Was a "Death of Bruce" story going to happen in Batman Beyond?

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

I just read that there were plans for if Batman Beyond got another season for Max to become Batgirl (ugh), and Bruce to *gulp* die? I'm very sorry, but that would have been a bad idea. I mean if Bruce died there goes the heart of the show. Both Terry and Bruce made the show work and killing Bruce off would've taken that part out and besides... I don't think any fan of any age would've liked seeing a icon like Bruce Wayne die... :(

So tell me, was it true? Was a Death of Bruce story really considered to be written or was it actually going to happen if the plug hadn't been pulled on Batman Beyond?

[Trevor Balena]

So tell me, was it true? Was a Death of Bruce story really considered to be written or was it actually going to happen if the plug hadn't been pulled on Batman Beyond?
I sincerely doubt it. The show wouldn't work without Bruce, and there's no way the studio executives and the people at DC Comics would let Timm and co. kill off Bruce Wayne.

Plus, there's no way the producers would want to put Kevin Conroy out of work.

[Simpler Simon]

Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?

[Mister Intensity]

I actually like the idea of killing Bruce Wayne in Batman Beyond. It was the next logical step in Terry's development as a hero. I wouldn't want a violent death just Bruce dying from natural causes. Such an episode would allow kids deal with the death of a love one (that logic would justify the episode's existance from the standpoint of WB execs) and it would be a chance for Terry to use the skills he learned from Bruce on his own.

I don't know if such an episode was ever planned (nor do I care) but it would have taken BB in an interesting direction. Besides, I would like to see Terry stand on his own and become the only Batman in his time. Bruce's death would have been the perfect ending (or bookend) for Batman Beyond.

Mister Intensity

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?
Because I don't know it....

[Harley_Quinn]

Because I don't know it....\

Which is the best reason to ask a question.

[Cheetatron]

Perhaps a question for another thread but why didnt batman beyond get picked up for another season the show kicked all kinds of ass.

[DLM]

While I am a huge Terry fan, and I thoroughly enjoyed his development and growth, for me at least, the coolest dynamic of the series was the interplay between Terry and Bruce, the energetic overacheiving former punk and the grizzled old veteran who used to beat the living !!!! out of young punks.

So if they were considering, I think it would have been a bad idea. But now that they don't have to sustain an entire TV series based in the BB time, DTV or one shot series finale to JLU set in that timeframe where Bruce died might be pretty cool.

[Simpler Simon]

Because I don't know it....
Despite the fact that you've been on this forum long enough to know that WB and DC would never allow the death of their cash cow characters.

As for Cheetatron's question, it simply reached the standard order of 52 episodes, and WB saw no reason to renew when it could play reruns for awhile longer before moving onto "fresh" product.

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Despite the fact that you've been on this forum long enough to know that WB and DC would never allow the death of their cash cow characters.

As for Cheetatron's question, it simply reached the standard order of 52 episodes, and WB saw no reason to renew when it could play reruns for awhile longer before moving onto "fresh" product.
Uh-huh. While CN is starting to be a little more leniant on that rule, Kids WB still hasn't given up on it. (Except for Jackie Chan Adventures, which is soon to end)

BB is apparently getting the same deal The Batman is. 13 episodes for Season 1, 26 for Season 2, 13 for Season 3. Not that I'm saying that's what is gonna happen, but it was just a predition. Yes, but somebody in another topic posted something as though they knew for sure that would've happened if the show continued.

[Cheetatron]

As for Cheetatron's question, it simply reached the standard order of 52 episodes, and WB saw no reason to renew when it could play reruns for awhile longer before moving onto "fresh" product. Wow I hadn't realized KWB shows end after 52 episodes is that why Supes ended as well?

[Kieralinn]

I sincerely doubt it. The show wouldn't work without Bruce, and there's no way the studio executives and the people at DC Comics would let Timm and co. kill off Bruce Wayne.

Plus, there's no way the producers would want to put Kevin Conroy out of work.
Don't put anything out of the minds of DC Comics...they are considering retiring/killing Bruce as Bats right now! Many hints have been giving for Infinite Crisis.

I don't think they would have done it either..but in the Case of BB...it might have worked in that context. Not in the Comics...GRRRR that gets me mad:mad:

[Cyporiean]

I think that could have made a great finale for BB, have Bruce Die, let the rest of the episode deal with Terry dealing with that and then End it with Terry in the batsuit on a rooftop with Max & Ace with him, Ready to protect Gotham for another Night.

