Bruce Wayne funds Batman!

[Erts]

Well, a new Batman series is coming out: Batman Inc.

In it, Bruce Wayne reveals that he has been funding Batman for years. Now, there will be "Batmen" all over the world.

And no one is going to suspect that he is Batman? I mean, sure divert attention from yourself and all, but someone is going to investigate...

What's the Playground's thoughts? I think that this actually has some potential, but I'm not sure if I would like it if it became the norm.

[Dr.Epic]

Sounds kind of dumb. Now there are going to be more Batman? Can anyone live up to the high standard Bruce Wayne has set? Genius intellect, master martial artist, expert detective.

[Erts]

Sounds kind of dumb. Now there are going to be more Batman? Can anyone live up to the high standard Bruce Wayne has set? Genius intellect, master martial artist, expert detective.

I don't think that's really the point, no one is going to surpass Bruce.
But **** has been Batman for the past year and a half when Bruce was gone. Plus, not everywhere in the world is as bad as Gotham and need a Batman as good as Bruce.

EDIT: Oh yes, **** is blocked.
Well, young master Richard Grayson.

[Psyren]

Conservation of Ninjutsu applies, ergo all the "mini-bats" will suck.

(It applies double since Batman is technically a ninja.)

[Erts]

Conservation of Ninjutsu applies, ergo all the "mini-bats" will suck.

(It applies double since Batman is technically a ninja.)

Doesn't that mean Bruce will suck too?
And I think that only works when they are all in the same place... Trope probably isn't powerful enough to work across the world.

[Psyren]

Doesn't that mean Bruce will suck too?

If he fights alongside them, yes. If he only dons the costume once his flunkies have been mass-murdered (you know they're going to do that eventually), then no.

And I think that only works when they are all in the same place... Trope probably isn't powerful enough to work across the world.

Around the world, they will beat the tar out of muggers, bank robbers and other faceless mooks. But Joker, Penguin etc. will tear through dozens of them at once.

[Erts]

Around the world, they will beat the tar out of muggers, bank robbers and other faceless mooks. But Joker, Penguin etc. will tear through dozens of them at once.

Who will luckily still be in Gotham, probably. I mean, look at Nightwing.

[Hawriel]

And this is why Im pritty much dumping DC and Marvel.

[Zaydos]

Either they will all be awesome and badass, which will reduce the impact and meaning of Batman and ruin him.

Or they will all be pathetic and weak, which will make them simply annoying and mar the image of Batman.

This does not sound like a good idea.

[Erts]

Either they will all be awesome and badass, which will reduce the impact and meaning of Batman and ruin him.

Or they will all be pathetic and weak, which will make them simply annoying and mar the image of Batman.

This does not sound like a good idea.

There is a good argument.

Agreed, to an extent. I think that they will try it for a year, find out it doesn't work, and go back to what we really want.

[Evil DM Mark3]

I think that this could work out well. In theory. It could make for interesting and well thought out stories. This is a Golden Opportunity to get some new and interesting ideas into the Batman mythos, and it wont remove Bruce Wayne as the main Batman. This is an opportunity for several seams of high grade win with a new look at an old idea.

HOWEVER.

That assumes a strong but delicate editorial presence, keeping the tone and overall details clear and giving the guidance the writers will need to keep this idea consistent over several lines. It will also need writers who can pick up this idea, people willing to use the new Batmen and hit the balance of Bat mythos and new person. It will take real co-ordination and commitment.

Yeah, I am not all that confident.

[Starbuck_II]

But won't this have repercussions as he is funding a vigilante (Batman)? Can't he be sued now for anything Batman does?

[Evil DM Mark3]

But won't this have repercussions as he is funding a vigilante (Batman)? Can't he be sued now for anything Batman does?

Yeah, go on. Sue Batman's funder. Sue the man who enabled vast numbers of people to be saved from a life of terror. Sue the man who made sure that The Joker, The Riddler, Mr Freeze (and so on) got put away. Sue a man who may be one of the most popular men in the world. You would be lynched on your way to the court!

Sue that man, and do it through a legal team of the world's best lawyers, because he can afford them. To have a good chance of winning a lawsuit in the USA you need to have the better lawyer or a public swell of opinion. This guy will have neither.

Bruce is not stupid, if written well he will have thought of this.

[Psyren]

Either they will all be awesome and badass, which will reduce the impact and meaning of Batman and ruin him.

Don't worry, they won't.

Or they will all be pathetic and weak, which will make them simply annoying and mar the image of Batman.

Ding ding ding!

This is all a ploy to make the fans grumble "they're ruining batman!" Then later Bruce for some reason cuts funding to Bat Inc. and we're left with one caped crusader to cheer on again. Yay!

Coke pulled this exact same stunt with Coca Cola classic. DC by killing Supes (again and again.) Marvel by revealing Spiderman's true identity. Pepsi with Tropicana and Gap with their logo. Expect the about-face soon.

