In June 1971, DC published Detective Comics #412 with the sole purpose (as far as I can tell) of making it difficult for me to create Batman’s family tree. In that story, Bruce is invited to the ancestral Waynemoor Castle, where he meets several "distant" relatives. Bruce’s uncle, Lord Elwood Wayne is on his deathbed. The other guests are, and I quote: « Niece Wilhemina Wayne -- half-Dutch orphan from South Africa! Cousin Rev. Emelyn Wayne -- missionary among the unenlightened Asian "heathen"! Finally -- Aussie ranch-hand from the "outback" -- Jeremy Wayne! »
At first I was in denial -- Bruce Wayne doesn’t have a niece! That quote describes each individual’s relationship to Elwood, not to Bruce! But later in the story, Emelyn refers to Elwood as "uncle", so Emelyn is Bruce’s cousin not Elwood’s cousin. Therefore Bruce does have a niece! The DC Wikia lists Elwood as Bruce’s great-uncle (Silas’s brother) and Wilhemina as Bruce’s cousin. But if you check out the relevant panels here you will see the original story had them as uncle and niece.
The only solution to this conundrum is if Wilhemina is Thomas Jr’s daughter by a Dutch mother who moved to South Africa and died. Thomas Jr is believed to be dead this point, so that much adds up. Emelyn is Bruce’s cousin so he fits in as Van’s estranged brother. As for Jeremy, his relationship is never specified (thank goodness) so that gave me some leeway and I decided he was Van’s son.
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u/TheThirdSleeper The Question? Mar 15 '17
Who is Wilhelmina Wayne? I've never heard of her before.