Are the people of Gotham just plain idiots?

[Red X Unmasked]

I've been wondering this for a LONG time: How is it that Tim Drake is practically the ONLY person to figure out that Batman is Bruce Wayne? I mean he used the most obvious things for clues:
-Alot of people witnessed the Flying Graysons death, and saw that Dick was the remaining Grayson, in which Bruce adopted him. After that happened, then came up Robin (who might I add was wearing the gymnastic costume he wore when with his parents)
-When Dick left Bruce for colledge, there was no more Robin
-When Bruce adopted Jason Todd, there was a brand new Robin
-When Jason died, there was no more Robin
-When Bruce adopted all these two, there was a Robin, which would obviously mean that freakin' Bruce Wayne is Batman

And yet the only person that could figure this out was Tim Drake, a freakin' kid at the time.

[ManicWebb]

I think Tim Drake was a special case. In order for anyone to figure something like that out, they'd have to not only be interested in Batman, but they'd have to keep track of Bruce Wayne's sons for some strange reason. Plus Batgirl could really throw people off. There was never any real connection between Bruce Wayne and any redheaded woman roughly Robin's age, particularly Babs Gordon. Jim Gordon immediately figured Batgirl was his daughter, but a cross-dressing Robin easily threw him off.

And if somebody did figure it out, they'd probably dismiss the idea of Bruce Wayne (of all people) being Batman. Bruce has always been portrayed as a male Paris Hilton. Would you honestly believe Paris Hilton is one of the most dangerous crime fighters in one of the most violent cities in the United States?

[Red X Unmasked]

If she was loaded, intelligent enough, had the motive, the equipment, the time, and the skill, then yes.
But then again the cops should suspect him as having a good enough motive: they know his folks were shot dead in his face when he was kid, so I would just put two and two together...

[Eddie G.]

You're suffering from Clark Kent syndrome. People think Clark's secret identity is horrible for various reasons however they think in their own mindset where they know Clark is Superman and that Superman has a secret identity. If you didn't already know that Clark Kent was Superman or you just didn't know he had a secret identity (like most people in the DCU probably think) then Clark's identity is pretty serviceable. You have to really put yourself in the role of a person living in Gotham City and not a person who already knows the answers.

I think people do suspect Bruce to a degree might be Batman. But also consider that Batman is super smart, has been known to cover his tracks well, has friends in high places, and has friends who can alter people's minds. There probably is no way to prove in a court of law that Bruce is Batman so, yeah.

Beyond that I'm pretty sure most people didn't actually know that there was a new Robin with Jason. With Tim the reason he figured out that Bruce was Batman was because he's as good as a detective as Bruce which was a creative change of pace being that both Dick and Jason seemed to be more of fighters than crime solvers.

[Beyond Batman]

Think about it this way...

In real life. Would you think Donald Trump could be Batman??? :eek: Could he?

Think about it. :rolleyes:
Exactly. ;)

[sdp]

Another thing, many people thought Dick and Jason was the same Robin, i read that on a TPB.

[Anthonynotes]

If the people of this world are fooled by a pair of glasses into thinking of Clark and Supes as seperate people, then I doubt most of 'em are going to suspect anything of Bruce and Bats ;-)

-B.

[ManicWebb]

If she was loaded Done.

intelligent enough Questionable. But then again, everyone thinks Bruce Wayne is a rich brat, too.

had the motive, the equipment, the time, and the skill, then yes. As far as anyone knows, Bruce Wayne doesn't have any of the above. Remember, nobody thinks Bruce can actually fight, and he has a very happy disposition when he's seen in public.

But then again the cops should suspect him as having a good enough motive: they know his folks were shot dead in his face when he was kid, so I would just put two and two together... Actually, people attribute that as his motive for donating so much money to charity. There's no reason to assume Bruce would donate so much money and fight crime.

[Eddie G.]

If the people of this world are fooled by a pair of glasses into thinking of Clark and Supes as seperate people, then I doubt most of 'em are going to suspect anything of Bruce and Bats ;-)

-B.Actually Superman's costume is probably the best. I mean seriously if you had a guy with God like powers who flies around with nothing covering his face would you ever think that he has a secret identity. There is no real reason for people to walk around wondering who Superman is, they probably just think he flies around Metropolis all day. So it would be really easy for Clark to get by without being noticed.

