Lew Moxon
Encyclopedia
Lew Moxon is a fictional character
in the DC Comics
Batman
series. He is most famous for hiring Joe Chill
to murder
young Bruce Wayne's parents in early versions of Batman
's origin story
, thus making him indirectly responsible for Batman's existence.
and his wife Martha
attend a costume party
- to which Dr. Wayne wears a bat-like costume. Wayne is taken from the party, at gunpoint, to meet racketeer and bank robber Lew Moxon, who orders Wayne to remove a bullet from his shoulder. Wayne carries out the operation before overpowering Moxon and his men.
Moxon is arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for armed robbery; as he is taken away, he swears revenge
on Thomas Wayne. Ten years later, a free Moxon informs Thomas Wayne that he will get someone else to extract that revenge (that someone being Joe Chill). It is suggested that Chill was told to leave young Bruce alive so as to provide an alibi
for Moxon.
Years later Batman learns of Moxon's involvement in the murder of his parents, by which time Moxon is operating a blimp
business. Batman's first attempt to convict Moxon for the murder of his parents fails, as Moxon is now suffering from amnesia
and is able to pass a lie detector
test. He is then released on bail, his only official crime being assault. Batman determines that Moxon's blimp business must be a cover for illegal activities and continues to trail the gangster.
Eventually, after uncovering Moxon's illegal activities, Batman confronts the criminal while wearing his father's costume (his own had been ripped during an earlier fight). On seeing Dr. Wayne's costume, Moxon suddenly remembers what he had done. Thinking Batman was actually Thomas Wayne's ghost
, Moxon panics and runs out into the street, where he is hit by a truck and killed.
after several years in exile
. In the past, Moxon traveled in the same circle of wealthy socialites as Bruce's parents, and considered the Wayne's 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. At the party Wayne discovers that Lew Moxon is the target of an assassination
by Deadshot, and for protection Moxon has employed Philo Zeiss
as his bodyguard
, who in turned Zeiss killed Bruce's friend Jeremy Samuels during an earlier story.
When Bruce confronts Zeiss as Batman, Zeiss reveals that the murder of Samuels was carried out under the order of Moxon himself, as retaliation for something that Thomas Wayne had done to Moxon years ago..
Moxon survives Deadshot's assassination attempts (though he now requires the use of 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. 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 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, and started a fight with Moxon. Following this, Moxon had ordered the murder of Thomas Wayne. However, this was not carried out because of Berretti's promise.
Years later, Batman questions Angelo Berretti as to whether Moxon had been involved in the murder of the Waynes (which occurred a few months after the costume party). According to Berretti, Moxon was not involved. After Batman accepts Berretti's word and departs, Berretti holds his hand to his face and utters an ambiguous "Oh, thank God". Moxon's involvement in the killing of the Wayne is, therefore, left to the reader's imagination.
Lew Moxon (alongside his current bodyguard Hellhound
) is killed by Zeiss at a meeting of Gotham's gang bosses (arranged by Spoiler). This event occurs at the commencement of the Batman: War Games story line.
, Lew Moxon was established as the man who hired Joe Chill to kill Bruce Wayne's parents.
During the Silver
and Bronze Age of Comic Books
, the Lew Moxon story remained canonical
for tales set on Earth Two. For several years no mention is made of Moxon's role regards the origin of Batman on Earth One - that is until the Len Wein
written mini-series, The Untold Legend of the Batman
(published in 1980) re-introduced the Lew Moxon story, exactly as it was told in 1956.
During the post-Crisis
era, no mention is made of Lew Moxon, making his canonical status during this time uncertain. In Batman: Year Two
Batman confronts Joe Chill, much as he did in the Golden and Silver Age continuities. However, just as in previous continuities, Chill makes no reference to Lew Moxon before his demise.
During the post-Zero Hour
era, while Lew Moxon does appear in several issues, Joe Chill does not.
After the events of Infinite Crisis
, Joe Chill is again known to be responsible for the murder of the Waynes, and he was arrested for the crime on that same night. In Grant Morrison
's Batman #673, Batman learns Chill acted on his own.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
series. He is most famous for hiring Joe Chill
Joe Chill
Joe Chill is a fictional character in the DC Comics Batman series. He is best known for murdering young Bruce Wayne's parents , thus making him indirectly responsible for Batman's existence....
to murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
young Bruce Wayne's parents in early versions of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
's origin story
Origin story
In comic book terminology, an origin story is an account or back-story revealing how a character or team gained their superpowers and/or the circumstances under which they became superheroes or supervillains....
