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OK, this is something I just thought about while I was otherwise idle.

I was thinking about Batman and how all of his villains have very narrow characteristics. They are all pretty much defined by one thing.

What if Batman doesn't exist? What if Bruce Wayne went insane when he witnessed his parents being killed in front of him. We then only see what Bruce imagines as his world while he is actually in an asylum. Maybe it is even the real world Arkham.

His villains would be other inmates. All he knows about them are snippets. There's one guy who's always cold, Mr. Freeze; one guy who's always laughing, Joker; one woman who is always watering plants, Poison Ivy; etc. etc. Other people could be employees of the asylum. Scarecrow is the pharmacist as his drugs makes the other inmates' behavior change. The police are the guards/orderlies, Commissioner Gordon is Bruce's doctor. Ra's Al-Gul is the Asylum Director (warden, executive, whatever he's called). Whenever the Director changes, Ra's uses his pool to regenerate himself.

Bruce meets a few other inmates who like him or have similar circumstances and become his allies, like Robin or Batgirl.

All of the comics we see are simply in Bruce's head. His need for justice for his parents drives his delusions and he sees himself as the only person who could do it. He, of course, is perfect in every respect. The world's greatest detective, scientist, martial artist, etc. Any one of these things would take a lifetime of devotion to master, but he is simply the best at them all at the same time.

I am not very familiar with the Batman mythos and history. Has anyone explored this sort of thing before?

I'm sure the idea has been teased in the comics before, but not to this extent. It's a great idea for a book, actually.

Bueller, Bueller, Bueller...

*cough*Normal Again*cough*

I take it you are referring to Buffy? (I've seen very little of that show). Similarly, Curriculum Unavailable on Community. But I think the OP is suggesting something different that isn't a mere hallucination but a reinterpretation.

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Mostly just an idea I had. Have not seen the Buffy or Community references mentioned.

It's the concept of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That the entire show is just a delusion, a power fantasy because she can't deal with her life as it is. It's a great episode.

And then you have the theory that Bruce restructured how his parents died in his mind. Like they died of natural or accidental causes that he could have no possible way of altering. But by believing in a tragic past that involves him being able TO have been able to do something, he is able to hang on to illusion of control rather than deal with the fact that ultimately control of one's life is impossible. It makes even MORE sense when you realize he was like six at the time and one's perception of reality is EXTREMLY askewed at the time. So if his adventures or real or not, either way he live in the futile delusion that a normal man even with the aid of technology and riches could possibly have even the slightest impact on the world.

IF NOT- it still sounds like a cool brainwashing story for Batman to doubt himself.

Well, when I first saw the title of the thread, I thought it was going to be about the fact that a man who is as obsessed with vengence and continually revisits past traumas to the point where he dresses as a bat and sinks vast amounts of his fortune into armaments couldn't possibly be sane.

A point the Joker's made on several occasions.

I always thought a billionaire dressing up in flashy pajamas to maim and mangle poor, disenfranchised youth to be more of a social commentary.

I titled the thread as I did to gain more views, I admit. I thought "Bruce Wayne is insane" might not get as many looks and/or devolve into a thread of Batman related poetry.

Which might not actually be that bad.

General Specific said:

I titled the thread as I did to gain more views, I admit. I thought "Bruce Wayne is insane" might not get as many looks and/or devolve into a thread of Batman related poetry.

Which might not actually be that bad.

Click to expand...

Leaping from rooftops in an acrobat's cloth,
to show crime his true wroth!
Fighting clowns, riddles, crocs,
mr freeze, the kings of clocks,
and on a good night: Killer Moth.

Bowielee said:

It's the concept of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That the entire show is just a delusion, a power fantasy because she can't deal with her life as it is. It's a great episode.

Click to expand...

Can we be sure Buffy and Bruce aren't just creations of Tommy Westphall?

Doesn't matter. Everyone is just playing out a drama in Franklin Richards' head, even superheroes from the DC universe.

Also, http://www.badhaven.com/comics/comic-features/batman-deadend/

And, http://www.reddit.com/r/Showerthoug..._if_batman_and_his_super_villains_are_just_a/