Robot 6
SDCC '09 | Batman has been lying to you about his age, health
- Posted on July 27, 2009 - 09:45 AM by Kevin Melrose
Bruce Wayne, dead and roughing it
It's probably a good thing that Batman was dispatched into pre-history and replaced by a younger man: Bruce Wayne didn't have long to live, anyway.
So claims Dr. E. Paul Zehr, a professor of neuroscience and kinesiology, who appeared on a panel Saturday at Comic-Con.
First of all, Bruce Wayne is quite a bit older than we've been led to believe. Zehr, author of Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Superhero, calculates the Dark Knight would have to train between 15 and 25 years -- before he even hit the streets. That would put him, oh, anywhere from ages 33 to 43 (if not older), when he first donned the cape and cowl.
And once he did, he could only expect to be active for three years, tops. That's because, like a boxer or a wrestler past his prime, Batman's body would be subjected to repetitive stress, concussions, and injuries that never fully heal. His movements and reaction time would slow to the point that he could no longer defend himself, and one of his rogues -- humiliatingly, probably a lesser one -- would kill him.
So, really, a "rustic getaway" to the distant past might've been the best thing Ol' Bruce could hope for.
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7 Comments
Duff Mcwhalen
July 27, 2009 at 10:11 am
I guess I'll read the book at some point to see what he has to say, but as far as that the post goes, Year One refutes everything but the issue of the length of his career. And I think even that could be argued logically to some extent.
FrankCastle
July 27, 2009 at 10:21 am
Does anyone remember in Jeph Loeb's Hush series, Batman actually says to himself that he's getting old. It's the scene when he's chasing Catwoman throught the city.
Patrick Lemaire
July 27, 2009 at 10:34 am
Well, he didn't start to train at 18 like these numbers suppose. if he started at 8 he would be between 23 and 33.
Alan Coil
July 27, 2009 at 11:08 am
As a rule, professional football players have a much lower age of death than the general population. Undoubtedly for the same reasons.
MatthewHex
July 28, 2009 at 7:45 am
Man....some people take their comic books far too seriously!
El Santo
July 28, 2009 at 11:15 am
It's called getting free publicity during San Diego Comic Con week, chief (and it's working).
nali
October 23, 2009 at 6:43 am
well trying to be realistic in a comic book world is ironic....I mean seriously this is fiction anyways so why cant we just forget bout reality,its not like these are real people,I personally think BRUCE WAYNE is batman n sice his departure batman holds no interest for me.....I always thought batman was more than gadgets n stuff I always thought its the man behind the mask that counts,n knowing its dick grayson I feel no need to read batman comcis now at all.:)