Portrayed by Master Bruce

Ultimate Batman, and his alter-ego of Billionaire Bruce Wayne, is a variation on the popular DC Comics character created specifically for the Ultimate DC Universe RPG. Played by Master Bruce since the game's beginning, Ultimate Batman resides as the universe's main source of vigilante forensics, and one of the first 'superheroes' to reach fruition shortly after the game's opening. Though there are little differences between the Ultimate Bruce Wayne and his mainstream universe counterpart, the character has been written in a habit of laying out subtle differences, combining aspects of both of Batman's Pre-Crisis and Post-Crisis incarnations.

As of now, Batman has been heavily foreshadowed to become an active member, if not one of the founders of the universe's incarnation of The Justice League Of America.

Early Life

On May 8th, 1985, Real estate pioneers Thomas and Martha Wayne welcomed their first and only child, Bruce, to their family. Though he was a very timid and reclusive boy, at an early age, Bruce eventually learned to come out of his shell, and embrace the world around him. Knowing that his occupation would often keep him from watching after his son, Thomas Wayne hired a strict butler during a business trip to Coast City, named Alfred Jarvis Pennyworth, for the sole purpose of looking after his young boy and helping to raise him properly. Though it would be many years before Alfred's true worth to Bruce's life would reach fruition, the boy took to his 'nanny' almost instantly, even going as far to playfully refer to him as 'Unca Al', which would provide one of Alfred's most cherished memories, even to this day.

Lacking any sort of friends, outside of those from Thomas and Martha's social circles, Bruce would often create his own imagination filled adventures, using the grounds of Stately Wayne Manor in order to pursue such fantasies. It would be this curious imagination that would bring the young Wayne to destiny's door, as he, while mimicking the actions of his idol, The Shadow/Lamont Cranston, accidentally fell and landed into a cave of nesting brown bats. The small animals proceeded to lash out at the terrified little boy, circling him with intense ferocity until finally, upon screaming for help, Bruce would be rescued by Alfred from the encounter. Though this memory would be a passing one, it would subliminally haunt Bruce's nightmares for years to come, as his destiny would shape him from a terrified young boy to a vengeful young man.

Birth Of The Batman

Whether it was by divine destiny or cruel circumstance, Bruce Wayne's life would be forever changed on the night of June 12th, 1994. Earlier in the day, Thomas, Martha, and Bruce had been invited as guests of honor at the Monarch Stage Theatre, in order to attend the opening of the Gotham City stage production of Hamlet. Bruce expressed disinterest, wanting to instead see the film adaptation of The Shadow, but Thomas convinced him to join them with the promise that they would go to that film the next day, in a series of father and son bonding. Wanting the chance to finally spend time with his father, who had been away on work for the past few months prior, he eagerly agreed. And so the night went on, as Bruce enjoyed seeing the satisfied faces of his mother and father as they clapped, per the closing curtain at the end of the show. But upon leaving the theatre, after greeting numerous of their fellow friends, the Wayne's departed down the street. Thomas had wanted to stop by a jewelry shop, claiming his watch was broken... when in reality, he was stopping by to pick up a gift he had bought for Martha, for their anniversary. But as the three crossed an alleyway to get to the store on the other side of the street, unknown to them... they would never make it.


In the middle of the alleyway, the three would be stopped when a mugger stepped out from the shadows, and point a pistol in their direction. The obviously eager gunman hastily demanded their valuables, to which the two parents reluctantly agreed, for fear of their son's safety in the situation. A glassy eyed Bruce watched, as the mugger snatched Thomas' wallet and Martha's bracelet. But it was when the gunman turned his weapon on the frightened Bruce that Thomas became enraged. Thrusting forward, striking the mugger across the face... it wasn't seconds later that he was gunned down, at close range, into the chest. Martha, horrified to see her husband slump over, lifeless, screamed for her life aswell... before it, too, was taken by the startled criminal's gun. Bruce's heart stopped, in that moment, nearly dying of shock as he came to his knees. His parents were murdered, and it could not register into his mind. Luckily for Bruce, his mother's final scream had alerted a nearby on-duty police officer by the name of James Gordon, as he came to the scene, and blasted the gunman straight down, seeing him try to take Bruce's life aswell. As James cradled the young boy in his arms, trying to reassure him that he was safe, now... Bruce simply stared at the now dead man who had taken his parents. His heart began pumping once more, as even then, the boy realized that the mugger had not taken his life: he had stolen it.

