Rupert Thorne
| Rupert Thorne | |
|---|---|
.png) Rupert Thorne as depicted in Detective Comics #469 (May 1977). Art by Walt Simonson (penciller), Al Milgrom (inker), and Jerry Serpe (colorist). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Detective Comics #469 (May 1977) |
| Created by | Steve Englehart (writer) Walt Simonson (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human |
Rupert Thorne is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character is a crime boss and enemy of Batman.
Publication history
[edit]Created by Steve Englehart and Walter Simonson, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #469.[1]
Fictional character biography
[edit]Thorne is introduced as a corrupt politician involved in organized crime, being blackmailed by Doctor Phosphorus into turning the city against Batman. After Phosphorus is defeated, Thorne persuades his fellow city councilors to declare Batman an outlaw. He attempts to gain complete control of Gotham City by running for Mayor, but fails.
Thorne is one of three criminals (the other two being the Penguin and the Joker) who make a bid at Hugo Strange's secret auction for Batman's secret identity. He kidnaps and tortures Strange to force him to divulge it rather than lose the auction. Strange resists, however, and apparently dies in the process. Even though he has the body disposed of, Thorne is haunted by eerie sounds and visions of Strange.[2]
After failing in his campaign against Batman and spending some time in hiding, he secretly returns to Gotham.[3] He gets the corrupt Hamilton Hill elected as mayor and orders him to fire Police Commissioner James Gordon in favor of Peter Pauling, who is on Thorne's payroll. Thorne finally identifies Bruce Wayne as Batman after acquiring photos of him changing into his costume from reporter Vicki Vale. Thorne then hires Deadshot to kill Wayne.[4] Deadshot is unsuccessful, however, but before Thorne can deal with his enemy, he begins to succumb to Strange's manipulations; the professor is revealed to have faked his death and tormented Thorne with devices designed to simulate ghostly experiences. Thorne becomes paranoid, convinced that Hill and Pauling are plotting against him and trying to drive him insane. He shoots Pauling dead but is eventually apprehended by Batman and brought to justice.[5]
Decades later, Thorne returns in Detective Comics #825 (November 2006). He is shown to be incarcerated in Blackgate Penitentiary when a vengeful Doctor Phosphorus attempts to kill him.[6]
In Batman: Three Jokers, Thorne is shown to be incarcerated at Blackgate Penitentiary when Batman visits Joe Chill.[7]
Other versions
[edit]An alternate universe incarnation of Rupert Thorne who became the mayor of Gotham City appears in Gotham by Gaslight.
In other media
[edit]Television
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- Rupert Thorne appears in Batman: The Animated Series, voiced by John Vernon.[8] This version is a composite character who possesses elements of other gangsters from the Batman mythos such as Carmine Falcone and Sal Maroni, including his status as Gotham's most powerful crime boss and role in the creation of Two-Face.
- Rupert Thorne appears in The Batman, voiced by Victor Brandt.[8]
Film
[edit]- Rupert Thorne was originally intended to appear in Batman (1989) before being replaced with film-original character Carl Grissom (portrayed by Jack Palance).[9]
- Rupert Thorne appears in Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, voiced again by John Vernon.[8]
Video games
[edit]- Rupert Thorne appears in The Adventures of Batman & Robin, voiced again by John Vernon.
- Rupert Thorne appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[10]
Miscellaneous
[edit]- Rupert Thorne appears in The Batman Strikes!.
- Rupert Thorne appears in the Justice League: Gods and Monsters prequel comic.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 349. ISBN 9780345501066.
- ^ Detective Comics #469-#479 (May 1977 - September–October 1978). DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #507 (October 1981). DC Comics.
- ^ "Buy a Domain Name - World's Best Domains For Sale".
- ^ Batman #354 (December 1982). DC Comics.
- ^ Detective Comics #825 (January 2007). DC Comics.
- ^ Batman: Three Jokers #2. DC Comics.
- ^ a b c "Rupert Thorne Voices (Batman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 27, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/batmanscript1.txt [bare URL plain text file]
- ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