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Don't put anything out of the minds of DC Comics...they are considering retiring/killing Bruce as Bats right now! Many hints have been giving for Infinite Crisis.
Huh? :confused:

Anyway as much as BB finale could've been great with the death of Bruce, I doubt DC would ever let them kill him off since even though he was no longer Batman in the Batman Beyond world, he was still one of DC's icons....

[Simpler Simon]

Wow I hadn't realized KWB shows end after 52 episodes is that why Supes ended as well?
Superman was actually supposed to run 65 episodes (the old standard animation package) but it was cancelled after 54, supposedly because KidsWB wanted to shift focus to Batman Beyond


I think that could have made a great finale for BB, have Bruce Die, let the rest of the episode deal with Terry dealing with that and then End it with Terry in the batsuit on a rooftop with Max & Ace with him, Ready to protect Gotham for another Night.
Eh, not Max, who only earns her spot alongside Terry out of script contrivance. I would've liked for Dana and Matt to learn the secret as well, and Bruce's death could've been a catalyst for such a revelation.

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Well Bruce would probably privately be honored by the Justice League for his services like at the funeral I wouldn't be surprised if just about every member of the League was there as well as Barbara and Tim and maybe Dick even! And of course Terry....

[FixerMX]

Assuming Terry's still alive. Remember -- depending on whether the events of The Once and Future Thing Part 2 survived the timestream changes -- Terry got quartered by DeeDee. He could only show up at Bruce's funeral with the help of a really good taxidermist.

[Trevor Balena]

Assuming Terry's still alive. Remember -- depending on whether the events of The Once and Future Thing Part 2 survived the timestream changes -- Terry got quartered by DeeDee. He could only show up at Bruce's funeral with the help of a really good taxidermist.
Most people assumed that the end of the episode negated Terry's death. Dwane McDuffie even confirmed this in a recent interview. So Terry, Static and the gang are all fine.

[charles At NC]

I just read that there were plans for if Batman Beyond got another season for Max to become Batgirl (ugh), and Bruce to *gulp* die? I'm very sorry, but that would have been a bad idea. I mean if Bruce died there goes the heart of the show. Both Terry and Bruce made the show work and killing Bruce off would've taken that part out and besides... I don't think any fan of any age would've liked seeing a icon like Bruce Wayne die... :(

So tell me, was it true? Was a Death of Bruce story really considered to be written or was it actually going to happen if the plug hadn't been pulled on Batman Beyond?
I have a theory if batman dies he would end up as the new incarnation of the specter, that in my MHO would tie in with bruce's life,as well takeing him in a new direction

[90'sCartoonMan]

Well Bruce would probably privately be honored by the Justice League for his services like at the funeral I wouldn't be surprised if just about every member of the League was there as well as Barbara and Tim and maybe Dick even! And of course Terry....
If we get another "Hereafter"-like funeral, people will be wondering "Now wait just one minute, why does some yellow-eyed old codger get this big funeral? Just because he's rich? And there's some green dude talking about how great he was? Not very shway if you ask me."

Of course, they'll probably use the explanation that Bruce Wayne funded the League, at least initially. That way they don't have to put up a monument with a giant bat and risk revealing Terry's identity.

Part of me hopes that the last thing in the DCAU we'll see if Bruce Wayne's funeral with flashbacks and Kirk Langstrom and references to tons of other things. Like a DTV or something that brings everything together (because it wouldn't really fit for a final episode of JLU).

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

^Well while I hope that the last thing that comes out of Timm's DCAU is a Batman focused property. (Come on people it was his show that started the whole damn thing give him a little respect) I don't think it should be about his funeral.... :sad:

[captain_planet]

I would very much like to see Bruce die. Peacefully though. Everyone would show up at his funeral, which would obviously be private to protect Terry's secret. I like the idea of showing clips and then ending with a shot of Terry standing on a roof as Batman.

[raykremer]

I've always dreamed of a DTV or something that shows Bruce dying of old age and leaving the Manor to Terry so he could continue on. It would be a great capstone to the series, because the usual comic-book tradition of status quo adventures continuing over decades since characters don't appreciably age over time doesn't work given how old Bruce already was when BB began.

