LUCIUS FOX

Real Name: Lucius Fox

Class: Human

Occupation: CEO of Wayne Enterprises, business advisor

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Tam Fox (daughter), Tanya Fox (wife), Tiffany Fox (daughter), Timothy Fox (son)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Gotham City

First Appearance: Batman I #307 (January, 1979)

Powers: Lucius Fox was an intelligent and skilled business manager and advisor.

History(Batman I #307) - Bruce Wayne tapped brilliant businessman Lucius Fox as the CEO of the Wayne Foundation and his second-in-command. Lucius informed Bruce that Roxxas oil stock was splitting and reclusive billionaire Gregorian Falstaff was setting up shop in Gotham City, which he knew was bad news for Bruce. Lucius got used to Bruce’s disappearances once night came as he patrolled Gotham City as Batman.

(Batman I #308) - Lucius’ daughter Tiffany, fresh off work from the Wayne Foundation’s Ghetto Drug Rehabilitation Program came to visit him in his office. Bruce Wayne was pleased to meet tiffany and told her she was doing amazing work. Bruce asked to Lucius to compile a dossier on Selina Kyle, the recently reformed Catwoman, who was interested in investing money in the Wayne Foundation.

(Batman I #310) - Lucius Fox briefed Bruce on a board meeting, telling him Gregorian Falstaff was competing against Wayne Enterprises for drilling rights. Lucius said he knew Falstaff was going to be trouble the day he arrived in Gotham City, and Bruce complimented his intuition and replied that he trusted Lucius completely to resolve the situation.

(Batman I #312) - Bruce Wayne was bedridden after a fight with Calendar Man, who was going on a crime spree based on the days of the week, and was ordered by his doctor to stay bedridden. Lucius Fox met with Bruce, insisting he’d handle the Dennison Merger by himself, telling Bruce he was taking the Western Sun Express to Central City. Bruce weakly objected, but Lucius reminded him he hired him so he wouldn’t have to think about business. Something clicked in Bruce’s head, and he snuck out of his apartment. As Batman he caught Calendar Man boarding the Sun Express. He knew the villain would be a fool to go after the sun obelisk, the obvious target, and would use Sunday as a day of rest. Calendar Man tried to flee across the traintracks, but Batman threw a batarang at a switching signal, which swung in Calendar Man’s face, knocking him cold.

(Batman I #313) - Lucius had dinner with his children Timothy and Tiffany, and reiterated that he was concerned about Timothy’s performance in college and hanging out with who he saw as the wrong crows. Tim stormed off to his room, saying he was sick of his dad trying to live his life for him.

(Batman I #314) - Selina called on Bruce at the Wayne Foundation, but was told by his secretary Gwen that he was away on urgent business. Bruce’s business partner Lucius wanted to have a word with her, and told Selina he had a dossier on her that let him know all about her time as the criminal Catwoman. He warned her that Bruce Wayne was a friend of his, and he didn’t want to see him taken advantage of. Selina was insulted by the insinuation and stormed off, and Lucius worried that he might have acted out of turn. Tiffany Fox got off her shift at the drug clinic and offered to walk her dad home. He told her about the rough day he was having, including being outbid by Gregorian Falstaff on important mineral rights. Tiffany wished she could help her dad more, but he said her supportiveness was more than enough help, and he had to figure out the rest himself. Unbeknownst to the Foxes they were being spied on by Falstaff’s stooge Karlyle Krugerrand.

(Batman I #315) - On his way to work Lucius confronted Karlyle Kruggerand, who he realized was following him. Kruggerand introduced himself as Gregorian Falstaff’s private secretary, and said Gregorian knew talent when he saw it and wanted a meeting with Lucius to make him an offer. Lucius agreed to meet with him in hopes of learning something that would give Bruce the edge over him. The Wayne Foundation held a meeting with city commissioner Arthur Reeves over Trans-Atlantic Airways decision to leave Gotham. Reeves was furious with Falstaff, who held controlling interest in Trans-Atlantic and pressed for them to leave, costing the city countless jobs. Bruce and Lucius fox agreed nothing could be done, but they could try to prevent repeats of such events in the future. Lucius chose to keep Bruce in the dark about his meeting with Falstaff after Reeves made it clear he’d go after anyone doing business with Falstaff.