[Anthonynotes]

Actually Superman's costume is probably the best. I mean seriously if you had a guy with God like powers who flies around with nothing covering his face would you ever think that he has a secret identity. There is no real reason for people to walk around wondering who Superman is, they probably just think he flies around Metropolis all day. So it would be really easy for Clark to get by without being noticed.

Well, thanks to me and the general populace being exposed to superhero stories for decades now, if a superhero *did* show up here in the real world, I'd be inclined to think he must have an alter-ego, if for nothing else than as "down-time" ;-)

(Actually, my first reaction would be my jaw dropping to the floor at seeing a being with such laws-of-physics-as-we-know-them-defying powers... ;-) ).

-B.

[Donald Duck 12]

Gotham is essentially NYC, it's a pretty big city. Plus Alfred is the only one who would keep track of Bruces "adopting habits" and think twice about it. He's pretty well covered.

[DR.MID-NITE]

HOLD IT!!!!


Your telling me that...

Bruce Wayne is Batman and Clark Kent is Superman?? ;)

And don't ever put intelligent enough and Paris Hilton in the same sentence.
Seriously, we have to remember with Bats. Is that in the comics he is an urban legend and not to well known outside of the police and criminal world. I mean in the recent Wargames plotline. A tv station was shocked to get actual video footage of him. :rolleyes:

[Stu]

And don't ever put intelligent enough and Paris Hilton in the same sentence.Seriously, we have to remember with Bats. Is that in the comics he is an urban legend and not to well known outside of the police and criminal world. I mean in the recent Wargames plotline. A tv station was shocked to get actual video footage of him. :rolleyes:

I've always been fascinated by that. I don't buy it, people must know that Batman exists... who else sends Joker and co back to Arkham everytime?

I remember there was an issue a few years back where a few students went out and tried to discover if Batman really was an urban legend or not. They interview various folk, and Gordon stated they only lite the signal to lead people to believe there actually was a Batman. Was a great issue, from what little I remember.

[randomguy]

I think that the implausibility of secret identities, particularly in a world with modern forensics and surveillance technology, is just one of those things you're going to have accept in order to read and enjoy superhero comics.

It's one of those conventions that holds up the entire genre, and though it may not be the most realistic thing in the world, it's just something you accept and run with. Yes, in real life, Clark Kent, Peter Parker, Bruce Wayne, and Matt Murdock would have been found out a long time ago. But the characters are stronger with the secret identities, so you just have to live with the compromise.

There are similiar situations scattered about comicdom, such as the fact that superheroes and supervillains always tend to appear on the scene, conveniently, at the exact same time. Or that supervillains and heroes congregate in the same area. I, for one, have always wondered why all of Marvel's villains attempt to commit all their misdeeds in New York. I think a criminal in the Marvel universe could do very well in Boise, Idaho or something. But you don't question these things too much, because there's not much to be gained from doing so.

[sdp]

I've read that superman is able to move his head so fast that whenever someone takes a picture or video of him it's blurry.

[Who?]

I have a friend who looks like Nicholas Cage. I don't think that he IS Nicholas Cage, though, because I don't believe Nicholas Cage has a secret identity. So, even though I have never seen my friend and Nicholas Cage in the same place and time, I still don't think they are the same person.

The same thing happens to clark. He looks a little like Superman, but he is a totally diferent person. He is a farmer boy, kinda silly, kinda clumsy. Besides, is not like a guy that doesn't wear a mask would ever have a secret identity, would he? I think Clark's identity is solid.

Batman and Bruce wayne would never be seen as the same person, because, as someone has said before me (someone reeeeally smart, by the way) Bruce is Paris hilton, and no one would ever suspect that Paris Hilton is Batman.

[Damien]

Think about it this way...

In real life. Would you think Donald Trump could be Batman??? :eek: Could he?

Think about it. :rolleyes:
Exactly. ;)
Whoa! WHOA! I knew it! Donald Trump is Batman!

