| Lucius Fox | |
|---|---|
 Lucius Fox Art by Graham Nolan |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Batman #307 (January 1979) |
| Created by | Len Wein John Calnan |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Lucius Fox |
| Team affiliations | Wayne Enterprises |
| Supporting character of | Bruce Wayne |
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 supposedly unknowingly runs the business interests that supply Batman's equipment needs as well as financing his operations.[1]
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Fictional character biography
CEO of Wayne Enterprises, Fox has the "Midas Touch", an ability to turn failing businesses into successful conglomerates. Fox is called in to the failing Wayne Enterprises and brings a balance to both Wayne's private and business finances.[1] He also manages the particulars of the Wayne Foundation while Wayne dictates the organization's general policies. Since then, Fox has been approached time and time again by other companies seeking his expertise. After overcoming the original challenge of returning Wayne Enterprises to its glory, Fox has elected to stay, having been given an unparalleled freedom in the company.
In Batman: Haunted Knight, it is explained that Lucius Fox is rescued from muggers by a young Bruce Wayne in Paris. Later, Fox asks him if he wants to start a foundation for charity, to which Bruce agrees many years later, deciding that not all of his money has to go to crime fighting.
Many stories allude to Fox knowing the secret activities of his employer, and yet keeping it to himself, most notably in the recent feature film Batman Begins; at the very least, he is aware that his employer is not the shallow playboy he pretends to be.[1] In the 2008 film The Dark Knight Fox is shown to be fully aware of Bruce Wayne's activities as Batman (though he plays along with Wayne's cover stories), supplying him with the needed gear for his crusade, but also along with Alfred Pennyworth, acts as a voice of reason and conscience to Bruce. Fox has become a valuable ally for Batman, not just by helping to finance the vigilante's activities but by handling most of Wayne Enterprises' day-to-day business, leaving Wayne to prowl the rooftops. He is also a valued friend to Bruce Wayne, though the fact that Wayne cannot be totally honest with him occasionally hampers their friendship.
Bruce Wayne, as Batman, originally forms the Outsiders in order to rescue Fox from Baron Bedlam. When Fox later suffers a stroke, Wayne makes sure that Fox gets the best care possible and supports him and his family. Making her debut in the Red Robin books was Fox's daughter Tam.
Other versions
An alternate version of Fox is shown in the Antimatter universe (which resides with the Crime Syndicate). Fox is a Caucasian ruthless gang boss who has the backing of the CSA, in return for spreading fear in Gotham and snitching for Owlman.
Appearances in other media
Batman: The Animated Series
Lucius Fox was voiced by the late Brock Peters in Batman: The Animated Series and then by Mel Winkler in The New Batman Adventures. His appearances are consistent with Fox as Wayne's friend and business manager. Fox appears clueless about Wayne's alter-ego throughout the series.
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 Wayne and the villainous 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. Wayne remains supportive of the Foxes.
Nolan film series
Lucius is played by Morgan Freeman in the 2005 film Batman Begins and its 2008 sequel, The Dark Knight. Both films were directed by Christopher Nolan.
Batman Begins
In the first film, Fox is a research head and friend of Bruce Wayne's late father Thomas Wayne who is demoted by Wayne Enterprises CEO William 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. Fox proves invaluable in this role, even when he is fired by Earle. Among other things, he supplies Wayne with the materials that will eventually become the Batsuit and the Tumbler. In addition, Fox synthesizes the antidote for The Scarecrow's fear toxin.
Regarding Wayne's identity as Batman, he tells Wayne, "[If] you don't want to tell me exactly what you're doing— when I'm asked, I don't have to lie. But don't think of me as an idiot." At the end of the film, Wayne, having gained majority control of Wayne Enterprises' shares, fires Earle and makes Fox the company's CEO.
The Dark Knight
In The Dark Knight, Freeman reprises his role as Fox, who is aware that Bruce Wayne is Batman and actively participates in a support capacity as Wayne's armorer, designing and deploying the Batpod and a new Batsuit designed for more efficient mobility. However, when Batman uses his cell phone sonar technology to create a computer system that can spy on the whole city, Fox disapproves and tells him that he will resign as long as the computer exists after capturing the Joker. After the police department arrests the Joker, Fox types his name as instructed by Batman and the computer self-destructs. Fox walks away with a smile on his face.
Batman: Gotham Knight
Kevin Michael Richardson voices Lucius Fox on Batman: Gotham Knight, within the segment Field Test. As an extension of the Nolan film universe, the segment confirms that Lucius knows Bruce's identity, as Bruce gives Lucius the line "I'm willing to put my life on the line to do what I have to. But it has to be mine, no one else's."
The Batman
Lucius Fox appeared on The Batman in both parts of the season four finale The Joining ("Part One" and "Part Two"), where he is voiced by Louis Gossett Jr.. This version is based on the Batman Begins version, made to look somewhat similar to Morgan Freeman and including his background as a friend of Thomas Wayne. He knows Bruce Wayne's secret identity as Batman (though this version's knowledge is stated outright, not merely implied as in Begins), and helps design most of his arsenal along with the construction of the Batcave beneath Wayne Manor. He, along with Robin, Batgirl, and J'onn J'onzz, played a part in helping Batman defeat the alien robots known as the Joining. Lucius returns in The Batman/Superman Story, where he gives Batman a new version of the Bat-bot, which he later uses against a brainwashed Superman, and provides Robin with a jetpack.
Video Games
- Morgan Freeman reprised his role as Lucius Fox in the Batman Begins video game.
- Lucius Fox is a playable character in the Nintendo DS version of Lego Batman and his pieces can be found in the character creation feature in the others consoles version of the game.
- Lucius Fox is referenced in Batman: Arkham Asylum.
References
- ^ a b c Jimenez, Phil (2008), "Fox, Lucius", in Dougall, Alastair, The DC Comics Encyclopedia, New York: Dorling Kindersley, pp. 130, ISBN 0-7566-4119-5, OCLC 213309017
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