<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Batman Character
Bruce Wayne
Bruce Wayne at the opera.
Status	Alive
Gender	Male
Species	Human
Origin	Gotham City
Portrayed by	Various
First Appearance	Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)
Profession	CEO Wayne Enterprises
Relatives	Martha Wayne (mother) Thomas Wayne (father)
Special Features	Moonlights as the superhero Batman Martial Arts expert Genius IQ

Bruce Wayne is the alter ego of the comic book superhero Batman. When Bruce Wayne was eight years old, he witnessed the murder of his parents, Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne, by a mugger. This event was the catalyst for his eventual transformation into the dark knight known as Batman.

A citizen of the crime-ridden Gotham City, Bruce Wayne was born into a wealthy family. As Batman, he uses the benefits of his wealth as well as his intellectual and physical abilities to fight the injustices burned into his mind by the death of his parents.

The character of Bruce Wayne varies from one portrayal to the next. But what is always consistent is the manner of his parents' death, and his chosen pursuits—industrialist, philanthropist, and something of a playboy. In several incarnations, particularly in Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and to a lesser extent Batman Begins, Batman is portrayed as being more of a real, complete person than Bruce Wayne, who exists merely as Batman's cover. This stands in contrast to recent incarnations of fellow superhero Superman, in which Clark Kent is the complete person and Superman is the alter ego.

Bruce Wayne is often seen by the public as not much more than a playboy, with little to recommend him but the wealth he inherited. He encourages this perception in order to draw attention away from his nightly missions as Batman. In several versions, Wayne is truly a successful businessman, who guides or participates both in running the company he inherited, Wayne Enterprises, and in the philanthropic efforts of The Wayne Foundation.

Portrayals

• Lewis Wilson was the first actor to play a live action Batman in 1943's The Batman.

• In 1949's Batman and Robin, Robert Lowery took on the character of Bruce Wayne and his alter ego Batman.

• Adam West took on the role in 1966 for the television series. He also reprised the role in the TV movie Batgirl and Legends of the Superheroes.

• Filipino actor Jing Abalos took on the role in the Filipino film Batman Fights Dracula.

• In another Filipino take on the franchise, Alyas Batman en Robin, Joey de Leon played Bruce/Batman.

• Michael Keaton, a comedic actor was a surprising choice for the Batman films of the 1989 and 1992 movies. He along with director Tim Burton left the franchise after Batman Returns.

• Val Kilmer starred in the first of director Joel Schumacher's Batman movies, Batman Forever.

• George Clooney followed Kilmer in the role for the franchise's most disappointing installment Batman & Robin.

• Kevin Conroy began his run as the voice of Batman in 1992 with Batman: The Animated Series. He also voiced the role for the animated movie Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, SubZero, The Batman/Superman Movie, The New Batman Adventures, Superman: The Animated Series, The Zeta Project, Batman Beyond, Static Shock, The Batman and Justice League.

• Christian Bale took on the role for the revival of the franchise in 2005 and reprised the role in 2008 in The Dark Knight

Trivia

Bruce Wayne was ranked #8 on Forbe's Fictional Fifteen, with an estimated worth of $6.5 billion.

The Wayne family wealth extends back to the 17th century.

External Links

DC Comics Batman

Warner Brothers - Batman Official Site

• Batman Wiki: Alfred Pennyworth