Do People in the DCU think Bruce Wayne is Gay?

[JeffreyWKramer]

Forget the Werthamite interpretations of Batman, and the Schumacher movies. That's not really where I'm going.

Forget also that comic readers familiar with Batman's history know about Selina Kyle, Silver St. Cloud, etc. I'm talking about how people in the DCU view Bruce Wayne, not how readers view Batman.

Specifically, I'm asking more about how the general public in the DCU views Bruce Wayne.

He's never married. He's an eligible bachelor who is often seen with a starlet, heiress or other glamor-girl on his arm, but he never seems to develop much in the way of ongoing relationships. He's got a playboy reputation, but do people even think he does much in the way of playing with these girls? Or maybe with boys? Does anyone other than Guy Gardner ever comment in the comics about Bruce's predilection toward having young male wards around?

In the real world, if a rich, famous man spends a lot of time as an eligible bachelor, people often wonder if said bachelor just isn't into women. Sometimes this is accurate - Rock Hudson's homosexuality was maybe the worst-kept secret in Hollywood for decades - and sometimes it's not accurate at all. I'm wondering if the we know, or can reasonably assume, that such rumors fly about Bruce Wayne in the fictional DCU. Has there been any indication of such in the comics? Any innuendo tossed out by other socialites, or the press, or Harvey Bullock, or any of the date-of-the-evening girls?

Other than people he's had short relationships with, like Silver St. Cloud, is there any indication in the comics that Bruce Wayne ever actually sleeps with any of these starlets and heiresses and such that he takes to society events and show openings and what have you? I wasn't following the books during the "Bruce Wayne: Murderer" storyline, so I dunno... was it ever established in the comics - and, importantly for this question, in the public eye - whether or not Bruce's relationship with Vesper Fairchild ever went beyond going on dates?

I was just wondering if the comics themselves have given us any suggestion that people in the DCU wonder this about Bruce Wayne. I am broadly familiar with Batman's history and continuity, but I haven't been a close follower of the books for a great many years, so I dunno one way or another.

[colossus34]

Probabley about as much people who think Hugh Hefner is gay!;)

[Choppa]

We don't really see much of Bruce Wayne's life so it's hard to say. But I was under the impression that his relationship with Vesper was pretty serious. And by serious I mean, they probably "did the deed."

[HalWho]

No, think of all the guys in the real world that are filthy rich and just are bachelors. they're just enjoying the money and the women that go with it.

[Magneto_X]

No, think of all the guys in the real world that are filthy rich and just are bachelors. they're just enjoying the money and the women that go with it.

The question wasn't how Bruce is really like but how the DCU percieves him.

IMHO I think the escorts/models/actresses who had "dated" would have got the impression he wasn't totally straight. Or at least not "normal".

Women aren't stupid and talk to each other. Exspecially if they are in the same social circles.

Gotham must have a weekly column dedicated just to Bruce! LOL

[Sam T.]

He hasn't been acting gay, has he??

[Kid Lantern]

"give the guy a brake, until a few days ago thought batman and robin just forght crime together" -Will (Will and Grace)

[JeffreyWKramer]

Probabley about as much people who think Hugh Hefner is gay!;)

But, see, Hef has long-term relationships. Sometimes his situation is rather unusual, but there isn't really any question of him not liking women. He's been married, his relationship history has been quite public, he has kids, etc.

Bruce Wayne is a guy mostly known for having some model on his arm at a function, then the two are never seen together again. He's never married. No kids (not known to the general public, anyhow - isn't "Son of the Demon" in continuity again now?). A lot of famous guys with this same pattern, the public often wonders if the date-of-the-moment thing isn't less a matter of "bang-em-and-leave-em" so much as "serial beard."

Again, anyone able to cite stuff from the stories that would either confirm or disconfirm this impression re: the general public in the DCU? Or it it just one of those things that never comes up in comics, even though it probably would in the real world?

[Damo]

No. They have no idea.

^_~

[Gary Joyce]

I think there was an issue Detective comics #711 (i think not sure offhand) where he was just Bruce wayne throughout and he showed how a typical date went for him and at the end of the issue his date started telling a group of women that she had a night of passion with Bruce.I would guess this happens a lot.So i would say he had quiet the rep of a ladies man.

