Lew Moxon

Lew Moxon is a fictional character in the DC Comics Batman series. He is most famous for hiring Joe Chill to murder Thomas and Martha Wayne in early versions of Batman's origin story, thus making him indirectly responsible for Batman's existence. Lew Moxon is a crime boss and enemy of Batman.

Golden Age/Silver Age Version
Sometime prior to their murder, Dr. Thomas Wayne and his wife Martha attend a costume party to which Dr. Wayne wears a bat-like costume. Thomas is taken from the party at gunpoint to meet Moxon who orders Thomas to remove a bullet from his shoulder. Thomas does surgery on Moxon before overpowering him and his men.

Lew Moxon is arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for armed robbery. As he is taken away, he swears revenge on Thomas. Ten years later, a free Moxon informs Thomas Wayne that he will get someone else to exact that revenge.

Years later, Batman learns of Lew Moxon's involvement in the murder of his parents, by which time Lew Moxon is operating a blimp business. Batman's first attempt to convict Lew Moxon for the murder of his parents fails as Lew Moxon is now suffering from amnesia and is able to pass a lie detector test. He is then released on bail with his only official crime being assault. Batman determines that Lew Moxon's blimp business must be a cover for illegal activities and continues to trail the gangster.

After discovering Moxon's illegal activities, Batman confronts the criminal dressed in his father's costume. Moxon suddenly remembers what he had done and begins to think that Batman is Thomas seeking revenge. Moxon flees and runs out into the streets where he gets killed upon being hit by a truck. That makes Batman very upset at this since he wanted Moxon to be brought in alive.

Modern Age
Lew Moxon was reintroduced into modern Batman continuity as an elderly crime lord with failed political aspirations, who returned to Gotham City after several years in exile. In the past, Moxon traveled in the same circle of wealthy socialites as Bruce's parents, and considered the Waynes to be friendly associates despite their disdain towards his immoral leanings. Upon Moxon's return, Bruce is invited to a party, at which he is reintroduced to Moxon's daughter Mallory who turns out to be Bruce's childhood sweetheart. Bruce learns at the party that Moxon is being targeted by Dead Shot which is why Moxon has employed Philo Zeiss as his bodyguard.

During an earlier story, Zeiss killed Bruce's friend Jeremy Samuels. When Bruce confronts Zeiss as Batman, Zeiss reveals that the murder of Samuels was carried out under Moxon's orders as revenge for sometihng that Thomas had done to Moxon many years ago.

Moxon survives Deadshot's assassination attempts (though he is now confined to a wheelchair), and Batman discovers Mallory is an active member of the family's criminal empire. Ultimately Batman discovers that Thomas, Martha and (a very young) Bruce Wayne had attended a costume party (to which Dr. Wayne wore a Zorro costume) which was also attended by Moxon himself. At the party, Angelo Berretti, an 'employee' of Moxon's, told Dr. Wayne that a man's life was in danger. Dr. Wayne made Berretti promise his safe return before departing. Dr. Wayne was informed that Lew Moxon's nephew required a bullet to be removed from his shoulder (following a failed armed robbery). Dr. Wayne performed the operation, but refused to take any money which was why Moxon was angered by this. It is unclear if Moxon ordered the Waynes to be killed.

Lew Moxon (alongside his current bodyguard Hellhound) is killed by Zeiss at a meeting of Gotham's gang bosses. This event occurs at the commencement of the Batman: War Games story line.

Golden Age of Comic Books
He is the man who hired Joe Chill to kill Thomas and Martha Wayne.

Earth 2
In Detective Comics #50, Batman and Robin are sent to Earth 2 to prevent the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne's doppelgangers. To accomplish that goal, the superheroes find and question that world's version of Moxon about the whereabouts of Chill. Unfortunately, Moxon had not yet hired Chill to perform the murder and with the attention of this bizarre figure, quickened his plan with a different killer to kill Chill and then the Waynes. Batman discovered that Chill was killed and was able to stop Waynes' murder in Crime Alley.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters
In this version, Moxon's right hand man is Joe Chill and his best friend is Rupert Thorne. Moxn also has a wife named Angela and a son named Jeremy. Moxon discovered that Rupert Thorne stole money from their prostitution ring and orders Thorne to commit suicide by having him point a gun to his head. Moxon was later killed by Batman despite his attempts to bribe him. Kirk later attends Moxon's funeral, where he meets Moxon's family. Kirk later becomes friends with Jeremy and reveals his secret to him. Jeremy then agrees to help Kirk find a cure for his condition. When Angela is murdered, Jeremy reveals that the other crime lords believe that Moxon had evidence against them and they also believe that he knows where they are. Batman finds out that Angela Moxon's killer is Joe Chill who has become a vampire after Batman bites him. Batman then kills Chill with an axe. When he returns, Batman reveals to Jeremy that he found out that the other crime boss Chill was trying to defeat was Jeremy, who was groomed by Moxon to be a mobster like him and that his innocent, charming image was just an illusion. He then tells Jeremy that he doesn't want a curse anymore. Jeremy proposes that they work together only for Batman to kill him.

Batman (1989)
In the original draft of the script, Rupert Thorne was going to replace Moxon by hiring Joe Chill to kill Thomas and Martha Wayne.

Batman: The Brave & The Bold
He appears in "Chill of the Night" voiced by Richard Moll. Like the earlier appearances, he was the one who hired Joe Chill to kill Thomas Wayne. In this version, he admits to some guilt for leaving Bruce an orphan as the hit was only to be for Thomas Wayne and not his wife Martha. Disguised as a priest, Batman learns of Joe Chill's identity from Moxon as he gives his confession on his deathbed. When Phantom Stranger brings Batman to the past where he encounters his parents at a masquerade ball, he and Thomas Wayne fend off Moxon's thugs who crashed the masquerade ball to rob it. While in prison, Moxon hired Joe Chill to dispose of Thomas Wayne. When he learns of this, Batman finds a lead on the identity of the man who killed his parents. Apparently, Moxon felt remorse for leaving Bruce orphaned since he only wanted Thomas to die.

Gotham
Lew Moxon doesn't appear in the series. He is replaced by Hugo Strange who was the one who ordered Thomas and Martha Wayne to be killed.