Terry never really 'replaced' Bruce Wayne at what Batman did best

Sometimes it felt like if Bruce didn't have that heart condition, he could just build himself a mecha or strength-enhancing suit and just continue being Batman in older age.

Have you seen the JLA episode "Epilogue" dealing with Terry some 15 or so years after the Batman Beyond series ended? He does eventually come into his own, but then he isn't quite Bruce...even in that episode Amanda Waller points out the distinctions and similarities between them, she mentions that he doesn't quite have Bruce's brilliant mind but shares quite a lot with him (and on top of all that it clarifies a lot about his origins). If you haven't seen it, I'd highly suggest checking it out, it's kind of an unofficial "series finale" for Batman Beyond and closes a lot of the story lines on other DC characters as well.

--
*+_Charos_+*

"I have often laughed at weaklings
who thought themselves good because
they had no claws."

[deleted]

that's true, but as the years went by and terry got more experience, he learned to do the detective work

Kim Kardashian makes me proud to be a Brunette <3

Terry is a kid. How great a detective was Bruce at that age? I'd probably go as far as to say that Terry would beat the crap out of a 16 year old Bruce.

The big thing is Bruce Wayne was able to spend his entire life training physically and mentally to become Batman from the time he was about ten years old. When Bruce wasn't beating up criminals as Batman, he could come back and study or teach himself something to help solve a case.

Terry's an athletic kid but he didn't become Batman until he was about 19-20 years old, and although the suit augments his abilities Terry still needs to learn the tricks of the trade. And when Terry isn't Batman, he's required to go to school while also maintaining some semblance of a social life.

Batman did make some attempt to be "Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy" but generally Bruce has been able to devote his entire life for years to being Batman. And since the Batman Beyond show only covers a year or two (I'm not sure), of course we don't fully see Terry replace Batman. Besides, with the new Batman, Terry and Bruce's relationship is more 50/50. While Alfred, Robin and the others were some assistance to Batman, Bruce generally had to rely on himself.

Who knows, perhaps as Terry goes on eventually he learned to be as good a detective as Bruce was. I even recall in one episode when Terry figured out a mystery (pretty sure it was the "Shriek" episode). Terry's a bright boy and he's got a great teacher, so after a few years who knows.

Can't be too careful with all those weirdos running around.