What Was ALL of Batman's Training?

Summary

In 'Comic Drake,' Drake delves into Batman's extensive training journey, exploring Bruce Wayne's mastery of combat, languages, and diverse skills. From childhood talents to global mentors, Bruce's development into Batman is traced, including his martial arts training, detective skills, and engineering prowess. The video highlights the breadth of Batman's expertise, showcasing his relentless pursuit of knowledge and justice.

Takeaways

• 😱 Bruce Wayne's parents were murdered in front of him, an event that set him on the path to becoming Batman.
• 📚 Bruce was a prodigy with skills in vehicle repair, archery, and research from a young age, mastering speed reading and total memory recall.
• 🏰 Trained by his butler Alfred, Bruce learned combat medicine, acting, disguises, and voice mimicry.
• 🎓 Attended Gotham Academy, though he was expelled, and later studied at prestigious colleges like Cambridge and the Sorbonne.
• 🥊 Learned boxing from Ted Grant, who became the vigilante Wildcat, emphasizing the importance of taking a hit.
• 🎩 Studied under illusionist Giovanni Zatara, learning sleight of hand and escape artistry.
• 🚗 Trained in driving and specialty cars with Don Miguel in Rio de Janeiro, impacting the design of the Batmobile.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Worked with the Chicago police and FBI, adopting the persona of Matches Malone to infiltrate the criminal world.
• 🧘‍♂️ Trained in various martial arts globally, including Korean martial arts, kung fu, and ninjutsu.
• 🔧 Under Sergei Alexandrov, Bruce became a world-class engineer and problem-solver.
• 🤺 Continued his martial arts training with masters like Shihan Matsuda and Richard Dragon, mastering his body temperature and other skills.
• 🌄 Bruce's journey included spiritual training in Taoism and experiences with masters who could make themselves invisible.
• 🏆 Competed in pit fighting in Norway for 28 hours, refusing to kill and emerging victorious.
• 🦸‍♂️ After extensive training, Bruce returned home to Gotham and began his career as Batman, the world's greatest detective.

Q & A

What is the origin story of Batman as mentioned in the script?

The origin story of Batman involves billionaire Bruce Wayne, who after witnessing the murder of his parents at a young age, travels the world and becomes a master of numerous skills, ultimately becoming Batman.

Which version of Batman is the script focusing on?

The script is specifically focusing on the Bruce Wayne from the mainstream DC Comics New Earth/Prime Earth continuity.

What are some of the skills Bruce Wayne had mastered at a young age?

Bruce Wayne mastered skills such as basic vehicle repair, archery, research/data analysis, speed reading, total memory recall, lip reading, and lockpicking at a young age.

Who taught Bruce Wayne combat medicine, acting, mastery of disguises, and voice mimicry?

Bruce Wayne was taught these skills by his butler, Alfred, who was a field medic for MI5 and a trained actor.

Why was Bruce Wayne expelled from Gotham Academy?

The script does not provide a specific reason for Bruce Wayne's expulsion from Gotham Academy, only noting that it is assumed to have occurred before his training abroad.

What is the significance of Bruce Wayne's training with Ted Grant?

Bruce Wayne's training with Ted Grant, the world champion heavyweight boxer who became the vigilante Wildcat, was significant not only for learning boxing but also for learning how to take a hit.

How did Bruce Wayne's education abroad contribute to his skills as Batman?

Bruce Wayne's education abroad involved studying at prestigious colleges and learning from various masters, which contributed to his mastery of multiple martial arts, engineering, problem-solving, and other skills crucial to his role as Batman.

What is the significance of Bruce Wayne's training with the FBI?

Bruce Wayne's training with the FBI was significant as it taught him the value of maintaining a criminal alias to gather information from the criminal underground, leading to the creation of his Matches Malone persona.

What is the story behind the Ten-Eyed Brotherhood that Bruce Wayne trained with in Africa?

The Ten-Eyed Brotherhood is a group Bruce Wayne trained with in Africa, known for killing demons. It's unclear if Bruce meant literal or metaphorical demons, but given Batman's lore, it's likely literal demons.

How did Bruce Wayne's training with various martial arts masters impact his abilities as Batman?

Bruce Wayne's training with various martial arts masters allowed him to master an array of martial arts, weapons, and physical techniques, making him a formidable combatant as Batman.

What is the story of Bruce Wayne's mentors being targeted and killed off in Batman #434 and #435?