[JeffreyWKramer]

I think there was an issue Detective comics #711 (i think not sure offhand) where he was just Bruce wayne throughout and he showed how a typical date went for him and at the end of the issue his date started telling a group of women that she had a night of passion with Bruce.I would guess this happens a lot.So i would say he had quiet the rep of a ladies man.

That's interesting. We know Bruce has been with women (Silver, Talia), and we know he dates a crapload of other women, but this is the first time I've heard of the comics suggesting he actually has sex with these other women, rather than them just serving as arm candy for an evening.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

Currently in continuity Bruce has nailed.

1. Talia
2. Silver (the reference in one of the Detective issues from 1978 where she says she was exhausted after the last time they were together)
3. Catwoman.
4. Diana Prince (more than twice)
5. Vesper Fairchild.
6. Julie Madison
7. Vicki Vale
8. Julia Remarque.
9. Rachel Caspian (Reaper's daughter)
10. Linda Page

And that's just the ones I can find out about.

He's not gay, that's what that Queer (self-confessed) asshole Frederick Wertham put out to try to destroy comics.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Currently in continuity Bruce has nailed.

1. Talia
2. Silver (the reference in one of the Detective issues from 1978 where she says she was exhausted after the last time they were together)
3. Catwoman.
4. Diana Prince (more than twice)
5. Vesper Fairchild.
6. Julie Madison
7. Vicki Vale
8. Julia Remarque.
9. Rachel Caspian (Reaper's daughter)
10. Linda Page

And that's just the ones I can find out about.

He's not gay, that's what that Queer (self-confessed) asshole Frederick Wertham put out to try to destroy comics.

Some of them, I don't even know about. Cool.

But again, I'm not arguing that Bruce is gay at all. The question is, how would your typical person in the DCU view Bruce? Remember, they don't know he's Batman. As such, they have no idea he's in any way connected to some of those people. My question on the others is, how well would the general public be aware of any of the other "nailing" being going on? And, from the numbers you give (even nixing ones like Catwoman and Talia, who aren't publically linked to Bruce), plus they guy mentioning that one 'TEC issues above, the answer would seem to be "reasonably aware."

Which answers my question. Coolness. And thanks. I figured the folk here, some of whom follow Bat-stuff a lot more closely than I do, would be able to answer that question.

[moebius]

I think there was an issue Detective comics #711 (i think not sure offhand) where he was just Bruce wayne throughout and he showed how a typical date went for him and at the end of the issue his date started telling a group of women that she had a night of passion with Bruce.I would guess this happens a lot.So i would say he had quiet the rep of a ladies man.

I believe I've read something similar. Bruce Wayne goes out to some dinner with the starlet of the month (Katie Holmes?). He invites them back to the mansion and gives them some champagne with a sedative, then goes off to do his vigilante thing. Next thing they know it's morning, they have a headache and Alfred is making them pancakes. A lot of them fill in the blanks (erroneously) from there.

If this is anything like real life, there's probably stalkerazzi at the gate of Wayne Manor all the time, so they see Alfred driving a different woman home every week. That, combined with long relationships with Vicki Vale and Vesper Fairchild, and I would guess that Bruce has exactly the opposite reputation.

I bet you get far more "Lex Luthor is gay" rumors, frankly. He's festidious, pretentious and for much of his publishing history has shown no interest in women (and a strange fixation on Superman). I guess he has a daughter and that "cloned son" from the 90s.

[lonewolf23k]

I'm sure there are at least a few people who think Bruce is gay, but not everybody's likely to believe it.

[JeffreyWKramer]

I bet you get far more "Lex Luthor is gay" rumors, frankly. He's festidious, pretentious and for much of his publishing history has shown no interest in women (and a strange fixation on Superman). I guess he has a daughter and that "cloned son" from the 90s.

The post-CRISIS/Byrne-reboot Luthor was quite the opposite of this - obviously a lech, in fact - but yeah, the pre-CRISIS one sure did seem overly fixated on Clark most of the time. Especially to what would have been the public eye.

