40 Years Later, One of Batman's Underrated Villains Is Ready to Reach Their Full Potential
Many Batman fans, myself included, have long suspected Bruce Wayne of using a weapon that Dark Knight apologists have fiercely denied. But now, DC has confirmed it—not through speculation or theories, but straight from Bruce Wayne’s own mouth. And if that wasn’t enough, there are two in-narrative witnesses to back it up.
On February 19, 2025, fans can dive intoBatman and Robin: Year One#5 by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, Mat Lopes, and Clayton Cowles. But until then, DC has generously released a five-page preview to hold fans over and build excitement for what is sure to be another fantastic issue.
In this preview, we get another look at Bruce and Dick’s civilian lives as they continue adjusting to their new roles as ward and guardian. Between Child Protective Services and Dick’s many misbehavings, the Dark Knight faces a steep learning curve. And during one of their arguments, Bruce finally admits to using his ‘rich privilege’—an advantage many would consider a significant weapon.
"Rich privilege" refers to the advantages and benefits a person gains simply from being wealthy.
Bruce Wayne FINALLY Admits He Uses His ‘Rich Privilege’ for Personal Gain
Comic Page Come From Mark Waid & Chris Samnee’s Batman and Robin: Year One #5 (2025) – Art by Samnee
In Batman and Robin: Year One #5, Bruce is called to Dick’s school to pick him up after the younger boy was sent to the principles for misbehaving and talking back to the teacher. Bruce expresses his frustration, pointing out that Dick lasted only an hour in class before causing trouble. Dick defends himself, claiming it was the teacher’s fault. She accused the class of acting like a “circus,” and Dick felt she used the word as a slur, something he didn’t take kindly to given his circus background. This ultimately led to an argument with the teacher, resulting in his suspension.
While in the car with Alfred Pennyworth driving them home, Bruce says, “I managed to Wayne the principal into keeping your tantrum off the record this one time.” This statement stands out because, as Alfred points out, Bruce just used the Wayne name as a verb: “Sir, did you just use Wayne as a verb?” The use of "Wayne" as a verb is significant because it highlights the immense power and influence that come with Bruce’s fortune. In this moment, Batman is openly acknowledging that he leverages his ‘rich privilege,’ using his status to avoid consequences for Dick’s actions.
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Batman Using His ‘Rich Privilege’ Isn’t the Same as Bruce Wayne Using It
Main Cover by Jorge Jiménez for Batman #149 (2024)
While one could argue that Batman 'admits' to using his ‘rich privilege’ every time he suits up with his million-dollar gadgets and gear, what Bruce reveals in Batman and Robin: Year One #5 goes much deeper. In this issue, Bruce directly admits to using his wealth for personal gain, getting Dick out of trouble and sparing him from the consequences of his actions. This is a stark contrast to how Bruce usually uses his fortune—typically, the money he spends as Batman serves the greater good of Gotham.
What makes this scene so noteworthy is that it marks a rare instance of Bruce using his ‘rich privilege’ selfishly.Most of the time, even his public persona as Bruce Wayne is linked to his mission as Batman. While Bruce’s actions in this comic aren’t necessarily wrong, they do expose a side of him that isn’t completely selfless. It’s a reminder that, despite his heroic façade, Batman does use his wealth to benefit himself beyond helping Gotham. That said, most fans will likely forgive Bruce for this moment, especially since he used his ‘rich privilege’ to help Dick Grayson, who is clearly struggling with the recent loss of his parents.
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Batman Just Proved His Harshest Critics Were Right All Along (Kinda)
2nd Printing Cover by Tony S. Daniel & Tomeu Morey For Batman #86 (2020)
One of the biggest critiques of Batman’s wealth is the idea that “Batman is above the law because he’s rich.” This perspective has been a hot topic in the fandom, with strong arguments on both sides. While no specific law was broken in Batman and Robin: Year One #5, there was an obvious breach of a rule or code of conduct by Dick. Yet, Bruce’s wealth allowed him to avoid the typical consequences, effectively proving that Batman, to some degree, is above the law because of his fortune. However, there’s also a strong counterargument to this.
The situation in Batman and Robin: Year One #5 specifically involves Bruce Wayne, not Batman. As many other narratives have shown, the police still pursue Batman and attempt to arrest him. If they ever caught him and unmasked him, there’s no doubt he’d be prosecuted, and no amount of money could shield him from those consequences. This issue demonstrates that the criticism toward Bruce Wayne is valid, but it doesn’t hold up as strongly when directed at the Dark Knight. So, while Bruce may be above the law to some extent because of his wealth, it doesn’t provide a free pass when it comes to his vigilantism.
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Absolute Batman Proved Bruce Wayne Doesn't Need His Wealth to Be Gotham’s Greatest Hero
Main Cover by Nick Dragotta & Frank Martin for Absolute Batman #4 (2025)
The discussion around Batman’s ‘rich privilege’ is especially relevant right now due to DC’s launch of the Absolute Universe, which reimagines its most iconic characters in a world infused with Darkseid’s energy. This new reality presents grittier, more hardcore versions of these characters, each with darker origin stories. A key creative goal across the Absolute narratives, including Absolute Batman, is to strip the characters of the advantages they held in their Earth-Prime continuities. For Bruce, this means removing his wealth, effectively giving readers a middle-class Batman.
This shift has made the Dark Knight more relatable than ever and has helped distance the character from the negative connotations often associated with billionaires. It also demonstrates that Batman isn’t reliant on his wealth to be a hero, as the Absolute version of Bruce shows that Batman can remain an incredibly formidable force without billions of dollars backing him. If there’s one thing to say about this version of Batman, it’s that fans won’t see him using any form of ‘rich privilege,’ meaning the typical criticisms directed at Batman don't apply to Absolute Bruce.
Batman and Robin: Year One #5 is available February 19, 2025, from DC Comics!
- Created By
- Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- First Appearance
- Detective Comics