In Batman #434 and #435, Bruce Wayne's mentors were targeted and killed off one by one by a demolitions expert named Frederick Stone, who deduced he had trained Batman. Stone attempted to tie up loose ends to protect Batman's secret identity and his own life.

Outlines

00:00

🦇 Bruce Wayne's Early Life and Training

This paragraph delves into the origin story of Batman, focusing on the mainstream DC Comics continuity of Bruce Wayne. It mentions the tragic murder of his parents and his subsequent journey to master various skills. Bruce's childhood is highlighted with his early talents in vehicle repair, archery, and data analysis. His exceptional abilities in speed reading and total memory recall are noted, along with the combat medicine, acting, and disguise skills he learned from his butler, Alfred. The paragraph also covers Bruce's expulsion from Gotham Academy and his travels starting at the age of fourteen, where he learned boxing from Ted Grant, sleight of hand from Giovanni Zatara, and escape artistry from Max Dodge. Bruce's studies in Rio de Janeiro under Don Miguel and his subsequent sabotage of a heist are also summarized.

05:03

🌍 Bruce Wayne's Global Education and Martial Arts Mastery

This section of the script outlines Bruce Wayne's extensive global education and martial arts training. Bruce's studies at prestigious colleges like Cambridge, the Sorbonne, and the Berlin School of Science are mentioned, emphasizing his selective approach to learning. His brief tenure with the Chicago police department and the FBI, where he learned the importance of maintaining a criminal alias, is summarized. Bruce's martial arts training with masters like Kirigi in North Korea, Chu Chin Li in China, and Tsunetomo in Japan is detailed, along with his engineering prowess under Sergei Alexandrov in Egypt. The spiritual aspects of his journey, including Taoism training with Shao-La and H'sien-Tan, are also covered. The paragraph concludes with Bruce's pit fighting in Norway and his final mentor, Willie Doggett, in Alaska, before he returns home to become Batman.

10:05

🎭 The Legacy of Bruce Wayne's Mentors and Ongoing Learning

The final paragraph discusses the legacy of Bruce Wayne's mentors and his continuous pursuit of knowledge. It provides a rapid overview of various mentors from Batman #434 and #435, who were killed off by Frederick Stone, a demolitions expert who trained Batman. The paragraph highlights Bruce's expertise in combat, languages, history, spiritual disciplines, and mental processing techniques. It also mentions his ongoing learning even after becoming Batman, with access to new teachers like Green Arrow. The script invites viewers to share any missed details in the comments and encourages them to subscribe or watch more Batman-related videos, ending with a thank you for watching.

Keywords

💡Batman

Batman, also known as Bruce Wayne, is the central character in the video script. He is a billionaire who becomes a master of numerous skills after his parents' tragic death. The term 'Batman' is integral to the video's theme, as it represents the vigilante persona adopted by Bruce Wayne to fight crime in Gotham City. The script discusses Batman's origin story and the wide array of skills he acquires throughout his life, such as martial arts, detective work, and engineering.

💡Multiverse

The term 'multiverse' refers to the concept of multiple parallel universes that exist simultaneously. In the context of the video, it is mentioned to clarify that there are multiple iterations of Batman across different universes within the DC Comics continuity. The script specifies that it focuses on the mainstream version of Batman from the New Earth/Prime Earth universe, highlighting the complexity of the character's narrative across various storylines.

💡Martial Arts

Martial arts are various systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for self-defense, competition, or physical fitness. In the video, Bruce Wayne's training in martial arts is a significant part of his journey to become Batman. He learns various martial arts from masters around the world, such as Korean martial arts from Kirigi, kung fu from Chu Chin Li, and ninjutsu from Tsunetomo, which collectively contribute to his prowess as a crime fighter.

💡Detective

A detective is an investigator, often working for a police department or as a private investigator, who solves crimes by gathering evidence and analyzing clues. The script mentions that Bruce Wayne's detective skills are honed under the tutelage of Henri Ducard and his son Morgan, emphasizing the importance of investigative work in Batman's crime-fighting arsenal.

💡Vigilante

A vigilante is a person who takes the law into their own hands, often acting outside the legal system to enforce their own version of justice. The script describes Bruce Wayne's decision to become a vigilante after feeling frustrated with the limitations of working within the FBI's system, marking a pivotal moment in his transformation into Batman.

