Ep 29. The Strange Secret Of Bruce Wayne

In "The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne," the 29th episode of Batman: The Animated Series season 1, we find the citizens of Gotham City in a state of terror as rumors began to spread about their beloved hero, Bruce Wayne. The episode begins with a news anchor discussing how Bruce Wayne has seemingly vanished, leaving his business empire and his duties as Batman behind.

With Wayne nowhere to be found, rumors begin to circulate that he had been kidnapped and replaced by an imposter. Some even speculate that Wayne may have had a mental breakdown, and that everything he had built was now in danger. Meanwhile, Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Bullock investigate the disappearance of Bruce Wayne, though they find little evidence to go on.

As Batman, Bruce Wayne's alter ego, tries to clear his name, he discovers that the real Bruce Wayne is being held captive by the villainous Hugo Strange, a mad scientist who has developed a machine that can reveal people's deepest secrets. It turns out that Strange has learned Batman's true identity, and he intends to use his machine to reveal it to the world, thereby exposing Bruce Wayne as the Dark Knight.

With Batman on his trail, Strange takes his machine to a live television broadcast, intending to use it to reveal Bruce Wayne's secret identity to the entire city. However, Batman arrives just in time to thwart his plan, and a fight ensues on live television.

Ultimately, Batman defeats Hugo Strange and saves Bruce Wayne, but not before Strange's machine is destroyed, destroying any evidence that could have exposed Batman's secret identity. With Wayne's disappearance explained, the citizens of Gotham can once again rest easy, while Wayne can continue his work as both a businessman and a vigilante.

Overall, "The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne" is a thrilling episode of Batman: The Animated Series, which explores the risks and rewards of living a double life. As Batman fights to protect his secret, he also protects the safety and reputation of Bruce Wayne, proving that he is truly the hero Gotham needs.