[JeffreyWKramer]

I believe I've read something similar. Bruce Wayne goes out to some dinner with the starlet of the month (Katie Holmes?). He invites them back to the mansion and gives them some champagne with a sedative, then goes off to do his vigilante thing. Next thing they know it's morning, they have a headache and Alfred is making them pancakes. A lot of them fill in the blanks (erroneously) from there.

I guess on a comic level, that works. In reality, women who have had sex generally know. The afterfeeling is different from just passing out, and in the case of passed-out sex, additional to the hangover feeling.

Or maybe they just figure it happened, and Bruce is a crappy lover, a premature ejaculator and/or hung like a hamster.

[Smarty Jones]

"Bruce Wayne is a guy mostly known for having some model on his arm at a function, then the two are never seen together again. He's never married. No kids (not known to the general public, anyhow - isn't 'Son of the Demon' in continuity again now?). A lot of famous guys with this same pattern, the public often wonders if the date-of-the-moment thing isn't less a matter of 'bang-em-and-leave-em' so much as 'serial beard.'"

Let me play devil's advocate: What, if anything, makes Tony Stark's situation different? Stark pretty much does the same thing, namely shows up with a pretty woman on his arm and that's it. Occasionally, Stark will show up with the same woman (see Bethany Cabe) several times, but for the most part Stark does the same thing.

[Mia]

There are many reasons men like Bruce are single.


1. He’s rich, handsome well built. He has no shortage of women who have overtly and inn overtly expressed interest in him. Given this why would he want to settle down with one woman? And he's only in his mid 30's. There's still plenty of time to get married. He probably wants to enjoy himeself right now.

2. He’s waiting for the right woman to settle down with.


3. He considers being married or tied to one woman stifling and confining not to mention down right boring. Bruce Wayne is an un-domesticated man. He likes doing as he pleases and accounting to no one. And being married means he has to answer to someone. I always saw Bruce Wayne as one of those men who takes up with married women. Because eventually…she’d have to go home to her husband.


As for affairs:

Batman: LOTDK #207—Bruce has a one nighter with a casual pick up.
Batman & The Monster Men: Bruce is having an affair with Julie Madison….and it’s mentioned that they sleep together.
Batman : Dark Detective, Bruce and Silver St. Cloud pick up their affair, there are scenes with them having sex on the floor of the Batcave. And sitting naked in robes the next morning at breakfast
There are two issue of Catwoman which show him or imply that he and Selina had sex.

[Agentum]

Some may believe that, but i think most thinks he is a real swinger.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Let me play devil's advocate: What, if anything, makes Tony Stark's situation different? Stark pretty much does the same thing, namely shows up with a pretty woman on his arm and that's it. Occasionally, Stark will show up with the same woman (see Bethany Cabe) several times, but for the most part Stark does the same thing.

During the early comics, when Tony had the chest plate on all the time, you have a good point. He couldn't have been very successful as a playboy during that time.

After he ditched that thing, he was clearly depicted as having been sexual with a lot of those women. While the general public wouldn't have been privy to the same degree of detail as are readers.... well, sometimes one can just tell.

Before the chestplate time, Tony was apparently also openly a lethario. For example, somewhere in there, he and Emma Frost appear to have openly had a sexual relationship (per the most recent CIVIL WAR issue). I presume that was probably before he became Iron Man... which rather calls into question how young Emma might have been.... but relative age in the MU is of course a very mutable thing.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Okay, so the question seems pretty settled.

Bruce (vs. Batman) has been depicted in the comics as having had sex with enough of the women he's dated that the general public would likely know in some vague way that he actually does get it on with some of them. People talk, after all.

I didn't know this had been openly depicted this often. Which is why I asked the question. And, I thank the responders.

This is different than, say, the Rock Hudson example. Rock was seen with women on his arm and such, but in that case, nothing ever happened - and thus, when the women talked, the gossip got around that nothing ever happened. Which is why, again, his being gay was somewhat public knowledge long before he came out.

