The year is 2039. An aged Bruce Wayne, no longer able to continue his activities as the Batman due to a heart condition, lives in isolation at Wayne manor, having turned over the operation of Wayne Enterprises (Now Wayne-Powers) to CEO Derek Powers.
Terry McGinnis, a 16-year-old high school student has a chance encounter with Bruce one night when members of the Jokerz gang chase Terry onto the grounds of Wayne Manor. Terry and Bruce fend off the gang members, but the exertion aggravates Bruce's heart condition. Terry helps Bruce back to the mansion, where he inadvertently discovers the entrance to the Batcave, only to be chased off by Bruce.
Upon returning home, Terry discovers his father has been murdered, apparently by the Jokerz. Upon further investigation, however, he discovers that his father had uncovered evidence of illegal chemical weapons production at Wayne-Powers. Terry goes to Bruce for help, but Bruce refuses, feeling he is too old and weak to be of any use. When Terry is ambushed by Powers' enforcer Mr. Fixx, who manages to abscond with the evidence, Terry sneaks into the Batcave and steals a prototype Batsuit in order to infiltrate Wayne-Powers on his own. Initially Bruce opposes Terry, but realizing that in his absence crime in Gotham has become rampant, and that Terry is a worthy successor to the mantle of the Batman, he agrees to mentor the youth, hiring him as a personal assistant by day, while acting as mission control for the new Batman by night.