[charles At NC]

I've always dreamed of a DTV or something that shows Bruce dying of old age and leaving the Manor to Terry so he could continue on. It would be a great capstone to the series, because the usual comic-book tradition of status quo adventures continuing over decades since characters don't appreciably age over time doesn't work given how old Bruce already was when BB began.
agreed and then they could show terry and his descendents carrying on the tradition of batman

"they will always be a Batman"

[El Zorro]

It would be a great capstone to the series, because the usual comic-book tradition of status quo adventures continuing over decades since characters don't appreciably age over time doesn't work given how old Bruce already was when BB began.
I don't follow the logic here. Having a 35 year old character not age over time works, but having a 85 yr old not age doesn't work?

Having said that, I agree that Bruce dying would have been brilliant for BB. When I first saw Return of the Joker I was half expecting Bruce to be killed by the Joker's gas & have Terry avenge him.

[Batman Fan]

Originally posted by Batman's Biggest Fan

^Well while I hope that the last thing that comes out of Timm's DCAU is a Batman focused property. (Come on people it was his show that started the whole damn thing give him a little respect) I don't think it should be about his funeral.... http://www.forums.toonzone.net/images/smilies/disappointed.gif

I think it would be appropriate to end the DCAU with the death of a legend, Batman. Have all his close friends and Terry and the League reminicing about Bruce and showing flashbacks to all the great moments we've seen Batman do over the years, I think it fits, the DCAU began with Batman and it ends with Batman, in this case passing away. And as others have mentioned, show Terry in the Bat-suit, continuing the legacy of Batman. His funeral might resolve some stuff between Barbara and Dick and we might learn some more about Dick's feud with Bruce, I don't know. But, if the DCAU doesn't end with Bruce dying, and just some Batman related stuff, I'll be happy:D

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Guys, guys. We're all forgetting one very basic fact: if Batman died, it would feel as though a part of us all died... am I right? :(

[ryeck]

Guys, guys. We're all forgetting one very basic fact: if Batman died, it would feel as though a part of us all died... am I right? :(Uh. . . NO! Nice of you to make such assumptions though :rolleyes2 . And besides, Bats will live on through other mediums, such as the comics, feature films, and "The Batman". And further more, there are more characters to get into besides Batman and his "family", and many of those characters are very interesting as well.

[El Zorro]

Guys, guys. We're all forgetting one very basic fact: if Batman died, it would feel as though a part of us all died... am I right? :(
Not really. As ryeck pointed out, it would only be the death--set in the future no less--of this version of Bruce Wayne/Batman. And it would hardly be the first time Batman's death has been portrayed:

http://perso.libertysurf.co.uk/chris.hayes/adv462.gif

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

I thought they were talking about present day Bruce dieing....

[Quintessence]

I hate to be the mean sounding one, but if Batman dies, it should be in the line of duty.

To someone who's life has been changed to the fact that he can not even live without avenging the horrors that keep him up at night, dying peacefully would be dying helplessly. Bruce is a fighter, plain and simple. While being angry at dying to a punk, I feel his soul would be tormented to die without making a difference in his final moments.

[El Zorro]

I hate to be the mean sounding one, but if Batman dies, it should be in the line of duty.

To someone who's life has been changed to the fact that he can not even live without avenging the horrors that keep him up at night, dying peacefully would be dying helplessly. Bruce is a fighter, plain and simple. While being angry at dying to a punk, I feel his soul would be tormented to die without making a difference in his final moments.
I tend to agree. That's one of the things I liked about the "Death of Batman!" story in Adventure Comics, the cover of which I posted above. The "Earth-2" Batman goes out fighting a criminal and saving the lives of his friends in the JSA (including his daughter, Helena, who was the Huntress).

[DerekPowers]

While I am a huge Terry fan, and I thoroughly enjoyed his development and growth, for me at least, the coolest dynamic of the series was the interplay between Terry and Bruce, the energetic overacheiving former punk and the grizzled old veteran who used to beat the living !!!! out of young punks.

I agree totally, it was the connection to the past, and the dynamic between 'old man wayne' and terry that really made the show great.

I know i'll be in a very small minority, but i always liked max and tought turning her into the next batgirl was a natural, or some kind of costumed side kick.

And arent we lucky that even though BB has long ended, we're still getting their characters pop up in JLU, in important roles (like in TOAFT part 2 and hopefully more upcoming episodes ;) ). peace.

[Casey Mack]

I agree totally, it was the connection to the past, and the dynamic between 'old man wayne' and terry that really made the show great.

I know i'll be in a very small minority, but i always liked max and tought turning her into the next batgirl was a natural, or some kind of costumed side kick.

