Batman: Bruce Wayne, Fugitive, Vol. 2

Batman: Bruce Wayne, Fugitive #2

by Greg Rucka, Devin Grayson, Ed Brubaker

Under arrest for the murder of his girlfriend, Vesper Fairchild, Bruce Wayne has broken out of prison to prove his innocence and is a wanted fugitive. Now Batman must live up to his reputation as the World's Greatest Detective to discover who had the power and the genius to frame his millionaire playboy alter ego. Aided by Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl, Batman sets out on a quest to get answers and solve the mystery of his enemy's identity. But once the true murderer is revealed, Batman learns that clearing his name and bringing his nemesis to justice may not be so simple.

Collects:
- Detective Comics #768-#772
- Gotham Knights #31
- Batman #605

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Greg Rucka, is an American comic book writer and novelist, known for his work on such comics as Action Comics, Batwoman: Detective Comics, and the miniseries Superman: World of New Krypton for DC Comics, and for novels such as his Queen & Country series.

Reviews

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 Review - Still great. Basically David Cain, Cassandra's dad is the big reveal and works really well if read all of Cassandra Cain's stuff. Overall good, fast paced, noir style Batman that I really dig.

Original Review: I mean, you have Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker writing Batman. How much more Noir can you get?

This is actually a pretty fast moving installment in the Fugitive storyline from the early 2000's! Bruce is still on the run since being called out as a murderer but we soon find Batman wanting to finally clear his name. With the help of his family and some rough justice, he's able to finally get the answers he needs to be free. When we find out who the killer is, all things break loose, and Batman has a plan one might not expect!

Good: The art is early 2000's for sure, but I love it. I also enjoyed Bruce here, as a man on the verge of losing everything, he seems desperate and tus creates some great tension filled beatdown scenes. The family moments are well done, and surprisingly there's some funny moments to be had. I also liked the fight at the end a lot.

Bad: The storyline seems to have wrapped up, yet there's another volume? Also, even if read volume 1, there's some loose story threads that don't make too much sense. It'll make you go "who's that?" a few times.

Overall, a fun followup to a good volume 1. I have no clue where volume 3 will take us, but this has been a nice surprise.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Bruce Wayne: Fugitive, Vol. 2” collects: - Detective Comics #768-#772, Gotham Knights #31, & Batman #605.

As is to be expected with Rucka and Brubaker, this is another crime/mystery/thriller that’s more super-noir than supernatural (though we do get one supernatural villain in this volume).

In this one, we finally find out who murdered Vesper. It seems like everything is resolved and yet there’s an additional volume. I guess they’re going to tie up some loose ends?

[Vinicius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nessa segunda parte achei que as histórias são melhores que a parte 1. Não tem histórias desconexas do Batman que ignoram totalmente a trama do Bruce Wayne assassino e mostram um Batman solucionando casos como se nada tivesse acontecendo.

De maneira geral, as melhores histórias ficam por conta das revistas da Batfamily. As histórias da Cassandra são as que mais gosto. Apesar disso, a história que se destacou para mim, é a história de "redenção" do Batman aceitando a faceta de Bruce Wayne, após um diálogo emocionante e impactante entre o Batman e um ex-policial já aposentado e que está no fim da vida. O que ele fala para o Batman destaca o significado do Batman para Gotham, mas principalmente na importância de Bruce Wayne.

Contudo, a conclusão do arco achei meio "jogada", sem um impacto grande conforme a história induzia o leitor. Não foi ruim, mas foi meio decepcionante a maneira que aconteceu.

[Gabriel Llagostera · Rating 3 out of 5]

La resolución del caso está bien y retoma personajes previos. El problema es que se resuelve en 3 páginas en un crossover estirado. Laburen un poco más, viejo. Veamos qué se trae el tomo 3.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman: Bruce Wayne, Fugitive is a story arc that ran through the various Batman family comic book series that was published by DC Comics. The storyline centers on Bruce Wayne being charged and arrested with the murder of Vesper Fairchild – his current girlfriend. Unable to stay put, Bruce Wayne escapes from prison and abandons his alter ego and become Batman full time.

Batman: Bruce Wayne, Fugitive, Vol. 2 collects: Detective Comics #768–772, Batman: Gotham Knights #31, and Batman #605.

Bruce Wayne has been arrested for the crime of killing his girlfriend Vesper Fairchild and is on the lam. This trade paperback concludes, at least in his allies’ mind, that Bruce Wayne has been framed for the murder of Vesper Fairchild. It is up to Batman and his allies to find out who did it.

