Lucius Fox
| Lucius Fox | |
|---|---|
| File:LuciusFox.jpg Lucius Fox in the comics. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Batman #307 (January 1979) |
| Created by | Len Wein John Calnan |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Lucius Fox |
| Supporting character of | Batman |
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.
History
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 in fact, 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, and the two care deeply for one another.
Bruce Wayne, as Batman, originally formed the Outsiders in order to rescue Lucius from Baron Bedlam. Later when Lucius suffered a stroke, Wayne made sure that Lucius would get the best care possible and supported him and his family.
Appearances in other media
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.
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 Derek 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.
Batman Begins
He is played by Morgan Freeman in the 2005 film Batman Begins.
In the film, Fox is a research head who was unfairly demoted 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, although for the purposes of deniability, he prefers not to be completely privy to his employer's reasons for his requests. In addition, Fox provides the cure for the Scarecrow's fear toxin.
At the end of the film, Wayne, after getting majority control of Wayne Enterprises' shares, makes Fox his company's CEO and gives him the pleasure of breaking it to his predecessor that he's fired, and Fox said to him he was given a new job: "Yours."
In the film, it is implied that Fox knows Wayne is Batman. While not explicitly stated, it is very unlikely that a man of Fox's intellect would not decipher the secret, especially given the news coverage of the Batmobile, a unique prototype vehicle he loaned to Wayne earlier.
Fox (again portrayed by Freeman) is expected to have a larger role in the next Batman sequel, which is currently scheduled for release in 2008.