READ THIS FIRST! For those of you who are familiar with my work, this is not going to be my typical kind of fic. In fact, you can't really call this a fic at all. This is more of an artist experiment. You see, I am a huge fan of Batman; the comics, the movies, the tv shows, all of it. And as a lifelong Bat-Fan, I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for all those lucky people who were given the opportunity to create their own unique Batman universes for film and television. That is why I've decided to try my hand at it. That's right, I'm designing my own Batman Universe. However, creating a universe is extremely complex and intricate. Which is why I have decided to offer up my ideas for critique. Below is the first of three lists describing the principle characters in my alternate universe; complete with condensed bios and additional notes. I have taken ideas and concepts from several animated continuities and blended them with my own ideas. Please to rate and comment on my character outlines. Criticism, both good and bad, is extremely encouraged, but no flames please. All of the characters and locations mentioned below are the property of DC and/or Warner Bros. So without further ado, please tell me what you think.
I. Batman Family
A. Bruce Wayne aka Batman: At the age of 10, young Bruce witnessed the murder of his parents, wealthy physician Dr. Thomas Wayne and his wife Martha, at the hands of a lone mugger while walking home from the local movie theater. Traumatized by this event, he swore vengeance on the criminals of Gotham and vowed to fight them anyway he could. In order to achieve this goal, Bruce spend years traveling the world learning the skills necessary to combat crime and by the age of 29 he returned to his City, ready to rid the streets of crime and corruption. Nowadays, he balances a dual life, by day he is the eccentric billionaire and philanthropist Bruce Wayne, but by night he dons his cape and cowl and becomes Batman, world's greatest detective and scourge of the Gothan Underworld.
Notes: 1. In spite of his frightening appearance and brooding demeanor, Batman follows a strict moral code, vowing never to abuse his power for personal gain or take a human life. 2. In addition to having a genius-level intellect, Batman also possesses a mastery of seven different forms of hand-to-hand combat including Krav Maga, Muay Thai, and Jujitsu. 3. In addition to martial arts, Bruce also spend years learning the art of Escapology under the great magician Giovani Zatara.
B. Ellen Yin Wayne aka Batwoman: As a member of the GCPD, Detective Ellen Yin had a strong sense of justice and always did things by the book. So when she was handpicked by Commissioner Loeb to spearhead his Special Crimes Unit, she accepted without hesitation. Like most of the other members of the SCU, Ellen originally considered Batman to be a vigilante and a menace; however after witnessing several instances of the Dark Knight saving people, including herself, she slowly begins to accept him as a necessity rather than a liability. While investigating potential Batman suspects, she makes the acquaintance of Bruce Wayne and they two of them form a friendship and eventually a relationship. However, when a DNA test reveals to her that Bruce and Batman are one and the same she disposes of the evidence before anyone else can see it. Unfortunately, Loeb discovers that she willingly tampered with police evidence and has her dishonorably discharged from the force. In spite of her career coming to an abrupt end, Ellen still kept up her relationship with Bruce and overtime their relationship evolved into something more. Now she spends her nights fighting side by side with her spouse as Batwoman, the Black Queen of Gotham.
Notes: 1. At first, Bruce was very hesitant to take a wife, due to the extreme duality of his existence, however after a long talk with Alfred, he realized that if he is ever to have any shred of happiness in his life than he must be willing to take risks and let others take risks for him. 2. While Ellen is not as well trained as her husband, she is still a skilled fighter; having studied Akido since high school. 3. Although she will never admit it, one of the main reasons Ellen joined the force in the first place was her subconscious fear of becoming like her mother, who in her opinion wasted her life by never trying to be anything more than a housewife.
C. Alfred Pennyworth: A man of infinite wisdom and experience, Alfred Pennyworth has lived quite a life. Throughout most of his youth, Pennyworth trained to be actor for the London stage. However, at the age of 18 he chose to abandon his boyhood dream and serve his country by enlisting in the British Army. At some point in his military career he was transferred to MI6 where he spent the better part of 25 years. After an incident involving international terrorist Ra's al Ghul, Alfred chose to retire from MI6 and moved to Gotham to make a fresh start. There he made the acquaintance of Dr. Thomas Wayne, who offered him a job as his butler. For the next several years, Alfred worked for the Waynes and became almost like part of the family. However, after the death of Thomas and Martha, he was forced to take on the most difficult role of his life, that of a legal guardian. To this day, Alfred remains a loyal friend and advisor to all the members of his odd little family.
