CAMPAIGN 2012
Is Batman's Bane Also Romney's? -- PICTURES
Updated: July 20, 2012 | 7:01 a.m.
July 18, 2012 | 12:58 p.m.
Comic book fans aren't the only ones getting excited about this week's release of The Dark Knight Rises. On July 17, Rush Limbaugh created a minor stir by suggesting that the villain in the new Batman film, Bane, is an intentional dig at Mitt Romney and Bain Capital. Quoth Limbaugh, "Do you think it is accidental that the name of the really vicious fire-breathing, four-eyed whatever-it-is villain in this movie is named Bane?"
The Bane of Batman first appeared in 1993, which is a good nine years after Bain Capital was founded, but is also 19 years before this year's presidential election. So the connection between Bane and Bain Capital doesn't quite exist.
But how about other Bane/Bains that have popped up in comics and fantasy fiction? Take a look at some of the characters we've collected here, and let us know.
Cad Bane is a villanous bounty hunter in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV series. He comes from the planet Duro and was created for the series in 2008. (Cartoon Network)
Bane is a villain in the DC Comics universe, first appearing in 1993's Batman: The Vengeance of Bane. Bane is characterized by his massive strength (gained from a venom) and his powerful intellect. He most famously broke Batman's back in 1993's Knightfall. Bane has been Batman's cinematic foe twice -- first in 1997's Batman and Robin and most recently in The Dark Knight Rises. (DC Comics)
Sunset Bain is a villain in the Marvel Comics universe, most commonly associated with Iron Man. In the comics, Sunset Bain is the CEO of Baintronics and a black-market arms dealer. She was created by Tom DeFalco and Steve Ditko and first appeared in Marvel in December 1980. (Marvel Comics)
Darth Bane is one of the most powerful Sith in the Star Wars Extended Universe. While he did not appear in any of the Star Wars films, he was the subject of several novels, including Darth Bane: Path of Destruction and Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil. Darth Bane was first mentioned in the novelization of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace which was published in 1999. (Star Wars)
J.R.R. Tolkien (pictured) had two characters named Bane in his classic Lord of the Rings series. One, Durin's Bain, was a Balrog who got his name for killing Dwarf-King Durin VI. The other was once a king of Dale, named King Bain.
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