Character Analysis
Beat Reporter
Knox is a reporter who's new to the scene. And by "new to the scene," we mean "not a character from the Batman comics." Instead, he was added to the Batman universe just for this movie. A reporter with a "useless reputation," according to his colleagues, Knox serves as our introduction to Gotham City, and to the air of intrigue surrounding the mysterious bat man, who's either saving the city or haunting it.
When the movie begins, Batman is little more than a rumor, and Knox is trying to get to the bottom of it. He asks Lt. Eckhardt:
KNOX: Lieutenant, is there a six-foot bat in Gotham City? And if so, is he on the police payroll? And if so, what's he pulling down, after taxes?
He has a sense of humor about his inability to get to the bottom of this bat-mystery, but it still gets to him. None of his colleagues believe him. They even taunt him by calling him Count Dracula leaving him notes with goofy drawings of bat-sized men. Maybe he wears that trench coat not to look like a stereotypical noir investigator but to cover up his bruised ego.
When Vicki shows up, not only does she give Knox something pretty to look at around the office, but she also gives him hope.
VICKI: My pictures, your words. Pulitzer Prize material. Just think.
KNOX: Okay, you're a visionary. You're also the only one who believes me.
However, Knox neither discovers Batman's identity nor gets the girl. Last we see him, he is fighting crooks with a baseball bat before accidentally getting run over by Vicki in the pandemonium. Ouch. Not only is he still a failed reporter, but he gets a few broken bones too?
To add insult to injury, he's not in any other Batman movies. Knox, we hardly knew ye.