There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding the popular DC Comics villain Bane. Some seem to believe he's this large brute who can throw down with heavy hitters like Thing or Superman, while others believe he's a total idiot with no skill. Thankfully, he's neither. The following are key points about (pre-New 52) Bane that everyone should know:

-Intellect-He does indeed have genius level intellect and a photographic memory. This doesn't mean he can read moves like Taskmaster, but he has memorized complete pages of of text from a dead language. He's smart, not an idiot like many forms of media have passed off.

-Skill-He is indeed skilled. How skilled? He's not as good as Batman, but he's by no means far behind, either. Bane has given Batman numerous good fights, as well as held his own against the likes of Jean Paul Valley and swiftly defeated Dick Grayson twice. He's good, but he's not a top 5 kind of guy by any measure.

-Venom-His best feats are off venom. Off venom, it can be disputed Bane physically falls under the peak human-enhanced human range. Bane was literally only on venom during the Knightfall saga and more recently, twice during Gail Simone's Secret Six. The Knightfall levels of venom increase his muscle mass, therefore granting low level superhuman strength (speculated at the 2 ton range max), increased pain tolerance, and with large muscle mass naturally comes a slightly improved durability level.

-Speed-He's not slow and/or clumsy. He's reacted before police could pull the trigger, dodged numerous batarangs, blocked arrows, etc. He has no feats on par with the likes of Daredevil (blocking/cutting bullets), but he has plenty that place him in the peak human range in that regard.

-"Broke the Bat!-Saying "he broke the Bat" holds no actual weight in a debate. It's not difficult to understand what went down in Knightfall, but somehow the mass majority skew it out of proportion. It's simple, Bane wanted to fully defeat Batman, both body and mind. By forcing Batman to face a virtually endless gauntlet, it forced Batman to an all-time low point in terms of physical condition and the mental toll of the event had its own weight, too. When he knew Batman was at his weakest, Bane stepped in to end it. He didn't believe he couldn't beat Batman otherwise, but it was to add insult to injury. His end game plan, if you will. So, please remember that unless Bane has prep and access to his opponents rogue's gallery, the phrase means nothing.

-For Forum Use-For matches, please realize Bane is not going to beat characters like Wolverine, even if he's on venom. Bane is a solid street level combatant, but he's not close to being one of the biggest threats in that roster. Off venom, he can have amazing fights with Batman, but ultimately it's one he isn't going to take a majority. On venom, it could be disputed otherwise. Please keep that in mind when making matches for him.

Updated OP with info on new 52 Bane.

Now I hope new 52 Bane has combat skill and agility as well.

@entropy_aegis: I hope so, too, but based on that first showing and how he's being portrayed, it seems like they're going the smart powerhouse road instead of the skilled fighter route. Hey, at least he's smart, lol.

@k4tzm4n said:

@entropy_aegis: I hope so, too, but based on that first showing and how he's being portrayed, it seems like they're going the smart powerhouse road instead of the skilled fighter route. Hey, at least he's smart, lol.

Eh writers will prolly ignore this anyway.

@k4tzm4n: scare crow please

Nice thread, you know, two years ago.

Proper update: Bane > Doomsday

@k4tzm4n said:

Proper update: Bane > Doomsday

Brilliance.

but banes not weak is he I mean hes very strong and a deadly batman villain so does this mean hes weak

@thegirlcow_cat: Not the point.

Bane is a decent Street Leveller but he can't beat Characters like Daredevil, Wolverine or Deathstroke.

Im pretty sure he can beat deathstroke if he can rip of his promethium armor other than that because deathstroke is a quick swordsman and is hyper but I still think bane can beat him I mean bane beat batman many times in other versions of the character he can beat deathstroke if he wanted to they just didn't show it because deathstroke and Bane are allies and Bane is not a street level if he was a street level he'd be wrecked from deathstroke so I think bane is not a street level

@thegirlcow_cat: Impossible for him to break his Nth Metal armor. Slade has beaten Batman plenty of times before.

Both Bane and Slade are both street level, excluding Ikon Suit Slade.

That's true plus bane on venom and deathstroke if he gets behind bane he can get cut off his tubes other than that bane would win because he is stronger slightly faster and as smart as slade and much better in h2h

but i still think bane will win plus u saying slade with his armor might not be fair for bane

@k4tzm4n:Nice thread and Original Post. But you should include stories/books/issues to reference his feats and personnality. Here are a few must read story including Bane:

1. Vengence of Bane
2. Knightfall (not the full arc that include Knightquest and KnightsEnd)
3. Legacy
4. Tabula Rasa
5. Veritas Liberat
6. Secret Six: Villains United
7. Checkmate: Pawn Breaks
8. Suicide Squad (2008) #8
9. Secret Six vol.3 (2008)
10. Batman: The Dark Knight #6-7 - New 52
11. Talon #7-12 - New 52
12. Forever Evil: Arkham War - New 52
13. Batman Eternal - New 52
14. Endgame - New 52
15. I am Suicide - Rebirth

@thegirlcow_cat: Thing is is that Superman couldn't get past Slade's current armor.

beuase its to strong but bane would still win it wont be fair for bane but he might beat slade in armor depending on the moves he makes he is stronger and just as smart as slade