Overview:
The Bruce Wayne: Murderer?/Fugitive storyline is a crossover event that spans various Batman-related titles, released between 2002 and 2003. The story revolves around Bruce Wayne being framed for murder and explores the fallout within his personal life and his crime-fighting persona as Batman.
Written by several key DC creators like Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, and Chuck Dixon, with artists such as Scott McDaniel and Sean Phillips contributing, the arc delves into the psychological and emotional struggles of Bruce Wayne. Batman is the central protagonist, and he struggles against a combination of the justice system, organized crime, and a mysterious figure behind the framing. Other key characters include the Bat-family—Nightwing, Oracle, and Robin—who are left questioning Bruce’s innocence and methods.
Fans and critics were generally positive about the event, praising the psychological depth and the character-driven narrative. However, some felt the storyline dragged due to its sprawling nature across multiple titles. Despite mixed feelings about the pacing, the event remains a significant part of Batman lore, focusing on his dual identity and how vulnerable Bruce Wayne can be without his mask.
Background Reading:
- TBD
Related Guides
- Batman
Best Way To Read:
- Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus
- Collects: Batgirl #24, 27, 29, and 33, Batman #599-607, Batman: Gotham Knights #25-32, Batman: The 10-cent Adventure #1, Birds of Prey #39-41, 43, Detective Comics #766-775, Nightwing #65-66, 68-69 and Robin #98-99.
Alternative Collections
- Batman: Bruce Wayne – Murderer?
- Collects: Batgirl #24, 27, Batman #599-602, Batman: Gotham Knights #25-29, Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure #1, Birds Of Prey #39-41, Detective Comics #766-770, Nightwing #65-66, 68-69 and Robin #98-99
- Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive
- Collects: Batman #603-607, Detective Comics #768-775, Batman: Gotham Knights #29-32 and Batgirl #29 and 33
For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.
For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.
Reading Order:
Bruce Wayne: Murderer?
It opens with Bruce Wayne being arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, Vesper Fairchild. As the evidence heavily points to him, Bruce distances himself from his allies and refuses to defend his innocence, leaving the Bat-family struggling with whether or not to trust him.
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Batman: The 10-Cent Adventure #1 | Prelude | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Detective Comics #766 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batgirl #24 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Nightwing #65 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batman: Gotham Knights #25 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Birds of Prey #39 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Robin #98 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Robin #99 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batman #599 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Detective Comics #767 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Nightwing #66 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batman: Gotham Knights #26 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Birds of Prey #40 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
Bruce Wayne: Fugitive?
The story continues after Bruce escapes from custody, abandoning his Bruce Wayne identity altogether to focus solely on being Batman. As his allies investigate the crime on their own, Batman becomes more ruthless, while the Bat-family works to uncover the truth behind the framing and restore Bruce’s name.
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Batman #600 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Birds of Prey #41 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batman #601 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batman #602 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Detective Comics #768 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Detective Comics #769 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Detective Comics #770 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Batgirl #27 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batgirl #28 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Nightwing #68 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batman: Gotham Knights #28 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batman: Gotham Knights #29 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Nightwing #69 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Birds of Prey #43 | Main Story | atman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne- Murderer? |
| Batman #603 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Detective Comics #771 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Batgirl #29 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Batman: Gotham Knights #30 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Azrael: Agent of the Bat #91 | Main Story | Not Collected |
| Azrael: Agent of the Bat #92 | Main Story | Not Collected |
| Detective Comics #772 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Batman: Gotham Knights #31 | Main Story | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Batman #605 | Aftermath | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Batman #606 | Aftermath | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Batman #607 | Aftermath | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Detective Comics #773 | Aftermath | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Detective Comics #774 | Aftermath | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Detective Comics #775 | Aftermath | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
| Batgirl #33 | Aftermath | Batman Bruce Wayne: Murderer Turned Fugitive Omnibus Batman: Bruce Wayne – Fugitive |
References:
Feature Image from Batman: Gotham Knights #25 cover art by Brian Bolland
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