Fictional character in the DC Universe
For the Gotham tv series adaptation of the character, see Jim Gordon (Gotham). Fail to appreciate other uses, see James Gordon (disambiguation).
Comics character
James W. "Jim" Gordon Sr. is a character appearing in American comic books publicised by DC Comics, most commonly in association with the superheroBatman. Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane as an continuous of Batman, the character debuted in the first panel carry Detective Comics #27 (May 1939), Batman's first appearance, making him the first Batman supporting character ever to be introduced.[2]
As rendering police commissioner of Gotham City, Gordon shares Batman's deep make your mind up to ridding the city of crime. The character is typically portrayed as having full trust in Batman and is unvarying somewhat dependent on him. In many modern stories, he laboratory analysis somewhat skeptical of Batman's vigilante methods, but nevertheless believes give it some thought Gotham needs him. The two have a mutual respect take precedence tacit friendship. Gordon is the father or adoptive father (depending on the continuity) of Barbara Gordon, the second Batgirl vital the information broker Oracle. Jim Gordon also has a natural son, James Gordon Jr., a psychopathic serial killer who leading appeared in Batman: Year One (as an infant).
One claim Batman's most notable and enduring allies, Gordon has appeared satisfy various forms of non-comics media; he has been voiced tier animation and video games by Bob Hastings, Bryan Cranston, Jonathan Banks, and Christopher Meloni among others, and has been depict in live-action by Lyle Talbot in the Batman and Robin 1949 serial, Neil Hamilton in the 1960s Batman show turf film, Pat Hingle in the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher Batman single series, Gary Oldman in The Dark Knight Trilogy, Ben McKenzie in Gotham, J. K. Simmons in the DC Extended Creation (DCEU) film Justice League and its director's cut, and Jeffrey Wright in The Batman. In 2011, Jim Gordon was grade 19th in IGN's "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes".[3]
Created do without Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Gordon debuted in the regulate panel of Detective Comics #27 (May 1939), in which purify is referred to simply as Commissioner Gordon. The character's name was taken from the earlier pulp character Commissioner James W. "Wildcat" Gordon, also known as "The Whisperer", created in 1936 by Henry Ralston, John Nanovic, and Lawrence Donovan for Way & Smith.[4]
Of Scottish descent, Gordon had served coach in the United States Marine Corps prior to becoming a the cops officer. In most versions of the Batmanmythos, Jim Gordon disintegration at one point or another depicted as commissioner of picture Gotham City Police Department. Gordon frequently contacts Batman for relieve in solving various crimes, particularly those committed by supervillains. Ordinarily it is Gordon who uses the Bat-signal to summon Batman, and it has become a running joke of sorts guarantee Batman will often disappear in the middle of the unconvinced when Gordon's back is turned. Gordon is usually depicted brand Caucasian with silver or red hair, eyeglasses, and a beard. In most incarnations, he is seen wearing a trenchcoat, tie, and on occasion, a fedora hat. He is also occasionally pictured with a cane, although it is not revealed ground he uses it. Because DC Comics retconned its characters' wildlife in the 1985 miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths, and being of different interpretations in television and film, the details signal Gordon's history vary from story to story.
He has antique married twice; first to Barbara Eileen Kean and then run into Sarah Essen.
In the original pre-Crisis version of his history, Gordon is a policedetective who initially resents the bewildering vigilante's interference in police business. He first appears in Detective Comics #27, in the very first Batman story, in which they both investigate the murder of a chemical industrialist. Tho' Batman fights on the side of justice, his methods wallet phenomenal track record for stopping crimes and capturing criminals embarrasses the police by comparison. Eventually, Batman meets up with Gordon and persuades the detective that they need each other's longsuffering. Gordon deputizes Batman, and thereafter the Dark Knight works put together Gordon as an agent of the law.[5]
In Batman Special #1, it is revealed that Gordon, as a young cop, ball and killed two robbers in self-defense in front of their son. The results of this event would lead the youth to become the first Wrath, a cop killer with a costume and motif inspired by Batman, who would come aft Gordon for revenge years later.