Notes: 1. In spite of his advanced age, Alfred is still able to take care of himself in a pinch. 2. While in the military, Alfred received field medic training, which he puts to use on an almost nightly basis. 3. It should be noted that while Alfred has never been fully comfortable with the idea a Bruce becoming Batman, many of his original fears have subsided since Ellen was brought into the family.
D. Barbara Gordon aka Oracle: Hacker, Blogger, Gymnast, Barbara is a girl of many talents. As the daughter of an upstanding police officer, she was taught from an early age to respect law and order. Which is why when, at the age of 15, she openly professed her support of the masked vigilante Batman her father, then Lieutenant James Gordon, took great offense. While this difference of opinion created a rift between Barbara and her father for a while, the two of them eventually resolved their differences after the elder Gordon began working with the Dark Knight in secret. Being an outspoken supporter of Batman's style of vigilante justice, Barbara took it upon herself to aid the Dynamic Duo in their war on crime by utilizing her brilliant hacking skills and techno savvy; at first anonymously then later under the guise of an information broker named Oracle. Unfortunately, her identity was eventually uncovered and Batman urged her not to get involved in his business; stating that it was far too dangerous for a girl her age. However, Barbara managed to prove herself during the Ra's al Ghul's failed invasion of Gotham and has since been welcomed as a full member of the Batman Family. Now she serves as the Dynamic Duo's eyes and ears across Gotham; monitoring police scans and providing vital intel as the Oracle.
Notes: 1. A bit of a social outcast, Barbara spends much of her free time on her computer where she manages her pro-Batman website: Cape & . 2. Barbara discovered Batman and Batwoman's secret identities when her mind was invaded by Ra's al Ghul's assassin Cypher. 3. The Password on Barbara's Laptop is BandE4Ever;).
E. Dr. Kirk Langstrom aka Man-Bat: In an attempt to cure his growing deafness, noted scientist Kirk Langstrom injected himself with an experimental serum synthesized from the DNA of the common vampire bat in order to give himself the bat's sonar sense. The experiment proved to be a success, however the formula had a rather horrific side effect; transforming him into a giant humanoid bat creature. After being mistaken for a monster by his wife Francine, Kirk fled from Gotham and took refuge in a cave just outside the city. However, he soon learned that the cave he'd chosen was none other than the infamous Bat Cave. While hiding the shadows of the Cave, Langstrom accidently discovered the secret identities of the Dynamic Duo. After a brief misunderstanding and a minor altercation, Langstrom tells them his sad story. Feeling pity for the poor misshapen man, Ellen persuaded her husband to help him in his quest for a cure. Since then Dr. Langstrom has become a welcome staple of the Bat Cave; acting as both its resident chemist and watchdog.
Notes: 1. During his tenure in the Cave, Dr. Langstrom has proven himself to be a valuable addition to the Batman Family; in fact he is responsible for many of the explosive gels and chemical solvents Batman and Batwoman carry in their utility belts. 2. While Man-Bat still retains his human intelligence, he still has the physical needs of a vampire bat, namely the blood of other animals for sustenance. Fortunately he has developed a form of synthetic plasma in order to keep his cravings under control. 3. Dr. Langtrom's condition is extremely complex and could take years to fully cure, if at all, so for the time being he feels that he must let his wife and son think he is dead; no matter how much it hurts.
End Notes: Okay, now that you've read all of this, please tell me what you think. Seriously, I'd REALLY like some feedback on these character models. It would really help me out. And who knows, maybe someday I'll get to use these characters in my very own Batman animated series. Sigh… a man can dream. Anyway, next time I'll be providing notes and bios for some of the villains. So follow me if you're interested and I'll see you next time.