha Kent's farm in Smallville and offering Superman the mantle of leadership for the newly minted Justice League.
Wayne is unable to get a military jet for transporting the team to fly until Stone discovers and fixes a software bug in its firmware. During the final battle in Russia, Batman utilizes his weaponry and vehicles to break through the radioactive fortification Steppenwolf builds around the Mother Boxes, single-handedly annihilates much of the parademon army, and is joined by the rest of the team in fighting their way to the boxes. As Stone, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and later Superman confront Steppenwolf inside the cooling tower and attack the Unity, Batman eliminates the remaining parademons on the tower, killing one in particular that had shot Allen, giving the latter time to heal and undo the Unity of the boxes by entering the Speed Force and thus indirectly playing a major role in Steppenwolf's defeat.
Sometime after, Wayne and Prince agree to set up a base of operations for the team, with room for more members, and Bruce begins rebuilding the destroyed Wayne Manor for this purpose. Wayne then makes amends with Kent, buying out the bank trying to foreclose Martha Kent's farm in Smallville. After waking up from another nightmare, he is met by Martian Manhunter, who thanks him for forming the Justice League and promises to be in touch to plan for Darkseid's inevitable return.The Flash
After Al Falcone and his crew robbed Gotham General Hospital, Batman had Alfred call Flash to help stop the collapsing hospital while the rest of the Justice League was preoccupied. Batman then gave chase to Falcone's fleeing crew on the Batcycle. After a tanker exploded, Batman then formed his cape into a glider and began taking down Falcone and his crew.
Falcone's armored truck then drove off the bridge and Bruce used his grapple gun to hook onto the edge while holding onto Falcone. Alfred informed Bruce that if the case full of chemicals Falcone was holding fell into the ocean, it would wipe out half of Gotham. Just as Bruce was about to lose his grip on Falcone, Wonder Woman arrived in time to use her Lasso of Truth to pull Batman and Falcone to safety. Flash then arrived having saved several babies from the collapsing hospital. Batman then began sharing personal feelings before realizing that he was still trapped in the Lasso of Truth. After Wonder Woman and Flash left the scene, Alfred congratulated Bruce and asked if he'd be home for breakfast, which Bruce responded to while knocking out a fleeing Falcone with a Batarang.
Later that night, Bruce sent Barry an envelope with security camera footage that he had enhanced to try help prove Henry Allen's innocence. Bruce included a letter apologizing due to the fact that Henry's face wasn't visible and wouldn't be able to free Henry from prison.
Later, when Barry went back in time, he told Bruce of how he went back in time, and how he could change the past, preventing tragic events. Bruce then tells him he has the potential to destroy the universe. He then proceeded to tell him the events that happened make them who they are. Bruce then gets in his car and leaves.
Due to the Flash's actions altering the timeline, Batman and his history was altered by the Multiverse. On the speedster's first attempt to save his mother, he was replaced by another Batman from Earth-89. A later attempt replaced him with yet another version from another timeline entirely. Batman's fate following these is currently unknown.
Characterization
Personality
Born into the wealthy Wayne family, Bruce Wayne had an idyllic childhood. But after his parents were gunned down in front of him, Bruce dedicated his life to battling the criminal element that took their lives. He trained extensively for years, training his mental and physical abilities to their peak. Around his first meeting with Superman, Batman can be described as a man who bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retains the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne.
In the 20 years of crime-fighting, Bruce Wayne became a psychologically damaged and almost sociopathic individual. And while Batman had a moral code to never kill, he changed his rules after the world was introduced to Superman in the destructive battle with General Zod in Metropolis. Having saw most of the battle himself, Bruce witnessed the destruction of the Wayne Financial Building, which resulted in his friend Jack's death and Wallace Keefe being crippled. After years of trial and tribulation, Bruce went to a very dark place that was rooted in trauma. As his butler Alfred Pennyworth explained it, rage and the feeling of powerlessness can turn a good man like him into a cruel one. This was the case as Batman showed less concern for the criminals he fought, and started using brute force or simply branding them. Bruce also showed determination to go to war against Superman, who he believed was a potential threat (partly because of an apocalyptic dream and Lex Luthor's manipulations), despite Alfred's multiple attempts to dissuade him. Batman ultimately realized that Superman was not his enemy and, after the latter's supposed death by Doomsday, he sought redemption and the means in making the world better.