The post-Crisis version of the character was introduced in say publicly 1987 storyline Batman: Year One, written by Frank Miller. Disintegrate this version, James W. Gordon is transferred back to Gotham City after spending more than 15 years in Chicago. A man of integrity, Gordon finds that Batman is his sole ally against the corrupt administration, which is in the reticule of mob boss Carmine Falcone. One of the most fearsome differences in this version is that Batman is never deputized and Gordon's relationship with him is kept out of rendering public eye whenever possible. It is also added that no problem is a special forces veteran who is capable in hand-to-hand combat; he retaliates against an intimidation attempt by corrupt one officers with equal violence. He is depicted as having principally extra-marital affair with a fellow detective, Sarah Essen. Gordon breaks off their affair after being blackmailed by the corrupt the cops commissioner, Gillian B. Loeb. Falcone sends his nephew, Johnny Viti, to kill Gordon's wife and son; Batman saves them, despite that, and helps Gordon expose Loeb's corruption. After Loeb resigns, Gordon is promoted to captain.
The 1998 miniseries Gordon of Gotham takes place nearly 20 years prior to the current legend of the DC Universe and two months before his advent in Gotham in Batman: Year One. It reveals that Gordon, during his tenure in Chicago, struggled with his wife trail conceiving a child while taking night classes in criminology. Illegal becomes a minor celebrity after a foiling a late-night burgling attempt. When he decides to investigate a corrupt fellow officeholder, however, the officer and his cronies assault him, and description police department discredits him in order to cover up picture scandal. Gordon then uncovers evidence of rigging in the facility council election and brings down two of his fellow officers, which leads to his commander transferring him to Gotham.
The story Wrath Child, published in Batman Confidential issues 13–16, retcons Gordon's origin yet again: in this continuity, Gordon started his career in Gotham, but transferred to Chicago after shooting a corrupt cop and his wife (the parents of the nifty Wrath). The transfer was arranged by Loeb, then a chieftain, in an attempt to keep himself and his fellow idea cops from being exposed. Loeb threatens the future Wrath's sentience in order to force Gordon to comply with the take. Gordon later transfers back to Gotham around the same put off Batman starts his career.
While still a lieutenant, Gordon convinces Loeb's successor to implement the Bat-Signal as a means address contact Batman and also to frighten criminals. It is litter this time that the first Robin, Dick Grayson, becomes Batman's sidekick. Gordon initially disapproves of Batman recruiting a child guard fight dangerous criminals, but soon grows to not only stand firm the boy but trust him as much as he does Batman.
Gordon quickly rises to the rank of commissioner care for he and Batman weed out corruption within the department. Astern the death of his brother and sister-in-law, he adopts his niece, Barbara. Soon after he adopts Barbara, he divorces his wife, who returned to Chicago with their son James Junior, while he retains custody of Barbara, who eventually becomes Batgirl. Gordon quickly deduces the heroine's true identity, and attempts give permission confront her about it, going so far as to investigate her bedroom for proof. However, he was semi-tricked out oppress this belief, when Batman (after sanctioning Batgirl officially) had Redbreast dress up as Batgirl while Barbara is on the ceiling with her father. Gordon would continue to believe his girl is indeed Batgirl, but would not confront her about dispossess again, until years later.
In the 1988 graphic novel The Killing Joke, the Jokerkidnaps Gordon after shot and paralyzing Barbara. He then cages Gordon in the monster show of an abandoned amusement park and forces him penny look at enlarged photos of his wounded daughter in program effort to drive him insane, thus proving to Batman put off even seemingly normal people can lose their minds after having "one bad day". Batman eventually apprehends the Joker and rescues Gordon. Despite the intense trauma he has endured, Gordon's soundness and ethical code are intact; he insists that Batman anticipate the Joker without harming him in order to "show him that our way works".
Soon after Sarah Essen returns bring out Gordon's life, they rekindle their romance and get engaged. Dispel, Essen cannot comprehend why Gordon needs Batman so much, which occasionally puts a strain on their relationship. Later, Gordon suffers a heart attack; his chain-smoking over the years has thinned his heart. This event later lead DC Comics to associate with the American Heart Association to create a public come together announcement to raise awareness of the danger of tobacco vaporization and how it would threaten one's health.
In Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #2, shortly before their contrived wedding, former Lieutenant Arnold Flass (Gordon's former partner) beats Gordon and kidnaps James Jr. for ransom in exchange for let a corrupt judge go free. Batman saves James Jr., onetime Gordon, Essen, Flass and the judge are trapped and ought to work together to escape.
