Hey, you have a whole bunch of inaccuracies in this, so I hope you don’t mind me correcting you? This is just meant to me helpful, and by no means malicious! I just don’t want you out there with false information.
First of all, if you’re including all of these characters, Bruce is at least in his early 40’s. Here’s a timeline as proof (remember, this is bare minimum):
- Left Gotham to train w/ League- 18 yrs
- Became Batman - 21/22 yrs
- Gets Dick - 24 yrs
- Dick becomes Nightwing - 31 yrs
- Jason is Robin - 31 yrs
- Jason dies - 32/33 yrs
- Tim becomes Robin - 33/34 yrs
- Dies - 36/37 yrs
- Current time, Damian is 13ish - 40/41 yrs
Then, Alfred. He is actually not Bruce’s adoptive father. He - along with Leslie Thompkins, who should really be in this list - was his legal guardian. It’s actually an important distinction.
Now, Kate Kane. Yes, she is legally and biologically related to Bruce. But thing here is with the name. Kathy Kane refers to her very first incarnation as Bruce’s love interest in 1956, back when there were rumors that Batman and Robin were gay (yes, it is ironic she was brought back as a lesbian!). Because of this, you really must be referring to Kate Kane, reintroduced in 2006, as Bruce’s cousin on his mother’s side. So, label her correctly.
Okay, Bette Kane. Two things for her. First of all, she has never been referred to as “Beth”. you seem to be mixing her up with Elizabeth Kane, Kate’s sister, and the villainess known as Alice. In Bette’s first incarnation as Bat-Girl, she was called “Betty”. After Crisis, it was ret-conned, so she was never Bat-Girl. She was always Flamebird. FLAMEbird, not FIREbird. She became a vigilante to get the attention of Robin!Dick Grayson, who she had a crush on. It was later ret-conned again, saying that she’d been Bat-Girl before this, but canon is kinda sketchy. Another thing to note: She was Bat-Girl, with a hyphen. So even if you count her as the first female bat, it’s actually a different mantle. And should be kept that way. (I do applaud you on not mentioning Hawkfire, that whole arc of the Batwoman comics was complete character assassination. Bette should always be Flamebird.)
Okay! Dick Grayson! This is mostly accurate, except he’s Batman #3. Jean-Paul Valley, also known as Azrael, took up the mantle while Bruce was recovering from his spine being broken by Bane.
Jason, going by this, I’d place his age in the 19-21 area. A touch of gray space for his Death Time.
Okay, Cass time. This is really wrong here. For one, her name is Cassandra Cain, without an ‘E’ at the end. Now, I’m assuming you’re mixing continuities, since Orphan is New 52/Rebirth, unlike the other two. (I’ll leave that alone, you can do what you want! That’s the wonder if fanfiction). So, first up, it’s Black Bat, not Blackbat. Second, I’m just confused. How the frick did you get Cassandra Cain as Batgirl NUMBER FIVE? In the simplest of terms, she’s the second Batgirl. After Barbara was shot by the Joker and became Oracle, she handed the mantle on to Cass. As for age, Cassandra Cain is actually older than Jason Todd. By a few months. No way is she 15.
Damian, you’re mostly correct. Except his name is DamiAn not DamiEn. This could be discovered by a quick google, or just reading a comic with him in it.
Now … Illegal children? I’m sorry, but this is just strange. Better to call them Emotionally Adopted. (And for the previous, calling them all legal is a bit weird. I’d change it to just family, or biological and Legal)
Barbara Gordon! Okay, this depends on continuities, of course, but if you’re including Bette, Cass, Steph, and Helena as Batgirls, then Babs would still be Oracle. And she’s really the first (See Bette’s section). Beyond that, Barbara isn’t really Bruce’s child? She’s more his equal. Batgirl is a mantle outside of Bruce’s control, for one, and for another, Barbara Gordon is one of the few who can Boss around Batman!
Yay! Steph! My spirit animal! First of all its StephAnie Brown, not StephEnie. Again, super simple. You are correct on her being Robin #4. Now, the Batgirl thing is screwy. Stephanie was the third Batgirl (Babs, then Cass, then Steph), but I’m this list you have her before Cass? I’m sorry, but this is blatantly false. Just look up how Steph became Batgirl! You’ll find that Cassandra was done with the role, done with Gotham. She took off the costume on a rooftop, gave it to Steph, then ran away to Hong Kong. NO WHERE in the comics does it say Stephanie was Batgirl before her. I really don’t know where you got this. But beyond that, Stephanie is actually a year older than Tim, making her 18. She was in college, if I remember correctly, in one of the continuities.
Oh Boy, Duke Thomas. Now he’s my favourite batkid. First of all, why isn’t he on the list of legal family? He was fostered by Bruce Wayne after he accepted Bruce’s offer. Of course, things are a bit shakey with canon (See THIS post for an in-depth analysis), but he was was at least fostered for a bit. This means he should really be on the other list. Okay, after that, the We Are Robin thing was a bit weird, and even Duke doesn’t consider himself a Robin. If you didn’t include the number to make the distinction, good job, and thank you! But in an alternate timeline, Duke Became Robin after Damian died, so you could have that there as well. Next! Okay, Duke Thomas was never actually Lark. Bruce saw him going out using the name in a fever dream/hallucination. It was later revealed in a panel that it was among a list of hero names Duke was considering. Duke then went out without a name, then chose The Signal.
So, Helena Bertinelli was only Batgirl during a brief time in the No Man’s Land arc. You can still count this, but it was really only for a hot second. Plus: She didn’t have Barbara’s blessing. Helena went behind everyone’s backs to take on the name Batgirl. This is another reason why fans exclude her from the list. Her reasons for the donning the mantle was violence related - Gotham criminals feared Batgirl more than Huntress.
