Which Wayne?!?

[Web Head]

Hey everyone, lets take a moment to welcome TZN's newest poster, me!

*waits for applause to die down*

Now for my question. We've all got that mental image of Batman/Bruce Wayne in our minds, how he should be. And even though BTAS and TNBA were done by the same people, we have two very different takes on how Bruce acts without the cape and cowl (sp?)

The BTAS Bruce was very easygoing and laid back, kind of a millionaire playboy. This Bruce was younger, smiled a LOT more, and actually slipped a joke (or sarcastic comment) in once in a while with Alfred. It was a great contrast to the darker part of him, Batman.

The TNBA Bruce has merged the two parts of his psyche more, and we see a lot more Batman in Bruce. He's considerably darker and much less emotional. In fact the only time I remember this Bruce smiling is when he was under Brainiac's control.

Now I understand this personality shift. His fallout w/ Nightwing probably had a lot to do with it. But my question for you, my fellow posters, is which do you think is the "real" Bruce. If you were to make your own Batman series which end of the spectrum would Bruce fall in? The serious "Bat-like" Bruce or the happy millionaire?

[Manhunter]

Actually,the TNBA Bruce did smile in a few episodes. He wasn't as laidback and foppish as in BTAS(does anybody say 'foppish' anymore?),but he wasn't totally deadpan.

[The Game]

I liked the laidback more fun Bruce. The dark Bruce is just boring. There's a reason he wears the Bruce Wayne mask, and that's to relate to the public and be normal for a while.

[Fish]

Well, not normal is not normal for Bruce :D
For me there is no Bruce... I donno...it's just as if lately he hasn't been there and there is only Batman left. I liked the playboy Bruce but I like the "newer" batman better.

Welcome to the boards Web Head *S*

<>< F I S H ><>

[Cassandra]

foppish, foppish, foppish

Bruce Wayne is the only person I've ever seen that adjective used on. I think I like him less Foppish, though I like the word.
Kind of rolls off the tongue
foppish, foppish....

[Batman 80]

I liked the laid back Bruce Wayne but I liked the character design of the newer Bruce Wayne. I would take the laid back Bruce and give that personality to the newer Bruce. It would be the best of both worlds.

[NewMaxFranklin]

I liked the TNBA Bruce. He was darker and more grim, like Batman. But, he IS the head of a multi-billion dollar multi-national company, which employs most of the people in gotham directly or or indirectly. I don't think anyone can blame him for being rather serious were business is concerned. He's a Big boss. People have to take him seriously. He can't act like some foopy foo with poofy hair and a bad yellow suit.

This is doubly true because of his playboy image, whiuch IMO, is enough to cause people to doubt he could be Batman. Many questuon weather Batman is human at all, never considering his lovelife. When you bagging glamourous floosies and attending charity parties all the time I'd assume you'd have to struggle to be taken seriously as is.

Still the TNBA Bruce did smile and joke. But never while in the batcave. I think the reason many people see the TNBA Bruce as being so dark is because of the Mr. Freeze ep. Where he's watching Barbara train and being positively icy. "You need more training... Dead is dead."

But then, seconds later up in Wayne mannor he was more fatherly with Tim. He confronts Tim about a lousy history grad on a test concerning the American justice system. Tim says he thinks it's garbage, "You don't exactly follow the law of "due process." Bruce: "Ehr, how'd you do on your math test?" :p

In the Roxy Rocket ep. luscious is bosting to a boardroom about how much trouble they had to go through to aguire a peice of moder art. Bruce chimes in with "...and a kings ransome." ;)

And don't forget the Calender Girl ep. When Bruce finds out one of his valued employees is retiring he's quite warm and concerned, he has to give this age policy some serious thought.

Then in Wolds Finest, there seemed to be three Bruces. The one under Batman's Cowl; The romantic-Lois; All business-Lex; and with Clark, once they new each other's identities he was downright playful.

[Manhunter]

Originally posted by NewMaxFranklin


Still the TNBA Bruce did smile and joke. But never while in the batcave.

Actually,there wass a scene in "Torch Song" where he smiled in the Batcave.It was after Alfred suggested the fireproof suit.

[optimal321]

I think he's gotta be a playboy who people think is a spoiled moron. Good arguments for both BTAS and TNBA Bruce's have already been given, so i'll leave it at that.

