Batman’s Bane

I’m not much of a comic book geek, but when pop culture climbs in the ring with pro wrestling references, it usually grabs my attention.  I’m referring here to a Batman villain — a masked Mexican wrestler called “Bane.”

Bane’s exact size and appearance may vary depending on the artist drawing him, but he is always depicted as a massive muscle freak.  This is due to his addiction to a powerful hormone known as “Venom” that pumps his muscles to over-inflation.  He is the most muscular of Batman’s foes — meant to appear much too strong for poor Batman to handle.

Bane also wears a black singlet and wrestling mask.  How cool is it to see Batman taking a beating from a professional wrestler, who gets off on using pro wrestling holds when attacking his victims?!

The word “Bane” means “A person or thing that ruins or spoils… that causes death or destruction.” So Bane is the perfect name for this big Heel because he is Batman’s sworn enemy and ultimate punisher.  Bane is just as intelligent as Batman, but (thanks to the Venom) much stronger and more vicious.

Bane was created by the comic book writers for one purpose — to injure and retire the Bruce Wayne version of Batman.  (Apparently, another talented good guy then adopted the Batman persona and avenged Bruce Wayne.)  So the bane of Bruce Wayne’s existence is, in fact, Bane.

Batman has no supernatural powers or monster strength like Superman or the Hulk, instead relying on his intellect and clever gadgets to win his battles.  He is therefore one of us — a regular guy (albeit a really smart and rich guy.)  He is frail, vulnerable, and prone to suffering, just like us (and just like your typical Baby Face wrestler.)  So we can relate to Batman.  When he is hurting, we feel sympathy for the dude.

Bane, however, is not constrained by the physical limits of the human body, thanks to the Venom.  He is a faceless, hyper-masculine monster, filled with roid-rage and always on the attack.  Seeing Bruce Wayne bravely face off against Bane is like seeing some rookie jobber, bare chested and intimidated, climbing in the ring with the big, ugly Heel.

Like any good Heel wrestler, Bane becomes obsessed with destroying his hated enemy, stalking and attacking him when least expected, watching his every move and planning how to hurt him or take his gold belt.  This reminds me of the classic pro wrestling feud where the Heel develops a hard-on for the Champion, interfering in matches or jumping him backstage, until eventually they meet in the ring to battle it out head-to-head.

This level of obsession, this focus on another man, is reminiscent of a sexual fascination.  There is a homo-erotic sub-text to the Bane-Batman feud, and I suppose to any feud in pro wrestling as well.

I also find it interesting that the Bane comic books were produced in 1993-1994, when the steroid scandal was erupting in Pro Wrestling.  (McMahon was indicted in 1993 for allegedly distributing ‘roids to his employees.)

How interesting that Batman’s nemesis, a wrestler, uses the Venom steroid to attain his overwhelming power and destroy Batman.  Apparently, Batman also used Venom for a short time, but stopped because it was unnatural — because he is our hero.

In pro wrestling, some of the older and chubbier veterans, left-overs from the 1970’s unwilling to flood their bodies with steroids, were pushed out and forced to retire by the new crop of stronger, larger, chemically enhanced muscle monsters taking their places in the ring, similar to Bruce Wayne’s forced retirement at the hands of Bane.