, thus making him indirectly responsible for Batman's existence.
Golden / Silver Age version
Sometime prior to their murder, Dr. Thomas WayneThomas Wayne
Thomas Wayne is a fictional character in the Batman series of comic books. Dr. Thomas Wayne was the father of Bruce Wayne, and husband of Martha Wayne, as well as a gifted surgeon and philanthropist...
and his wife Martha
Martha Wayne
Martha Wayne is a fictional character of the Batman series of comic books, published by DC Comics. She is Dr. Thomas Wayne's wife and mother of Bruce Wayne. When she and her husband are murdered during a holdup, young Bruce swears to avenge their deaths by fighting crime...
attend a costume party
Costume party
A fancy dress party or a costume party , mainly in contemporary Western culture, is a type of party where guests dress up in a costume.-Fancy dress parties in Britain:...
- to which Dr. Wayne wears a bat-like costume. Wayne is taken from the party, at gunpoint, to meet racketeer and bank robber Lew Moxon, who orders Wayne to remove a bullet from his shoulder. Wayne carries out the operation before overpowering Moxon and his men.
Moxon is arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for armed robbery; as he is taken away, he swears revenge
Revenge
Revenge is a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. It is also called payback, retribution, retaliation or vengeance; it may be characterized, justly or unjustly, as a form of justice.-Function in society:Some societies believe that the...
on Thomas Wayne. Ten years later, a free Moxon informs Thomas Wayne that he will get someone else to extract that revenge (that someone being Joe Chill). It is suggested that Chill was told to leave young Bruce alive so as to provide an alibi
Alibi
Alibi is a 1929 American crime film directed by Roland West. The screenplay was written by West and C. Gardner Sullivan, who adapted the 1927 Broadway stage play, Nightstick, written by Elaine Sterne Carrington, J.C...
for Moxon.
Years later Batman learns of Moxon's involvement in the murder of his parents, by which time Moxon is operating a blimp
Blimp
A blimp, or non-rigid airship, is a floating airship without an internal supporting framework or keel. A non-rigid airship differs from a semi-rigid airship and a rigid airship in that it does not have any rigid structure, neither a complete framework nor a partial keel, to help the airbag...
business. Batman's first attempt to convict Moxon for the murder of his parents fails, as Moxon is now suffering from amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
and is able to pass a lie detector
Lie Detector
"Lie Detector" is a CD single by The Reverend Horton Heat. It was released in October 1998 on Sub Pop.-Personnel:*Jim "Reverend Horton" Heath - lead vocals, guitar*Jimbo Wallace - upright bass, vocals*Scott Churilla - drums, vocals...
test. He is then released on bail, his only official crime being assault. Batman determines that Moxon's blimp business must be a cover for illegal activities and continues to trail the gangster.
Eventually, after uncovering Moxon's illegal activities, Batman confronts the criminal while wearing his father's costume (his own had been ripped during an earlier fight). On seeing Dr. Wayne's costume, Moxon suddenly remembers what he had done. Thinking Batman was actually Thomas Wayne's ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
, Moxon panics and runs out into the street, where he is hit by a truck and killed.
Modern Age (Post Zero Hour) version
Lew Moxon was reintroduced into modern Batman continuity as an aging mob boss with failed political aspirations, who returned to Gotham CityGotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
after several years in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
. In the past, Moxon traveled in the same circle of wealthy socialites as Bruce's parents, and considered the Wayne's 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. At the party Wayne discovers that Lew Moxon is the target of an assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
by Deadshot, and for protection Moxon has employed Philo Zeiss
Zeiss (comics)
Zeiss is a DC Comics villain, primarily an enemy of the Batman. He first appeared in Batman issue #582.-Fictional character biography:After the death of his parents, Philo Zeiss was taken in by his uncle Victor, the gardener of a Sicilian mafia lord...
as his bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
, who in turned Zeiss killed Bruce's friend Jeremy Samuels during an earlier story.
When Bruce confronts Zeiss as Batman, Zeiss reveals that the murder of Samuels was carried out under the order of Moxon himself, as retaliation for something that Thomas Wayne had done to Moxon years ago..