[Smarty Jones]

"During the early comics, when Tony had the chest plate on all the time, you have a good point. He couldn't have been very successful as a playboy during that time.

After he ditched that thing, he was clearly depicted as having been sexual with a lot of those women. While the general public wouldn't have been privy to the same degree of detail as are readers.... well, sometimes one can just tell."

OK, my two cents: Bruce Wayne's relationships are based on his Batman persona, while Tony Stark's have nothing to do with him being Iron Man.

Catwoman, Talia and Sasha Bordeaux are all attracted to Batman. When there was the flirtation with Wonder Woman, it was with Batman. If anything, all the sexual energy is with Batman, not Bruce Wayne. It's the opposite with Stark; his playboy personality is not a facade and his appeal to women is because of his charm, cavalier attitude and sophstication. Wayne, on the other hand, has never came across as swashbuckling and charming -- he is considered a playboy by the public simply because he's rich and good-looking.

Remember Catwoman's first appearance on the old "Batman: The Animated Series?" She met Batman during one of her heists and she got turned on by seeing him? And then later she went out on a date with Bruce Wayne, and she later told her assistant while Bruce was all those things (handsome, cordial, rich), she was turned on by Batman? That's how I feel Wayne comes across to women.

That said, I have the impression that women think of Bruce Wayne as a boring person. After all, he doesn't seem to be one for conversation and comes off not as much a jerk as he does a cold fish. Yeah, he's good-looking, rich and cordial but I would imagine they just don't find him that interesting or not having much of a personality. Stark is the one with the personality, and you can see women being attracted to him whether he was rich or not. Take away their trappings of wealth and make them more ordinary guys, and Stark would be the one partying and taking a woman back to the hotel and Wayne would be the one who feels out of place at a nightclub and leaves early.

I can imagine some women confusing that with some covert homosexuality, but I think most women think of it as Wayne "not being man enough" for them. He comes across as plastic, and as a result he is window-dressing and suffering from the "looks (and wealth) aren't everything" syndrome -- because the real personality is with Batman.

[Project 22]

Honestly, do you guys think that someone must have sex on every date to be shown that they are strait? I choose not to have it because I am not seriously dating any girl, but that does not deter from the fact that I am not attracted to men. I like women but I choose not to take that step, why would it be strange if Batman did the same thing?

[Smarty Jones]

"Honestly, do you guys think that someone must have sex on every date to be shown that they are strait? I choose not to have it because I am not seriously dating any girl, but that does not deter from the fact that I am not attracted to men. I like women but I choose not to take that step, why would it be strange if Batman did the same thing?"

I'm not basing my logic on that mantra. Bruce Wayne simply does not have that well developed personality to make people think he's a playboy. It's hard to play a role in which you have never had experience and if it's not a part of your makeup it's not going to come off as convincing.

Wayne essentially became his Batman persona when his parents were killed; in the comic book mythos, he started training almost immediately, going around to master various skills and disciplines and to become Batman. He's never had experiences on which to draw on being a playboy, and it's not unreasonable for women who go on a date with him to pick that up. In fact, since his personality is Batman playing the facade of Bruce Wayne it's logical to think Batman has never developed a convincing personality for Wayne.

[JeffreyWKramer]

In fact, since his personality is Batman playing the facade of Bruce Wayne it's logical to think Batman has never developed a convincing personality for Wayne.

The problem with this is the exceptions. Silver St. Cloud, for example. She fell for Bruce, not Batman.

But maybe she was just weird.

[Smarty Jones]

"The problem with this is the exceptions. Silver St. Cloud, for example. She fell for Bruce, not Batman."

There is always an exception, but the most common attractions -- namely, Catwoman and Talia -- tend to be with Batman, not with Bruce Wayne. And even then, the Bruce-based relationships tend to be depicted in the mode of Bruce feeling trapped by his dual role as Batman (see Shondra Kinsolving, Vesper Fairchild).

The Bruce relationships even seem to be played differently -- you got the impression the women wanted to settle down and have a family with him. The Batman relationships seemed to be based on the women were hot when he was around, which is usually the vibe you get from playboys.

