The Batman's Arkham Twist Breaks The Wayne Family Legacy
Caution: Spoilers Ahead for The Batman
The Batman's subtle Arkham twist makes the Wayne family legacy even more disturbing. There's a sense in which Matt Reeves' The Batman is all about the Wayne family's controversial legacy, and it's a darker one than can be found in any other big-screen incarnation. In The Batman, the Wayne Renewal Fund is eventually revealed to be the reason for Gotham's downfall, with a crime lord taking charge of the money following the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne, and using it to corrupt the city.
But that isn't the only shocking new element to Bruce Wayne's heritage. While doing some digging into his family's past, Bruce learns that his mother—whose maiden name was actually Martha Arkham—had struggled with mental illness. When a journalist came close to discovering Martha's past, a desperate Thomas Wayne reached out to crime lord Carmine Falcone for help. Even in the comics, Martha is traditionally portrayed as a Kane, with Kate Kane (aka Batwoman) entering comic book lore through that side of the family. The idea of Martha as an Arkham is lifted from the Batman: Earth One comics, which are set in a slightly different timeline and had a major influence on Matt Reeves' The Batman.
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This twist dramatically reshapes Bruce Wayne's role in Gotham. He isn't just heir to the wealthy Wayne family; he's also an Arkham, hailing from the family responsible for building Gotham in the first place. There's a direct reference to the enduring impact of the Arkham family in The Batman, when the Riddler is sent to Arkham State Hospital—which will presumably become this franchise's version of Arkham Asylum if/when the need arises. The
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