#Bruce Wayne: fugitive

[frogaroundandfindout]

Batman congratulates Cass on winning against Lady Shiva (Batgirl #27)

[havendance]

(JLA: Welcome to the Working Week)

Narrator: So I spent the evening watching the Bruce Wayne: Fugitive TV movie. They made Gordon Puerto Rican, but I'm always happy to see Luis Guzman in anything.

I love the little details writers include. In the DC universe there was a direct to TV movie 'inspired by real events' that documents that one time Bruce Wayne got framed for murder and broke out of jail. I bet Dick, Tim, and Barbara all had fun with that one.

[cleromancy]

AUGHUGUGHGUGH. AUGH

this issue is sosososo good... the guilt! the interplay btwn doubt and faith through the investigation/re-enactment! the determination!! :elmofire:

i love watching cass and dick work together toooooo they make such a good team... like 3x now she's just made like. a one or two word comment and dick would be like "? --oh you mean bc x? good thinking batgirl"and then explains her meaning for the audience... its so good theyre so good

[heroesriseandfall]

Bruce not being able to cook is a common theme in comics, enough that it’s evidently canon in at least post-Crisis. I’m sure he could make something that would stop himself from starving (because you’re right, he’s got survival skills), it would just taste terrible. Survival food is not necessarily good, tasty food.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if part of Bruce’s inability to make good food is that he doesn’t want to, because the only reason he’d make food for himself at home is when Alfred is gone—and he hates when Alfred’s gone.

Bruce also has a laser-focus for learning new skills. Most of the time, I think he’ll only learn something well to the extent that it helps him solve crime; if cooking doesn’t solve crime, he won’t put much effort into learning how to do it well.

Detective Comics #685 — Bruce can’t even make a tuna sandwich for Tim, after Alfred quit and moved to London

Batman: Shadow of the Bat #35 — Bruce fails to understand washing machines and orders pizza while Alfred lives in London

Batman #512 — Dick can cook, Bruce has to order Chinese while Alfred’s gone

Batman: Shadow of the Bat #42 — Alfred returns from London and finds Bruce’s pile of fast food packaging trash

Detective Comics #758 — Bruce can make coffee…chunky coffee, while Alfred’s staying with Tim at boarding school

Nightwing (1996) #68 — Bruce ate off paper plates when Alfred had quit and moved in with Tim at boarding school

No, see, because Dick is the funniest result of being raised by Bruce and Alfred in that he can cook (like Alfred can) but he chooses to eat weird fast food and takeout on purpose (like Bruce does only because he can’t cook).

Thus, we get comics where Dick will cook an actual, quality meal for a hungry sibling but then his apartment is full of pizza boxes in weird flavors and he once ate abandoned popcorn from an empty sports stadium.

I’m also 98% sure that it’s Dick’s fault that Tim’s favorite type of pizza is Canadian bacon and artichoke hearts. But if Tim wants then Dick will hand him a thermos of warm home made soup. Older brother who can meet any of your food needs!

[jalapainio]

I'm working on my personal Batman Timeline, and I've just stumbled into 90s-early 2000s comics. And wow, a lot happens here, doesn't it? Knightfall, Contagion, Cataclysm, No Man's Land, Fugitive, and War Games all happen in the same period of time. Not to mention Batman Hush and Under the Red Hood that happened soon after that. Batman really was put through the ringer, wasn't he?

[allovesthings]

(Context: this Batman: Bruce Wayne-fugitive and Bruce is accused of murder and is a fugitive)

This is interesting. Dick has been the one (with Cass) who was adamant that Bruce didn't do it without any proof. He was 100% sure that Bruce didn't do it. Both he and Cass were right (and she found the first piece of evidence that Bruce didn't do it) but it's interesting that this panel kinda seems to imply that he did have just a teeny tiny slimmer of a doubt.

[umbrellajam]

Batman: Bruce Wayne - Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus HC Planned release on December 17, 2024

👀 Rubbing my eyeballs all over this. It looks like it's going to actually have everything??