And arent we lucky that even though BB has long ended, we're still getting their characters pop up in JLU, in important roles (like in TOAFT part 2 and hopefully more upcoming episodes ;) ). peace.
Derek you have know idea how right you are about Bruce and Terrys Dynamic;) they work well together. But i still think all great characters must die even Superman has died before, and hes the greaest of all Heroes.
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[90'sCartoonMan]

But i still think all great characters must die even Superman has died before, and hes the greaest of all Heroes.
But the question is, how should Bruce Wayne, a retired hero who passed his mantle, die?

Most agree it should be with a bang rather than a whimper, perhaps in some sort of costume?

And I personally wouldn't want to see him losing. Correct me if I'm wrong, Zorro, but Earth II Batman still beat the bad guy even though he died? I don't want to see Inque sneaking back into the Batcave and just offing Bruce.

I kind of want to see something involving the Man-Bat (because of the whole full circle thing), but it could easily be saving the life of Terry, or better yet, Dick.

[Casey Mack]

But the question is, how should Bruce Wayne, a retired hero who passed his mantle, die?

Most agree it should be with a bang rather than a whimper, perhaps in some sort of costume?

And I personally wouldn't want to see him losing. Correct me if I'm wrong, Zorro, but Earth II Batman still beat the bad guy even though he died? I don't want to see Inque sneaking back into the Batcave and just offing Bruce.

I kind of want to see something involving the Man-Bat (because of the whole full circle thing), but it could easily be saving the life of Terry, or better yet, Dick.
Like Peter Pan use to say "To die, to die would be an awfully big adventure". Maybe Death could Be Batmans next Big adventure. Maybe he could see his parents again, and finally just move on. Batman does not have to have a climatic death he could just die in his bed surrounded by his closets friends. That my friend is better then dieing in some big Grand Gun fight, and or dieing from a badguy attack. Cause in the end the only thing that could kill Batman was Batman.
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[El Zorro]

And I personally wouldn't want to see him losing. Correct me if I'm wrong, Zorro, but Earth II Batman still beat the bad guy even though he died?
Absolutely. He died defeating the bad-guy. Wether its battling a bad-guy directly or not, I think it would be appropriate for Bruce to go out saving lives in some fashion.

[DerekPowers]

But the question is, how should Bruce Wayne, a retired hero who passed his mantle, die?

Most agree it should be with a bang rather than a whimper, perhaps in some sort of costume?

And I personally wouldn't want to see him losing. Correct me if I'm wrong, Zorro, but Earth II Batman still beat the bad guy even though he died? I don't want to see Inque sneaking back into the Batcave and just offing Bruce.

I kind of want to see something involving the Man-Bat (because of the whole full circle thing), but it could easily be saving the life of Terry, or better yet, Dick.
Well, yes, if done right, like ROTJ fashion, then the death of BB Bruce Wayne could actually be really cool. I guess it still can happen, in JLU, we did see BB Batman's "death", so.

But if he has to go out, it should be huge. ROTJ huge. but how, and by who? I agree it would be pretty cool to involve Dick Grayson some how, maybe even Two-Face. So many possibilities, but i'm fine with the old guy living. I mean, its the future and Bruce is a billionare, i'm sure he's got some life left in him. peace.

[Crow]

Delayed Self-Preservation or Delayed Sacrifice?

I just posted this in the OAFT 2 talkback - expect me to bump all of Series 2 with my belated thoughts this time next year heheheh - but I thought it would have been interesting to see a scenario where Batman would have to choose between getting Old Wayne out of a life-or-death situation and saving the life of one of the other principal characters (also in a life-or-death situation); and then choosing the latter and then Old Wayne would die.
Let's say one of those time fissures that sucked Static in actually had Old Wayne in its grasp; Batman sees..........Enid in trouble; can't decide who to save; and then Old Wayne tells his younger self to save Enid.

If the purpose of the episode was to give Batman Beyond a resolution, well maybe Terry would be in Enid's place of mortal danger. Imagine that.

Maybe take out the fact Old Wayne tells Batman to save the other person; what if Diana was still in the episode at the end and was the one Batman chooses?

There's also an interesting way the scene could play out if Batman had to choose between Old Wayne and Warhawk.

Like I said, the whole plot/mood of the episode would have to be different to even contemplate putting in something like this.

[Batman's Biggest Fan]

Well guys...


Batman Beyond had a finale and it was "Epilogue"