[Wing Zero]

Although the BTAS Bruce isn't bad, he REALLY looks like a playboy and nothing like a Batman. I know that's the goal but his hair and clothes looked ugly and I just couldn't stand it! I like the TNBA Bruce better, he's not as cheerful as he was previously, but he does smile and crack sarcastic remarks and such which is still enough to keep everyone thinking that he's "the millionare with a giant company" type. Also, he dresses like a real business man with the black, sharp suit. TNBA Bruce is the better version in my IMO :)

[The Mad Hatter]

You know, I've always thought that neither one really nailed it. B:TAS Bruce was a bit too foppish, while TNBA Bruce seemed a bit too much like Batman. Myself, I would have liked a Bruce that acts a bit foolish and seems quite the playboy, yet has tiny hints of being dark and obscessive, if you pay attention.

Come to think of it, I'm looking for something like Bruce acted in Mask of the Phantasm. That seemed just about dead-on for me!

[thanos28542]

TNBA Bruce Wayne is the best version! The Bruce W. from the earlier series had a baggy clothes appearance & bad hair! No way Lois would've gone loca for him in WF if he looked like he did in the early days of the Bat series. :cool:

[Corran Horn]

I prefer the BTAS Bruce Wayne, mainly because TNBA Bruce Wayne acted a little too much like Batman.

[NewMaxFranklin]

Interesting new points have been adressed.

The MOTP Bruce was quite different in actions and appearance than the BTAS Bruce. Did he even wear the yellow jacket in the movie? I like young Bruce in the movie. Grim and driven, but brash and frustrated. But, present-day Bruce was different as well, as if he were a different person in the movie; Different from either the foppish Bruce of TAS or the cool and collected TNBA Bruce.

As for the suggestion that the TNBA was more apealing as a mate and that Lois would not have give foppy Bruce a second glance, I'd have to agree. Remember, Selena was attracted to Batman instantly. But, she never showed an interest in Bruce in TAS.

[Web Head]

I do agree with the yellow jacket comment. BTAS Bruce dressed too casual for a mega-businessman. I agree with Hatter that some combination of the two is best. Just add a little foppishness to the TNBA Bruce and you've got a guy that's intense, stern and motivated, while also being caring, humorous and foppish. (Gee that is a great word!)

[Karkull]

Even though TNBA Bruce Wayne was less foppish and more tough, did any of you have issues with that bright red tie? I alway thought that it should have been a more muted color.

[G. Wen]

I prefer the TNBA version of Bruce Wayne because he was darker and more serious, as opposed to the light-hearted, social playboy protrayal of him in B:TAS. I always pictured Bruce as psychologically tortured, in and out of the mask, and I feel that TNBA was able to catch this esscence. In B:TAS, I felt that Bruce acted to happy to have the alterego of Batman. Furthermore, I felt that Bruce's protrayal in B:TAS was too light at times, which caused the show to drag a little because it was not as dark as it should be. (Please do not get mad at me because I have stated something negative about B:TAS, it is just my opinion.)
Also, the new design in TNBA made Bruce seem like a powerful businessman, whereas in B:TAS, I felt he looked too round and relaxed for a businessman.
I also feel that the TNBA Bruce just looks "better" (taken from a female perspective).

[Cassandra]

No, I liked the red tie. It was a power tie. Good for a Big-shot CEO who should be respected.

What are you guys talking about, a yellow jacket? Didn't he usually wear a really horrible brown suit in B:TAS?

[FLIPMODE]

The thing with the Look of B:TAS, it seems like they made a Batman, and THEN, designed a Bruce in that animation style. So I think he fit the design of how the Style of the show Was back then. I do Like the way Bruce Looks, (Minus the Blue eyes) in TNBA, over B:TAS.

But as far as the character I was Kind of Dissapointed that they cut down on the "Bruce Wayne" Image. I really liked that act of his. Everyone knows Bruce Wayne is the Real Mask, so I applauded when he's go the extra mile to cover his I.D.

Also it appealed to me to more than a Batman-ish Bruce, because the guy IS a master of disguise, and the Playboy is just another character to play off of. Just Like Matches Malone. And even to this day, that, Playboy act is closer to the comic book, which he recently showed off in one of the latest issues where he blows off Vesper, with 3 women in the pool at once.

Anyone how to work the spoiler highlight option? All I get is multicolored words.

[The Mad Hatter]

Horrible brown suit, with a YELLOW shirt. Eeeeeeeew.