Definitive Batman/Gordon Moments

[karaokefanboy]

I was away from the Bat-books for awhile, because Jason Todd's return , or more specifically the nature of his return, repulsed me, and because the crisis du jour kept creeping in, and I'm just not into that. So I pick up Morrison's and Dini's respective relaunches, love 'em, and realize, Gordon's back! It happened during this OYL business, from what I understand, but I don't care HOW. The Bat-books just seems back in business, now, and I'm thrilled. I actually liked the Son of the Demon OGN, too, so seeing the "Son of Batman" is intriguing -- not some out of left field concept as a heretofore unseen childhood friend of Bruce's becoming a supervillain to ruin his life, or Jason back from the dead thanks to a cosmic crossover that has no business affecting the streets of Gotham.

Geez, but I digress.

I was just wondering if fellow fans would care to share some favorite Batman/Gordon moments from past books. I just reviewed LOTDK #50 and enjoyed a moment where Batman wryly asks Gordon's permission to leave, since the Commish is always lamenting about the hero's hasty exits.

Of course, my favorite Bats/Jimbo moment is from NML, when Batman simply explains to his old friend that he leaves in that mysterious manner because he has a hard time saying good-bye. Rucka summed up a commonality from the mythos in a way that is true to the character and that offers more depth than I ever would have suspected.

I have a few others, but I'm curious to see if others share them first. I hope this is a worthwhile topic! Many usually ask where they should start reading Batman; maybe these moments with Gordon will remind us of stories in this vein that we'd otherwise forget.

[Choppa]

I thought Gordon was pissed at Batman during NML because he had all of those fill ins (azrael and dick) and never told him what was going on. Or am I remembering something wrong?

[Joker2503]

I loved the end of Batman Begins where Gordon says, "I never thanked you" and Batman replies, "You'll never have to."

[Sean Whitmore]

I thought Gordon was pissed at Batman during NML because he had all of those fill ins (azrael and dick) and never told him what was going on. Or am I remembering something wrong?

He was pissed at him after "Knightfall" because of all the fill-ins, but he eventually forgave him. They were cool until the events of NML when Batman was a no-show for a long time, and then Gordon got even more pissed at him. They reconciled again in the story karaokefanboy describes.


SEAN

[carabas]

I just reread NML last month.
Gordon was most definitely still pissed and insulted about the series of pretenders.
And about Batman being a no-show for the first three months or so of NML.

[Gaspard]

The part in Arkham Asylum where Batman and Gordon discuss about Batman going inside the asylum... does a Bruce/Gordon moment count? The one in the beginning of DKR never gets old.

[Choppa]

Why do I recall a scene where Gordon gives Bruce shit about the fill ins? Where's that from? IIRC Bruce offers to take off his mask or something and like Gordon punches him or something. Or maybe I'm thinking of a Hal Jordan story...

[Sean Whitmore]

Why do I recall a scene where Gordon gives Bruce shit about the fill ins? Where's that from? IIRC Bruce offers to take off his mask or something and like Gordon punches him or something. Or maybe I'm thinking of a Hal Jordan story...

It did happen, but right after "Prodigal", not in NML. IIRC, Gordon didn't even want Batman's assistance any longer, but his wife was the comissioner at the time, so she dealt with him.

Don't recall the punch, though. He did try to punch Az-Bats, you might be remembering that.


SEAN

[Constantine Drakon]

I thought Miller did a horrible job overall with Gordon in Batman: Year One (is it just me, or were the only women significantly in that either pregnant, prostitutes, or adultresses?). But I liked the part where Batman hands over Gordon's baby daughter Barbara (um... continuity problem?), not wearing a costume, and Gordon says that he can't see worth anything if he doesn't have his glasses. It's left up to the reader just whether or not Gordon can tell anything about what Batman looks like under the mask.

[Sean Whitmore]

(is it just me, or were the only women significantly in that either pregnant, prostitutes, or adultresses?).

Wasn't that drug-dealer's lawyer in part 4 a woman? Not that that's much different than a prostitute...

But I liked the part where Batman hands over Gordon's baby daughter Barbara (um... continuity problem?)

Baby boy. James Jr, to be exact.


SEAN

[carabas]

It did happen, but right after "Prodigal", not in NML. IIRC, Gordon didn't even want Batman's assistance any longer, but his wife was the comissioner at the time, so she dealt with him.

I don't know about Prodigal, but it did happen in NML too.
In Legends o/t Dark Knight 125 to be specific.

"You don trust me. That whole fiasco a while back... When you vanished and I had to deal with that parade of pretnders? Did you think I wouldn't notice it wasn't you under that cowl? Did you think I was that stupid?"

[Choppa]

I don't know about Prodigal, but it did happen in NML too.
In Legends o/t Dark Knight 125 to be specific.

"You don trust me. That whole fiasco a while back... When you vanished and I had to deal with that parade of pretnders? Did you think I wouldn't notice it wasn't you under that cowl? Did you think I was that stupid?"

Yeah that's what I was thinking of, thanks. I loved that part, the current stories have no impact on what happens afterwards anymore.

[karaokefanboy]

Another fave is from the Animated Series, when Gordon is in the hospital, and Batman laments to Alfred that "Gordon is the same age my father was when..." Has Batman ever made that connection in the comics? And if he did, wouldn't Alfred think, "Well, what am I, chopped liver?" Still, a nice moment that proves how Batman has compensated with others in his life to fulfill that need for family.

[Chad]

"In another world, another time...we're friends"

Having arrived on a parallel Earth with no superheroes and a still living Thomas and Martha Wayne, Batman pleads with Jim Gordon to let him go so that he can save the lives of his parents.

Probably the greatest Batman story of all time, this issue also contains what I consider to be the definitive Batman/Gordon moment. The lives of the two people Batman cares the most about are dependant on James Gordon letting a masked vigilante walk out of Police Headquarters with absolutely no reason to trust him other than a sense that tells him that this stranger is speaking the truth.

Detective Comics 500, "To Kill a Legend"

[literally exaggerated]

I thought Miller did a horrible job overall with Gordon in Batman: Year One (is it just me, or were the only women significantly in that either pregnant, prostitutes, or adultresses?).

Really? I loved his take on Gordon. Gruff, totally badass, but a much more down to earth character than Batman, a hero who can simultaneously hold his own in the dark, noir world of Gotham circa Year One, but also someone the readers can truly relate too.