Social class in Batman comics

[eamccrystal]

Hi Everyone,

I’m looking for examples of Batman comics that directly deal with social class disparity in Gotham. The older the better, but really any issues would be heplful.

Thanks!

[kjn]

Not a Batman expert in any way, but the first that come to mind is Ed Brubaker's Catwoman run. They are collected in Catwoman: Trail of the Catwoman, Catwoman: No Easy Way Down, and Catwoman: Under Pressure.

Most of the collected stories are from Catwoman, but TotC also collects four issues of Detective Comics (759–762).

[oasis1313]

Well, of course, Bruce and Damian are aristocrats.
Tim is extremely wealthy but might be nouve riche' and thus a rung down.
Jason and Dick are just white trash.

[Restingvoice]

Hi Everyone,

I’m looking for examples of Batman comics that directly deal with social class disparity in Gotham. The older the better, but really any issues would be heplful.

Thanks!

I only know a newer one

New 52 Batgirl Vol. 1 The Darkest Reflection deals with the effect of Bruce Wayne's gentrification of Gotham from the eyes of people who live in the poorer neighborhood, including Batgirl who lives in that neighborhood at the time. Her roommate was against it, debated with Batgirl over it and there's a demonstration in his press conference.

[oasis1313]

Hi Everyone,

I’m looking for examples of Batman comics that directly deal with social class disparity in Gotham. The older the better, but really any issues would be heplful.

Thanks!

A big problem with seeing stories that focus on these issues is that Bruce Wayne only mingles with high society, while Batman only deals with lowlife criminals. The law-abiding working poor really don't get any attention, which is a shame.

[Godlike13]

The Court of Owls stuff is the first thing that comes to mind,

[Katana500]

Well, of course, Bruce and Damian are aristocrats.
Tim is extremely wealthy but might be nouve riche' and thus a rung down.
Jason and Dick are just white trash.

Kate and Bette Kane would be aristocrats as well.

Barbara would probably be classed as Nouveau Riche too since her Dad is the police commisioner. Meaning she would probably also mingle with high society albiet perhaps looked down on slightly.

Stephanie and Duke seem like they were standard middle class.

[Restingvoice]

Oh yeah! The Court of Owls thing!

New 52 Nightwing Vol. 2 Night of The Owls deal with the social class difference in the... 19th century, was it? It's a story about Dick Grayson's ancestor.

I don't know if it's what you're looking for though since it's not set in the present day...

Speaking of Nightwing...

Rebirth Nightwing Vol. 1 Better Than Batman and followed by Tim Seeley's last volume Raptor's Revenge deals with a "family friend" trying to take Dick Grayson back from Bruce Wayne because he perceives him as a lower-middle-class kid being corrupted by rich boy Bruce Wayne... or something like that.

[Aahz]

Barbara would probably be classed as Nouveau Riche too since her Dad is the police commisioner. Meaning she would probably also mingle with high society albiet perhaps looked down on slightly.

She also owns now her own companie, which the writers mostly ignore.
And in stories set in Batman's early days (like Year One) the Gordons don't seem to have much money.

Stephanie and Duke seem like they were standard middle class.

Thats a little inconsistent. There are comics where it is said that Duke is from the Narrows, but that doesn't really fit imo with what we have seen from his parents before they got jokerized sofar.

[Rahul]

This might fit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_War_on_Crime

[sifighter]

If it doesn't have to be in continuity I would definitely say Batman: White Knight.

[TheNewFiftyForum]

Heart of Hush, Hush Money and The House of Hush all have a class theme going on in them as well.

[oasis1313]

She also owns now her own companie, which the writers mostly ignore.
And in stories set in Batman's early days (like Year One) the Gordons don't seem to have much money.

Thats a little inconsistent. There are comics where it is said that Duke is from the Narrows, but that doesn't really fit imo with what we have seen from his parents before they got jokerized sofar.

We've had no progress reports on how Duke's parents are faring, either. I think it would be nice if they could make full recoveries, but nobody at DC seems interested. What a big surprise.