Batman is associated with great wealth as much as being a great detective and master of multiple martial arts. Take away his money, however, and Bruce Wayne wouldn’t be able to afford his many wonderful toys while still being a capable hero. And yet, a photo of the Clayface set could hint at the DCU Dark Knight operating within more modest means, as in the Absolute Universe and DC All-In comics.
The Clayface set photo was posted on X by DC Film News. The image shows a Wayne Community Center that is in a poor state of repair. This is incredibly out of character for Bruce Wayne, who is a dedicated philanthropist in the comics. Beyond being kind, the people he helps as Bruce Wayne are less likely to become criminals for Batman to deal with later.
Given that, it seems unlikely that Bruce Wayne would allow any charity he oversaw to be so poorly funded. Logically, it would then follow that he cannot afford to finance charitable organizations anymore. Either he lost his fortune recently or the Wayne family is not as affluent as it once was. Surprisingly, both possibilities are backed up by the recent Batman comics and the Absolute Batman series.
Absolute Universe features a working-class Batman
The Absolute Universe is an experiment initiated by Darkseid, to see if heroes might burn brighter in a dark world. The familiar heroes of Earth-Prime exist in the Absolute Universe, but with major details of their lives changed. In the case of Absolute Batman, the Waynes are not wealthy and only Thomas Wayne died when Bruce Wayne was a child. He was a teacher and his wife, Martha, a social worker, with Bruce growing up to become a civil engineer.
The Absolute Batman is just as inventive as his Earth-Prime counterpart. However, all of his gear is repurposed from equipment owned by the city. He also lacks a permanent Batcave, operating out of whatever construction sites are handy to his current mission. While it is unlikely the DCU Batman will be based entirely upon the Absolute Universe, it is possible the community center is a nod to this version of the character.
DC All-In Batman also working on a budget
It is worth noting that Batman is also operating in reduced circumstances in the current DC All-In comics. The 2020 Joker War storyline saw Bruce Wayne lose control of his company and charities, as well as most of his family fortune. Since that time, he has operated out of a series of mini-caves and a brownstone rather than Wayne Manor.
While far from destitute, this change has presented Batman with new challenges. Chief among them is dealing with neighbors in close quarters. He is also having to spend more money on repairs, rather than just scrapping his broken toys. It is possible the DCU Batman may also be operating on a reduced budget and is no longer overseeing the Wayne Foundation.