Abilities
Batman has no inherent superhuman powers, relying on his knowledge, detective skills, and athletic prowess. He trained extensively to achieve mental and physical perfection, in addition to mastering martial arts, detective techniques, and criminal psychology. Dressing as a bat to prey on criminals' fears, Batman fights crimes with the aid of specialized gadgets and vehicles, operating out of his secret Batcave.
Equipment
- Batsuits
- Utility Belt
- Batarang
- Grapple Gun
- Smoke Grenades
- Rebreather
- Grenade Launcher
- Kryptonite Gas Grenades
- Kryptonite Spear
Vehicles
Appearances
Behind the scenes
Director Zack Snyder's first choice for Bruce Wayne was Josh Brolin, who turned down the idea of playing Batman in a crossover about fighting Superman. Brolin went on to portray Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Cable in Deadpool 2. Richard Cetrone and Albert Valladares were Ben Affleck's fight doubles. The stunt team and coordinators' contributions have had a more positive critical reception compared to all the other aspects of this incarnation.
Reception
While Ben Affleck's performance in Batman v Superman was well-received by both critics and fans, this version of Batman was greatly criticized for his willingness to kill enemies and use of weapons, including guns. This seemed particularly egregious due to the then-still recent Dark Knight trilogy, where Batman had stuck to such ethical codes unless absolutely necessary. The film's predecessor, Man of Steel, had also received similar criticism, especially in regards to Superman apparently endangering lives during the film's fight scenes. This criticism is also leveled at the Burton films' Batman, particularly in the last third of his first film. However, that version was willing to also kill members of his rogues gallery, whilst the "Snyderverse" versions are revealed to be alive in promotional material. Batman's appearances in Suicide Squad also shows him arresting Deadshot and even saving Harley Quinn, raising further criticisms such as whether Batman kills common thugs but leaves the more dangerous criminals alive.
Abandoned Snyder-Era Plans/Projects
In addition to star as Batman, Affleck has also been hired to write and direct a solo film for his version of the character titled The Batman. According to reports that surfaced in 2021, his treatment would have pitted Batman against Deathstroke, who sought revenge for the death of his son at the Dark Knight's hands. The assassin would have attempted to destroy both the lives of Bruce Wayne and Batman. The film would also explore themes of insanity and delve into Batman's mental health. The post-credits scene seen in the director's cut of Justice League was to set up this film. However, Affleck dropped out of production due to concerns about his wellbeing, handing duties over to Matt Reeves. The project then was repurposed into a completely separate The Batman film, starring Robert Pattinson as another incarnation of the character.
In interview with GQ Magazine, Snyder revealed his plans for the Justice League film series, including Batman. According to him, Justice League 2 would have featured the League coming into conflict with the Injustice League, who were under the control of Darkseid. When the League go to Apokolips to fight the groups, Batman would have remained on Earth to protect Lois Lane from his forces. However, due to information obtained from Lex Luthor, Darkseid would have attacked and killed her: this event causing Superman to fall under the influence of the Anti-Life Equation and create the "Knightmare" timeline. Justice League 3 would have followed the Knightmare versions of Batman and the remaining League members as they attempted to rectify his mistake. Due to Flash being able to reach the right point in time to warn him, Batman would have been able to prepare for the attack and sacrificed himself to save Lane. He also planned for the Kents to have a son named "Bruce", who would have been trained by Superman to become the next Batman.[1]
These plans were put on hold due to the critical and fan backlash towards Batman v Superman. They were then abandoned after the commercial failure of the theatrical cut of Justice League. After successfully getting the "Snyder Cut" for Justice League released, fans of the film and Snyder's work have attempted to restore his plans for future films. However, these efforts have proved unlikely, due to the director moving to other projects with other studios and hierarchal changes at DC Studios.