That night, young Bruce made a silent vow, in the midst of words of little comfort and promises of safety that he couldn't care less for. An unsaid vow made of anger and determination beyond his young heart's years. It would be nearly a decade before he would conclude what exactly this vow was, but that night, Bruce Wayne ceased to ever exist to the fullest extent again. He wanted revenge. He wanted vengeance. But what he would ultimately seek is justice.

Year One

Upon returning home to Gotham City after more than a decade abroad, the now twenty-one year old Bruce Wayne realizes that his once proud home is now a breeding ground for criminality and corruption. After days of consulting everyone from the meek and scared Mayor of Gotham, to it's District Attorney in Harvey Dent, Bruce is left no choice but to face the obvious truth: The law must be taken into his own hands, if Gotham is to fight off this injustice. Alfred tries to dissuade Bruce from taking such a path, and in doing so, gives him further cause to dedicate his life to protecting innocents. Joining a glamorous circle of society, similar to the ones his parents once associated themselves with, Bruce sees firsthand how innocent people and the spoiled rich couldn't possibly be more different. Knowing where he truly belongs after a series of nights around the town, as apart of the 'glamorous' life, the young heir to the Wayne fortune decides that vigilantism is the only path he has left to take. Purchasing such tools as grappling lines and razor shuiriken, aswell as a dark disguise to hide his true identity, Bruce contemplates every available skill he has into building up his own personal style of vigilante action. And so it begins, on the streets of Gotham, as Wayne dons a ski-mask and takes to the rooftops.


Year Two


Year Three


Influences


Differences From Mainstream Continuity

While Ultimate Batman, and subsequently Ultimate Bruce Wayne's characterizations have gradually evolved to similarly be portrayed as he is in current canonical continuity, many alterations to his arsenal, origins, and other elements have been carefully made throughout his history in the Ultimate DC Universe RPG.

For instance, it is mentioned in his origin that Bruce Wayne trained with the magician Zatara. While that can often be assumed to be the origin of Batman's escape artistry, it has never been outright mentioned in the comics, and is actually lifted from Batman: The Animated Series. Other references to Batman's history as a cultural icon outside of the comics have been made, aswell. Bruce's first venture as a masked vigilante, pre-Batman mantle, were described in similar manner to a scene from Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm, in which Bruce dons a ski-mask rather than infiltrating Gotham's Underworld in a quiet guise. Heavy influence from the film Batman Begins can also be pointed out, such as Bruce Wayne's past connection to Ra's Al Ghul, the character's first Batmobile being The Tumbler, in both name and design, and the inclusion of Rachel Dawes as a supporting character, who was created for the film. Other characters, such as Doctor Chase Meridian (Batman Forever) have been made reference to aswell.

Perhaps one of the strongest differences, however, lies in a key element of Batman's past. After the death of Talia Al Ghul, Bruce's first love, it is mentioned that he attacks and kills her murderers in a guilted rage. While he later makes the vow to never kill again, approaching non-lethalities upon beginning his crusade, the fact that he has committed these deaths greatly differs from the Batman of Post-Crisis continuity, who strongly opposes murder in any form. It has been hinted that, while Ultimate Batman has stayed on the path of heroism and justice, he has been tempted to take the lives of some of the more sinister criminals he has faced, particularly The Scarecrow and The Joker. Whether he will ever act upon these darker desires remains to be seen.

Season 1.0 - played by Master Bruce

Season 2.0 - played by Master Bruce

Season 3.0 - played by Master Bruce