Caution: Spoilers Ahead for The Batman
The Batman's subtle Arkham twist makes the Wayne family legacy even more disturbing. There's a sense in which Matt Reeves' The Batman is all about the Wayne family's controversial legacy, and it's a darker one than can be found in any other big-screen incarnation. In The Batman, the Wayne Renewal Fund is eventually revealed to be the reason for Gotham's downfall, with a crime lord taking charge of the money following the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne, and using it to corrupt the city.
But that isn't the only shocking new element to Bruce Wayne's heritage. While doing some digging into his family's past, Bruce learns that his mother—whose maiden name was actually Martha Arkham—had struggled with mental illness. When a journalist came close to discovering Martha's past, a desperate Thomas Wayne reached out to crime lord Carmine Falcone for help. Even in the comics, Martha is traditionally portrayed as a Kane, with Kate Kane (aka Batwoman) entering comic book lore through that side of the family. The idea of Martha as an Arkham is lifted from the Batman: Earth One comics, which are set in a slightly different timeline and had a major influence on Matt Reeves' The Batman.
This twist dramatically reshapes Bruce Wayne's role in Gotham. He isn't just heir to the wealthy Wayne family; he's also an Arkham, hailing from the family responsible for building Gotham in the first place. There's a direct reference to the enduring impact of the Arkham family in The Batman, when the Riddler is sent to Arkham State Hospital—which will presumably become this franchise's version of Arkham Asylum if/when the need arises. The interesting question is whether Bruce Wayne will fund the transformation, perhaps in part because he blames his actions as Batman for inspiring the Riddler.
In Reeves' vision of Gotham, there's a sense in which the city's downfall is the true legacy of the Wayne family; after all, their murders kicked off its descent. However much Batman tries to redeem his city, though, Arkham will surely serve as a reminder that he can't put everything right. Already the Riddler is meeting the Joker at Arkham State Hospital, presumably setting up The Batman 2 and ensuring that both the Wayne and Arkham family legacies will continue to play a role in Bruce's future going forward.
Many viewers may be surprised at this twist, but in truth, it gives Batman a personal connection to Arkham Asylum and its inmates, as they are essentially part of Bruce Wayne's family legacy. Those kinds of personal ties are essential in modern superhero comics, because they mean the stakes are vital to the characters rather than just spectacular in scale. The Batman's Arkham twist will therefore lead to a far more intense, far more personal story going forward for Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne.
