CW has finally answered the historic period - old question of whether or not the Dark Knight is in the Arrowverse . With the premiere of Batwoman ,   our favorite caped reformist has made his way to the small screen and has us excited for what ’s to come up . Unfortunately , like the CW has been doing since 2012 , Bruce has only been teased and has not quite made an onscreen visual aspect .

With the Pilot of Batwoman establishing that Batman has been go for three year , we have to wonder where Batman has gone . With little hint to his whereabouts , we are leave to job Batman ’s whereabouts . Here are 10 theories as to where Batman is and why he ’s been lose for all this time .

He’s Dead

This is the bare if grimmest answer to Bruce Wayne ’s whereabouts . Throughout the years , we ’ve reckon Batman take immense risks to solve a offense , sometimes barely escape with his lifespan . If we await at the Arrowverse timeline and theBatwomanTV show , it ’s establish that Batman has been around for a while .

With that in mind , there ’s a good chance that he ’s faced some of the worst villains in Gotham and possibly this time , his effort just were n’t enough . It ’s almost profanation to think about it , given Bruce Wayne has never adjoin his death in the cartoon strip , but maybe that ’s the reason he has n’t been in his beloved city .

He Was Recruited By The Monitor

In thefirst episodeofArrow’sfinal season , Oliver Queen revisits the island he was stranded in and in the backdrop , there is an pointer going through Batman ’s bonnet . With Stephen Amell ’s Green Arrow drawing several law of similarity to Batman , maybe the Monitor originallyrecruited Bruce Waynewho could n’t get the caper done .

Similar to the first theory , Bruce might have met his demise trying to stop the Crisis and is no longer a part of the Arrowverse because of it . Maybe Gotham ’s only hope is Batwoman . Although Oliver was on Earth-2 and it ’s potential its that Earth ’s Batman , one ca n’t aid but wonder if Olly is just clean up Bruce ’s mess .

He’s In Another Universe

Bruce is no stranger to go the multiverse . This hypothesis would suggest that Bruce knows about the upcomingCrisisevent but instead of getting helper from the Monitor , he make up one’s mind to take matter into his own hands and travel the multiverse to get helper .

Similar to how Harrison Wells in the Flash has his Council of Wells , maybe Bruce goes looking for his Council of Bats to help him keep get to the creation . It would n’t be far fetched and like having different Supermen from different multiverses , have Batmen helping the Crisis would be a huge help . perchance Bruce is bound to save the day in theCrisis .

He Was Broken by Bane

This next theory would be a page right from the strip . In a story that shook the risible community , the supervillain Bane was able-bodied to take down the Dark Knight in a direction no one has ever done before : by defeating him in physical armed combat and fracture his back . In last year ’s crossover , we saw a forgetful coup d’oeil of Bane ’s masquerade , only visible for about 2 - 3 indorsement but nevertheless there .

This at least examine the existence of Bane in the Arrowverse , so why not include one of the most famous Batman storey . It explains his retentive absence , as Bruce is very prideful and would most in all likelihood refuse to let someone see him at his weakest . Bruce might just be healing his back and waiting for an chance to come back .

Jason Todd’s Death Broke Him

Another story that could be adapted from the cartoon strip . Jason Todd ’s death reallytook a tollon Batman , making him a more distant and heady hero . It also took him a long prison term to get over it , so perchance that ’s just what he ’s doing . With the Joker already reassert the Arrowverse , it ’s a plausible theory and one that can be adapt easily into the show .

Although in the comics Bruce never left for an extended full point of time , it ’s very possible Earth-1 has a unlike coping mechanism than his comic counterpart . This could also open up possibility for the Batwoman show as a whole by inclose characters like Red Hood .

He’s Retired

The   Arrowverse timeline put Bruce Wayne as Batman for about 15 years before his disappearance in 2015 . That make Bruce Wayne a very grizzled veteran who s seen just about everything . With Arrowverse bear witness throwing easter eggs , we know the existence of several villain and Batman ally like Harley Quinn , the Joker , Oracle , and more .

perchance Bruce but got hackneyed of protecting Gotham and simply left to recover from his years of stress . Although it ’s extremely unconvincing due to Batman being fiercely loyal to Gotham , its very possible he lie with of Kate Kane ’s ability and feel he leave the city in right mitt .

He’s Setting Up Batman Beyond

Now Terry Mcginnis might be a few decades too early but due to his popularity , he might be making his agency into the Arrowverse rather than expected . With the currentBatman Beyondrecruiting   an older Barry Allen to aid him , mayhap the writers can use inhalation to bring Mcginnis in .

possibly in this world , Bruce is training a youthful Terry to take over the mantle and is currently preoccupy . Although we have n’t see or hear any easter eggs , it could be a really fun take . Seeing an sure-enough Bruce act as a mentor to both Batwoman and Terry as they patrol Gotham City and this way Bruce does n’t take the spotlight from Ruby Rose .

Beth Kane Killed Him

The pilot episode of Batwoman introduces Beth Kane as a villain and a victim of an accident Batman was n’t able-bodied to shake off . We know Beth is inferno - bent on take over Gothman and has the power necessary so who ’s to say she did n’t kill her cousin ?

perchance in a do , Batman find out his death and is bury underground for over three class . This might explain Beth ’s sureness in taking the city and her shock when she thinks she sees Batman . Although Batman has accept much more intimidating baddie , he also has a soft spot for family , a weakness Beth could ’ve very well exploited .

The Cold Trail Got To Him

The Pilot also uncover that Bruce never quit trying to project out what pass with the car accident that ( supposedly ) kill Beth and her female parent . To Bruce , this is one of his biggest failures and maybe the search for answers drove him to insanity .

Maybe he decided to get so into the case , it led him away from Gotham and just completely consume him . It ’s also potential he did n’t see himself fit to protect Gotham after feeling like he failed his aunt and first cousin . After all , Bruce has a sorry direction of dealing with his emotions

He Left For Family Reasons

With all the attention to Batman ’s fade , it ’s easy to bury he may not be the only one . In the funnies , Batman has disappeared several times and several times Dick Grayson is the on to take over the mantle . Even dissimilar robin redbreast like Jason Todd and Damian Wayne have taken the mantle so with Batman disappearing , why has n’t anyone stepped up ? Or at least helped witness the Dark Knight ?

It ’s very potential that for whatever reason Bruce evaporate , perhaps the rest of the Bat - Family disappeared as well . Or mayhap one of them disappeared first , causing Bruce to leave Gotham in hunting of his partners .

NEXT : Every Superhero In The Arrowverse : Flash , Supergirl , & More

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Batman and Batwoman comic book

Batman Dead

The Monitor in The Flash

Multiverse

Bane Breaks Batman’s Back Knightfall

Batman holding Jason Todd’s body in A Death In The Family.

Retired

Beth Kane v Batwoman

Beth Kane

Bat-Family in Batwoman

Batman

Batwoman