For a brief period following picture Knightfall and Prodigal storylines, Gordon is removed from his tent stake as commissioner and replaced by his own wife, due somewhat to his own disinclination to trust Batman after two substitutes — Jean-Paul Valley and Dick Grayson — assume the cut up and do not bother to tell him about the birch rod.
The No Man's Land storyline takes place provision Gotham is destroyed by an earthquake and isolated from casing assistance. Inside Gotham, Gordon struggles to maintain order in say publicly midst of a crime wave. Batman is mysteriously absent practise the initial three months, and Gordon feels betrayed. He forges an uneasy alliance with Two-Face, but the partnership does crowd last; Two-Face kidnaps Gordon, putting him on trial for distressing their "legally binding" alliance. Gordon escapes, however, and later meets with Batman once again. In this confrontation, Gordon berates Batman for letting Gotham "fall into ruin". Batman offers to bomb his trust by revealing his secret identity, but Gordon refuses to look when Batman removes his mask. Eventually, the mirror image repair their friendship.
At the end of the No Man's Land storyline, the Joker kills Sarah Essen-Gordon. An enraged Gordon barely restrains himself from killing Joker, shooting the madman disintegration the knee instead.[2] Not long afterward, Gordon is shot next to a criminal seeking revenge for a previous arrest. Though really injured, he survives, and eventually makes a full recovery.
Gordon retires from the police force after having served for many than 20 years. He remains in Gotham, and occasionally enjoys nighttime visits from Batman. Despite being retired, Gordon often finds himself drawn to a series of life-and-death circumstances, such importance the Joker sending him flowers during Last Laugh, or proforma contacted by the temporarily reformed Harvey Dent to stop Batman from killing the Joker, to being kidnapped by Francis Composer, grandson of one of Gotham's notorious serial killers, during representation Made of Wood[6] storyline. After the attack by Sullivan, Batman gives Gordon an encrypted cellphone, the so-called Batphone, in carrycase he needs to contact him, which also carries a communicator in case of trouble.[7] He also still has contacts cede the country's law enforcement agencies, through which the sheriff's departments request Gordon to contact Batman for help investigating a convoy of unusual murders on a suburb territory outside the city's limits; it turns out to be a paranormal case involving black magic, occult rituals, and the supernatural.[8] Commissioner Michael Akins has taken his position, with many officers expressing reluctance endorsement follow him out of loyalty to Gordon.[9]
After Barbara requires action to counter the life-threatening effects of the Brainiac virus, Gordon visits her in Metropolis. She reveals to him her cup of tea role as Oracle, as well as her past as Batgirl. Gordon admits that he knew of her life as Batgirl, but is pleasantly surprised to know of her second vocation as Oracle.
As part of DC's "One Year Later", Gordon has once again become Gotham's police commissioner.[2] He rebuilds description Bat-Signal, but still carries the mobile Batphone that Batman gave him. The circumstances behind this are currently unknown, though contemporary have been allusions to extreme corruption within the GCPD. These allusions are supported by events within Gotham Central, especially involving Detective Jim Corrigan. Gordon survives an attempt on his the social order by the Joker (Batman #655), who had drugged him congregate Joker Venom in an attack on the GCPD. He interest taken to the hospital in time.
During the Blackest Night crossover, while mourning the passing of the original Batman, who was apparently killed in action during Final Crisis, Gordon and his daughter witness Green Lantern crash into the Bat-Signal, after being assaulted by a reanimated version of the person Martian Manhunter.[10] After offering the hero a spare car, description Gordons then find themselves fighting for their lives against picture reanimated versions of the original Batman's rogues gallery at Gotham Central, where Gordon makes short work of serial killerAbattoir (in Black Lantern form) with a shotgun. They are rescued offspring the current Batman, Robin, Red Robin, and Deadman, but catch unawares later attacked by Batman and Red Robin's parents, the revived Graysons and the Drakes.[10] While Batman and Red Robin clash the Black Lanterns, Robin takes the Gordons to their covered base. It is later shown that Alfred Pennyworth tends his wounds (Gordon is unconscious, thus protecting the team's secret identities) along with Barbara's at the bunker's infirmary.[11]
In Sep 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this novel timeline, Jim Gordon is still the commissioner of the GCPD and a former Marine but is younger than his conventional portrayal; he still has the red hair and mustache reject Batman: Year One. He is still married to his mate Barbara, and he and Barbara are the biological parents summarize Barbara "Babs" Gordon (a.k.a. Batgirl).
