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Yes. In fact, Brian Thompson’s son will likely inherit his money and move to Japan for intensive training under Sensei Yoru. He’ll then return stateside to take figurehead control of UHC, while roaming the streets of NYC at night, doling out vigilante justice to the oppressed and impoverished citizens.
If Batman were real, he’d probably be our enemy.
Wait, isn't that Danny "I am the Iron Fist" Rand?
"I am the Iron Fist!"
Yes, Danny, we get it. Show, don't tell.
One of the short stories in Radicalized by Cory Doctorow is about pretty much this. Superheroes having an "Are we the baddies?" moment
Yes. Batman has gone after other would be crime fighters who use lethal force, even those targeting his worst enemies.
That said, he'd also likely investigate Thompson and expose any evidence he could find of corrupt or criminal behavior. Just look at the the animated series versions of Mister Freeze and Clayface. Batman sympathizes with them but can't let the commit murder. He has far less sympathy for the businessmen that wronged them and goes out of his way to expose their crimes.
How would Batman recommend that a non-billionaire who doesn't have a Batmobile or a suit of power armour go about stopping evil CEOs? Obviously Batman isn't unilaterally opposed to vigilante actions, but how does Batman think vigilantes ought to operate against people who have so much power?
Batman isn't about trying to inspire others into becoming vigilantes, he's trying to protect innocent people and clean up a corrupt system. He wouldn't want people playing judge, jury and executioner, he'd want the legal system to do its fucking job and hold those CEOs accountable for their actions.
He does also use his wealth and influence to address problems which can't be solved by punching someone in a dark alley. He funds charities that help the poor, tries to help ex cons find legitimate work, and tries to ensure that his company is a force for good in the world.
Most Batman media isn't going to focus on something like healthcare policy, or stories in which he tries to fight for political change through lobbying and donations. That has less to do with who Batman is and more to do with types of stories that most audiences want to see, and that the writers (and their bosses) want to tell. But I think it would be likely that Bruce Wayne would be politically active and would be trying to support grass roots organizations fighting for positive change. And he'd likely try to recruit honest reformers to run for political office with his backing (much like he did with Harvey Dent in several iterations of Two-Face's origin) so that they could address local problems in the short term and potentially advance to higher office where they could act on a larger scale.
I think that's the kind of action he would encourage others to take (if they aren't in a position to act more directly like a whistle-blower or someone with legal authority). I think he'd suggest doing whatever is in your power to help others in your community, and to encourage others to do the same. He'd probably argue that violence seems more effective because the consequences are immediate, but that it is ultimately self defeating in the long term. That committing murder not only hurts your cause but that it also throws away your future and with it a lifetime of good that you could have done. That the hopelessness we feel in the face of the problems around us is part of how the corrupt hold onto power, filling people with fear and apathy until they no longer see a point in trying to make a difference. That each of us can make a difference and that we can inspire others to do the same.
I don't think he'd point out the fact that the war on crime and corruption that he's dedicated his life to is a sisyphean task that will never be complete. But I do think that would color his perspective a bit.
In universe? I wouldn't say that Batman is anti corporate espionage. He's constantly breaking the law, just with a few caveats (no killing, not to victimize innocent people, etc). He'd probably tacitly support, or at least not pursue quite so vigorously, competent vigilanties who steal records for publication, intimidate crooked CEOs, and destroy company infrastructure.
Sure, he's a corrupt billionaire.
That's a shame
They are releasing a new series where they re-imagine Batman as a blue collar worker. They realized he would be way more relatable that way for today's age. It's crazy how spot on they are, but I am not sure I can get behind this either.
That's interesting!
My first impulse would be no.
But.. Maybe?
It depends on the writer, and what kind of story they're telling.
Batman is the wealthiest individual in the city. He mostly goes after street level criminals. So yes, he would.
But he also takes on larger organizations and problems occasionally. So when he finds the shooter and learns the motivations, he may realize there's a bigger problem. He could decide to have Bruce fund a free hospital for the city that completely bypasses the insurance industry all together.
That could be an interesting story.
Batman's whole thing is making it so criminals, the kind who actually set out to hurt people, have to live in fear. That if they go too far, vengeance will come from the shadows to stop them.
That's how CEOs have been feeling the past week.
Most top tier super heroes would go after them, as they mostly are against any killing at all. Then there's a tier who may not bother depending on state of mind, e.g. Logan. And then there's anti-heroes like the Punisher, Venom or Spawn, who would maybe congratulate or maybe kill them.
Are you joking? Of course he would. He only took up being as fascist plutocrat vigilante because someone killed his daddy: a CEO.
Batman is just another way the wealthy subvert the institutions trying to check their economic power. In this case by visiting violence directly.
Does that theory fit with the fact that Batman often busts crooked cops?
Neither vigilantes nor billionaires are known for a coherent moral philosophy.
In The Batman (2022), Thomas Wayne was assassinated by the mob because he refused to be complicit in corruption. This is a reference to the fact that the only good billionaire is a dead billionaire.
Bruce Wayne is of course exempt from this rule, because he's a superhero in a comic book movie who knows kung fu.