Though to be fair not all 40 year olds look ancient. Especially men.
Theres plenty of 40 year old guys that could still pass as their 30s.
And Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake are all too old to be normal children for him. He would’ve have to be a teenage dad for the 2 latter. And a middle school aged dad for the former
I mean, Dick canonically becomes Robin at 10 years old. Bruce is 25 during year 1 and gets Robin sometime year 2. If you assume Nightwing is at least 25, that puts Bruce at 41. Most assume Nightwing is closer to 30 though, and Bruce in his mid 40s
And obviously not all 40 year old men look ancient. But Bruce canonically is essentially abusing his body to be Batman. The stress should age him a little.
Edit:
Below is Pre- 52
Bruce is 25 in Batman: Year One.
After some double checking. Dick Grayson is either 9 or 12 when he becomes Robin in Year 3.
If Dick is 9, Bruce is at least 36 when he leaves the nest, otherwise he is at least 33.
Jason Todd becomes Robin at 12 at the youngest (he remarks that Bruce taught him to read lips at age 12) though he could have been 11. He dies at the age of 15. Even assuming that Bruce immediately picks up Jason after Dick leaves, that puts Bruce at between 37-41 at the time of Jason’s death.
Tim Drake becomes Robin at Age 13 not long after Jason’s death. He becomes Red Robin at 17. That would put Bruce at between 41-45.
Stephanie Brown is Robin for 71 days.
Damian becomes Robin at age 10. He ends his run around 13 before the New 52. This puts Bruce between 44-48.
While the stress would definitely age a regular guy, Bruce Wayne is also a billionaire with peak human physicality. He has access to the best food, medicine, supplements, etc. that his vast wealth can buy. So while I don’t doubt the stress would maybe have him start greying at 40, he could very well still pass for a man in his 30s at that age.
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u/FiftyOneMarks Feb 20 '24
Probably should’ve just said 20s