Bane (Batman & Robin)

"Behold... ...the ideal killing machine! I call this little number... ... Bane. Bane of Humanity!"

- Dr. Jason Woodrue commenting upon his new creation

Bane is the secondary antagonist of the 1997 movie, Batman & Robin. He is the strong enforcer for Poison Ivy. He was created by Dr. Jason Woodrue and was given his name as intended to be a "bane of humanity".

He was portrayed by Michael Reid McKay (in his normal form) and the late Robert Swenson (in his transformation).

History
In the case of Batman & Robin, and unlike the standard version of this character which lacks an actual name, 'Bane' was originally Antonio Diego, a serial murderer serving a life sentence in the South American jail, Pena Duro, and the sole surviving volunteer for Jason Woodrue's 'Project Gilgamesh'. He was selected by Dr. Woodrue to be the initial test subject for a 'super soldier program'. His hair was first permanently removed and he then had five holes drilled into his skull with one on his chest, before being strapped to a table in front of an audience that comprised of foreign dictators, military generals, commanders, commissars, sheiks and terrorists. Dr. Woodrue placed a mask with three holes snaked to his skull on his head. He eventually pumped massive, concentrated doses of the experimental drug Venom into his skull and circulatory systems. Diego was screaming in pain for the first 15 seconds before his body started changing. The experiment was a success. Originally he was diminutive and scrawny, but after the Venom becomes effective, he becomes a hulking, monstrous abomination with almost inhumane strength. He was "the ideal killing machine" as Dr. Woodrue called him. Unlike most comic book appearances, he did not retain his above average intellect but was reduced to a less than average IQ. He was barely capable of speech and growls, snarls, and speaks only one or two word phrases (which was one of the many aspects of the film heavily criticized by fans and critics).

After Pamela Isley became Poison Ivy and killed Dr. Woodrue, she took Bane to Gotham City as her new enforcer. Bane scared a gang out of a Turkish bathhouse so Ivy can claim it as her new hideout. He also fought off the Arkham Asylum to retrieve Mr. Freeze's cryogenic armor and freezing gun from the storage locker.

At Mr. Freeze's hideout, Snowy Cones Ice Cream Factory, Batman and Robin, along with Commissioner Gordon and the Gotham City Police Department, investigated the hideout for clues to the criminal's whereabouts. During the investigation, Batman and Robin discovered that Poison Ivy was close by after getting a dose of her pheromone dust. Following its direction, they began to look for Ivy, only to be confronted and challenged by Bane, who proved more than a match for the Dynamic Duo with his ferocious strength. Ivy and Bane successfully escaped arrest and fled.

Bane eventually accompanied Mr. Freeze to Gotham Observatory and assisted him in taking control of the new telescope, also placing Freeze's icicle bombs around the area.

When Batman, Robin and Batgirl arrived to stop them, Mr. Freeze ordered Bane to kill Batman's two young comrades while he fought the Dark Knight himself. Bane encountered Robin and Batgirl in a cave within the cliffs on which the observatory was built, pinned them both against a wall and attempted to strangle them to death. Robin and Batgirl kicked Bane's main supply tube, disconnecting it from the back of his head and stopping the Venom circulation to his brain in the process. This in turn caused Bane massive withdrawal, and quickly reverted him back to his skinny self. He was left behind by Robin and Batgirl as they escaped, but what happened to Bane afterwards is ultimately left ambiguous, as there is no evidence that he died in the fall of the Telescope Platform that occurred shortly afterwards. However, what appears to be the pool of Venom around him is seen around part of the fallen telescope, hinting that he may have been crushed to death.

Trivia

 * This particular interpretation seems to resemble Samson, a Biblical character who possessed almost superhuman physique and strength, but only when his hair was growing. When it was removed from him, he became a diminutive and skinny weakling. Christopher Nolan's version of the character and Mr Freeze both defied this convention.
 * This depiction of the character was one of many aspects of the film which received harsh criticism from fans and critics alike.
 * Rather than being the devious and intelligent villain of the comics, this version is an inarticulate thug who serves as the bodyguard, henchman and assistant to Poison Ivy and later Mr. Freeze. Bane is barely even capable of speech and uses growls, roars, and snarls for most of his communication; only occasionally roaring single words or short, incoherent sentences. Despite this particular change in his character, he is still muscular, wears an accurate replication of his classic costume and mask, and is still superhumanly strong; easily overpowering various thugs, police officers, and holding his own against the main characters in close-quarters combat.
 * This interpretation of Bane varies from most appearances in comics, in that when strengthened by Venom he does not retain his above-average intellect and cunning, but rather is reduced to a far less than average I.Q. Having near god-like physical strength, yet often having an intellect far below that of their enemies, is a cliche that can be viewed among other opponents in Batman's rogues gallery, including Solomon Grundy, and in many interpretations, Clayface and Killer Croc.
 * This is so far the only circumstance when the character has an actual name. In every other situation he is present, he is simply known as 'Bane'.
 * Bane is one of the three main antagonists that the Bat-family face, however, he is the secondary antagonist, as Freeze and Ivy are the joint main antagonists.