In a retelling of the origin of the comic book hero Batman, young Bruce Wayne witnesses the murder of his parents after an opera. Upon reaching adulthood (having been raised by his family butler, Alfred) he returns home to Gotham City with plans of killing the man who murdered his parents (who is now being released in return for testimony against the mob). Instead, the mob kills the thug to prevent his testimony. Bruce confronts them, only to be dismissed. He decides to travel the world, learning combat techniques including those of a secret vigilante group. He returns home once again, capitalizing on his childhood fear of bats and contacts in his father's advanced technology company to create the persona "Batman." He then battles the evil "Scarecrow" and his deadly toxins, and eventually must face the leader of the vigilante group he had earlier trained with, who now plans to destroy the city.