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Lance Bruner

Lance Bruner is a fictional character in DC Comics comic books. His first appearance occurred in The Brave and the Bold #83 (May 1969), being conceived by Bob Haney and Neal Adams.^[1]

Often considered the 'Jason Todd prototype', Lance Bruner was created (Bob Haney, Neal Adams, Petra Scotese and Ben Oda) as an arrogant delinquent for whom Bruce Wayne became guardian after Lance's father died. Bruce would have to resist Lance's constant misdemeanors, from destroying precious artifacts kept at Wayne Manor to faking his own kidnapping.

Lance Bruner was created by Bob Haney in 1969 with the comic book The Brave and the Bold #83 and is the son of the late Professor Bruner (already motherless at age 2), a good friend of Thomas Wayne's, father of Bruce Wayne, who dies after an accident.^[1]

Under an agreement drawn up between the two, and signed by both Bruner and Dr. Thomas Wayne, the Wayne family promised to adopt and raise Lance should anything happen to the professor.^[1]

Lance Bruner was a troubled young man who entered the lives of Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, and Alfred Pennyworth after his father's death. He brought with him a signed agreement between his father and Thomas Wayne, stating that if anything happened to Bruner's father, Thomas would take care of him. With Thomas no longer alive, Bruce decided to honor his father's word.^[1]

However, Lance's presence brought trouble to his new family, especially for Dick, as he continued to be blamed for Lance's mischievous actions, such as stealing money, vandalizing a police officer's motorcycle, and damaging Bruce's new car.^[1]

Bruce took Lance with him to a corporate meeting regarding an oil kidnapping case he and Dick were working on. During the meeting, Lance became interested in Grantland Stark, who seemed to be causing trouble for Bruce. Meanwhile, Dick convinced the Teen Titans (Wally, Roy, and Donna) to befriend Lance.

The Titans took Lance to a club to dance, but he did little to impress them, and they grew increasingly wary of him. Lance then approached a "big local gangster" named Milo Manton. Later that night, Bruce received a ransom note ($50,000) for Lance's safe return.^[1]

Lance was returned safely and told the story of his kidnapping. The next day, Kid Flash caught Lance entering a bank. Bruce later confronted Lance about a $25 deposit into the blonde's account. Once again, Lance escaped punishment by lying to Bruce, claiming it was money inherited from his father. During their conversation, Charles Hinton from the State Corrections Department arrived to inform Bruce about Lance's troubled past, including his abandonment of the Reformatory and expulsion from Military Academy. Hinton began searching for Lance, but Lance begged Bruce not to let Hinton take him away. Lance confessed to everything he had done, including putting Dick in trouble and orchestrating his own kidnapping. He promised to change, and Bruce agreed to officially adopt him.^[1]

When the trap was sprung, Lance arrived at the tower where the trap was set up to receive his reward. Stark aimed a high-pressure air hose at Batman, but Robin jumped in front, knocking him off the tower. Batman thought Robin was dead, but he survived. Lance then revealed himself to be the one who had sacrificed himself to save Robin, having finally understood true love and respect when he saw Dick sacrifice himself for Bruce. Lance apologized and expressed regret for not being who Bruce wanted him to be before dying in Batman's arms.

Later, the Teen Titans and Bruce held a small ceremony in Lance's memory, placing a bust of him in the Wayne Manor garden.^[1]

• List of DC Comics characters
• Robin (character)

• [1] at DC Comics' official website