💡Alfred

Alfred Pennyworth is Bruce Wayne's butler and father figure, who plays a significant role in the video. He is known for his skills in combat medicine, acting, and mastery of disguises, which he imparts to Bruce. Alfred's teachings contribute to Batman's ability to function effectively in various situations, from medical emergencies to undercover operations.

💡Engineer

An engineer is a professional who applies scientific principles to design, build, and maintain structures, machines, or systems. In the script, Bruce Wayne becomes one of the world's greatest engineers under the guidance of Sergei Alexandrov, an ex-KGB super scientist. This training allows Batman to create advanced technology and gadgets that aid him in his crime-fighting endeavors.

💡Mentor

A mentor is someone who imparts knowledge or skills to another, often guiding their development in a particular area. The video script lists numerous mentors who have trained Bruce Wayne in various disciplines, from boxing with Ted Grant to studying with the Ten-Eyed Brotherhood in Africa. These mentors play a crucial role in shaping Batman's diverse skill set.

💡FBI

The FBI, or Federal Bureau of Investigation, is the principal federal investigative agency in the United States. In the script, Bruce Wayne enlists in the FBI and undergoes training under Agent Arthur McKee, learning the importance of maintaining a criminal alias. His experience with the FBI influences his decision to work outside the law as Batman.

💡Assassination

Assassination refers to the act of deliberately killing a high-profile target, often for political reasons. The script mentions that Bruce Wayne unknowingly assists in an assassination while training with the Ducards, which contrasts with his moral code as Batman. Despite learning killing techniques from David Cain, Batman chooses not to use them, reflecting his commitment to non-lethal methods.

💡Taoism

Taoism is a philosophical and religious tradition of Chinese origin that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, or the natural order. In the video, Bruce Wayne's spiritual journey leads him to study Taoism in the Tanggula Shan mountains with Shao-La, learning the light side of the discipline. However, he also trains with H'sien-Tan, who represents the dark side of Taoism, although Bruce does not master the ability to become invisible, which is associated with this darker aspect.

Highlights

Bruce Wayne's journey to becoming Batman involved mastering a wide range of skills from around the world.

Bruce's origin story is set in the mainstream DC Comics New Earth/Prime Earth continuity.

Young Bruce Wayne displayed skills in vehicle repair, archery, and research/data analysis early in life.

Bruce Wayne mastered speed reading and total memory recall, enabling him to quickly acquire new techniques.

Alfred, Bruce's butler, taught him combat medicine, acting, mastery of disguises, and voice mimicry.

Bruce was expelled from the prestigious Gotham Academy, indicating his early education there.

At the age of fourteen, Bruce began learning boxing from world champion Ted Grant, who later became the vigilante Wildcat.

Bruce Wayne's training included studying under illusionist Giovanni Zatara and learning sleight of hand, ventriloquism, and escape artistry.

In Rio de Janeiro, Bruce learned to drive and use specialty cars from criminal Don Miguel, influencing the design of the Batmobiles.

Bruce studied at prestigious colleges such as Cambridge, the Sorbonne, and the Berlin School of Science, focusing on classes he deemed important.

Bruce briefly worked with the Chicago police department and the FBI, learning the value of maintaining a criminal alias.

Bruce trained in various martial arts, including Korean martial arts from master Kirigi and kung fu from master Chu Chin Li.

In Egypt, Bruce became an expert engineer under the guidance of ex-KGB scientist Sergei Alexandrov.

Bruce's spiritual journey included learning Taoism and mastering his body temperature, as demonstrated by melting the Himalayan snow.

Bruce Wayne was trained by a multitude of mentors, each contributing to his vast array of skills and knowledge.

Frederick Stone, a demolitions expert, attempted to protect Batman's secret identity by murdering his other mentors.

Even after becoming Batman, Bruce continues to learn and expand his skills, such as archery taught by Green Arrow.

The vast amount of knowledge and skills Bruce Wayne has acquired is ever-growing, with new details emerging regularly.

Transcripts

Hello and welcome to Comic Drake where I talk about comic books and my name is Drake!

Everybody knows the origin story.

After billionaire Bruce Wayne’s parents were killed right in front of him at a young

age, he traveled the world and became a master of well…

everything…

Because Batman.

But what all did that really entail?

Let’s find out!

