Is Bane Still Doing The Right Things?

Tuesday I looked at some recent developments in Secret Six from Scandal's viewpoint, what she was trying to accomplish and such. Since Bane was a major factor in those actions, we can look at his from his perspective as well.

In the first story arc, Bane was fond of saying that he only does what he knows is right. That included not taking Venom, refusing to sell out his teammates to Junior, adopting a paternal attitude towards Scandal, insisting Deadshot not be so rude to their prisoner and so on. Granted, he wasn't perfect, since he took Venom to save Scandal, an action we debated the meaning of back on March 28th. Since then, Bane has stayed away from Venom, so he hasn't given up on trying to do what he thinks is right.

So what's that mean? He took command of the team, ostensibly because as money-making enterprises go, the Secret Six are a disaster. They take jobs, but are unwilling to see them through, so Bane plans to change that. Does that mean they'll take less questionable jobs, ones that won't cause such deep divisions in the team, so it'll be easier to see it through? Or does it mean they'll continue to take the same types of jobs as before, but Bane won't allow the team to back out? That'd be interesting, considering he was one of the first to bail on the job of guarding the prison. In one sense, I'd think the right thing to do would be to take les morally questionable jobs, but that's from a personal standpoint. From a business standpoint, which seemed to be what prompted his coup, the morally questionable jobs probably pay better, so the right thing from a financial standpoint would be to take those jobs, but not get cold feet.

His second act was to boot Scandal off the team. That could be considered right in the sense that he's protecting her from harm, though she seems more resilient than he is. From the team standpoint, Scandal switched sides on the last job when Bane did, and was voicing doubts even earlier. She's friends with Jeanette, and she Bane do care about each other, and that kind of emotion could be said to interfere with the team's ability to succeed. They're more worried about each other than about doing the job. It could be considered right in a couple different ways. Of course, Scandal could also sink into a deep funk, which could make her a danger to herself and others, and that would be partially Bane's fault, since he set her adrift*. But if Bane's concerned primarily with the team, and secondarily with Scandal, and probably not at all with anyone else, then it's the right decision.

Then he welcomes Black Alice onto the team. She more powerful than anyone they've got currently, and she actually wants to join (we can certainly question the wisdom of choosing this route to get cash, but she's commited to it regardless). She's going to harass the team until they let her join, so best to just let her in so they can get on with business. She's not close to anyone on the team, so if Bane is trying to reduce annoying emotional bonds between the team so they'll focus more on the job at hand, it's the right move. Now, is it the right move morally, to let Alice in, to presumably encourage her to use her powers this way? I'd say no, but as Catman noted, she observed him telling another person how to torture someone and didn't flinch, so maybe it's too late to be worried about such things. Perhaps Bane has some brilliant scheme to expose her to such horrors that she reevaluates her life and leaves the team. That's probably the best thing he could do for her**.

But that would likely not be best for the team, so I doubt that's his plan. Again, though, I think Bane's concern for others ends at Scandal Savage. His teammates are means to an end, and beyond that, I don't think he cares much for them. I think Bane's definitely doing right by the Secret Six as an organization, but not so much for Alice or Scandal.

* I'm unclear on the current situation. She's off the team, but still hangs out with them? Do they still live in her house? If she told them to pack up and move out, would they?

** That and give her enough money to take care of her dad so she wouldn't simply turn to other criminal enterprises to raise the funds.