Being Batman is a full-time job, but it’s not the only job Bruce Wayne holds. We all know about his position as CEO of Wayne Enterprises, but what if I told you there’s much more to Bruce Wayne’s LinkedIn page? When he’s not fighting crime or running an international corporation, Bruce has been a cop, a politician, a journalist and more. Oh, and wait until you find out how he got some of those jobs. Here are seven of Bruce Wayne’s forgotten careers.
Batman Impersonator
In 1945’s Detective Comics #105, Bruce Wayne is desperate for cash. He sank his family fortune into a failed car company and lost everything when the treasurer ran off with the company funds. In order to keep the lights on at Wayne Manor, Alfred takes a job mowing lawns and Dick takes a job as a paperboy, where he makes $1.35 in his first day.
Needing a big cash infusion, Bruce shows up to a county fair as Batman, offering his services as a Batman impersonator for $20. Bruce and Dick perform some acrobatics, dazzling the audience. The fair organizer offers to make it a full-time gig, but Bruce just takes the money and uses it to repair the Batmobile. Congrats, Bruce, apparently you make a pretty convincing Batman.
Police Officer
Over the years, fans have wondered why Bruce became a costumed crimefighter instead of pursuing a career as a police officer. Well, that’s exactly what he did in 1949’s Batman #55, but the way he went about it was…um…odd.
An officer named Mike Granite is shot at the waterfront, and with his dying words he bequeaths his badge to Bruce Wayne, who just happens to be nearby. Apparently, Mike’s badge is known as “the Glory Badge” and it’s a time honored GCPD tradition to pass it on from one person to the next. But seriously, it’s a police badge, not a Green Lantern ring. What kind of department are you running, Gordon?
Bruce, feeling it’s his sacred duty to honor the “Glory Badge tradition,” joins the GCPD. There’s even a front-page photo of him in the newspaper looking absolutely smug about it. Unsurprisingly, leading a double life as Batman and a police officer becomes complicated, so Bruce exploits a loophole in the whole “Glory Badge” thing by simply bequeathing it to another cop.
Private Detective
I promise you, there’s no way you’re going to guess how Bruce got this job.
While out on a date with Vicki Vale in 1950’s Detective Comics #155, Bruce brags that he could probably be as good of a detective as Batman. Vicki then overreacts, dragging Bruce out of their romantic dinner, taking a ride to the hospital and introducing him to her friend Ed Wedge. Ed has his own detective agency, but he’s been hospitalized for a few weeks, and since Bruce was bragging that he’s such a good detective, surely he could take over the agency for a few weeks.
Thanks to his years of detective experience as Batman, Bruce does alright. But this just goes to show that bragging while on a date never ends well.
Newspaper Reporter
1951’s Batman #65 is another case of a job just falling into Bruce’s lap without him filling out a resume. During a society dinner, two of Bruce’s socialite friends get into an argument over what it takes to be a good reporter. One of the socialites, a newspaper editor, makes a $10,000 bet that he can turn Bruce Wayne into a star reporter in three months. Bruce, figuring he has nothing better to do despite his very demanding second career as a superhero, decides to go with this warped version of My Fair Lady. Perhaps it’s a good thing because the newspaper editor winds up being a criminal mastermind and Bruce gets a front-page byline after exposing him.
I wonder if Clark Kent or Lois Lane ever get frustrated that they spent years taking journalism classes, only to have Bruce fall into a reporter job because of bored rich people making a bet.
Mayor
In 1952’s Detective Comics #179, Bruce Wayne becomes the Mayor of Gotham City. No, he doesn’t run a rigorous campaign or win votes in a tough election. Gotham’s mayor goes on vacation for a week, and instead of appointing a deputy mayor, Bruce’s name is drawn from a raffle. We never see Bruce do any actual governing during his week as mayor, and his tenure mostly consists of ceremonial stuff. The hardest part of the job is honestly having to be Batman during times when Bruce’s presence was needed elsewhere.
I’m sorry, but Gotham, why do you run your city like this? Cops are appointed by handing badges over and mayors are picked from raffles. No wonder this city has issues.
Senator
By now you’re probably noticing a trend, and you’re probably thinking that senator is another job that fell into Bruce Wayne’s lap without him trying.
You’re correct.
In 1969’s The Brave and the Bold #85, Senator Paul Cathcart is hospitalized after a gunshot wound and the governor appoints Bruce Wayne to finish his term. To be fair, this is actually something that happens in real life, but Bruce is still an odd choice. Maybe the governor thought Bruce did a good job during his week as mayor.
After helping the senate pass a crime bill, Bruce resigns as senator, and Cathcart retakes his seat after being discharged from the hospital.
Defense Attorney
Technically this is a job Bruce held as Batman, not as Bruce Wayne, but it’s so ridiculous that I need to count it anyway. In 1970’s Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #99, Lana Lang is found dead and Lois Lane is the prime suspect. Batman agrees to be her defense attorney, and nobody seems to mind that he doesn’t have a license to practice law.
The district attorney appoints Superman to be Lois’s prosecutor, which is a huge conflict of interest that would get the case thrown out in real life. Maybe the DA just wanted to see Batman and Superman fight in a courtroom? Still, it’s strange that Superman would accept the appointment and he even tries to get Lois the death penalty (?!?!?!??!). Don’t worry, Lois Lane ultimately forgives Superman when the story is over and Lana turns up alive.
Hmm…maybe Batman is a good lawyer after all.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
