Arnold Stromwell
Encyclopedia
Arnold Stromwell is a fictional character created for Batman: The Animated Series
. He is voiced by the late Eugene Roche
.
Stromwell's appearances in the series are few and far between. He is introduced in "Robin's Reckoning
", as a powerful Mafia
boss in Gotham City
and the uncle of low-level hood Tony Zucco
, the man who kills Dick Grayson
's parents. Zucco's brashness infuriates his uncle, who disowns him after Batman's visit to his house.
The other episode, "It's Never Too Late", is focused on Stromwell. His gang is portrayed as being in a gang war with Rupert Thorne
's. In addition, Stromwell's son Joseph is missing, leading him to suspect that Thorne had kidnapped him to force Stromwell to retire.
Partly to get his son back, he decides on settling a truce to end the mob war. However, Thorne sets him up, and Stromwell barely escapes the diner which was booby-trapped to explode.
Batman rescues Stromwell, and takes him to the Sunrise Foundation's drug rehabilitation centre — where Joseph is going through withdrawal
. Stromwell's estranged wife, Connie, informs Stromwell that their son had become addicted to his father's drugs. Having seen the effects of his crimes, he initially decides to give Batman information about his criminal empire.
Eventually, however, Stromwell changes his mind and decides to kill Batman. The attempt is interrupted by Thorne and his henchmen, who had found out that Stromwell was still alive. Stromwell escapes, while Batman takes out the mobsters one by one.
Stromwell ends up at a set of railway tracks, where he relives a childhood trauma: remembering his younger brother Michael saving him from an on-coming train, losing his right leg in the process. Michael, now a priest, is there to try to redeem his brother at Batman's request. After a brief talk, Arnold Stromwell finally decides to do the right thing, and tells Commissioner James Gordon
he had a statement to make, presumably to expose the mob organisation and shut it down for good.
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
. He is voiced by the late Eugene Roche
Eugene Roche
Eugene Harrison Roche was an American actor . He was the original "Ajax Man" in 1970s television commercials.-Personal life:...
.
Stromwell's appearances in the series are few and far between. He is introduced in "Robin's Reckoning
Robin's Reckoning
Robin's Reckoning is a two part episode of the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series. The first part aired on February 7, 1993 and was written by Randy Rogel and directed by Dick Sebast; it earned the series an Emmy for Most Outstanding Half Hour or Less Program and is considered to be...
", as a powerful Mafia
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...
boss in Gotham City
Gotham 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...
and the uncle of low-level hood Tony Zucco
Tony Zucco
Anthony "Tony" Zucco is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He was introduced in Detective Comics #38 and is best known for his connections to the origin of Robin.-Pre-Crisis:...
, the man who kills Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
's parents. Zucco's brashness infuriates his uncle, who disowns him after Batman's visit to his house.
The other episode, "It's Never Too Late", is focused on Stromwell. His gang is portrayed as being in a gang war with Rupert Thorne
Rupert Thorne
Rupert Thorne is a fictional character, a crime boss and enemy of Batman in the DC Comics universe. Created by Steve Englehart and Walter Simonson, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #469.-Fictional character biography:...
's. In addition, Stromwell's son Joseph is missing, leading him to suspect that Thorne had kidnapped him to force Stromwell to retire.
Partly to get his son back, he decides on settling a truce to end the mob war. However, Thorne sets him up, and Stromwell barely escapes the diner which was booby-trapped to explode.
Batman rescues Stromwell, and takes him to the Sunrise Foundation's drug rehabilitation centre — where Joseph is going through withdrawal
Withdrawal
Withdrawal can refer to any sort of separation, but is most commonly used to describe the group of symptoms that occurs upon the abrupt discontinuation/separation or a decrease in dosage of the intake of medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol...
. Stromwell's estranged wife, Connie, informs Stromwell that their son had become addicted to his father's drugs. Having seen the effects of his crimes, he initially decides to give Batman information about his criminal empire.
Eventually, however, Stromwell changes his mind and decides to kill Batman. The attempt is interrupted by Thorne and his henchmen, who had found out that Stromwell was still alive. Stromwell escapes, while Batman takes out the mobsters one by one.
Stromwell ends up at a set of railway tracks, where he relives a childhood trauma: remembering his younger brother Michael saving him from an on-coming train, losing his right leg in the process. Michael, now a priest, is there to try to redeem his brother at Batman's request. After a brief talk, Arnold Stromwell finally decides to do the right thing, and tells Commissioner James Gordon
James Gordon (comics)
James Worthington Gordon, Sr. is a fictional character, an ally of Batman that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
he had a statement to make, presumably to expose the mob organisation and shut it down for good.