Bruce: A Super Name

Growing up with a name like Bruce in the 80s and 90s you can’t help but hate your name. At least, Bruce Somerton couldn't. He grew up reading comics. Not just any comics, Bruce read, Superman. He hated Batman. Everyone would joke around calling him a billionaire. His family always bought him Batman paraphernalia.

“Why don’t you ever wear your Batman shirts, honey?” his mom would ask. “Don’t you like him? You have a bunch of his comics.”

Bruce’s parents bought him those comics. Bruce bought himself Superman comics. Now that was a character he could relate to.

Bruce’s father was in the military so that meant the family would move every few years to where ever Mr. Somerton was posted. Bruce always had trouble making new friends. Superman must know what that was like; he is an alien after all.

As the years went by Bruce kept trying to make himself less like Bruce Wayne and more like Clark Kent. In university, Bruce decided to enroll in a journalism program. He thought that maybe he would have to explain that he went into journalism because he wanted to document the truth and that it had nothing to do with his affinity for the son of Krypton. Instead all he would hear was: “Journalism? Wasn’t Bruce Wayne a businessman?” Not funny.

Throughout most of his life Bruce rarely felt like anyone understood him. People kept imposing Batman on him. He didn't really want to keep these people as friends. This made university fairly difficult as he didn't have anyone to really call a close friend,

In the last year of his journalism program Bruce met his wife. They both attended a Halloween party of a mutual friend. Bruce went dressed as Batman’s nemesis, the Joker. He had dressed up as other Batman villains in previous years thinking people might get the hint that he hates Batman.

“The Joker, eh? Sweet costume. What’s your name?” Asked someone dressed in what he thought was a toga.

“Umm… Thanks. I’m Bruce.” He answered, not sure what to say.

“Really? You must hate Batman! I mean, why else would someone named Bruce dress as the Joker?”
“Yeah, what are you dressed as? A Roman?”
“Close. I’m Diana, the Roman Goddess of the hunt.”
“Cool. Uh, can I ask your name?”
“Ha! I already told you; I’m Diana. I thought maybe people wouldn't ask me where my invisible jet is if I dressed like this.”
“Wonder Woman?” He thought. He didn't want to mention it. Bruce knew that Diana understood him and didn’t want to offend her.

Bruce and Diana got along great. They married soon after they finished university. Bruce could tell you that story but he doesn't really remember it. He would rather tell you about that night at the Halloween party. How liberating it was to meet someone who knew what life was like with a name like Bruce, a name that everyone knows about because of one fictional character.