[trust-and-jump]

Okay! Since you posted some Bruce Wayne thingie (about Batman being a mask), I have to ask: did you read "Bruce Wayne: Murderer?" and "Bruce Wayne: Fugitive"? If so, what do you think? (I have my own opinion, that is, by now, unchangeable; I'm just curious to see yours).

I'm asking because this event, affecting only bat-related comics, in my opinion, says the same thing as you. Well, maybe not exactly about the protection of his little vigilantes thing, but about the mask and all.

Now, now, wait, I know, it's not that special in comics, it was repeated more than once. But! What we see there is the fact that, due to some problems and odd metaphors (and also the fact that Alfred is being—well what do you call it... Er... Alfred is living the trope of that sage British mentor who will domesticate the poor, neglected American superhero and then ditch them and go back to Britain at the worst possible moment 😂sorry, not crying, just got Buffy the Vampire Slayer in my eye), Bruce himself has problems with remembering it. Which is very, very nice to see.

What I want to say is that.... Batman convinced even some writers, that he, Bruce Wayne, is actually only Batman.

and some writers are convinced he's neither.

And that means that we can't even tell what is his true face. And that's okay, we have different versions of this, it's actually nice. So you're not wrong that he's Bruce Wayne and they aren't wrong he's Batman, and others are not wrong he's just some random psycho, and others..... etc. you get what I mean.

I'm not even touching the subject of Brucie. Just. no.

So. Just wanted to post it, hxksjkslslaam

(also my friend is STILL salty about Sasha's fate and about the fact that the fics with her are almost non-existent. she said she will write one once she finishes the fic she's writing now)

peace

[ID: A single panel from an old Batman comic, depicting Batman escorting a man dressed like him away from the viewer. Batman is saying, “Let’s go, son. Let’s get you some help.” Around them are several narrative boxes, in two different colors. The green boxes, cumulatively, read: “But the avenger within the Batman co-exists with the compassionate man. Batman is indeed two people… and both are Bruce Wayne.” The single yellow box reads simply: “The End.” /ID]

Excuse me as I just leave this here…

[gretahayes]

Do you think all that shit would've happened if Tim wasn't Robin or was he unintentionally a sort of catalyst

[mpjz03]

Batman: Gotham Knights #32

[zahri-melitor]

Oh my god, Gotham Knights #26. I’m screaming, crying, throwing up.

Just this. This is so damn crunchy. It’s a reminder that the core of the post-Crisis Batfamily revolves around the dynamics and dance of tensions between Dick, Babs and Tim, and how each of them relate to Bruce.

Dick’s on the upswing of his relationship with Bruce, after the adoption and the two of them hammering a bunch of issues out.

Tim’s at a low point where he’s been frozen out and deliberately hurt. Bruce revealed his identity to Steph! Plus Alfred, who’s been staying with him to punish Bruce, had just announced he’s going back to the manor, leaving Tim even more alone.

Babs is in one of her “I’m here for the rest of you; Bruce is aggravating me by being high handed again” phases (admittedly that’s…her default position unlike the other two).

And wow does the way the three of them negotiate the debate over “did Bruce kill someone” just show off both their best and worst character traits (and also they’re all acting way more adult than Bruce, which isn’t a surprise, but what can you do).

Tim and Dick talk! Tim worries Dick is a jumper! They find out they have different opinions on Did Bruce Do It!

(I just want to EAT UP the implication that Tim is worried that Dick might be about to attempt suicide over the fact Bruce killed someone, especially just after the whole ‘killing Joker’ situation)

Dick is Extremely Offended Tim might think Bruce Did It. So what does he do? Go off to talk it through with Babs.

Babs gives Dick the reality check that Bruce has been in one of his push-everyone-away loner modes again and that Dick off in Blüdhaven isn’t having to face it personally, but Batman isn’t even patrolling with Robin right now. Also that Tim’s experiences with Bruce are necessarily different to Dick’s.

When suddenly… Tim arrives to ALSO thrash this conversation out with Babs (They are such mirrors of each other I swear).

Dick takes the opportunity to try and touch base with Tim and find common ground, leading to one of the best/most devastating pages of the Dick & Tim relationship at this point.

