Henri Ducard

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Henri Ducard is a fictional character in the Batman comic book universe. He was created by Sam Hamm, who wrote Tim Burton's Batman. Ducard was incorporated into the comics in Detective Comics #598-600 (Blind Justice), written by Hamm at the time of the original film's release.

[edit] Comics

In the comics, Bruce Wayne approached Ducard for training in Paris, during his early days traveling the world. Ducard is a knowledgeable detective with excellent man hunting skills and was able to impart much of his knowledge to the young, keen Bruce.

Later in the series, it is revealed that Ducard is largely amoral, working for criminals as often as he does the law. He deduces Batman's identity, but keeps it to himself, thinking as he leaves that Batman continues to exist because true criminals realize that he distracts the people from the greater crimes by his public battle against lesser crimes.

Ducard has also worked with the third Robin, Tim Drake, who went to Paris during his training, as Bruce did, although Robin only encountered him in passing at the end of his training, in Hong Kong.

[edit] Batman Begins

Henri Ducard was portrayed by Liam Neeson in the 2005 movie Batman Begins. In the film, Ducard, though at first appearing to be a henchman of the League of Shadows's master, is later revealed to have been an undercover persona for the supervillain Ra's al Ghul. He was the one who finds Bruce Wayne in an undisclosed Chinese prison and offers him a "path." After Wayne is freed, he climbs to the home of the League of Shadows where Ducard is waiting. When asked if he is ready to begin, Wayne replies that he can "barely stand." Choosing to test Wayne, and beginning training regardless of the response, Ducard attacks Bruce and explains that death would not wait and neither should they. When he defeats Wayne, Ducard asks him what he fears.

When Wayne comes to and recovers, Ducard begins training him in every aspect of ninjutsu. Ducard is portrayed as a very skilled warrior and a stern teacher in these segments. Throughout his training, Bruce is unable to best Ducard, but comes extremely close during a sword battle, fought upon a frozen glacial lake. However, he forgets to take full notice of his surroundings and Ducard simply breaks the ice beneath him for the victory. While he is recovering from the cold water, Ducard reveals what brought him to the League of Shadows. He once had a wife whom he loved very dearly. One day, she was apparently killed by a criminal. Ducard, he explained, was almost consumed by anger until he learned to control it and channel it to obtain vengeance for his wife.

At the end of his training, Ducard forces Bruce to face him one last time while slightly drugged. Ducard hides among several of his men while Bruce attempts to locate him. Leaping out at Bruce from his hiding place, Ducard manages to wound Bruce slightly on his arm. Bruce, however, gives an identical injury to two of the other ninja, thus tricking Ducard into believing that Bruce has foolishly left him a 'sign'. When he rushes forward to capture his 'student', Bruce reveals the trick and finally defeats his master. As a final test, after this impressive display, Ducard hands Bruce a sword and orders him to kill a captured convict. Bruce refuses and Ducard promptly explains that Bruce must do what is necessary to fight evil. Bruce knocks him out and sets the League's fortress aflame, apparently killing Ra's. Ducard is rescued by his pupil before the fortress collapses.

Towards the end of the movie, Ducard unexpectedly reappears, and reveals that he is the true Ra's al Ghul. In the ensuing confrontation, Ducard elaborates on the League of Shadows' treacherous exploits throughout history (sacking Rome, spreading the Black Death, and igniting the Great Fire of London). Ducard then explains that the League plans to use a fear toxin invented by their partner Dr. Jonathan Crane (alias the Scarecrow) to infect the city with mindless panic, and watch it destroy itself. He also claimed that the League of Shadows had attempted to use economics as a mean of destruction and as a result led indirectly to the mugging and murder of Bruce's parents. He explains that the destruction of Gotham is merely another mission by the League to correct humanity's recurring fits of decadence. Finally, Ducard has his henchmen burn down Wayne Manor with the intent of killing Bruce ("Justice is balance. You burned my house and left me for dead. Consider us even.").

Ducard is confronted once more by his student's alter ego, Batman. He tells Batman that he took his advice of "using theatricality" too literally before escaping and going on with his plans. Batman eventually catches up, and teacher and student have one final battle on a runaway train. Ducard's arrogance is ultimately his downfall after Batman defeats him and foils his plan. The hero leaves him for dead on the train, and Ducard is seen meditating before the train's crash. He apparently dies in the ensuing explosion.