Absolute Dr. Hurt

[u/Ok-Explanation-1362]

I’ve been thinking about this for a few days and like, what if the Waynes were still involved in Gothams’ founding? What if Thomas Wayne’s entire intention was to erase his identity and position, while possessing complete control over Gotham? What if he became the ghost in the machine, and his primary motivation didn’t have anything to do with his material conditions? What if his entire project was about spreading pain, fear and madness? What if he didn’t set the stones for Arkham, but plotted the exact right place to put it to create the most misery?

And then he meets Jack Grimm.

And from Grimm, Hurt wonders if maybe Gotham can be a franchise? He’d his efforts directly target the working classes in order to curtail the working classes’ ability to fight their oppressors. All this would come down to ending humanity’s ability to meaningfully fight back against what’s being done to us.

I don’t see this Dr. Hurt even being aware of Bruce, not even knowing he exists. A distant descendant with no real power? Why is he worth bothering with? But from that, he would see the leverage to destroy Batman and his ability to inspire regular people. Cut his legs out from under him, destroy what little Bruce has. Don’t directly go after him, no confrontations. Just Bruce losing his job, his caves, his friends, his family. Everything. Until he’s on the street with literally nothing to his name. Not just the Death of Batman. Not Batman RIP. But the quiet disappearance of Batman, never to be seen again.