Dick is trying to make his baby brother feel safe. Dick would do anything for Tim. Tim however is all too aware of how hollow this promise is, as well meaning as the sentiment is, because they’ve lost people before. (And as I noted, Dick’s actually still in a GOOD cycle with Bruce while Tim really isn’t)

Which leads to THIS angst.

Tim believes in Dick. He can get by just trusting in the detective work he’s been taught and knowing that Dick holds to the Code (and we are LITERALLY only 3 months real time on since Last Laugh, Tim you have phenomenal levels of belief in Dick). Dick however, has that same level of trust in BRUCE, and so can’t cope with Tim not also feeling that way.

(And then Dick goes off to cry to Alfred because he also needed reassurance)

God I love all three of them so much it’s hard to describe. They’re so functional together even when they’re fighting as they all, at their core, trust each other implicitly.

(Alfred and Leslie have some very meaty conversations together and apart also in this, when Gotham Knights was on its game it was one of the best Bat books out there)

Finally: Babs is not having a great time here either, as she’s having to coordinate and run the investigation on Vesper Fairchild’s murder without any assistance from the primary suspect.

Working out some anger issues there, Babs? (Robin #99)

[frogaroundandfindout]

Dick stands with Bruce as he grieves at vespers grave. When they leave Bruce apologizes for hitting dick and dick waves it off saying he hit Bruce first. Bruce insists that it was different because he deserved it for how he was acting. Dick concedes to that but maintains he shouldn’t have hit Bruce either. Bruce then asks dick if he wants to be the first to know what happened, seemingly as an extension of his earlier apology (Batman #605)

[havendance]

hello mem!! i just finished reading the entirety of no man’s land, and im trying to figure out where to go from there. online searching hasn’t really been helpful 😭 this is the list i found, im just not sure about the order:

- batman by ed brubaker vol 1

- new gotham vol 1

- officer down

- new gotham vol 2

- bruce wayne murderer/fugitive

- gotham central

- catwoman???? not sure which comics tho

where does vol 2 of batman by ed brubaker fit into this?? is this even the right order?? i’d truly appreciate your help 🥺

I'll do my best to straighten you out!

After No Man's Land, all of the Bat titles go their own way (before joining up back together for Officer Down and Bruce Wayne: Murder/Fugitive).

New Gotham Volume 1 collects Greg Rucka's run on Detective Comics between the end of No Man's Land and Officer Down.

(Following the end of NML, Batman was written by Larry Hama for a little bit, and all of those stories are just kind of fine and also not collected anywhere that I know of so don't worry about that. This bullet point is mainly to explain why Batman by Ed Brubaker does not cover the same span of time as New Gotham.)

The first four issues collected Batman by Ed Brubaker vol 1 take place BEFORE Officer Down. The rest take place afterward.

This was not on your list, but I do also recommend reading Gotham Knights: Transference which collects the first 12 issues of Gotham Knights. This also takes place between the end of No Man's Land and Officer Down. Gotham Knights is comic that does a good job of showcasing the Bats as an ensemble so if you like Batman working with his allies, this is the book for you. Also, Transference is just really good, and Gotham Knights as a whole contributes to everything leading up to Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive.

Catwoman does not have any collected editions for this period.

Officer Down goes here.

After Officer Down goes New Gotham Volume 2. This collects all of Detective Comics between Officer Down and Bruce Wayne: Murderer.

Batman by Ed Brubaker vol 1 also covers most of this ground. This is where things start getting a little (more) complicated though. The first issue collected in Batman by Ed Brubaker vol 2 takes place BEFORE Bruce Wayne: Murderer. It then proceeds to collect the tie-in issues of Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive that Brubaker wrote. I would honestly just skip this volume. The first issue is a christmas issue with like an evil (fake) Santa Claus or something and it's not that important. The other issues will be easier to read in other collected editions.

I also recommend you read Gotham Knights: Contested which collects the issues of Gotham Knights between Officer Down and Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive. The final issue of the does take place AFTER Bruce Wayne: Murder/Fugitive but the rest of it takes place before.

This is where you read Bruce Wayne: Murderer and Bruce Wayne Fugitive. I think there's a new omnibus collecting it all coming out soon, but I'm not sure how useful that is to you.