Moxon survives Deadshot's assassination attempts (though he now requires the use of a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
), and Batman discovers Mallory is an active member of the family's criminal empire
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
. Ultimately Batman discovers that Thomas, Martha and (a very young) Bruce Wayne had attended a costume party (to which Dr. Wayne wore a Zorro
Zorro
Zorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by New York-based pulp writer Johnston McCulley. The character has been featured in numerous books, films, television series, and other media....
costume) which was also attended by Moxon. 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 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, and started a fight with Moxon. Following this, Moxon had ordered the murder of Thomas Wayne. However, this was not carried out because of Berretti's promise.
Years later, Batman questions Angelo Berretti as to whether Moxon had been involved in the murder of the Waynes (which occurred a few months after the costume party). According to Berretti, Moxon was not involved. After Batman accepts Berretti's word and departs, Berretti holds his hand to his face and utters an ambiguous "Oh, thank God". Moxon's involvement in the killing of the Wayne is, therefore, left to the reader's imagination.
Lew Moxon (alongside his current bodyguard Hellhound
Hellhound (comics)
Hellhound is the name of two fictional characters that are DC Comics supervillains. The first Hellhound appeared as an opponent of Catwoman.-Kai:Kai was the best student in the Armless Master's dojo in Gotham City...
) is killed by Zeiss at a meeting of Gotham's gang bosses (arranged by Spoiler). This event occurs at the commencement of the Batman: War Games story line.
Place in continuity
During the Golden Age of Comic BooksGolden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
, Lew Moxon was established as the man who hired Joe Chill to kill Bruce Wayne's parents.
During the Silver
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
and Bronze Age of Comic Books
Bronze Age of Comic Books
The Bronze Age of Comic Books is an informal name for a period in the history of mainstream American comic books usually said to run from 1970 to 1985. It follows the Silver Age of Comic Books....
, the Lew Moxon story remained canonical
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
for tales set on Earth Two. For several years no mention is made of Moxon's role regards the origin of Batman on Earth One - that is until the Len Wein
Len Wein
Len Wein is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men...
written mini-series, The Untold Legend of the Batman
The Untold Legend of the Batman
The Untold Legend of the Batman is a three-issue Batman comic book miniseries published by DC Comics in 1980. It was written by Len Wein, and drawn by Jim Aparo and on the first issue, also John Byrne. The primary plot elements of the story are retellings of the origins of several Batman characters...
(published in 1980) re-introduced the Lew Moxon story, exactly as it was told in 1956.
During the post-Crisis
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
era, no mention is made of Lew Moxon, making his canonical status during this time uncertain. In Batman: Year Two
Batman: Year Two
"Year Two" is the title of a four-part story arc featuring Batman, written by Mike W. Barr and illustrated by Alan Davis, Paul Neary, Alfredo Alcala, Mark Farmer and Todd McFarlane...
Batman confronts Joe Chill, much as he did in the Golden and Silver Age continuities. However, just as in previous continuities, Chill makes no reference to Lew Moxon before his demise.
During the post-Zero Hour
Zero Hour (comics)
Zero Hour: Crisis in Time is a five-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by DC Comics in 1994. In it, the former hero Hal Jordan, who had until then been a member of the intergalactic police force known as the Green Lantern Corps, mad with grief after the destruction of...
era, while Lew Moxon does appear in several issues, Joe Chill does not.
After the events of Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
, Joe Chill is again known to be responsible for the murder of the Waynes, and he was arrested for the crime on that same night. In Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
's Batman #673, Batman learns Chill acted on his own.
Television
- Lew Moxon appeared in the Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode "Chill of the Night!Chill of the Night!-Background:The episode is a re-telling of Batman's origin story. Paul Dini, who wrote the script for Batman: The Animated Series, wrote the script for this episode. Michael Chang directed the episode. The episode first aired on April 9, 2010. People who voiced characters in Batman: The Animated...
" voiced by Richard MollRichard MollCharles Richard Moll is an American actor and voice artist,best known for playing Bull Shannon, the bailiff on the NBC sitcom Night Court from 1983 to 1992...
. 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. Disguised as a priest, Batman learns of Joe Chill's identity from Moxon as he gives his confession on his deathbed. When Phantom StrangerPhantom StrangerThe Phantom Stranger is a fictional character of unspecified paranormal origins who battles mysterious and occult forces in various titles published by DC Comics, sometimes under their Vertigo imprint.-Publication history:...
brings Batman to the past where he encounters his parents at a masquerade ball, he and Thomas Wayne fend off Moxon's thugs, who crash the masquerade ball. While in prison, Lew 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.