Harper is the same age as Stephanie.
Can I just ask why you included Hank Clover? He literally dies in the same volume he’s introduced, and was by no means close to Bruce. Sure, you could make a stretch - seriously, stretch - and say just because Batman grudgingly let them stay in Gotham for like, a week, that he could be considered a member of the clan, but by no means is he a member of the family. Plus, he went all rage-y and attacked the city.
Okay, Clover I can kind of sort of understand, seeing as she stayed at the Manor for a while. But even then, she’s really not a member of the family. Plus, she helped Bane? Granted, she was manipulated, but she still went against Bruce. No way he’d really trust her after that.
Lucas (he really goes by Luke) is 28
I really don’t know David, and he’s not portrayed as a member of the batfam, so I’m hesitant to include him.
Um… Jim GordOn (not GordEn) was never Bruce’s adoptive father, and I’m really not sure where you got this. Sure, he was a cop on the scene when Thomas and Martha Wayne died, but he by no means took Bruce in. And he wasn’t ever a father figure towards Bruce. Sure, someone he respects, but neither legally nor emotionally a parent.
Now: “Timeline Shiz”. I also think that labelling it “Timeline Shiz” is weird. Say “Alternate Timeline” or “Alternate Universe” please. That’s more accurate -especially seeing as you’re combining timelines.
Helena Wayne was also Robin in the alternate earth.
Okay, why is Ace in the alternate universe section? He’s in the main continuity? And his whole comic was adorable! I’d also ask why Titus, Goliath, Alfred the Cat, and Batcow aren’t in this. They’re pets and part of the family. Although your list seems to be Bruce-centric, so I guess excluding Damian’s pets kinda makes sense?
Love interests! Yes, I love Selina Kyle!
Oh boy do I have a lot to say about this. First of all its Talia Al Ghul, not THalia. Completely different name. No “H”. Secondly, I understand not wanting to glorify abuse, and abusive relationships, but can you please not tell people what to ship? Here, let me clear this up. Yes, the r*pe happened in some comics, and was referenced in a movie, but that’s most definitely not the reason why people ship them. The original Talia was completely different different from what most people now know her as. She was more of an anti-hero, with morals, who didn’t always follow her father’s orders. She HATED r*pists and abusers. She was a good person. When she got pregnant with Damian, it was under consensual circumstances. (In fact, Bruce and Talia might have been married. I forget the specifics) Bruce and Talia were very much in love. She told Bruce she was pregnant, and you know what he said? “That’s wonderful!” They hugged, and were overjoyed. Ra’s later forced his daughter into telling Bruce she had a miscarriage. But that doesn’t erase the fact that Damian was very much wanted. So please, don’t regulate others. I myself am a batcat shipper, but Brutalia isn’t horrible. It was total character assassination done by DC that made Talia do a complete 180.
Wonderbat isn’t canon, in sorry. It kinda sorta happened in the justice league animated series (which I love, it’s awesome!), but definitely not in the comics.
Honorary members? I’m sorry, but none of these people are in the Batfam. Sure, they’re friends, but not part of the family. The only reason I could possibly see you including them is because you ship superbat, birdflash, jayroy, etc. and having them as in-laws. But … Those aren’t canon. (No matter how much I want them to be, believe me!) You’re better off including other actual members.
(Oh, and it’s Jonathan Kent, not Jonathan Lane. Sometimes it’s hyphenated/both used at once, but when in doubt, stick to Kent.)
Alright, you know what? Here are some people you could (and should) add to the list:
- Leslie Thompkins - Bruce’s guardian after his parents died. Also the primary doctor for the batfam. Kind of a grandmother figure, but talks them outa way more crap.
- Lucius Fox - now, if you want another father figure for Bruce? Definitely Lucius! (He’s inarguably more important than his son, Luke, and was around for much longer.)
- Jean-Paul Valley - Also known as Azrael, he took on the mantle of Batman for a year while Bruce was recovering from Bane. He was trained as an assassin as a child, but managed to break free from the cult, and helped Batman.
- Tam Fox - sibling to Luke. There’s no way in heck Tim would still be alive without her. She’s just awesome.
- Tiffany Fox - was batgirl, maybe? I’ve only seen a few panels of her. Alternate Universe, I think.
- Jarro - a tiny baby starfish related to Starro that imprinted on Bruce, and has a tiny Robin suit! Adorable!
- Damian’s pets (See earlier) - they’re an integral part of the Manor, as well as Damian Wayne himself.
- Carrie Kelley - Robin #3 in The Dark Knight Returns (comics and movies). She sees that Batman is back, buys a cheep Robin costume, and hits the streets! I absolutely adore her!
- Clayface - Basil Karlo in Rebirth is reformed, and works with the bats closely. And boy are those scenes where he practices Shakespeare with Cass adorable!
- Julia Pennyworth - Alfred’s daughter. Not really around much? I haven’t read a lot of her, but might as well put her here.
- Cullen Row - Harper’s little brother.
Overall, this list is a mess of timelines. You have references to Pre-Crisis comics, with Kathy Kane. to the Pre New 52/Post Crisis comics With Bette Kane and counting more than one Batgirl. To New 52 and Rebirth, with characters like Duke and Harper aplearing. Not to mention the other timelines you pulled. Now, this isn’t a horrible thing, if this is for fandom stuff. Heck, I usually combine timelines for my fan fiction. I personally prefer having Oracle!Babs, with dashes of characters Like Duke and Harper, throwing in Carrie Kelley, and referencing things that happened in all three. But if you’re going for a single continuity, this is almost completely failing.