(Batman I #316) - Dick Grayson came home for summer vacation and Bruce Wayne showed him around the Wayne Foundation, reminding him that one day it would all belong to him. Lucius Fox greeted Dick, and was happy the papers he’d sent him about business administration helped him ace his class.

(Batman I #317, 318) - Bruce could tell something was weighing heavily on Lucius’ mind, and he made the excuse that he was still fighting with his son. Lucius met with Gregorian Falstaff, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the situation. Lucius told Falstaff he’d considered his offer of employment, but had to turn him down because of his loyalty to Bruce Wayne. Kruggerand escorted him out, and told Falstaff he couldn’t remember the last time anyone refused him what he wanted. Falstaff wasn’t overly concerned, saying there were many ways to achieve his ultimate goal of taking down Bruce Wayne, some of them unpleasant.

(Batman I #319) - Bruce Wayne decided to reopen Wayne Manor and move back in. He threw a charity costumed ball with Alfred preparing the gala. Bruce dressed as Henry VIII and greeted Selina Kyle, dressed as Catherine of Aragon and Lucius Fox, dressed as Abraham Lincoln. Bruce was pleased that Selina and Lucius were able to bury the hatchet, making the attempt to get along. Gentleman Ghost attempted to rob the ball, but Bruce slipped away, changed into Batman, and foiled him.

(Batman I #321) - Joker planned his own birthday celebration by kidnapping Batman’s friends. He disguised himself as a woman in need of a tire change to lure in Robin, who found the tires of Joker’s car were coated in super-sticky taffy. He flooded the GCPD precinct with laughing gas and made off with Commissioner Gordon. Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox and Selina Kyle were all waiting at the Wayne Foundation for Bruce, and Selina complained that the headaches she was suffering from were growing more severe. Joker blasted his way in with dynamite, and assuming Selina was there to rob the Wayne Foundation he sincerely apologized if he’d ruined a scheme of hers before knocking her out with a spring-loaded boxing glove hidden in a bouquet of roses before taking Fox and Pennyworth with him. At Joker’s Ha-Hacienda he gloated about killing everyone who ever crossed him while all of Gotham watched. He broke out into uproarious laughter, and when he noticed one of his hired goons wasn’t laughing along with him he shot him in the head. Joker organized the Harlequin Bakery Show at the Seaside Coliseum, advertising free samples and drawing an enormous crowd. Joker had his henchmen lock all the doors to the building before revealing himself and showing off a giant birthday cake with his kidnapees all ties to candles. A detonator was set to light the candles ablaze, but Batman revealed he was in the audience, and agreed to surrender and allow  Joker to tie him to a candle in exchange for releasing his friends. Joker went back on his word, but Batman freed himself and severed the fuses of the candles with his batarang. Joker fled on a motorboat with Batman in pursuit, and his boat exploded when it collided with rocky shoals. Commissioner Gordon asked Batman if he thought Joker was dead, but Batman doubted it.

(Batman I #323) - Lucius went over the Wayne Foundation finances and realized they were starting to lose money since Gregorian Falstaff kept underbidding them. He noticed Tim headed out and reiterated that he didn’t want him going out with his new friends at all hours. Timothy said his friends listened to him, unlike his father who was too busy balancing books for the man. He slammed the door when he left and Lucius wondered where he’d gone wrong with his son and how he could get him back on track.

