Bane or the Joker?

[The Joker]

Originally Posted by Doctor Octopus

Bane was willing to die for Talia when she was just a child in the pit. He was also willing to die again so she could honor her father by completing his work and killing the man who she thinks killed her father.

I think it is obvious Bane was doing it for Talia.

That's how I always interpreted since that's how the movie presented it. It was a personal vendetta for Talia. Bane really had no personal stake in it so much that he was willing to die, other than his unwavering love as Talia's friend and protector, which showed in the pit scene that he was willing to die for her just so she could escape.

If he was willing to give his life for that when she was a child, then it seems obvious to me that being willing to go up in smoke with the rest of Gotham is again for Talia.

Originally Posted by AnneFan

Yep. A name drop wouldn't have hurt but as it stands, he came out of nowhere and disappeared into nowhere. Mysterious.

You've read the novelization haven't you? I heard they dropped some clues about where he was in that.