Greg Rucka, Judd Winick, Devin Grayson, and Ed Brubaker wrote the majority of the trade paperback and for the most part, I rather enjoyed the narrative. Some issues were better than others were, but overall it was somewhat well planned and written. It took a while, but it is finally discovered that Bruce Wayne was framed, but who did it remains a mystery and only those closest to Batman believes this.

Steve Lieber, Sergio Cariello, Roger Robinson, and Scott McDaniel are the pencilers for this trade paperback. With so many pencilers, it is rather difficult to grade the overall artistic flow. For the most part this hodgepodge of pencilers has similar styles with few exceptions and that the flow of the artistic style flowed rather smoothly with a few sudden jerks.

All in all, Batman: Bruce Wayne, Fugitive, Vol. 2 is a rather strong continuation to what I hope would be an equally wonderful story arc.

[Anchorpete · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a great story Detail--- Batman can no longer take the problems connected to Bruce Wayne, so he stops being Bruce Wayne altogether.

Unfortunately, the execution of the story is not very interesting. I think, for its time (What, late 90s, early 2000s?) this is actually a really fantastic book. Compared to modern Batman books, though, there is something missing. I enjoy the fact that Checkmate is referenced in the book and that Lex Luthor is involved in the plot to take down Bruce Wayne, but still, it was a chore to get through this book. I still love Rucka, though

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce Wayne: Fugitive Part 2 continues the mystery of who killed Vesper Fairchild and set up Bruce Wayne? These issues focus on a storyline where Gothamites are falling ill and dying from poisoned cocaine. What seems to be a side story in the investigation ends up providing clues to Bruce to solve his mystery. Reading this series has been been a breathe of fresh air because it centers on Batman and his allies detective prowess. It also doesn’t involve the typical Rogue Gallery of Batman villains.

[Carlo Gnutti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molto bello il numero di Batgirl in cui si tenta di ricostruire passo per passo cosa può essere successo la notte del delitto.
La risoluzione dell’omicidio della giornalista Vesper Fairchild e’ abbastanza deludente: si scopre che e’ un complotto voluto dal presidente degli USA Lex Luthor e messo in pratica dal sicario David Cain.
Bruttissimi i disegni di Steve Lieber sui numeri scritti da Greg Rucka.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

ESSA aqui foi legal...... bem melhor que a parte 1

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 3 out of 5]

It says "Volume 1" but this starts with "Bruce Wayne Murderer?" Begins, here, with Bruce on the lam, shedding that identity and becoming Batman with a vengeance. Meanwhile, his body guard (and maybe someone Bruce cared about a great deal) is convicted of the murder and sent to prison. Batman has pushed everyone away and refuses to clear the name of his alter ego. It is up to the rest of the team to follow the evidence and do it, then.

Despite being a collection of stories from three or four different comic runs, this three volume set was fairly coherent. I'm usually dismayed by these collections because they make little sense if you haven't been folllowing the monthly comics, but the larger story arc here allows the casual reader access.

Some of the art is flat out amazing--plenty of good Batman poses.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

As good as I thought Batman: Bruce Wayne: Murderer was, the following volumes never matched up. The story slowed down and refused to pick up the pace over the next two volumes and we were treated to a very in depth, CSI mystery that moved at a crawling pace. Honestly, I don't remember much of the second volume alreay, as most of it was the Bat family reiterating the Bruce could be the murderer.
This volume started to move much faster, but it took Batman getting back in the game to do so. While the first volume had me wondering who the real murderer was, the second caused me to stop caring, and this volume spoiled the whole thing (hint: don't look at the cover). Considering that was the only thing I was really into near the end, knowing who did it was a letdown.
As a whole, the story is good, in pieces, it flounders.

[sixthreezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce Wayne, Fugitive is easily one of the best Batman stories I have ever read, and I still have one last volume to go. The first volume set up really nicely, and just about everything there is paid off in this volume. I find this story extremely suspenseful for the main fact that it is not Batman that is at the heart of this story, it is Bruce himself. Batman is essentially trying to clear Bruce Wayne's name, but at this point in the story the two seem like entirely different people. Seeing Batman in trouble is one thing, but watching Bruce Wayne struggle internally and externally with the situation that has presented itself is absolutely compelling. Fugitive reminds us that behind the seemingly inhuman cowl of Batman, there is a human being struggling with the loss of his parents as well as finding his own personal identity some decades later.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot continues to grow in complexity. Batman tries to find out the source of poisoned heroin in the city, and it seems connected to the Bruce Wayne case. Meanwhile, Sasha, his bodyguard is still in prison. It seems now the plot goes deep into the federal government, all the way to the president. As the murderer is finally found, the challenge is not over yet. For one, Sasha is still in prison. And finally, Batman is making amends, as best he can given he is so difficult, with the family he alienated and that has been helping him all this time. I thought for a moment the story would end here, but there is more to it, and I will be reading on. Pacing and artwork continue to be excellent in this volume. So far, it has been a series I have not been able to put down. Very engaging.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review covers Vol 1 of this and 'Bruce Wayne, Murderer' as well.

I enjoyed this series. It was dark but needed to be considering the topics being explored. The highlights for me would have been the exploration of the fine line between Bruce Wayne and Batman and how he sees Bruce as the mask and not the other way around. Also I enjoyed seeing the Bat 'family' working together to find out what really happened, while working through their own issues with Batman and each other.

Definitely one I'd reccommend, although one gripe would be that the style of artwork - I noticed this particularly with Robin - changed mid point and back again which was annoying although I know that is because it's a collection of different comics/artists.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

If only the detective work could have been in the forefront. One of the biggest mysteries in Batman's life, to date, and for some reason it doesn't seem to be the most important thing to Bruce. The storylines here are good but the entire DC editorial staff should have done a better job in putting this crossover together. Its good but could have been epic. The art, as with most big crossovers, is spotty at times but the standout is the work by Steve Lieber. Fantastic work. The reveals (multiple)are interesting and make sense to a certain point but were delivered without any gusto. Overall, a good book that could have been a great book with better arrangement.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story starts to drag on, from volume 1. The hunt for the true perpetrator of former lover of Bruce Wayne, Vesper Fairchild, continues. The extended Bat family are getting closer to finding the answers while Batman continues to be a prick to all.

Am disappointed that Catwoman only makes a brief appearance; after all the news of Bruce Wayne's arrest and escape is the biggest news in Gotham. But perhaps she's just keeping her own counsel, although I wouldn't expect her to not do something.

[Amalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one (Volume 2) was not as good as I expected in fact, a lot happened in the plot but nothing worth remembering. Then, I had some problems with characters...

I'm not a die-hard fan of Batman but I think I know enough and what on earth is Checkmate a corporation looking into saving the world. All the sudden Batman doesn't feel unique with many vigilantes in costumes. Then there's Lex Luthor, I don't like crossover that much. Luthor should stay where he is and stay far away from Bat world as possible.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit after the last Bruce Wayne Fugitive story this was a little bit of a letdown. Once Bruce Wayne makes a full and ready attempt to clear his name he ends up following some pretty weak leads. It takes a majority of the story and saps the energy out of the reader.

Still when the conclusion comes through, the story achieves its wonderful end. Yet there appears to be one more story despite all the trouble Bruce had gone through.

C

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman is convinced that Bruce Wayne matters and reunites with the bat family as they work together to expose the true killer. The good things in this story are the character developments for the bat family, but the resolution to the detective story feels rushed and not all the details are explained.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sasha is a pretty positive female character, she seems like an almost sane addition to the bat-family, so I'm not sure why I don't like her. She just seems a little like a Mary Sue dropped in to further the plot and play a role without a character of her own.

[Neil Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably, for those who care about such things, the last worthy-of-reading Batman event (certainly has an actual moral core; rather than later outings like the loathesome War Games and mostly vacuous Resurrection Of Ra's Al Ghul)

[Edward Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The arc of Batman without an alter ego runs its course in this volume, bringing Bruce to yet another moment of truth. We get to see a crack in the facade and the chance that he will allow Bruce Wayne to exist again and his family to help him. The true killer's identity is revealed!

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

read in single issues

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning drags as we get insight into some shmuck from Checkmate but once it shifts back to the actual relevant plot, it picks up strong.

[✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this is going to be the best batman comic i ever read ITS SO DAMN PERFECT!Bruce also apologizes to all of them which made my whole year if you read this it will be a comic book you wont forget.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tomo 15 del segundo coleccionable de Batman de Planeta. Segunda parte de Bruce Wayne fugitivo.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mishmash by a lot of great talent, though some stories are quite good.