I have to disagree with randomguy. Secret identities are relatively solid. Some things don't fit, sure, but not enough to make me believe that the authorities are smart enough to figure it out.
In our world, Bruce Wayne's secret would be pretty safe, especially since he probably cleans up any trace that he's been there. Clark Kent? Safe. The situation with him would most likely be Who?'s example. Spider-Man? Only one person can get any decent pictures of him, let alone anyone following him back to his apartment.

[ManicWebb]

Batman and Bruce wayne would never be seen as the same person, because, as someone has said before me (someone reeeeally smart, by the way) Bruce is Paris hilton, and no one would ever suspect that Paris Hilton is Batman. Wait, was that sarcasm? Because the way you wrote "reeeeally" threw me off.

But either way, in defense of my metaphor...
When Bruce Wayne isn't running his corporation, he's partying. He's always seen at Gotham's biggest parties. He's got a different girl wrapped around his arm every week. He travels the world, flies to private islands, and vacations in the most expensive tropical spots there are. As far as the general public is concerned, Bruce Wayne is a rich brat. And his foster son, Dick Grayson? Nikki Hilton. Yeah.

[Tash]

I think people are just afraid of Batman. I mean, would you want him to show up in your room one night and say, "I heard you're trying to figure out who I am. I don't like that. Consider this your warning." If he existed in the real world, I wouldn't mess with him.

[Who?]

Wait, was that sarcasm? Because the way you wrote "reeeeally" threw me off.

Not at all. I was dead serious. Reeeeeeeeally serious :p .

I was agreeing with you. :D

[DR.MID-NITE]

In a recent Justice League Unlimited episode (Ultimen). You see Amanda Waller. She is part of a covert government group. But, she implied to Bats that she knew he was Bruce Wayne.

[matta2fatta]

she just knew that batman was rich

[Gillespee]

she just knew that batman was rich
While this is off-topic, it was insinuated that she knew who he is. She didn't come out and say, "You're Bruce Wayne," but Batman certainly took it that way.

[Phantasm]

I really like this Paris Hilton theory. Bruce IS the male version of Paris Hilton in Gotham.He acts and talks like one.And he NEVER has publicly EVER displayed the trauma inflicted on him by his parents deaths. He to the media and public is an EXTREMELY happy man. The epitome of living the perfect life.So in their eyes, he has no reason to go prowl the streets as Batman...

[Anthonynotes]

Re: the urban legend thing: actually, I think it's one of the stupider ideas to come down the pike, esp. since it was declared "midstream" for Bats in the mid-90's or so---well after a zillion stories published over the previous years that strongly show otherwise Batman's fairly-high-profile existence, and can't just be brushed aside with a retcon like the "urban legend" thing (example: I understand that Tim Drake learned of Bruce's identity via following news reports in the papers/on TV/etc. of Batman's adventures).

BUt anyway, I figure secret identities probably were easier to maintain back in less recent times, before surveillance/security cameras, cameras inside cell phones, stepped-up airport security, spy satellites, the Patriot Act, etc. became prominent...

As for places to commit crimes, DC's heroes seem way more spread out across the country than Marvel's NYC-centric nature----though in either universe's case, I wonder what happens when superpowered crooks keep robbing banks in, say, Indianapolis or Milwaukee; I've lived in both cities, but never seen any comics from Marvel or DC mention any spandex-clad defenders of the home of the world's most famous automobile race/the nation's beer capital... ;-)

-B.

[Psycho Fox]

BUt anyway, I figure secret identities probably were easier to maintain back in less recent times, before surveillance/security cameras, cameras inside cell phones, stepped-up airport security, spy satellites, the Patriot Act, etc. became prominent...

Speaking of that, I think the batmobile really sticks out. Wouldn't be that hard for a spy satellite to follow the batmoblie right into the batcave.

Even if Batman drove a modified highend sports car like a Lotus, Ferrari,Porsche, Jaguar,ect, wouldn't draw as much attention as the batmoblie since there would probably be a few in the city yet ONE batmobile anywhere so anyone driving by and seeing it parked would give a huge clue that Batman is somewhere near by.