[Otogi]

Either they will all be awesome and badass, which will reduce the impact and meaning of Batman and ruin him.

Or they will all be pathetic and weak, which will make them simply annoying and mar the image of Batman.

This does not sound like a good idea.

What about competent and easily corrupted?

[Vaynor]

I don't think that's really the point, no one is going to surpass Bruce.

Why not?

[TheThan]

I think its about time, Bruce Wayne could use the sleep. I mean seriously, patrolling Gotham City at night, filling the role of a billionaire playboy by day, and running his company in between has got to take its toll.

Seriously though, I think the idea has merit, but I don’t think they’ll pull it off well enough to make it work.
I can imagine this ‘batcorps” as being something akin to what Wayne though the league of shadows was going to be in Batman Begins. Instead it turned out to be just as bad as the very corruption they claimed to be fighting against.


Also on the subject of sueing Wayne, that’s got to take a lot of guts to sue one of the richest men in the world. He can afford high priced lawyers, can you? Not to mention you'll look like a tool. kind of like those people that sue the police after being shot (by the cops), and that sort of BS.

[WitchSlayer]

It's by Grant Morrison.

I believe in Grant Morrison.

[Evil DM Mark3]

Um, why is everyone assuming that we will see much of the other Batmen at all? I thought they would be operating in other cities.

[chiasaur11]

It's by Grant Morrison.

I believe in Grant Morrison.

What Niel said.

Assuming you're named Niel.

If not, I apologize.

Not saying the man can do no wrong, but what I've read of Batman and Robin (tradewaiting. Shameful, I know) says he knows what he's on about.

[ThePhantasm]

I prefer the Batman who works alone; I really don't want to see a Justice League full of Batmen. But that's just me.

[Psyren]

I think its about time, Bruce Wayne could use the sleep. I mean seriously, patrolling Gotham City at night, filling the role of a billionaire playboy by day, and running his company in between has got to take its toll.

"Billionaire playboy" is really not that hard a job.

I mean, if SHE can do it....

[Prime32]

I prefer the Batman who works alone; I really don't want to see a Justice League full of Batmen. But that's just me.

I am now picturing this.

Batman enters the room. The camera shifts for a moment, and when it returns all the seats have been filled with Batmen. They sit around silently for a few minutes in the Gendo pose, then one of them nods. Suddenly all of them are gone again, the meeting concluded.

[nyarlathotep]

But won't this have repercussions as he is funding a vigilante (Batman)? Can't he be sued now for anything Batman does?

As long as you don't kill anyone and hand over all the people you catch to the police vigilantism is actually legal in most parts of the US, though Gotham might have different rules. Citizen's arrest and all.

[Tirian]

"Billionaire playboy" is really not that hard a job.

Oh, come on. Do you even see how many bones Bruce Wayne breaks in a year being a billionaire playboy? I bet he spends half the year in physical therapy.

Frankly, I think you'll wish that it was a Justice League filled with Batmans. In truth, it will be a Green Lantern Corps of Batmans. You'll have the Batman of Metropolis, the Batman of Washington, the Batman of Star City, the Batman of London, the Batman of Cleveland. You'll have the fat Batman and the angry Batman and the geek Batman and alien Batmans and, of course, a couple of girl Batmans.

It's an idea that has potential to explore. But it seems like a bit of a rip-off of New Krypton and it is also far too obvious that the next mega-arc is going to be the next generation of Bane or Black Mask or whoever running around killing all of the sub-Batmans to lure Bruce Wayne to reclaim his mantle in two years.

[RationalGoblin]

Oh, come on. Do you even see how many bones Bruce Wayne breaks in a year being a billionaire playboy? I bet he spends half the year in physical therapy.

Could he not pass the broken bones off as a "going through a rough time, but I'll really change this time, I promise" type of thing? He only directly deals with his cabal of family and assistants, after all.

[Tirian]

He may secretly be the World's Greatest Detective, but I think that the average person in the DC Universe thinks of Bruce Wayne as the World's Worst Skier.

[Da'Shain]

Just how big is Wayne Enterprises anyway?

I thought it was firmly in the territory of "mega-international corporation" but was still counted as fairly small-fry compared to, say, LexCorp. That could have changed since the No Man's Land arc that I remember seeing that expressly mentioned in, though.

Also, yeah. It's now child's play for anyone and their grandmother with the least knowledge of Batman to deduce who Batman is. Not that it should've been particularly hard before, but still. How's Bruce gonna protect everyone he's ever been close to, and how is the rest of the Batman family not gonna be found out as well?

[chiasaur11]

He may secretly be the World's Greatest Detective, but I think that the average person in the DC Universe thinks of Bruce Wayne as the World's Worst Skier.

Second greatest.

DC doesn't stand for Bruce Wayne
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[Dr.Epic]

How's he going to recruit people? Also, isn't there already a group of people who try to keep the world safe? You know, the Justice League, that thing he's kind of a part of.