Before we dive in, I need to make it very clear that there are MULTIPLE Batmen across

the multiverse so for this video, we are specifically taking a look at the Bruce Wayne in the mainstream

DC Comics New Earth/Prime Earth continuity.

It’s also worth noting that there is some REALLY silly stuff that has been retconned

away like a young Bruce Wayne acting as a junior detective in a prototype Robin costume.

We’ve tried to be more than thorough to get all of the facts straight and relevant

so with that out of the way, let’s dive in!

Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered in front of him between the ages of seven and ten.

Honestly, it depends on the writer.

Now, we don’t get many glimpses into Bruce’s childhood, but based on what we HAVE seen,

Bruce already had skills in basic vehicle repair, archery, and research/data analysis.

In fact, Wayne mastered speed reading and total memory recall at a young age which led

to him quickly being able to pick up and master techniques such as lip reading and lockpicking.

Bruce was also taught several skills by his butler, Alfred.

Alfred was a field medic for MI5 and a trained actor and he passed along several relevant

skills including combat medicine, acting, mastery of disguises, and voice mimicry.

We also know that at some point in his life, Bruce was a student at the prestigious Gotham

Academy, but was expelled.

Considering that Bruce was thought to be dead during the later half of his training abroad,

it can be assumed that he attended Gotham Academy beforehand.

Having learned essentially all that he could in Gotham, Bruce began his journey at the

age of fourteen where it looks like he started by picking up boxing from Ted Grant, a world

champion heavyweight boxer who went on to become the vigilante Wildcat.

It’s worth noting that while learning how to throw a proper punch IS important, Bruce

picked up an even more valuable skill under Wildcat’s tutelage, how to take a hit.

Bruce stuck around in America for a good while and became a pupil of Giovanni Zatara, a world

renowned illusionist and LITERAL MAGICIAN.

From Zatara and his daughter Zatanna, Wayne learned sleight of hand, ventriloquism, and

escape artistry, the later of which Bruce got further training with from a man named

Max Dodge.

At age nineteen, Wayne traveled to Rio de Janeiro and studied with renowned criminal

Don Miguel to learn how to drive and use speciality cars which would go on to greatly impact the

design of the Batmobiles.

After learning all that he could, Bruce ultimately sabotaged a heist and left Don Miguel for

the police.

Now although we’ve mostly been focusing on Batman’s physical talents and strengths,

let’s take a quick break and look at how Bruce trained his mind.

As he traveled around, Bruce studied at several prestigious colleges including, but not limited

to Cambridge, the Sorbonne, and the Berlin School of Science.

However, Bruce would only take classes here and there that he deemed important and he

would stay at each school for maybe a semester or two at the very most.

Six years after starting his journey, Bruce returned to America at the age of twenty where

he briefly helped out in the Chicago police department under a detective named Dan Malloy

before enlisting in the FBI.

Although they prefered college graduates, the FBI waived all academic requirements when

they saw that Bruce scored a perfect score on every single test they threw at him save

for gun handling which…

well obviously.

Wayne was put into FBI training where he studied under an agent named Arthur McKee who taught

Bruce the value of maintaining a criminal alias in order to pull information from the

criminal underground.

It was this training that led Bruce to eventually take on the Matches Malone persona.

After training, Bruce only spent six weeks in service of the FBI since he was fed up

with having to work within the FBI’s system and came to the conclusion that in order to

exact justice properly, he’d have to work outside of the law.

This marked a turning point in Bruce’s journey as he traveled east and learned every Korean

martial art from a master named Kirigi in North Korea who has trained several members

of the League of Assassins.

Bruce also learned kung fu from master Chu Chin Li in China and ninjutsu from Yakuza

assassin Tsunetomo in Japan.

After of this martial arts training, Bruce moved on to Egypt where he studied under the

ex-KGB super scientist, Sergei Alexandrov.

Not only did Wayne become one of the world’s greatest engineers under Sergei’s guidance,

but he was also tested on finding unconventional solutions to problems.

But while still in Africa, Bruce trained with a group called the Ten-Eyed Brotherhood.

Wayne has said that these guys kill demons, but it was never quite clear if he meant LITERAL

demons or metaphorical, but because it’s the goddamn Batman….

Yeah, probably literal demons.

Anyway, Bruce left Africa and flew to France where he became the apprentice of Henri Ducard,

a world class manhunter.