Gotham Central starts a few months or so after the conclusion of Bruce Wayne: Fugitive, but there's not really anything else you need to read before you can start this.

To look ahead a little after this, Hush starts to run in Batman and Brubaker start doing some other stuff in Detective Comics that doesn't get collected. And then (unfortunately) the next major event is War Games. But there's plenty of comics for you to read up to this point, so we'll stop here for now.

Other notes:

Catwoman does not really tie in to Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive but around the time that event is starting up, Brubaker is relaunching Catwoman. This is where she gets the black leather catsuit and this IS collected in Catwoman Vol. 1: Trail of the Catwoman. I have not read this, but I've heard that it's good. It's also getting reprinted soon I believe.

Robin does not really have any collected editions post NML. If you want to read him, you're going to need to do it some other way. His event tie in issues are collected though.

Nightwing DOES have some collected editions if you're interested in him though. Nightwing Vol. 5: The Hunt for Oracle overlaps with No Man's Land, but it also collects the start of what he's up to afterward. Following that, Vol. 6 collects the rest of the way up to Officer Down. Vol. 7 and the first 4 issues collected in Vol.8 collect the stuff between Officer Down and Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive.

Birds of Prey gets hooked in to events, but the comics themselves don't really contribute to the larger Gotham narrative going on. I still think they're fun though. Birds of Prey vol. 3 collects the Birds of Prey comics between the end of NML and Officer Down. There aren't any collected editions for the Dixon run after this though.

Batgirl! We can't forget Batgirl, it's very good. It does get roped into events, but most of it is standalone. Batgirl Vol. 1: Silent Knight collects the comics between the end of NML and Officer Down as well as Cass' Officer Down tie in. This volume is harder to track down/more expensive on the resale market, but if your library as Hoopla, it's available there. (Most of these trades that I'm mentioning are as far as I'm aware.) Vol. 2 collects the comics leading up to Bruce Wayne: Murderer and then a couple, and Vol 3 collects a couple of the tie ins for Fugitive I believe and then beyond. They can largely be read on their own terms.

I would be remiss if I didn't recommend that you also read Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood. This is a six issue mini-series takes place relatively shortly after NML and was recently reprinted as Birds of Prey: Huntress. Definitely read this! It is good! Also you can see what Helena's up to after NML.

Finally, at a point in time between Officer Down and Bruce Wayne: Murderer, Joker: Last Laugh happens which is the event where Dick kills the Joker and Bruce revives him. Every comic has a tie-in where they have to fight Jokerized villains and honestly that could be the extent of your engagement with this comic. The main issues of this event are theoretically collected but also I've never seen this trade anywhere and also it's not on Hoopla (which is how I read most of my trades) so that might prove an issue.

To summarize all of this (I'm using bolded entries to demarcate crossover events. You can jump around between entries in this list between them as they largely run concurrently.) (the exception being like Nightwing vol 5 and 6. The Hunt for Oracle Crossover between Nightwing and Birds of Prey is also collected in both Nightwing vol 5 and Birds of Prey vol. 3):

New Gotham vol. 1

Gotham Knights: Transferrence

Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood

Batgirl vol. 1

Nightwing vol. 5 and vol. 6

Batman by Ed Brubaker vol. 1 (first 4 issues)

Officer Down

The rest of Batman by Ed Brubaker vol. 1

New Gotham vol. 2

Gotham Knights: Contested

Batgirl vol. 2

Nightwing vol. 7 and Nightwing vol. 8 (first 4 issues)

Bruce Wayne: Murderer and Bruce Wayne: Fugitive

Catwoman Volume 1: The Trail of Catwoman (Running roughly concurrently with Murderer/Fugitive)

Batgirl vol. 3

Gotham Central vol. 1

Batman: Hush

etc etc

I think that's it, but I'm sure that if I missed anything one of my lovely and knowledgeable mutuals will point it out.

Clear as mud? But seriously, I hoped this cleared things up for you and please do not hesitate to ask follow up questions! If this list is overwhelming, I would say, Nightwing, Birds of Prey, Batgirl, and Cry for Blood (though as a Helena fan, I really do think you should read Cry for Blood) are less essential to the building Gotham plot that leads up to Murder/Fugitive, but I really do think you should read Gotham Knights. There's some really fun comics in this era, I hope you enjoy!

