The Rising Tide of Villains Knowing Batman’s Identity

Introduction

Can you imagine a lesser-known secret than Batman’s! Yet, it’s an intriguing mystery worthy of the World’s Greatest Detective himself – why would Batman bungle so badly at keeping his identity secret? With a cowl that leaves only a piece of a crack in his eyes visible, and given that there are around a dozen or so villains who know that Bruce Wayne is the Bat – it begs the question, why?

Amassing the Rogues Gallery

From the evildoing Hush to the Riddler and the ever-insufferable Joker, Batman's enemies are just as likely to be on the inside wall as to be cornered in Arkham Asylum. How did they get to know of Batman's true identity or was a universe of casual encounters the catalyst for their realization?

Al Ghul Family

The names Ra’s Al Ghul, his daughter Talia Al Ghul, and Nyssa Al Ghul are synonymous with Ra’s al Ghul's overall sustainability in Gotham. Their knowledge of Batman’s true identity is a matter of history, mired in espionage and treachery.

The Riddler and Despero

The Riddler, the riddler himself, delved too deeply into Batman’s psyche to escape the lurking truth that Bruce Wayne is Batman. The telepathic Despero guessed correctly, thanks to a multitude of his psychical talents.

Bane and Others

Bane was never just any old villain. Ra’s Al Ghul’s body language and movements were mimicked so perfectly that Bane instantly recognized the truth. It took Hugo Strange much deliberation to deduce the identity of Robin/Nightwing, who eventually led the telepath to Batman. Hush (Man-Bat and Dr. Kirk Langstrom) and the Five in a Row also managed to crack the code, along with a whole line of villains who were Zatanna-mindwiped as a retcon solution in the Identity Crisis.

Internal Battlefield

Within the Bat-family, to the fringes like Killer Moth and Supergirl’s Earth-3 counterpart, Owlman, every villain feels the existential threat of Batman within their chest.

Lex Luthor and Amanda Waller

The not-so-little townspeople of Gotham, like Luthor and Waller, as much as their personal feuds, are well aware of Batman’s true identity. From the daily antics to the tragic past, Batman’s enemies have their suspicions and proof.

Conclusion

While Batman’s enduring and complex narrative has made him one of the most enigmatic characters in comic history, the fact is that his double identity is just too big a secret to keep. These are stories that have been retold and reinterpreted countless times, but one thing is clear – Batman is no longer Batman-as-secret without further ado. And let’s not forget the irony: the one villain who might be hiding his own secret, the Joker, just doesn’t care to spend any time on Bruce.

So, here's the question for Batman fans and connoisseurs of the meta-narrative: why does Batman wear the cowl? And are we to trust that he’ll ever truly be a secret in the world of Gotham?

Stay tuned for more updates on the mystery of Batman’s cowl!