A World Without Bruce Wayne

[Timothy]

Split from: A+World+Without+A+Batman

The biggest thing is the identity of Batman. With Batman dead, Bruce Wayne is dead as well. Do they reveal this to the public? If Gordon prohibited anyone from unmasking the body, wouldn't people (especially investigative reporters) still make a connection between the death of Batman and the "disappearance" of Bruce Wayne? Would they try to get someone to act as Bruce Wayne to try to still cover up Batman's secret and then "fake" the death of Bruce Wayne? There are a lot of possibilities here.

D'OH! I completely forgot about the most obvious of characters! Me'thinks that would make an excellent forked topic, though...[/quote]

How would Bruce's closest friends and family explain this to the media?

Option A: Reveal his identity

Gotham learns that it's biggest philanthrapist is also it's biggest crime fighter. There would undoubtedly be those would would exploit the situation, and come down hard on the survivors; namely Alfred, Tim Drake, and anyone else Bruce knew in his lifetime. This would seriously jeopardize the well-being of those closest to him, so I'm guessing that this would be the least desired outcome.

Option B: Stage Bruce's Death

Remember in "Knightfall" when Alfred and Tim found a way to explain how Bruce sustained massive spinal damage after being broken by Bane? They totaled one of his cars and said that he was severely damaged in the accident. Tim and Alfred could create a plausible scenario for the death of Bruce Wayne. Dick Grayson was (if my memory serves me right), legally adopted by Bruce, so he could inherit the entire Wayne legacy... Including the mantel of the Bat? Who knows what could happen?

[Jack Napier]

I think both would make interesting stories.

Another possibility that I just thought of is what if "Bruce Wayne" was dead, but Batman was still alive?
What if Bruce Wayne was so obsessed with his mission that he faked his death as Bruce Wayne and devoted his whole life 24/7 to being the Batman?

[Timothy]

batmangelus said:

I think both would make interesting stories.

Another possibility that I just thought of is what if "Bruce Wayne" was dead, but Batman was still alive?
What if Bruce Wayne was so obsessed with his mission that he faked his death as Bruce Wayne and devoted his whole life 24/7 to being the Batman?

Kind of like in The Dark Knight Returns?

[Jack Napier]

Pretty much, except when he's younger and the "death" of Bruce Wayne would not be connected with Batman.

[Timothy]

batmangelus said:

Pretty much, except when he's younger and the "death" of Bruce Wayne would not be connected with Batman.

Oh, alrighty then.

Hmm... Who would take over the mantel? Would Bruce want the mantel to be passed down, so that he could continue the "sins of the father", so-to-speak?