(Batman I #325) - There was a recall election for Gotham police commissioner, and Gordon’s opposition was Bob Brand. Right before the election there was a crimewave and someone sent the GCPS a death threat aimed at Batman. Gordon couldn’t help but think someone was trying to sabotage his chances at keeping his position. Gordon lit the batsignal to talk the situation over with Batman when a sniper took a shot at Batman. Batman chased down his would-be assassin, who said he worked for the Candy Man Lou Milligan. During a debate between Gordon and Brand Batman showed up to pledge his support for Gordon. Assassins tried to shoot Batman, but he foiled them with the help of Brand, who received a favorable writeup in the Gotham Herald for his heroic actions. Bruce Wayne used his influence to call a meeting of the wealthy and powerful residents of Gotham, hoping they'd back Gordon for keeping his job. Bruce found little support, and Lucius Fox told him he’d done everything he could to help his friend. Bruce told Alfred he wouldn’t be home for dinner because he had a lot of work to do. Batman confronted Candy Man at his bar, and he said Brand was the one who put the hit on Batman. Batman went to Brand’s office to find him murdered by his campaign manager Tom Hamilton, who drew his gun on Batman. He’d tried every dirty trick to get his candidate elected, but when Brand learned what he’d done he was disgusted and Hamilton killed him. Hamilton promised Batman would be the cause of Gordon’s death, and Batman disarmed him. The panicked Hamilton stumbled out the window of Brand’s office to his death. Batman tried to parse Hamilton’s cryptic threat against Gordon and remembered he’d seen repairmen working on the batsignal. The “repairmen” worked for Hamilton, and had rigged the batsignal with a bomb, and Batman saved Gordon in the nick of time when he lit it and it exploded. Commissioner Gordon kept his job in the election, and he confided in Batman that he was worried he was getting too old for his job, and had been thinking of stepping aside, but Batman assured him he had some good years left in him.

(Batman I #326) - Bruce’s secretary Caroline Crown was worried when Bruce didn’t show up at work, and although Lucius told her he kept his own hours he started to worry as well. Bruce learned that Arkham Aslylum inmates were being let loose to commit crimes, and got no answers from Arkham’s director, so he went undercover, posing as Shank Taylor, a criminal who was suffering from paranoid delusions.

(Batman I #328) - Bruce Wayne met with Lucius Fox, who wanted to tender his resignation because he was suffering from personal problems at home. Bruce said he was invaluable to the Wayne Foundation, and insisted he take a paid leave of absence instead, telling Lucius he would help him with his personal problems in away way he could when he was ready to talk.

(Batman I #330) - Lucius decided to trail his son, and saw him meeting with Ronald Watkins and gis gang, who had a big job lined up. Lucius confronted Tim at home, and Tim said he was leaving home. Lucius tried to follow him, but was attacked and ended up in the hospital. He was visited by Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, and he begged them to help his son before he passed out. They changed into Batman and Robin and confronted Watkins and his men in a pool hall. Batman gave Ronald Watkins and his men a beating, warning them that he’d take the kid gloves off if they tried to pull off whatever job they were planning. Watkins was not dissuaded, still planning to blow up the Wayne foundation on the orders of Gregorian Falstaff. Watkins tried to convince Fox that Bruce Wayne was secretly a slumlord, and deserved whatever he got. Batman and Robin confronted them at the Foundation, where Fox had finally decided Bruce couldn’t be evil and was trying to duck out. The Dynamic Duo took out Watkins and his men, and Batman let Tim know he was disappointed in him. Robin told Batman Tim had been manipulated, had no one to turn to, and didn’t need Batman lecturing him. Robin made it clear he wanted a long talk with Batman when the case was over.

(Batman I #331) - Bruce visited Lucius in the hospital, and was sad to tell him he had no choice but to press charges against Tim. Lucius asked Bruce where he’d gone wrong with his boy, and Bruce responded that often times children didn’t know what was best for them. Lucius asked Bruce about an important bank merger and Bruce couldn’t find any of Lucius’ files, unaware that his secretary Caroline had been passing them off to Falstaff, who used them to underbid Wayne.