[cleromancy]

:)

except now like.

AUGH.

[heroesriseandfall]

Honestly this arc is very meh to me but I keep thinking about these parts. Because Cass doesn’t even exist in this, but WOW does make me think of the “of course Cass wouldn’t want a civilian identity, why would she need one?” arc in Batgirl (2000).

Batman (2011) #0: “Bruce Wayne isn’t important, anymore, Alfred. He’s a mask. This is all I need to be. It’s who I am.” / Batman (2011) #21: “I’m more effective like this. This gang, it’s growing faster than anyone knows. I can stop it. I just can’t be distracted by Bruce Wayne right now.”

Batgirl (2000) #14: “They’ve got you on file, you’re never going to be able to be anything…besides Batgirl.” “So?” / “I’m glad you want to use your identity. It makes you a more effective weapon.”

A comic page of Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth wearing formal suits in a penthouse bunker. Bruce says, “My parents died forty feet from our new front door. This is where I have to be, Alfred. This is where my war begins.” Alfred says, “And how is that war going so far, sir?” Bruce holds up a black boomerang. “Say what you want. But I am improving. Not fast enough, but I am.” They begin walking together. “Still, I’m not good enough. Not yet. I have the technology. I have the weapons. I should be able to fight this war without anyone ever knowing I exist. But something’s missing. I don’t know what...” Then Alfred says: “Perhaps going back to your family home would provide you with the grounding you need. Spend some time getting to know Bruce Wayne again.” Bruce responds, “Bruce Wayne isn’t important, anymore, Alfred. He’s a mask. This is all I need to be. It’s who I am.”

A comic page of Bruce and Alfred talking in the crime alley penthouse bunker. Bruce hangs upside down, shirtless, holding a thick stack of weights. Alfred says, “Speaking of things hidden, Master Bruce…Forgive me, but isn’t it about time you consider letting the city know Bruce Wayne has returned?” Bruce responds, “Unh. To gotham? I get that you don’t approve, Alfred, but Bruce Wayne is legally dead, and that’s how he’s going to stay.” Alfred begins to say, “Master Bruce—” But Bruce drops the weights with a clang and lands crouching on the floor. He says, “Alfred, just call me Bruce, will you? Please? How many times do I have to ask?” Alfred says, “As many as you’d like, sir, but I’m afraid I can’t. When you first asked me to join you in this madness of yours, the truth is, I did so to have your ear. To talk some sense into you.” Bruce pulls a facial disguise out of a suitcase, and says, “Well, this is guerrilla warfare. I’m more effective like this. This gang, it’s growing faster than anyone knows. I can stop it. I just can’t be distracted by Bruce Wayne right now.” Alfred says, “It’s strange. For years I waited for some word of you, Master Bruce. Believing you were still alive. And when you showed up, out of the blue, six weeks ago, I was filled with such…joy.” Bruce responds, “I was traveling, alfred. Training. For this. And I can’t tell you what it means to have you by my side here. But I’m not bringing Bruce Wayne back to life.”

A comic page of Barbara Gordon and Cassandra Cain talking. Babs says, “Batgirl—why? Why would you do that? You just…threw your identity away.” Cass responds, “What ident…iden...” Babs says, “Your future identity. I know Cain raised you in a bunker and wiped out your records to make you a more effective assassin. There’s nothing for them to find on you now…but what about your future? What if you want to go to school? Drive a car? Get a job? They’ve got you on file, you’re never going to be able to be anything…besides Batgirl.” Cass moves her mouth in thought, considering this, then says, “So?”

A comic page showing Cass following Batman out of the Batmobile into a cave with computers and workout equipment inside. Cass says, “Where…?” Is this…your cave?” Bruce says, “No. It’s your cave? I’ve had it set up for some time, but Oracle insisted on keeping you with her. I know about your conversation. I’m glad you want to use your identity. It makes you a more effective weapon.” Cass wiggles her mouth in consideration at this. Batman is completely stoic.

[barbaraminerva-apologist]

Batman during his "Bruce Wayne is mask, he died with his parents" phase