Henri Ducard

Henri Ducard
Henri Ducard and Robin from Robin (vol. 2) #32 (July 1996).
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Detective Comics #599 (April 1989)
Created by	Sam Hamm (script) Denys Cowan (art)
In-story information
Full name	Henri Ducard
Species	Human
Place of origin	Earth
Team affiliations	Batman, Robin, NoBody
Abilities	Skilled martial artist and detective

Henri Ducard is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually as a supporting character in stories featuring Batman. Created by writer Sam Hamm, Henri Ducard's first appearance was in Detective Comics #599 (April 1989), as part of the "Blind Justice" story arc that Hamm, the screenwriter of the 1989 Batman film, was asked to guest-write by editor Denny O'Neil. The character (amalgamated with Ra's al Ghul) appeared in the film Batman Begins portrayed by Liam Neeson.

In the comics, Bruce Wayne approaches Henri Ducard for training in Paris, during his early days traveling the world. Ducard, a knowledgeable detective with excellent man-hunting skills, imparts much of his knowledge to the young, keen Bruce.

Later in the series, it is revealed that Ducard is a mercenary, working for criminals as often as he does the law. He deduces Batman's secret identity, but keeps it to himself, reasoning that Batman is a useful public distraction from the large-scale crimes perpetrated by Ducard and his clients.

Ducard also works with Robin in Paris during his training, as Bruce did. Unlike Bruce, however, Robin only encounters him in passing at the end of his training, in Hong Kong.

He also made a few brief appearances in Suicide Squad.

In The New 52, DC Comics' reboot of its entire superhero line, Henri Ducard's son Morgan stabs his mother Felicity to death after she is contacted by the people who had hired her to kill Ducard years ago, and ordered to either fulfill her obligation or face the death of her son. When Henri sees this and listens to what Morgan has to say he decides to take Morgan with him and train him to become a killer.