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Warning : contains spoiler forBatman : Reptilian # 3 !
WhileBatman ’s goal of ridding Gotham of offense benefits innocents , Batman : Reptilian # 3explores the theme that the Dark Knight ’s war may not be quite as grand as it seems . While Bruce Wayne dedicates himself to financially supporting various charities to improve the lives of Gotham ’s citizenry , the comic imagines this as just one more manoeuvre to attend to his obsession .
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Alfred challenges Bruce , asserting that his philanthropic expenditure is just about maintaining the status quo , and not truly motivate by a sense of duty to Gotham ’s Citizens ( unlikeNightwing ’s recent crusade . ) It ’s a reasonable charge , givenBatman : Reptilian # 1saw Bruce airily brush off a sojourn to Wayne Manor by the exact children he ’s now arguing he cares about . When the Dark Knight pushes back , he does n’t serve his case , say that his brotherly love are intended to forbid citizenry turning to crime,“to prevent me one day have to put them in grip . "
In Garth Ennis and Liam Sharp’sBatman : Reptilian , readers are image a more misanthropical , account version of the Caped Crusader than is typically render in the mainstream - a Bruce Wayne who’ssomething of a roughneck , albeit one who targets the worst of the bad . In other iterations of the character , Batman ’s selfless decision to give back to Gotham through Wayne Enterprises has been used to free the way he otherwise use his fortune to acquire advance gadgets , armor , and fomite , but in this level , Batman ’s kindly investments are not an reflection of his love for Gotham City , but rather a pragmatic conclusion to exert controller over the city and its criminal underworld . It does n’t make Bruce immorality , but it does reckon him as being motivate by his hate of criminal offense rather than any real sense of altruism .
Gotham City is rightfully hurt at every tier of society . Between rampant income inequality , poorness , and an all - star cast of supervillains , it ’s easy to call up of Batman ’s vigilantism and Bruce Wayne ’s charitable donations as beacons of light cutting through the dark night . But inBatman : Reptilianand other recent comics , God Almighty are contract a harsher look at an unexplainable vigilante who considers the city his personal property , and may bedriven more by trauma and angerthan anything commendable .
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