| “ | Tell those men down there you can "climb to a safe altitude". Me, I'd rather get down there and tell them myself...with my bare hands!
— Saxton Hale
|
” |
Saxton Hale is a daring Australian, President and CEO of Mann Co., and the star of many comics series. He is considered the fourth richest man in America. He was the sixth richest man in America, but surpassed the fifth by wealth and the fourth by killing him in a harpoon duel. His favorite pastimes include fighting, drinking, and battling with ferocious animals. In fact, most kids sleep with a teddy bear at night, but Saxton Hale sleeps with an actual bear that he tamed while in the Brazilian Jungles. His identifying features include a mustache, rippling muscles, a crocodile-tooth lined hat, and a patch of rotating chest hair shaped like Australia. He also refuses to wear clothes on his upper body "for obvious reasons".
Saxton is the most current male of the Hale family to take up the reins of Mann Co. since Zepheniah Mann left its ownership to loyal aide and tracker Barnabus Hale in his last will and testament. His boisterous presence is felt in all areas of the company, from the slogan "We sell products and get in fights" to Gorilla Wrestling Fridays – his attempt at employee morale building. He also fills out customer forms with tick-boxes to either intimidate any product-thieving rivals or commend new inventors submitting a new product idea to him. His inspiring image is also featured on numerous Mann Co. catalogs and promotional materials. He is known (and feared) for his belief in handling customer service issues personally, with his official policy being: "If you aren't 100% satisfied with our product line, you can take it up with me!"
Battle vs. Bane (Comics) (by Jackythejack)[]
It was another dull, dark, and gloomy day in Gotham City. Grey storm clouds rolled over the sky, and it looked like it was threatening to rain at any moment. Compared to some of the rundown and impoverished streets of Gotham, Wayne Manor stood out like a sore thumb. Something so rich and prestigious in a city riddled with crime wasn't very common, but all the same, the Manor stood.
Inside the manor, Alfred Pennyworth was currently preparing food for his master, Bruce Wayne. Though Bruce often neglected his basic needs, what with being caught up in his vigilante nonsense, Alfred always made sure the master did not go hungry. Even if it was the most basic of food, to get Bruce to eat anything at all made Alfred feel a little better for the billionaire.
Just as he had put the food in the oven, there was a knock at the door. Normally, he wouldn't had heard the knock; the kitchen was all the way in the back of the manor, but this was a different knock. It was loud, and booming. It seemed to shake the whole manor with how powerful it was. Alfred hated to admit it, but he momentarily jumped. He glanced to the kitchen doorway, and let out a tired sigh. He should be used to this by now.
With little hesitation, he moved to the door. He pulled it open, only to be met with the biggest man he had ever seen. By all accounts, the man was larger than life. Almost twice the size of Bruce, and had about twice the muscles to back it up. His arms were like barrels, and his chest as wide as a truck. Alfred only brought attention to his chest, mind you, because it was so out there. The man wasn't wearing a shirt. In fact, he was barely wearing anything! Shoes, shorts and a hat were all that kept the man from being practically naked.
A look of confusion flashed on the butler's face, as the man tipped his outback hat. "G'day!"
"Uh...yes, hello. May I help you? Is there something you need?"
"Aw, man, did Bruce not tell you? We're here to have a little business meetin'. This is Wayne Manor, right? I didn't jump out at the wrong spot, did I?"
"Well, yes, it is, but-...wait, did you just say jump out?"
"Sure did!" He pointed up at the sky, towards a plane that was flying away from the premises. "Only real way for a man to get anywhere. Now, I don't mean to be rude, but can I come in? A bit nippy out here, you know?"
Alfred narrowed his eyes, for a moment not trusting the man, but he eventually relented. You know, this looked exactly like one of the men that Master Bruce would be associating with nowadays, anyways. He sighed and opened the door further. "Come in. Master Bruce is currently taking care of other business. I will send him out as soon as possible."
"Ah, take your time, no worries." The man waved an arm, holding likely the same force as a battering ram, as he stepped into the mansion, looking around. "Wow, Bruce's sure got a nice place. A bit too fancy and rich for my taste, but it looks just fine!"
Alfred ignored the man's comments and moved on, further into the mansion. After a bit of looking behind him to make sure Hale did not follow, he had arrived in the Batcave, where Master Bruce was assuming his Batman persona, currently typing away at his supercomputer.
"Master Bruce."
"What is it, Alfred?" Batman didn't look away from the computer, typing at inhuman speeds in order to study who knows what about who knows who. "And does it have something to do with that shaking? I was just looking at the seismic signatures but-"
"That would be your new guest, sir." Alfred interrupted. He was the only man who could consistently interrupt the Batman without him getting upset about it. It happened far too often for Batman to be affected by it. "There is a shirtless Australian man in the foyer; says that he is here for a business meeting with Bruce Wayne."