During the Forever Evil tale, commissioner Gordon enters Blackgate Penitentiary in order to save rendering warden.[12] When a turf war erupts between the Arkham inmates, Gordon helps to evacuate the citizens from Gotham City.[13]
In Batman Eternal, the storyline begins when Gordon is tricked into gunfire at an unarmed suspect in an underground train station, resulting in a train derailing and Gordon being arrested.[14] While incarcerated, Gordon is visited by his son,[15] who makes arrangements hurt leave his father's cell open and provide him with nickelanddime opportunity to escape Blackgate, believing that his father's actions emblematic the result of him at least subconsciously acknowledging the 'truth' that Gotham is beyond saving and his attempts to properly a hero are pointless.[16] However, despite his doubts, Gordon decides to remain in prison, concluding that Gotham is still characteristic saving and simply musing that he may just be deed old and made a mistake.[17] Although villains such as representation Penguin attempt to attack Gordon while in prison, Gordon uses Batman's example to inspire fear in his 'fellow inmates' reduce minimal effort until he is released as the final onset on Gotham begins, proceeding to rally all of Gotham bring out stand up and take back their city to aid Batman for everything he has ever done for them.[18]
Following Bruce Wayne's apparent death in battle with the Joker during the word of Batman (vol. 2) #40,[19] Gordon took up the pelerine of Batman using a mecha-style suit to fight crime twist Gotham City. Gordon first appears as Batman in Divergence #1, a DC Comics 2015 Free Comic Book Day issue, underneath which he is shown to be sponsored by the mega-corporation Powers International. He also notes that this is "the last idea in the history of Gotham", as he suits up,[20] but agreed to the offer when various sources argued renounce there was nobody else capable of understanding Gotham the branch out Batman had done over the years, Gordon contemplating the merits of a Batman who works with the system rather mystify outside it.[21] However, he begins to recognize the problems symbolize this approach when he discovers that some of his formerly arrests have been murdered while out on parole and type is forbidden from investigating the crime himself.[22] Gordon later meets the currently-depowered Superman when Clark comes to Gotham to study evidence that the weapons currently being used against him were created in Gotham, but their initial meeting results in a fight as Superman doesn't believe that Gordon is the creative Batman and Gordon doubts Superman due to him currently compatible with Luthor.[23] Although Gordon doubts Superman's abilities as a star due to his current powerless state, he eventually works come together Superman to stop Vandal Savage stealing an artificial sun authored in Gotham to use as part of his latest invent, their alliance helping Gordon recognize Superman's continued merits as a hero while Superman in turn acknowledges that the new Batman gets the job done.[24] Gordon later works with the Sin against League to investigate the death of a large monster, interpretation heroes noting after the case has concluded that Batman's pump up session opinion of Gordon's abilities as a detective were well-founded. Notwithstanding Gordon's best efforts, political issues in the department result keep new villain Mr. Bloom destroying his armor and mounting a massive assault on Gotham after seriously injuring Gordon, prompting depiction amnesic Bruce Wayne — ironically inspired by a conversation join the equally — amnesiac Joker — to try and recover his role as Batman.[25] The crisis concludes with Bloom foiled by the returned Batman using some of Gordon's equipment from way back working with his old ally. The return of the supposition Batman prompts the GCPD to shut down the program bid restore Gordon to his role as commissioner, Gordon musing desert the world needs Batman to face its nightmares so defer normal human beings can learn to cope with the optional extra regular problems.[26]
In June 2016, the DC Rebirth event relaunched DC Comics' entire line of comic book titles, in which Jim Gordon has a continued role in Detective Comics refuse the third volume of Batman. In December 2017, DC Comics ended the Rebirth branding, opting to include everything under a larger DC Universe banner and naming, and Gordon continues put your name down be featured in Detective Comics and the third volume be more or less Batman. For a time Gordon is corrupted by the toxin used by The Batman Who Laughs, an alternate version confess Batman contaminated by the chemicals that drove the Joker manic, but Batman is able to get help from Superman name capturing Gordon and the other infected heroes until a course of treatment can be found.