That's not to say Bruce Wayne would not have any appeal to any women. After all, being a handsome and wealthy man who is even-tempered and very respectful will attract someone. But given that Batman has been the more dominant and well-developed persona, I can see the Bruce Wayne persona not being fully developed and not having a lot of chemistry with a lot of women. Hence, my "cold fish" and "looks aren't everything" reasonings.

The difference is that Tony Stark is a playboy while Wayne merely plays the role of a playboy. Whenever Wayne is in a relationship that he wants to break up for fear of compromising his Batman identity, he goes back into that role. His break-up with Fairchild is a perfect example: "Let her catch me with two set-up props and she'll say 'It's over.' and then I'll throw the women out of the tub."

So I can see your point -- in this case, you have one woman who can cite Wayne having a commitment issue but two other women who can comment he had them in a hot tub and then turned into a cold fish conveniently after duping said first woman into thinking something else. You would think that as many times as it's happened over the years, some of these women would start sharing notes.

[Kara Zor El]

People are capable of thinking all kinds of things. Some will some won't, what does it matter?
Some people might think he's a twelve foot lizard in cahoots with Michael Jackson and the Duke of Edinbrough.

[the film freak]

There was that several year period where he shared a "bachelor pad" with Randolph Scott.

[cactusmaac]

It depends on whether the DCU runs by the Denny O'Neill\Chuck Dixon view that Bruce Wayne never has sex and puts all that energy into fighting crime - in which case there would be people thinking that he's in the closet since word would get around, although that might be countered by the right PR operation - or if it goes by the Grant Morrison view that he does have nights where he shags three supermodels since then too, word would get around.

edit - That being said the murder of Vesper, who was known to be his girlfriend, would have pretty publicly brought out the fact that he was heterosexual.

[Kummi]

sasha bordeaux?

[Gingold]

I'd guess that Bruce is probably the target of tabloid speculation about his sexuality just like Tom Cruise and Oprah are. I'm sure the DC version of the Enquirer has headlines like "Bruce Wayne Gay Shocker" and the like. I bet Batman finds it all pretty darned funny.

[Loren]

Currently in continuity Bruce has nailed.

4. Diana Prince (more than twice)

I'm rather surprised by this entry. Moreso on Diana's part than Bruce's, really. When were these occasions?

[Patient Boy]

Did Bruce sleep with Diana? I wasn't reading JLA at the time.

[Nogs]

I like the ideas floating around that Bruce either:

1. Bangs tons of chicks and dumps them afterward.

or

2. Drugs said chicks so he can go off crime fighting(or bang them and dump them too :eek: )

If either of those are the case, it looks like he is really keeping in line with his superhero morals. Then again I guess batman hasn't always been portrayed as the nicest hero of them all.

[Agentum]

Bruce Wayne is famous and rich, you can see him in magazines and on TV, how many of those peoples do you really know personally?

Not many in DCU knows him that well so i can easly believe that most people think he is a rich playboy that lives high, why not (they don't have a pile of your Batman comics to read about him).

[TheTen-EyedMan]

I'm rather surprised by this entry. Moreso on Diana's part than Bruce's, really. When were these occasions?

They had an affair back in the 1970s. I cannot give you the exact time frame right now because of a need to go searching through thousands of comics to find the pertinent issues.

[JeffreyWKramer]

They had an affair back in the 1970s. I cannot give you the exact time frame right now because of a need to go searching through thousands of comics to find the pertinent issues.

That's news to me, and I followed both Batman and WW very closely during that time.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

That's news to me, and I followed both Batman and WW very closely during that time.


Twas in Justice League of America...apparently.

[X-Ray]

Twas in Justice League of America...apparently.


I wonder, would Diana taste like clay instead of chicken?

Could Diana even feel a normal person? I would think she would have to bang another woman with a special toy for her to feel anything.

A test of how good the man really is would be to tie WW up with the Magic Lasso during sex and she would have to say either "is it in yet?" or " F'me like the ho that I am!!! ah ah ah!!!"

[TheTen-EyedMan]

I wonder, would Diana taste like clay instead of chicken?

Could Diana even feel a normal person? I would think she would have to bang another woman with a special toy for her to feel anything.