"What? I...dammit." Batman stepped away from his computer, for the first time in what may have been several hours. He walked deeper into the Batcave, to change out of his batsuit. "Hale wasn't supposed to be here, yet. He's a day early."
"Hale, sir? You wouldn't happen to mean Barnabus Hale?"
"No, it's his son, Saxton Hale." Batman stepped behind a cover, and began to undress himself. "He's the CEO of Mann Co., the fastest growing arms manufacturer in the world. The weapons he provides are said to have special qualities: rocket launchers that propel their users while leaving them unharmed, weapons that can turn men into ice statues, even weapons that can disintegrate people."
"And...you want these weapons for yourself, sir?"
"No. What I want is to keep a close eye on Hale. I need to make sure that Mann Co. doesn't sell these weapons to the wrong people. Otherwise, things could get messy."
"And the best way to do that is to make him a business partner. Of course." Alfred sighed. More convoluted plans. "Well, you shouldn't keep your new business partner waiting."
"Of course not." While Batman had walked behind the cover, Bruce Wayne had walked out. Adjusting a button on one of his suits, he walked to the exit of the Batcave. "Tell him I'll meet him shortly. I just need to put some finishing touches on my look."
"As you wish, sir."
---
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hale." Bruce said as he stepped into the foyer. Walking down the large set of stairs, his eyes quickly found the mountain of a man that was in his house. Alfred wasn't lying; he really wasn't wearing a shirt. He looked more prepared for a night out clubbing than holding any sort of business meetings. "I would have been more prepared, but you showed up a day early."
"Ah, yeah. I had something that came up suddenly. Needed to move the meetin' to today." Hale shrugged, and crossed his arms over his chest. He was staring at one of the paintings in the foyer. An wonderful painting of an ideal, upper class family of three. A mother, a father, and the little boy standing between them. Hale's expression saddened for a moment. He pointed one of his fingers, as big as a bloated sausage, at the boy in the middle. He turned to Bruce. "This is you, ain't it?"
Bruce's eyes fell upon the painting, and he held back a sigh. Keeping his cool demeanor, he approached the man. "That's right. That painting was commissioned by my father. It was only a few months before..." his voice trailed off, and he let it hang there.
"I'm sorry that it happened, Bruce." He said, in a moment that actually felt very sincere. His dynamic, outback wrestling attitude melted away for a moment, to show genuine care for the billionaire. "A boy should never have to watch his parents die. That ain't right."
"Thank you, Hale." Bruce adjusted his suit before clearing his throat. "Well, let's move on from the topic, eh? Not much can be done about it. Best that we continue with our negotiations."
As if a switch was flipped, Hale went from upset and mourning to smiling and jovial. "Haha! That's the spirit. Never let the emotions get in the way of a good deal. I like the cut o' your jib, Bruce." He gave him a pat on the back. Any harder and he might have cracked a bone. Bruce held back a wince.
"I was thinking we could discuss this over drinks. I already asked Alfred to prepare us some."
"I'm liking you more and more." He laughed, putting a hand to his toned abdomen. "What do you got prepared? Whiskey, scotch? I prefer the real hard stuff. They're the only drinks that make me feel anything nowadays."
"I was actually preparing a wine, one of my better brands, but I can tell Alfred to get you a bottle when he comes back."
"A bottle? How about you try a barrel!" Another laugh, but this one was cut short. Suddenly, the giant doors to Wayne Manor burst open. It was a frankly a miracle they stayed in one piece. They both turned to the entrance, and saw one of the biggest men alive today: Bane.
"Ah, Mr. Wayne. We meet again." There was a hint of amusement behind his voice as he stepped into the manor, the doors swinging to a close behind him as he passed them. His eyes turned to Hale, and he raised an eyebrow. "And I see you have a guest. I was hoping we'd be meeting alone."
"Now, Bruce, I don't want to be a nosy Nelly or anything, but who's the man who could give my workout routine a run for its money?"
“That’s Bane, one of the most notorious criminals in Gotham.” His tone became hostile, uncharacteristic of the charismatic businessman that Hale had expected.
“I’m the one who broke Gotham over his knee,” Bane continued, taking a step forward as he pointed a finger towards Bruce. “And I will be doing the same to you, Bruce, once I get my hands on you.”
Bane moved to step forward, but before his foot even hit the ground, Hale lunged at him. He was on Bane in less than a second. Hale threw a powerful punch, slamming the fist into Bane’s jaw. Bane stumbled back and almost tripped over his own feet.
