Summary
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Batman #149!The latest status quo change forBatmanis finally allowing him to fix fans' biggest criticisms about how the Dark Knight operates. Batman has been through hell and back in recent months and he’s come out of the other side of his adventure with a welcome change.
Batman fans may recall that Bruce Wayne lost his immense fortune after it was stolenby his longtime nemesis the Joker. Things have been tough for the Caped Crusader, but a return to form is giving Batman a second chance to use his wealth in ways even his biggest critics are sure to appreciate.
Batman is Rich Again and Using His Money to Improve Gotham
InBatman #149by Chip Zdarsky, Steve Lieber, Michele Bandini, Nick Filardi, and Clayton Cowles,the Robin that Zur-En-Arrhhad made, a clone made from Bruce’s DNA, is wandering the streets of Gotham. Batman rescues the young man and takes him back to Bruce’s home and runs tests on him and discovers the clone is dying from accelerated aging.Batman attempts to dig into his memories, thinking Zur-En-Arrh had to have a way of stopping the clone Bruce’s cellsfrom rapidly aging.
Batman has bought up dozens of properties in Old Gotham with the intention of revitalizing them.
Bruce Wayne pays a visit to Wayne Enterprises for the first time in months and checks his office for any clues that Zur-En-Arrh may have left behind. Bruce goes to his office and finds a secret panel that his backup persona had hidden away. Batman checks it and makes the shocking discovery that Zur-En-Arrh had amassed billions of dollars in secret accounts, money that was now Bruce’s. Unfortunately, the windfall of cash doesn’t help the clone Bruce, who ultimately succumbs to natural causes after reaching old age.
Sometime later, Batman gathers his family and asks them to meet him at a manor. Bruce informs his team that he’s used his funds to purchase the manor as a new space for him and his family to live in. Not only that but with his new fortune, Batman has bought up dozens of properties in Old Gotham with the intention of revitalizing them. What is currentlydozens of unused, dilapidated buildings is going to be turned into affordable housing, charitable organizations, and green space thanks to Batman.
How Batman Lost His Fortune and Was Forced to Adapt
The Joker has done a lot of awful things to Batman over the years. But he decided to hit Batman where it really hurt during the 2020 crossover event “Joker War”. The Clown Prince of Crime thought it’d be hilarious to steal everything Bruce Wayne had to his name. Thanks to Catwoman’s aid and a bit of torture to Batman’s confidante Lucius Fox,Joker stole hundreds of billions of dollars from Batman, along with his company, his weaponry, and even Wayne Manor.
Joker pulled off the heist of the century inBatman #94 (2020)!
After the events of “Joker War”, the Wayne fortune was transferred to Lucius after the government deemed Bruce unfit to care for the fortune. With no home or Batcave, Batman had to seriously rework his operation. He moved into a brownstone in downtown Gotham and had to get by with a smaller amount of cash than usual.Batman was still richer than most, but he no longer had the safety nethis fiances afforded him. Not to mention it took a while for Wayne Enterprises to get back onto its feet.
Though Bruce’s billions were out of reach, Batman continued his superhero work, both as Gotham’s protector and as a member of the Justice League. Despite having to be a bit thriftier than usual (as well as scale back on his gadgets), not much changed in Batman’s mission. Granted, his public image as Bruce Wayne took a serious blow and it made it harder for him to pass himself off as a freewheeling playboy. ButBatman took his financial downturn on the chin and kept up his good work in Gotham.
Batman is Using His Money the Way Critics Wished He Would
While things have been relatively easy for Batman since he lost his fortune, things are sure to be even better now that he’s got several billions to his name once more. Bruce isn’t taking this development lightly either. Rather than taking his money and using it to finance upgraded Batsuits or a fancy new Batmobile,Batman is putting it into things that are needed. Not just for himself or the Bat-Family. Batman’s using his money in ways that are going to benefit Gotham City.
Now that he’s got a substantial amount of money again, Bruce is investing in his community.
It’s not uncommon to see discourse online about how Batman doesn’t use his finances to truly help the city and instead spends it all on his war on crime. Those arguments generally fail to consider how much money Bruce has actually donated the other years and how entrenched Gotham is in systemic corruption. But nonetheless, it’s an argument that’s somehow prevailed in the last few years, even as Batman’s finances were scaled back considerably. But eventhose who have leveled those kinds of accusations at Batman can’t argue against the plans he has for his new mission.
Is Batman’s money going to be used to help him fight crime? Undoubtedly. But Bruce knows that he needs to do more than just be the Dark Knight or throw money at a problem. Now that he’s got a substantial amount of money again, Bruce is investing in his community. Yes, he’s setting aside parts to ensure he and the Bat-Family can thrive. But it’s clearBatman wants to make big, bold changes to his city and he’s willing to put his money where his mouth is.
Batman is Using His Fortune to Build a Better Gotham
One could argue that this kind of plan is what Batman should have been doing all along. But what’s important is that Bruce is doing it now. By helping create the city he wants Gotham to be, he’s not just treating the symptoms, he’s addressing the causes of Gotham’s problems. That doesn’t mean the city doesn’t need Batman anymore, but it does mean Bruce is using his fortune to improve the city in any way it needs. Hopefully, that’s something evenBatman’sbiggest critics can get on board with.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