A test of how good the man really is would be to tie WW up with the Magic Lasso during sex and she would have to say either "is it in yet?" or " F'me like the ho that I am!!! ah ah ah!!!"

You're naughty!!!!!

[Tequilamokinbrd]

In the DCU Bruce Wayne is a celebrity.



I think the general public views Bruce the same way we view a celeb like George Clooney, confirmed bachelor that has no intentions of settling down anytime soon because he's so career driven and has a lot going on. There's plenty of celebs like that that have never been rumored to be gay.


At the same time, Tom Cruise has been married twice and dated tons of chicks, including penolpe cruz, he has kids, both adopted and natural. Yet with him the gay rumors never stop.


Public Opinion is a fickle thing, heck, I'd be willing to bet good money that more people in the DCU think he's a murderer than a homosexual.



As far as his relationship with his Wards and Adopted sons, I could think of dozens of Celebs that choose to adopt, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Lionel Richie, etc., so I wouldn't think that Bruce adopting kids who went through situations similar to his would be completely understandable to the general public, in fact that combined with all the charity work he does would probably make him seem like a pretty good guy, unless people are still stuck on the whole murder accusation thing.

[Mia]

Thanks for the Clooney example. I understand that he's a bit of a ladies man (a Don Juan) And Clooney has made no secret about never wanting to marry again.

I think that whenever a rumour about an actor being gay there is a kernel of truth to it.

I used to think that the Cruise being gay rumour was a spiteful slur. Until stuff began popping up that he used to be a male prostitute when he was just starting out in Hollywood and had very powerful men as his clients.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Twas in Justice League of America...apparently.

Not in the '70s, it wasn't.

[Dr. Drake Ramoray]

Honestly, do you guys think that someone must have sex on every date to be shown that they are strait? I choose not to have it because I am not seriously dating any girl, but that does not deter from the fact that I am not attracted to men. I like women but I choose not to take that step, why would it be strange if Batman did the same thing?

What really matters is that you believe this. ;)

I'm guessing to the majority of Bruce's one-nighters, arm-candy, whaterver, that he comes across to them as someone who's filthy rich, done/seem it all and is basically bored by life.

[the film freak]

Thanks for the Clooney example. I understand that he's a bit of a ladies man (a Don Juan) And Clooney has made no secret about never wanting to marry again.

I think that whenever a rumour about an actor being gay there is a kernel of truth to it.

I used to think that the Cruise being gay rumour was a spiteful slur. Until stuff began popping up that he used to be a male prostitute when he was just starting out in Hollywood and had very powerful men as his clients.

Actually I've heard gay rumours about Clooney. Ditto Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe.

But I think any good looking man who attains any sort of celeberity status is going to get gay rumour legit or not. I think it'll be that way until people sort of get over the idea that homosexuality is this sort of decadant secret lifestyle. Which probably won't happen for a while.

[Mia]

Actually I've heard gay rumours about Clooney. Ditto Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe.

But I think any good looking man who attains any sort of celeberity status is going to get gay rumour legit or not. I think it'll be that way until people sort of get over the idea that homosexuality is this sort of decadant secret lifestyle. Which probably won't happen for a while.


I don't know about Clooney. Not surprised about Crowe or Farrell since both of them have played gay/bisexual characters. The gay charge usually crops up when that happens.

[Aldrius]

In the DCAU atleast. (Which is where most of my Bat knowledge lies.) I think the reason Batman comes across as gay is because he can't settle down with a woman. (Warning! Fanboy rant about how cool Andrea is! Warning!) I think the problem is, that the only woman he ever truly settled down with left him with little to no explanation... and then eventually returned only to stab him in the back. Since then, he feels he can't trust anybody. (Especially considering how his other romances turned out.)

And yes, I know that wasn't the question you were proposing. Just some thoughts on Batsy I guess...

[daniel2099]

avrege joe ?
i see on of two anwsers
bruce wyne who?
wyne you mean that guy who owns evry thing in town and gagging every hottie in town?

most poeple wouldnt have time to worry about him
then these the wones who read rags where there are stories about him