Regaining his footing, Bane was silent. That thick silence hung over the entire mansion, as all three stared each other down. Hands balling into fists, he glared at Hale. “That was your first and last mistake.”
“Oh, I’m gonna enjoy this.” Hale stretched, grinning from ear to ear. “Bruce, I suggest you step back. This is going to get messy.”
“Hale, you don’t have to-”
“Don’t worry, Bruce. I’ll make sure I don’t bust up your mansion too much. Now…” He pounced forward, punching at Bane. Bane avoided the punch by stepping to the side. He punched Hale in the gut, which barely made the man wince. He let out a laugh. “Let’s get to the fun part!”
Bane grabbed at Hale, who did the same to him. The two mountains grappled against each other in an attempt to push the other one away. It was becoming clear that neither were going to budge, and Bane was the first one to react accordingly. He slammed his knee up into Hale’s stomach. Hale’s resulting wince allowed Bane to push him away.
Stumbling back, the Australian was open to an attack. Bane charged forward with an outstretched arm, slamming it into Hale’s chest. He was sent back, landing on the ground with enough force to shake the whole mansion.
Bane lunged forward once more, bringing his fist down onto Hale. Saxton moved out of the way at the last moment, and Bane ended up punching a fist-sized hole into the ground. Wooden splinters shot out of the ground, and Bane tugged at his arm to free it.
Saxton didn’t waste time. Crouching down momentarily, he grabbed Bane’s legs, before lifting him up off the ground. He then flung the man into the air. With Bane’s arm still embedded into the floor, it was more like Bane was flipped than thrown. He fell on the ground back first, leaving a body-shaped indent in the floor.
Hale got down on his knees and slammed both fists into Bane’s chest, causing the criminal to cry out in pain. He brought his hands up, and slammed them down once more, but this time Bane was prepared. He ripped his hand out of the floor and used both hands to catch Hale’s fists. He gritted his teeth as he pushed against Hale’s mighty muscles. With a bit of effort, he pushed him away.
Hale was knocked onto his back. He used the rest of his momentum to roll backwards and get back up on his feet; a surprisingly agile move given his physique. It didn’t help him much. Bane was already up, and Saxton only got to his feet in time to get another punch in the gut. Hale winced, but pushed through the pain.
Another punch was sent his way, but he was prepared. He caught Bane’s fist before it could hit, and squeezed his hand with enough pressure to crack bones. Bane cried out in pain as he attempted to pull his hand back. Saxton bashed his forward, slamming it into Bane’s. The luchadore was sent stumbling back, grabbing his head with both hands.
“This is one of the best tussles I’ve had in years!” Hale let out a laugh of pure joy as he got back into his fighting stance. Bane let out a low huff of irritation. “But I gotta say, son, I think my ex has more bite than you do! Haha! That’s son in a metaphorical sense, by the way, but I’d be proud to have a son like-”
“Shut up already!” Bane charged, ready to tackle Hale to the ground. Hale maneuvered out of the way at the last minute. He brought his leg out and managed to trip Bane. The behemoth of a man stumbled and fell to the ground front first. Hale grinned and picked Bane up, causing him to struggle fruitlessly against the man’s hold.
“I think it’s ‘bout time for you…” he walked to the doors of the mansion, and chucked Bane as hard as he could. The doors splintered from the massive projectile, and Bane went tumbling out onto the Gotham streets. “To go back where you came from!”
It had started raining outside now, and a torrent of rain was pouring down on Bane as he stumbled to his feet. He had never in his life met a man who could match him in strength, and now, it was pissing him off. “I’ve had enough of this.”
“Aw, come on. Things were just starting to get fun!”
“I meant I had enough of you. I only came here for The Bat, but you’ve made yourself my new target.” With the threat given, Bane slammed a hand down on a button, which jutted out of the harness on his chest.
As the button was pressed, the tubes that were feeding into Bane’s body started growing with a green liquid. Bane’s green took on a greenish hue, and his veins bulged out of his muscles. He seemed to get more jacked as the seconds passed.
Saxton saw this, and he was...absolutely ecstatic. “Oh, rippa! I was hoping you weren’t done just yet!”
The two beefcakes charged at each other, and they clashed on the garden of Wayne Manor. This time, there was no grappling, or fight for dominance; there was just Bane slamming into Hale with enough force to send him flying.
Hale tumbled on the ground, using his momentum to get back to his feet. He stumbled, which left him open to an onslaught from Bane. Bane began to really unload on Hale, swinging on him with punch after punch. Hale could just barely bring his arms up to block the man’s attacks. He was getting overwhelmed, and quickly.
