Rupert Thorne facts for kids
Rupert Thorne is a fictional character from the world of Batman. He is known as a powerful criminal who often tries to control Gotham City. Some stories suggest he might have been involved in the tragic event that led to Bruce Wayne becoming Batman.
In Batman: The Animated Series, Rupert Thorne's voice was provided by John Vernon.
Rupert Thorne's First Appearance
Rupert Thorne was created by Steve Englehart and Walter Simonson. He first appeared in a comic book called Detective Comics #469. This issue came out in 1977.
Rupert Thorne's Story
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Rupert Thorne is shown as a dishonest politician who is involved with organized crime. He tries to turn the city against Batman. After a villain named Doctor Phosphorus is defeated, Thorne convinces other city leaders to declare Batman an outlaw. He even tries to become the Mayor of Gotham City, but he doesn't succeed.
Thorne is one of several criminals who try to discover Batman's secret identity. He even kidnaps a professor named Hugo Strange to force him to reveal it. However, Strange resists and seems to die.
After his plans against Batman fail, Thorne goes into hiding for a while. He secretly returns to Gotham and helps a corrupt politician named Hamilton Hill become mayor. Thorne then orders Mayor Hill to fire Police Commissioner James Gordon. He replaces Gordon with someone who works for Thorne.
Thorne eventually learns that Bruce Wayne is Batman. He gets photos of Bruce Wayne changing into his costume from a reporter. Thorne then hires a villain named Deadshot to try and stop Wayne. Deadshot fails. Before Thorne can do more, he starts to be affected by Professor Strange's tricks. It turns out Strange had faked his death. Thorne becomes very paranoid, thinking that everyone is plotting against him. Batman eventually catches him, and Thorne is brought to justice.
Rupert Thorne later appears in Detective Comics #825. This was his first major comic book appearance in many years. He is shown in Blackgate Penitentiary, a prison, when Doctor Phosphorus tries to attack him again. Batman stops the attack.
In the comic series Batman: Three Jokers, Rupert Thorne is still in Blackgate Penitentiary. He is there when Batman visits Joe Chill.
Rupert Thorne in Movies
- Rupert Thorne was originally planned to be a main villain in the 1989 film, Batman. In an early script, Thorne was supposed to have hired Joe Chill to harm Thomas Wayne. However, he was replaced by a new character named Carl Grissom in the final movie.
- Rupert Thorne has a big role in the animated film Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman. John Vernon returned to voice him. In this movie, Thorne works with the Penguin and Carlton Duquesne to sell illegal weapons. He also works with Bane. Thorne has a personal history with a character named Sonia Alcana. When Sonia was a child, Thorne had her parents' shop burned down because they wouldn't pay him protection money. Thorne had escaped punishment for this in the past. In the end, Thorne is proven guilty for his part in the illegal weapons deal.
See also
- List of Batman Family enemies