(DC Retroactive: Batman - The ‘70s #1) - Batman responded to a robbery committed after a drilling machine burst through Gotham’s streets. He was confronted by a brand new Terrible Trio. They were new to the supervillain game, and were surprised at the fight Batman gave them, so they decided to flee. Bruce Wayne was scheduled to meet with Lucius about business, but found him arguing with his son. Tim had fallen in with another rough crowd Lucius disapproved of and wasn’t studying for his college finals. Bruce commiserated with Lucius, who told him how hard it was to be a single father. Batman and Alfred Pennyworth used the Batcomputer for research and learned that the original Terrible Trio were all either in jail or dead. Batman responded when the new Trio hijacked the Gotham Marine Society Charity Ball. Shark called in his submersible to ram the charity ball boat, telling Batman he could fight them or keep the ship from sinking. Batman used the Bat-Sub to patch up the hole with foam. He met with commissioner Gordon and gave him a button to push when the GCPD had extricated his sub from the charity ship so it xould return to the Batcave. Lucius told Bruce he suspected Tim was one of the Terrible Trio, and Bruce suspected they’d target the Wayne Foundation Annual Skyball atop the Wayne Foundation. When they tried to rob the ball Batman released a smoke bomb and activated steel shutters that trapped the Trio at the ball. Batman fended them off, and when Fox threatened to use a detonator to blow up the ball Lucius knocked him out with a dinner plate and Alfred caught the detonator. Lucius was in despair when they were unmasked and he learned Tim Fox was the Vulture. He pleaded with Tim, asking him what he’d done wrong, saying he’d given him everything in life, and Tim said he had everything he wanted except attention. Talia al Ghul gloated, having formed the new Trio as a diversion for Batman.

(Batman I #332) - Robin packed his bags, ignoring Batman’s pleas to think things over. Talia said it might be for the best that he head out on his own, and Batman replied that he worried about Robin, fearing he was too headstrong. Batman dug into Gregorian Falstaff’s records, learning that he’d only acquired his wealth in the last three years, and he was losing money by continually underbidding Wayne Enterprises. Batman realized he was being bankrolled, and was a front for someone else’s machinations. He deduced that the leak at Wayne Enterprises was his new secretary Caroline Crown, and he went to her apartment, witnessing her being threatened by a mutate who demanded she keep following Falstaff’s marching orders. Batman confronted the mutate, but was put through a wall. As Bruce Wayne he visited Lucius Fox in the hospital, convinced that Falstaff was behind his assault. He returned to his office, where Caroline confessed that her daughter Elizabeth had been sent upstate for medical treatment, and Falstaff was keeping her hostage to make her comply with his schemes. Bruce confronted Falstaff, who shrugged off Bruce’s threats that he’d expose him. Falstaff said he’d purchased the mortgages on Wayne Enterprises’ Asian oil properties, delivering a severe blow to Bruce’s business. Falstaff said he’d entertain Bruce selling off the rest of his assets to him, delighting in the idea of a Falstaff Foundation. Talia snuck out of the Batcave at night and Batman tailed her to Falstaff’s offices. When he interrupted them he quickly took out Falstaff’s right hand man Karlyle Krugerrand but Falstaff pressed a button, opening a wall in his office to reveal a gang of mutates at his command. Batman overcame them and Falstaff panicked, knowing his failure would mean death if his master found out. He held Elizabeth Crown hostage and had a weapon that created a sphere of energy to destroy Batman. Talia kicked Falstaff into the sphere, disintegrating him. She said she’d come to Falstaff to convince him to stop his attacks on Wayne Enterprises, admitting that Falstaff once worked for her father Ra’s al Ghul. Batman was suspicious that she was glad Falstaff was dead so he couldn’t elaborate on that relationship.

(Batman I #333) -Robin and Catwoman convinced Ron Watkins t hand over state's evidence in return for amnesty, admitting he targeted the Wayne Foundation because he was on Gregorian Falstaff’s payroll, not because Bruce Wayne was a slumlord. Tim Fox felt disillusioned with the cause that got him in legal trouble, and Lucius said he loved his son and wanted him back home. Lucius admitted they were going through trying times, but wanted his family to be whole again.

(Batman I #336) - Bruce and Lucius held a meeting at the Wayne Foundation, trying to come up with ways to recover from the damage Gregorian Falstaff did to the company by acquiring their Asian holdings.

(Batman I #339) - Batman ran himself ragged, and fruitlessly pursued rumors in Gotham about a major crime going down. Even Alfred started having a hard time keeping up with his schedule. During a Wayne Foundation meeting Lucius had to keep giving Bruce prompts, and afterwards he told Bruce how obvious it was that he was burnt out, suggesting a long vacation.

(Green Arrow III #16 (fb)) - Lucius Fox attended Oliver Queen's funeral.

Comments: Created by Len Wein & John Calnan.

Lucius Fox's appearance in Batman I #307 was reprinted in DC Retroactive: Batman - The ‘70s #1.

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