BATMAN TIMELINE

According to many who read DC comics, Batman is "perpetually in his mid 30s." 

It is not possible for Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) to be “perpetually 30.” He has had too many protégé characters come through his life for that to be possible. Simply based on their various ages, it places Bruce in his mid to late-40s, at the very least! Let's make a basic timeline based on known Batman information and see, shall we?

Year 0 – Bruce Wayne is born to Dr. Thomas and Martha Wayne

Year 6 – Bruce Wayne discovers the Bat Cave under the property of Wayne Manor.

Year 8 – June 26: Thomas and Martha Wayne are murdered by Joe Chill (In the JLU episode 'Kid Stuff,' Batman says: “I haven't been a kid since I was eight years old.”)

?? - Bruce vows to “fight crime!”

Year 18 – Bruce Wayne graduates high school and goes to college to get his degree (so he can join the FBI, when he becomes eligible at 23).

Year 20 – Bruce Wayne graduates with a 2-year business degree. However, Bruce realizes that the FBI are restricted in “fighting crime” how he wants to by their bureaucracy. Instead, he begins traveling the world and accumulating the skills he will need in his war against crime.

(Here is where I turn to my GM, Angela Black, and her DC Origins campaign. Bruce Wayne learns the identity of Sandman – Wesley Dodds – and begins studying under him to become a detective. Through Dodds, Bruce trains under the other members of the surviving JSA and accumulates their skills. Fighting from Ted Grant (Wildcat). Hunting and tracking from Paul Kirk (Manhunter). Theatrics and deception from Giovanni Zatara (Magician). Etc...)

Year 26 – Returning to Gotham City, Bruce Wayne intends to start his fight on crime, but is distracted by his sudden whirlwind romance with Andrea Beaumont. Shortly after accepting Bruce's marriage proposal, Andrea is forced to leave Gotham City with her father, who had embezzled money from the local crime families.

Bruce Wayne begins fighting crime as BATMAN!

Year 27 – Batman, Year One. Batman wages war against the Marconi and Falconi crime families of Gotham. As the standard techniques of the crime families fail to work with Batman, they turn to more theatrical criminals, bringing in and/or funding the creation of costumed villains (Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, etc). Batman gains allies with Detective Jim Gordon and ADA Harvey Dent. Together, they expose the corrupt politicians of Gotham, removing several city council members, judges, and eventually Mayor Hamilton Hill.

Inspired by Batman, Selena Kyle begins committing crimes as Catwoman.

Year 28 – Still unable to get rid of Batman, the crime families turn to the Red Hood Gang to start a crime wave. This is eventually stopped by Batman, when he murders the leader of the Red Hoods by throwing him into a vat of acid at the Ace Chemical Plant (that's how the newspapers report the incident).

The Joker appears soon afterward.

The Long Halloween begins shortly afterward.

Year 29 – As the Long Halloween continues, DA Harvey Dent is transformed into Two-Face. The Long Halloween comes to an end as Two-Face murders Carmine Falconi.

Year 30 – Bruce Wayne adopts Dick Grayson (age 9). Sensing a need to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of Tony Zucco, Bruce begins training Dick to help focus his rage and hopefully prevent another Batman from being born.

Year 33 – Batman is joined by Robin (Dick Grayson, age 12).

Year 35 – Barbara Gordon graduates high school at 16, due to her eidetic memory. She becomes a clerk for the GCPD, organizing files and such. After her father is falsely accused of criminal corruption, Barbara becomes Batgirl to clear his name.

Year 37 – Dick Grayson (age 16) and Barbara Gordon (age 18) begin dating.

Year 38 – Dick Grayson (age 17) graduates from high school and moves to Gateway City, where he helps form the Titans (with Aqualad, Kid Flash, Speedy, and Wonder Girl).

Andrea Beaumont returns to Gotham City, rekindling a romance with Bruce Wayne. The romance ends when Bruce discovers Andrea is “The Phantasm;” murdering old crime bosses who hunted and killed her father.

Batman discovers Jason Todd attempting to steal the wheels from the Batmobile. Bruce Wayne adopts Jason Todd and begins training him as his new protégé.

Year 39 – Raven assembles a new team of Titans to aid in fighting her father, the demon Trigon (Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Starfire). Shortly after defeating Trigon, Terra joins the Titans.

The events of “The Killing Joke” occur.

Jason Todd becomes Robin II.

Year 40 – The events of the “Judas Contract” occur, as Terra betrays the Titans to Deathstroke the Terminator and HIVE. While rescuing his allies, Dick Grayson (19) assumes the identity of Nightwing.

Only 9 months after debuting as Robin, Jason Todd is murdered by the Joker. Jason Todd's body is later recovered by Ra's al-Ghul and resurrected in a Lazarus Pit.

Bruce Wayne is distraught over the crippling of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd. He stops fighting crime with his usual passion. Picking up the slack, Barbara Gordon (21) assumes the identity of “Oracle” and forms the “Birds of Prey” to function as her crime fighting agents.

Year 41 – Dick Grayson (20) graduates college with a 2-year business degree.

Year 44 – Tim Drake (14) reveals he knows the identity of Batman to Bruce Wayne and becomes the new Robin III; encouraging Batman to renew his fight on crime.

Year 45 – The events of “Under the Red Hood” occur.

Tim Drake (16) begins dating and training Stephanie Brown (Spoiler).

Year 46 – Following the attempted assassination of Ra's al-Ghul, Damian Wayne (10) is forced into Bruce Wayne's life by Talia al'Ghul. Damian immediately asserts his dominance in the Bat Family as the “true heir” of Bruce Wayne and begins hunting down the other adopted sons and proteges to prove his superiority. Nightwing beats the crap out of Damian. However, Damian nearly kills Tim Drake (17) before Batman puts Damian in his place. With Tim Drake “out of the way,” Damian assumes the role of Robin IV.

November this year, the Court of Owls make their presence known to Batman, when they attempt to recruit Bruce Wayne into their organization and Talon attempts to make Damian his protégé.

Year 47 – Tim Drake (18) assumes the identity of “Red Robin.”

Katherine Kane begins fighting crime as “Batwoman.”

Batman is believed to be killed in an explosion created by the villain Heretic (in truth, he is kidnapped by Talia al'Ghul). Dick Grayson (26) assumes the identity of Batman until he and Damian Wayne (11) find Bruce. They are assisted in the search by Batwoman and Luke Fox (Batwing – using the prototype “Batman Beyond” suit)

Year 50 – CURRENT DAY. According to official DC timeline, Damian Wayne is currently 14, having become Robin at 10.

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As you can see, Batman is now well into his middle age, as a man. Compared to other superheroes, it's not too bad. According to the MCU, Tony Stark was 46 when he first donned the Iron Man armor. “He wears armor!” you scream? Well, how about a different comparison with a martial arts hero... John Wick. Keanu Reeves was 50 years old when he played that role. I'd like to think that experienced John Wick and experienced Batman would be on a (somewhat) level playing field.

And this timeline does not even take into account several other MAJOR events that can still occur in Batman continuity. It does not at all address the appearance of Bane and the subsequent “breaking of the Bat,” followed by Jean-Paul Valley's appearance as Azrael while Batman is recovering from his injuries. However, considering Batman knows several Justice League members with access to advanced medical technology or magical healing purple rays, his recovery would be faster than it would have happened in comics continuity.

This specific timeline also does not include any mention of when batman joins the Justice League or has any of his major adventures with them! Nor does it address other things like No Man's Land, Hush, the creation of the Outsiders or Batman: Incorporated. With all that in mind, one could easily see Batman being in his mid to late 50s, going on 60.