Physically powerful, Bane’s strength borders on the super-human, and he’s a very skilled fighter, able to hold his own even against super-human opponents. He’s sworn off using Venom (except in the most extreme circumstances), but long use appears to have had a lasting effect on him, as he’s still able to ignore a fair amount of damage. He still carries a few capsules around with him.

Highly intelligent, Ra’s al Ghul described Bane as having a mind equal to the greatest he has known. A superb strategist and tactician, he’s reputed to have taught himself various scientific disciplines while in prison, and to know six active languages and at least two dead one (these include Spanish, English, Urdu, Persian and Latin). He also has a photographic memory and was able to deduce Batman’s identity within a year. His disciplined mind has also proved resistant to telepathy, able to think something so quickly even the Martian Manhunter has proven unable to read his mind.

History

[His earlier history can be found in the earlier WUs, and a general history of the Secret Six can be found in the team entry]

The Card

A new recruit to the team, Bane was seemingly content to follow the others, occasionally commenting on their lack of professionalism, and showed concern for Scandal’s wellbeing (she was grieving over the death of her lover).

Kidnapped by Junior, he was tortured by having bricks thrown at him, but showed no signs of breaking by the time the Six rescued him, although he promptly collapsed, and was unconscious for the rest of their trip to Gotham. He only roused when Scandal was in danger, taking Venom to allow himself to rescue her.

Depths

His obsession with prisons showed itself, but Bane nevertheless joined the faction of the team trying to free the Amazons, viewing Smyth’s prison as being an abomination.

Following the mission he usurped control of the team, supported by Jeanette, determined to make them more disciplined, and took Scandal off the field team until he believed she was ready (possibly concern over her having used Venom to aid her fighting Grendel).

Cats in the Cradle

When Catman took off to find his son, Bane believed it nothing to do with the team, seeing their duty as performing the job they’d already been contracted for. When most of the others went after Catman, Bane and Jeanette hired another four temporary members for the team and performed the job.

The Reptile Brain

Seeing Skartaris as an anarchic mess, Bane accepted their forced mission as a means of bringing order to the place, and his sheer force of personality soon made the rebellious tribe take him as their leader.

Having to face Scandal in combat, he used her Lamentation Blades to cut his own throat rather than risk harming her, although a local healer fixed him up quickly, and he led the attack on the capitol. He only stopped when Alice convinced them further fighting would only devastate Skartaris.

The Darkest House

Bane was truly shaken by the revelation he was destined for Hell, believing that he’d always live a righteous life. It seemed to shake him out of whatever state he’d been in, and he realised that Batman had truly won the contest between them.

Caution to the Wind

Deciding he could no longer continue as he was, Bane chose to renew his war with Batman, or at least disentangle himself from the team, viewing his relationship with them as being an impediment to his plans. He also reversed his decision about using venom.

Targeting Batman’s allies, Bane was undisturbed when they were discovered before they could act, and led the team against unbeatable odds. At peace with his decision, Bane broke free from the transport as soon as he was in custody, determined to resume his path to power.

Personality

Stern and calmly imposing, Bane is extremely disciplined, and expects a similar degree of professionalism from those around him, although he’s come to grudgingly accept that as being hard to find, and makes allowances for other’s shortcomings. For himself he prefers a regimented existence.

His desire for order and discipline is undoubtedly tied into his fascination with prisons, and his regimented upbringing. While he doesn’t necessarily like them, or the idea of people being imprisoned, he occasionally displays a longing for the more orderly lifestyle imprisonment offers.

Despite his determination to never again use Venom, he carries a few vials with him at all times. This may be to test his resolve, or a part of his addiction he just can’t shake off, but it’s not clear whether he even knows for sure. The only time he allowed himself to use it was when Scandal was in serious danger, and he showed serious remorse about doing so later (possibly Guilt level).

He’s developed a kind of paternal affection for Scandal Savage, which she seems to have allowed, and gets protective of her, both in combat and outside of it (concern about her sleep pattern and diet, intrusive questioning of her dates, etc.).

Following the revelation that he was damned to Hell, Bane began to recover his earlier determination, as he came to understand the feelings he had developed left his self-control compromised. He chose to cut himself off, to return to being what he had been, and to resume his path to winning an empire.

Marvel Universe History

The product of an attempt to reproduce the super-soldier formula which created Captain America, Bane fought him a few times, attempting to prove his superiority.

Writeup completed on the 5th of June, 2012.