“Bane, we’re all tired of the ‘drink your Ovaltine’ gag, but that’s no reason…”
The Batman And Robin Adventures #12
DC Comics (November, 1996)
“To Live And Die In Gotham City” WRITER: Ty Templeton PENCILER: Brandon Kruse INKER: Rick Burchett COLORIST: Roberta Tewes LETTERER: Tim Harkins ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Darren Vincenzo EDITOR: Scott Peterson
Set after the events of the episode “Bane”, we learn what happened after the episode. Thorne had Bane beaten to death, forcing Candice to watch (which apparently she enjoyed–she may be sicker than Harley). He somehow survived even after the goons were sure he was dead. He was found by a former junkie named Giovanni, who lives in an abandoned building. Giovanni takes Bane in and helps him recover, and get off the addition to Venom. Now Bane wants revenge on Thorne and Candice not only for himself but as penance for attacking Batman, whom he admired before the Venom supposedly twisted him. Batman and Robin take down Bane and save Rupert and Candice (probably unwillingly) but Giovanni escapes, having stopped Bane himself from breaking Rupert’s back because he’s seen enough death.
What they got right: Bane never really shows up in the show again so he becomes a character they can explore a bit more. Seeing him trying to recover from not just his injuries but the Venom with the help of an ex-junkie was a good idea and you get to see how much of Bane’s personality came from the Venom.
What they got wrong: Not making this an episode. This was a good story and the fact that it wasn’t one of the few adapted to the show is kind of disappointing.
Recommendation: One of the best stories in this tie-in series. Pick this one up.
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