Along with Ducard’s bastard son, Morgan, Wayne further honed his detective, tracking,

and intelligence gathering skills, but left after unknowingly helping the Ducards exact

an assassination instead of bringing the target to Interpol.

Although he disagreed with the assassination side of the Ducards’ business, Bruce was

also a student of one of the world’s greatest assassins, David Cain.

You might know him as the father of Cassandra Cain, one of the Batgirls.

Despite learning all of Cain’s killing blows, Bruce has never used these techniques, believing

that knowing HOW to kill would make him better at avoiding it.

Additionally, Wayne learned from the legendary martial arts master Shihan Matsuda.

Not only did he further hone his already incredible martial arts skills, but Bruce gained mastery

over his body including his body temperature.

In fact, here’s a shot of Bruce melting the ground below him in the freaking HIMALAYA

MOUNTAINS with nothing but his body heat and determination…

Because Batman.

Let’s also not forget that Wayne was trained by one of the world’s greatest martial artists

and forgotten part of the DC universe, Richard Dragon.

He’s a strange case in that Dragon originally first appeared in a series of novels in 1974,

but was later adapted for the DC universe a year later and has stuck around since.

Wayne’s spiritual journey continued into the Tanggula Shan mountains where he learned

the light side of Taoism from a master named Shao-La who also trained Batman in the art

of hang gliding which he would later perfect in Yugoslavia with his glider cape.

Anyway, while Bruce learned a lot from Shao-La, he never really quite…

got Taoism so he trained in the dark side with a master names H’sien-Tan which I’m

pretty sure that I butchered.

Regardless, this man was so powerful that he could literally make others perceive him

as invisible!

Now despite the potential, Wayne ended up not staying with this master for long and

didn’t pick up this ability which is a real shame because an invisible Batman would be

even more terrifying than him just the blending in that he already does.

At the age of twenty four, Bruce was in Norway where he competed in pit fighting for TWENTY

EIGHT HOURS STRAIGHT simply because he refused to kill.

In the end, Bruce won because nobody else was brave enough to face him.

Holy crap!

The final mentor that we know Bruce worked alongside of was a bounty hunter named Willie

Doggett in Alaska.

The man they were tracking killed Doggett, but Bruce was able to fight him off until

the target fell off a mountain and took Bruce’s parka with him.

After being rescued by a shaman, Wayne finally returned home and began his career as a vigilante.

Now this basically marks the end of my research, but we did get a rapid fire list of other

people Bruce had learned from in Batman #434 and #435 as they were killed off one by one

and were placed in knockoff Batman suits before their death.

A lot of these guys get so little history that all we get is their last name so let’s

breeze through it!

There’s Kingsley the chemist, La Salle the bodybuilder, Mark Jenner the race car driver,

Peter Allison the gymnast, Raphael Digorda the crossbow archer, Aurelius Boch the toxicologist,

Webber the acid expert, and Shastri the herpetologist.

All of these mentors were killed off by a demolitions expert named Frederick Stone who

deduced that he had trained Batman when he saw him use a bomb disarming technique that

he had invented.

After faking his own death, Stone murdered all of Batman’s other mentors that he could

find in hopes that by tying up those loose ends, Batman’s enemies couldn’t discover

his secret identity and in turn, wouldn’t kill Fredrick Stone himself.

Now clearly this is a LOT of information and by the time that Bruce Wayne had completed

his journey, he was an expert in nearly every single style of combat, having mastered every

weapon and martial art known to man.

Along his travels, Bruce became fluent in nearly every single language known to man

and learned most of the world’s history.

He has mastered ancient spiritual disciplines, more skills than anyone could possibly ever

know what to do with, and mental techniques allowing him to process information at an

insane rate.

Even after becoming Batman, Bruce continues to learn all that he can and now has access

to even more teachers like the Green Arrow himself teaching him archery.

In fact, we will never quite know EVERYTHING that Batman has ever learned because the list

keeps on getting bigger every single day!

Now despite the fact that I have combed through decades and decades of Batman lore in order

to make this video, I’m sure there’s an obscure detail or two that I missed out on.

So if YOU know any of these details that weren’t in this video then please leave them down

there in the description below because I’d love to know.

But if you like this video then why not consider subscribing or even watching another one?

In fact, you probably like Batman if you watched this so why not check out my entire playlist

of batman videos?

There’s a bunch of them so maybe you’ll like those.

Anyway, hopefully I’ll see you next time and thanks for watching!