“You’re no match to me. No one is.” Bane slammed both fists into Hale’s gut, causing him to double over. “Not the so-called crime lords of Gotham, not The Bat, and certainly not you.”
Bane grabbed Hale’s head and slammed it down into his knee. Hale grunted in pain and reeled back, blood dripping from his face, which would be slowly washed away by the rain. Bane kicked Hale in the shin, causing him to drop down to one knee.
“I am Bane: the one that Gotham fears, the one who brought Peña Duro to its knees.” He grabbed Hale and lifted him up to the sky. Hale struggled, but Bane kept a tight grip on his body. “And I. Will. Break you!”
Bane slammed Hale down on his knee, causing his back to bend unnaturally. The CEO cried out in pain, accompanied by the unnatural sound of his spine snapping. Like an empty can, Bane tossed Hale to the side. Hale tumbled on the ground, and landed on his back. He let out a pained groan, staring up at the sky.
Bane turned his back on Hale, seeming to relax just slightly. He walked towards the entrance of Wayne Manor. “And now, The Bat.”
There were footsteps behind him. He didn’t pick up on them before it was too late. His eyes widened and he turned around. A fist was flying right towards his face. He was hit with enough power to shatter concrete, and he was sent flying further into the front yard. He landed with a loud thud, and let out a groan as he got onto his knees. “What? How…”
“Did I say I was done?” Hale said with a grin. It was like his back had never been broken in the first place. Thank the Australium in his blood for that. “I could do this all day, you jobber!”
“You are tough, I must admit...but not tough enough.” He rushed forward at the same moment as Hale. Once more the two clashed, but each of them were expecting the sheer power the other brought. Under the stormy and rainy weather of Gotham, two behemoths clashed.
The two engaged in a fight, so quick that those with an untrained eye would barely be able to see it. Both combatants were unleashing tens of punches in a matter of seconds. They either missed completely, or hit their targets dead on. There was no in between for these two; it was all or nothing.
Unfortunately, in an exchange of all or nothing, Hale’s all was not enough. More punches were hitting Hale than Bane, and they were starting to take their toll. As the fight went on, for what must have been full minutes, Hale began to get slow and sluggish. He was practically a sitting duck at this point.
Putting all of his strength into one final attack, Bane slammed his fist into Hale’s chest. He was sent flying back, and slammed to the ground back first. Bane took his time, walking over to Hale. He slammed that button on his chest once more, giving him another powerful dose of Venom. The drug coursed through his veins, filling him with strength fivefold.
“You put up a good fight.” He hovered over Hale’s body, bringing his foot up over the CEO’s chest. “But now...you die.”
Just as he was about to slam his hand down onto Hale, a batarang flew at him from his blind spot. It hit him dead on, and exploded once it made contact. Bane cried out in pain and stumbled back. He let out an irritated growl, as Batman leaped down from the roof of Wayne Manor.
“Leave him, Bane.” The Dark Knight took a commanding tone, holding three more batarangs in his hand. “He’s not the one you’re after.”
Bane regarded The Bat with hostility. If looks could kill, Batman would be dead ten times over. Though, similar could be said about Bane. “I...cannot fight you now. Not in my condition.” He let out a tired sigh. “You were lucky this time, Batman. You will not be so lucky the next time we meet.”
And Bane turned around and ran off into the Gotham streets. Batman thought about following him, but the moment he noticed Hale writhing on the ground, he moved to assist him. “Are you alright?”
“Ah, well, I’ve been better.” Hale chuckled a little, looking the vigilante up and down. “Crikey, and to think I’d get saved by Batman. I was thinking about huntin’ you down and fightin’ ya. Guess I can’t do that now, huh?”
Batman decided to let that slide for the time being. At least Hale didn’t seem to be lethally injured. “I’ve already contacted the paramedics. They should be here shortly. Afterwards, I suggest you get out of town. Making an enemy of Bane leaves a large target on your head.”
“Are you kidding me?” Hale slowly got up, wincing as his back still cried out in pain. “That’s one of the reasons I should stay! I’ve read about the city, I know Bane ain’t the only tough nut ‘round ‘ere! Best get used to my mug, Batman. I think I’m going to be hanging out here for a while!”
Well, Bruce did want to keep an eye on Hale.
...but this wasn’t exactly what he had in mind.
Expert's Opinion[]
While Saxton was considered to be a worthy equal to Bane, having similar speed and debatably greater strength, the voters agreed that Bane was far too skills for Saxton to properly take in a fight. Bane regularly fights opponents such as Batman, who are far more skilled than Bane. Add onto this that Saxton Hale would not be taking the fight as seriously as Bane, and it meant that Bane would be able to score a victory against the Mann Co. CEO.