Summary
Warning: contains spoilers for “Brick by Brick,” appearing inBatman#150!
Batmanuses his vast fortune to help keep Gotham City safe, but his first act upon becoming a billionaire only added to his most important message. Even after 85 years, Batman’s origin story continues to yield new developments, as seen in the story “Brick by Brick,” appearing as a second feature inBatman#150. Thestory makes a stunning revelation about the aftermath of what happened in Crime Alley.
“Brick by Brick,” appearing inBatman#150, was written by Chip Zdarsky and drawn by Mike Hawthorne. The story opens with Bruce Wayne at the former corporate headquarters of Sims Firearms. There, he reveals the company was the manufacturer of the gun that killed his parents. When Bruce inherited his family’s fortune at age 18, he promptly bought the company and shut it down, offering the displaced employees jobs with Wayne Enterprises.
Bruce reflects that he took the company apart, brick by brick.
Batman’s Origin Story is Iconic, and Continues To Resonate Across Generations
DC Has Found New Ways to Keep Batman’s Origin Fresh, Even After 85 Years
At this point in his career, Batman’s origin story is known the world over. Portrayed in countless adaptations, Batman’s origin is one of comics’ best, and still has lost none of its impact decades on.While it may seem that there is nothing new left to tell about Batman’s backstory, generations of writers and artists have nevertheless been able to do so.In 1976, Denny O’Neil and artist Dick Giordano introduced Leslie Thompkins, a Crime Alley doctor who consoled Bruce as the police surveyed the crime scene. Rather than cheapening the original story, it instead enrichens it.
It fits a pattern of Batman’s life: leveraging his extreme wealth and privilege to fight crime. In addition, it foreshadows his growing interest in addressing systemic issues.
Now, another layer has been added to this classic story.Joe Chill has been instrumentalin nearly every version of Batman’s origin, but the gun used has never been discussed. It would be years before Batman brought Joe Chill to justice. In the interim, buying the manufacturer of the gun Chill used was the next best thing. Bruce was not completely without mercy, however, as he offered Sims’ employees jobs with his company. It fits a pattern of Batman’s life: leveraging his extreme wealth and privilege to fight crime. In addition, it foreshadows his growing interest in addressing systemic issues.
Batman’s Contiues to Use His Wealth For Good Purposes
Batman Is Preventing Future Tragedies
In addition to presaging these concerns, Batman’s first act upon becoming a billionaire adds a layer to his anti-gun beliefs. As he lost his parents to gun violence,Batman has a strict no-guns policy,and it is one he has only wavered from on an extreme handful of citations, most notably duringFinal Crisis.The years of watching the chaos and misery guns have caused the citizens of Gotham have only strengthened his resolve.Batmanbuying Sims’ Firearms ensured that generations would not endure the same fate as him.
“Brick by Brick,” appearing inBatman#150
