The Dark Knight Rises kicks off with the question “why does he wear the mask?” and now thanks to a short article in Rolling Stone magazine, we have an answer! Here’s a quote straight from the mouth of director Christopher Nolan:

Bane is someone ravaged by pain from a trauma suffered long ago, and the mask dispenses a type of anesthetic that keeps his pain just below the threshold so he can function.

Update: Some fans have pointed out that costume designer Lindy Hemming revealed similar news back in the November issue of Empire magazine:

He was injured early in his story. Hes suffering from pain and he needs gas to survive. He cannot survive the pain without the mask. The pipes from the mask go back along his jawline and feed into the thing at the back where there are two canisters of what ever it is…the anesthetic.

What do you think of this alternative to the typical “Bane venom” we’re familiar with from the comics? Let me know in the comments, and check out the full photo from Rolling Stone in the gallery below.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS IN THE GALLERY

SOURCE: Rolling Stone [via GOFOBO]