| Character Name: | Rupert Thorne |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Debut: | Detective Comics #469 (May 1977) |
| Creators: | Steve Englehart (writer) Walt Simonson (artist) |
| Species: | Human |
Rupert Thorne is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character is a crime boss and enemy of Batman.
Created by Steve Englehart and Walter Simonson, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #469.[1]
Thorne is introduced as a corrupt politician with extensive ties to organized crime and ambitions of becoming a crime boss in his own right. Doctor Phosphorus blackmails him with evidence of his crimes into turning the city against Batman. After Phosphorus is defeated, Thorne decides not to waste the opportunity and persuades his fellow city councilors to declare Batman an outlaw. He attempts to gain complete control of Gotham City by running for Mayor but fails.
Thorne is one of three criminals (the other two being the Penguin and the Joker) who make a bid at Hugo Strange's secret auction for Batman's secret identity. He kidnaps and tortures Strange to force him to divulge it rather than risk losing the auction. Strange resists, however, and apparently dies in the process. After disposing of his body, Thorne is haunted by eerie sounds and visions of Strange.[2]
After failing in his campaign against Batman and spending some time in hiding, he secretly returns to Gotham.[3] He gets the corrupt Hamilton Hill elected as mayor and orders him to fire Police Commissioner James Gordon in favor of Peter Pauling, who is on Thorne's payroll. Thorne finally identifies Bruce Wayne as Batman after acquiring photos of him changing into his costume from reporter Vicki Vale. Thorne then hires Deadshot to kill Wayne.[4] Deadshot is unsuccessful, but before Thorne can deal with the problem, he begins to succumb to Strange's manipulations; the professor is revealed to have faked his death while using elaborate special-effects devices to simulate ghostly encounters. Thorne becomes paranoid, convinced that Hill and Pauling are plotting against him and trying to drive him insane. He shoots Pauling dead but is eventually apprehended by Batman and brought to justice.[5]
Decades later, Thorne returns in Detective Comics #825 (November 2006). He is serving a lengthy prison sentence in Blackgate Penitentiary when a vengeful Doctor Phosphorus unsuccessfully attempts to kill him.[6]
In , Thorne is shown to still be incarcerated at Blackgate when Batman visits Joe Chill.[7]
An alternate universe incarnation of Rupert Thorne appears in Gotham by Gaslight, where he is portrayed as a respected member of the City Council who becomes interim Mayor in the aftermath of the Gotham Ripper killings.