Lucius Fox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lucius Fox | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
Lucius Fox is a fictional character appearing in Batman comic books by DC Comics. He was created by Len Wein and John Calnan, and first appeared in Batman #307 (January 1979). As a supporting character, he acts as Bruce Wayne's business manager who apparently unknowingly runs the business interests that supply Batman's equipment needs as well as financing his operations.
Contents |
[edit] Fictional character biography
CEO of Wayne Enterprises, Fox has the "Midas Touch", an ability to turn failing businesses into successful conglomerates. When Bruce Wayne's personal holdings were poorly managed, Fox was called in and brought a balance to both Wayne's private and business finances. In addition, he also manages the particulars of the Wayne Foundation as well while Wayne dictates the organization's general policies.
In Batman: Haunted Knight, it is explained that Lucius Fox was in Paris, and when he was being robbed by petty thieves a young Bruce Wayne rescued him. Later Lucius asks him if he wants to start a foundation for charity, which Bruce agrees to many years later, deciding that not all of his money has to go to crime fighting.
Since then, Fox has been approached time and time again by other companies seeking his expertise, but after overcoming the original challenge of returning Wayne Enterprises to its glory, Fox has elected to stay, having been given a freedom in the company that is unparalleled.
Many stories allude to Fox knowing the secret activities of his employer, and yet keeping it to himself. Lucius is at least aware that his employer is not the playboy airhead he pretends to be. Lucius has become a valued ally for Batman, although somewhat indirectly, as Wayne is free to pursue his activities as the Batman while Fox runs most of the company which finances his employer's activities. He has also become a valued friend to Bruce Wayne, although Bruce does regret that he depends on a man he hasn't been totally honest with.
Bruce Wayne, as Batman, originally formed the Outsiders in order to rescue Lucius from Baron Bedlam. When Lucius later suffered a stroke, Wayne made sure that Lucius would get the best care possible and supported him and his family.
[edit] Appearances in other media
[edit] Batman: The Animated Series
Lucius Fox was voiced by Brock Peters in Batman: The Animated Series and then by Mel Winkler in The New Batman Adventures.
[edit] Batman Beyond
In "Black Out", an early episode of Batman Beyond, a series set in the future of Batman: The Animated Series, a company by the name of Foxteca is the target of corporate sabotage. In a conversation between Bruce and Derek Powers, it is revealed that when Powers took over Wayne Enterprises, he fired the company's vice president, Lucius Fox Jr., who went on to found his own technology company, Foxteca. Bruce remained supportive of the Foxes.
[edit] Batman Begins
He is played by Morgan Freeman in the 2005 film Batman Begins.
In the film, Fox is a research head and friend of Thomas Wayne who was unfairly demoted by Wayne Enterprises CEO Earle to overseeing the supplies of Wayne Enterprises' aborted research projects and prototypes. Upon returning to the business, Bruce Wayne strikes up a fast friendship which allows him to all but recruit Fox as his armorer for his Batman activities (similar to Q in James Bond). Fox proves invaluable in this role even when he is fired by the company's CEO, and amongst other things, supplies Wayne with the materials that will eventually become the Batsuit and the Batmobile. In addition, Fox provides the cure for the Scarecrow's fear toxin.
At the end of the film, Wayne, having gained majority control of Wayne Enterprises' shares, makes Fox his company's CEO and gives him the pleasure of notifying Earle of his dismissal. Fox does this by telling Earle that he (Fox) has been given a new job: "Yours. Didn't you get the memo?" This mirrors Earle firing Fox earlier in the film for figuring out that an illegal weapon had been stolen, where Earle asked if Fox received the memo for his sacking.
Although not explicitly stated within the film, it is implied that Fox knows Wayne is Batman, or at least strongly suspects; however, for reasons of plausible deniability, he prefers not to be directly informed of Wayne's activities. He is notably skeptical upon hearing some of the reasons that Wayne provides for borrowing certain pieces of equipment (such as borrowing a bullet-proof bodysuit to purportedly go spelunking), and he demonstrates little surprise both when called in by Alfred (whom he treats as an old friend) to cure Wayne's exposure to the weaponized fear toxin (to which Wayne was exposed to as Batman) and when called upon by Wayne himself to mass-produce a cure for the city at large. Furthermore, whilst Fox's reaction to this is not shown, it is very unlikely the news coverage of the Batmobile, a unique prototype vehicle he loaned to Wayne earlier, would escape his attention. Fox (again portrayed by Freeman) is expected to have a larger role in The Dark Knight[citation needed], the sequel to Batman Begins, which is currently scheduled for release in 2008.
[edit] The Batman
It has been recently reported that Lucius Fox will appear in the fourth season of The Batman, where he'll be voiced by Louis Gossett Jr..
| Batman | |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Bob Kane • Bill Finger • Other writers and artists |
| Supporting Characters: | Robin (Tim Drake) • Nightwing (Dick Grayson) • Batgirl • Batwoman • Alfred Pennyworth • Lucius Fox • Barbara Gordon • Commissioner Gordon • Harvey Bullock |
| Villains: | Bane • Catwoman • Clayface • Harley Quinn • Joker • Killer Croc • Mr. Freeze • Penguin • Poison Ivy • Ra's al Ghul • Red Hood (Jason Todd) • Riddler • Scarecrow • Two-Face • Other villains |
| Locations: | Arkham Asylum • Batcave • Gotham City • Wayne Enterprises • Wayne Manor |
| Miscellanea: | Batarang • Batmobile • Batsuit • Popular media • Publications • Storylines • Alternate versions of Batman |
