- "It's business."
- ―Rupert Thorne to Alex Sartorius.[src]
Rupert Thorne was an industrialist and gangster from Gotham City who was responsible for Alex Sartorius' transformation into Doctor Phosphorus.
Biography[]
Deal with Alex Sartorius[]
Thorne struck an agreement with scientist Alex Sartorius, offering to finance Sartorius’ nuclear fusion research aimed at curing cancer. In exchange, Thorne demanded access to the project's findings, intending to sell the valuable information to the nation of Bialya. When he discovered that Sartorius attempted to deceive him by faking the research data, he and his gang brutally murdered Alex's wife and son. They then proceeded to make it look like Sartorius was responsible by leaving his fingerprints on the crime scene. [2]
Death[]
After kidnapping Alex Sartorius, Rupert Thorne and his men brought him to his lab, where Thorne revealed he was aware of Sartorius' betrayal in withholding the true results of his experiments. Despite Sartorius's desperate attempts to justify himself, the mobster stole his research and ordered his men to throw him into the radioactive reactor. Thorne planned to frame Sartorius's death as the result of insanity, crafting a narrative in which Sartorius had murdered his family before taking his own life in the reactor.[2]
Believing the job was done, Thorne and his men left the place, laughing. Unbeknownst to them, Sartorius had survived—at the cost of his human appearance—emerging as a radioactive skeleton. That same night, as Thorne enjoyed dinner with his wife and children at their estate, a vengeful Sartorius burst in and coldly murdered Thorne and his entire family in retaliation.[2]
Legacy[]
Rupert Thorne's death was broadcasted on the news as Alex Sartorius, now known as Doctor Phosphorus, continued his vengeful rampage against the remaining men responsible for his family's murder. After eliminating them, Phosphorus seized control of Thorne's criminal empire and wealth, claiming his legacy as his own. Despite Thorne's death, his actions remained a catalyst for Sartorius's transformation into a sadistic supervillain, making him indirectly responsible for the countless deaths caused by Doctor Phosphorus in the aftermath.[2]
Personality[]
- "Don't Mess with Rupert Thorne!"
- ―Rupert Thorne[src]
Rupert Thorne was a ruthless, cruel, and megalomaniacal mobster willing to commit the most heinous atrocities to achieve his ambitions. He exerted total control over his criminal organization and tolerated no failure or betrayal. Thorne's sadistic nature was evident in his cold-blooded murder of Alex Sartorius's wife and young son, framing Alex for the crime by desecrating their corpses to make it appear as though he was the killer. During these horrific acts, Thorne showed no remorse, he was even amused, taunting his victims while casually smoking a cigar.
Despite his vile nature, Thorne appeared to cherish his own family, highlighting his hypocrisy. While he took pleasure in destroying the families of others, he valued time with his own, underscoring his duplicitous character. However, his arrogance and overconfidence ultimately lead to his downfall. Instead of delivering a swift death to Sartorius, Thorne subjected him to prolonged torture in his machine. This act of cruelty inadvertently transformed Alex into a vengeful metahuman who ultimately killed Thorne and his family in cold blood.
Abilities[]
- Skilled Tactician: Rupert Thorne was an intelligent and cunning crime lord who maintained complete control over his criminal operations. A ruthless and feared leader, he commanded absolute loyalty from his henchmen. Thorne was a master strategist, devising plans to eliminate his enemies while evading authorities, leaving no traceable evidence of his activities. After murdering Alex Sartorius's family, he went as far as having his men desecrate the crime scene to frame Sartorius for the crime. His immense wealth, resources, and far-reaching influence were powerful assets that solidified his position in Gotham's underworld.
- Skilled Businessman: Rupert Thorne maintained complete control over both his industrialist career and his criminal operations in Gotham's underworld. His sharp business skills ensured immense wealth for his family while keeping his criminal empire at the pinnacle of power.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Allies[]
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Enemies[]
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Trivia[]
- In the comics, Rupert Thorne is a powerful criminal and corrupt politician operating in Gotham City and an enemy of Batman.
Behind the scenes[]
- Rupert Thorne in the DC Universe is the fourth animated incarnation of the character, following previous incarnations portrayed by John Vernon, Victor Brandt and Cedric Yarbrough.
References[]
