Philip Kane is the late maternal-uncle of Bruce Wayne, characterized as having run Wayne Enterprises during Bruce's absence.
History[]
Prime Earth[]
Background[]
Philip Kane was the son of the wealthy Roderick Kane of Gotham City's founding Kane family. Philip was brother to Martha Kane and Jacob Kane. Philip inherited the family business of Kane Chemicals while Joseph joined the military and Martha married the wealthy Dr. Thomas Wayne of the Kanes' rival family. Philip was known to have been a loving uncle to Martha and Thomas' son Bruce throughout his life.
After Philip's sister and her husband were shot dead in Crime Alley by mugger Joe Chill, Philip consoled the young Bruce and took control of Thomas' family business Wayne Enterprises. When Bruce disappeared as a young adult to train in vigilantism, Philip had Bruce declared legally-dead so that Wayne Enterprises could progress in trying to rebuild Gotham as a safer city. Amongst Philip's projects were hiring, "The Doctors Three", Prof. Hugo Strange, Dr. Paul Dekker and Dr. Karl Hellfern to study regenerative healing under Lucius Fox.
At some point in time, Philip hired an enigmatic business-advisor with a, "questionable past" named Edward Nygma. Nygma often manipulated Philip and persuaded him into shady business-dealings. Around this time, Philip shut down the Doctors Three's program, unknowing that Hellfern was hired by Nygma to continue the study in secret. Philip also would become become black-mailed by the gangster, "The Red Hood" into becoming a member of his Red Hood Gang.
Zero Year[]
When Bruce secretly returned to Gotham to begin his vigilantism, he frequently contacted Philip. When Nygma believed that Bruce's appearance would affect their plans, Edward had Red Hood and the Red Hood Gang attack Bruce. When Philip confronted Edward over this and threatened to expose his past, Edward activated a hidden-magnet in their office which incapacitated Philip through the metal-plate in his head. Edward subsequently resigned from his position and went rogue.
As a member of the Red Hood Gang, Philip was forced to participate in Red Hood's attempt to turn the ACE Chemicals Plant into a massive chemical bomb. During the attack, Philip protected Bruce as Batman from the Red Hood, only to be shot dead by Red Hood.
Notes[]
- Philip Kane is based on Philip Wayne first appeared in Batman #208 (1969) as Dr. Thomas Wayne's brother who took custody of Bruce after the Waynes died.