Batman is undoubtedly one of the greatest superheroes ever created. An ordinary man relying on his physical strength, intelligent mind, and wealth to be one of the most significant comic book figures never fails to attract his fans. However, there is a major aspect of his character that is often subjected to debate among comic book enthusiasts, his philanthropy.
Very often, people forget to acknowledge that Bruce Wayne is also a prominent philanthropist. Sadly, on top of that, a certain section of fans also assert that Christian Bale superhero does not do enough for Gotham with his wealth. This debate existed for a long time till a fan recently listed all the philanthropic activities Wayne did for Gotham.
Batman’s philanthropic side is equally impressive as the superhero one
The widely popular Wayne Enterprises, owned by Bruce Wayne was listed by Forbes in its 25 Largest Fictional Companies. Many people have pointed out that Batman never cares about the poor or utilizes his property to improve Gotham. However, it is wrong as both the comics as well as the movies have shed light on this aspect.
We have seen several versions of Batman to date. But most of the fans believe that Christian Bale‘s version was the best as he got three films and a complete journey. Even though the film does not vividly highlight his charities, a fan Mark Stephen Ford took over to X to show how Batman has always contributed to Gotham’s welfare.
Oh no, the “Batman never uses his money to help Gotham” myth is back.
Time to bring out this list again. https://t.co/opdDOOmadT pic.twitter.com/jU2YXvHGQ8— Mark Stephen Ford (@MarkStephenFord) August 21, 2024
In the comics, Bruce Wayne used his wealth to make hospitals, and schools, and start different charitable organizations to support education and housing. He even offered employment to ex-convicts. While Nolan’s trilogy did not show this side of his character properly, The Dark Knight Rises revealed that Bruce Wayne was the primary sponsor of Gotham’s Saint Swithin’s Orphanage. Blake’s character even stated that Bruce Wayne visited there once when he was a kid.
By the end of Nolan’s Trilogy, we were also shown that Bruce Wayne left half of the rebuilt Wayne Manor and much of his fortune to Saint Swithin’s Orphanage. Besides that, the Wayne Foundation has also been actively involved in funding free clinics and schools and supporting art and education.
From the list and the brief mentions in the Dark Knight Trilogy, it is clearly evident that Bruce Wayne has always been there for Gotham. Starting with healthcare to education and employment, our Caped Crusader attempted to do as much as he could for his city. Unfortunately, most of these details are never highlighted properly in the comics or the movies which led them to be overlooked by the audiences.
James Gunn may portray a different side of Batman
Since James Gunn took over the top of the DCU table, fans have been expecting to see unique takes on the traditional DC superheroes. From the set leaks of the upcoming Superman, it is evident that he will take a different approach than the existing DCEU. Till now, none of the Batman movies have properly highlighted the philanthropic side of Bruce Wayne. It can be an exciting watch if James Gunn can do something unique with Batman’s character in Brave and the Bold.
There were several rumors that we may see John Krasinski or Ryan Gosling as the Caped Crusader in the DCU. However, James Gunn took no time to debunk the claims and stated that they are yet to do the casting of Batman: Brave and the Bold. Some rumors also stated that Gunn has roped in The Flash director Andy Muschietti and Rodo Sayagues to write the film but they were also debunked.
Batman is one of the most fan-favorite characters so it will exciting to look forward to how James Gunn carries out his version. The audience would be delighted if we also get a look at the gentle side of the Greatest Detective alongside the dark and gritty tone.