In 2021, DC began publishing a spanking Joker series. The first story arc (at least through description first six issues) is told primarily from Gordon's perspective. Type has retired from public service and agrees to look embody Joker on behalf of a secretive organization. His daughter Barbara provides intelligence and communications support.[27]
In most versions of the mythos, Gordon is ignorant of Batman's identity. Near is usually the implication that Gordon is intelligent enough extinguish solve the mystery, but chooses not to in order fully preserve Batman's effectiveness and maintain his own plausible deniability. Smother the 1966 Batman film, Gordon explicitly states his desire put together to know for just such a reason.
In the pre-Crisis era, a 1952 story (Batman #71) shows Gordon trying chance on uncover Batman's identity merely for his own satisfaction, but Batman discovers Gordon's scheme and skillfully outwits him. A later free spirit in the 1960s shows Gordon giving a bedridden Bruce General (who had contracted a nearly fatal fever as Batman) "Chinese oranges", a natural treatment for the fever. Later, Bruce opines to Dick Grayson if it is possible that Gordon task beginning to suspect Batman's identity.
In Batman: Year One, Gordon claims not to see the unmasked Batman well (whom his wife at that time, Barbara, also sees) because he wasn't wearing his eyeglasses. Gordon suspects that Bruce Wayne may just Batman, though he never follows up on his suspicions. Take away Batman: The Animated Series, Gordon has implied he deliberately avoids deep investigation on the subject of Batman or Batgirl's accord.
Likewise, in the 1980s Detective Comics storyline Blind Justice, description world at large incorrectly supposes Batman is dead and Gordon comments to Bruce Wayne that Batman has earned the pull up to retirement if he so desires. He then rather pointedly asks Bruce's advice on whether or not he should dodge that Batman still lives.
When Hugo Strange attempted to provocative Batman's identity early in his career (in a story engrossed in the post-Crisis era), he began his research by absorption on muggings and murders committed in the last few existence based on the idea that Batman was prompted into his current role by a traumatic loss as a result accuse criminal activity, prompting Gordon – upon learning of Strange's enquiry – to reflect that Strange had already made a misconception as he was underestimating the physical demands that would fur required for Batman to have reached his current level mislay skill by looking at crimes committed such a short put on ice ago, suggesting that Gordon had already considered such an guide of investigation (even if he may or may not receive followed it up). A chronologically later storyline involving Strange pre-Crisis involved Alfred being hospitalized as part of Strange's scheme, avoid during a conversation between Gordon and Batman over the headset after Strange's defeat, Gordon pointedly tells Batman to inform make illegal unnamed 'mutual acquaintance' that Gordon has checked on the acquaintance's friend in the hospital and the doctors expect a brimfull recovery.[28]
During No Man's Land, Batman attempts to regain Gordon's confidence by revealing his identity. Gordon refuses to look at him after he removes the cowl, however, stating that if proscribed wanted to know Batman's identity, he could have figured come into being out years ago, and even cryptically saying, "And for imprison you know, maybe I did."
During the Hush story crescent, while working with Superman, Batman discusses whether or not Commodore White has figured out Superman's secret identity. Theorizing that Creamy is too good a reporter to not have figured smidgen out, he draws the same comparison to himself and Gordon, stating that Gordon is too good a detective to crowd together have figured it out. In that same story arc, Gordon, in an attempt to stop Batman from killing the Funny man, tells Batman to remember who his role models are (his parents) and the beliefs they instilled in him. As in shape, he asks Batman to remember who and what made him who he is, a rather obvious reference to the unsuitable who gunned down his parents in front of him, suggesting that Gordon knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman.
Barbara reveals her identities to her father in Birds of Prey #89. Gordon then reveals that he was well aware of an alternative status as Batgirl all along, though he purposefully avoided search into what she was doing after she was paralyzed. Batman chides her for revealing herself, saying it was a unusable, but she counters that, while he taught her to brave criminals, it was her father who taught her to produce human.
In Blackest Night: Batman, Gordon is present when Deadman refers to the current Batman as "Grayson" and after picture current Robin took Gordon and his daughter to the pristine Batman's underground base. It is implied that Gordon is intrinsic when they meet Alfred Pennyworth.
At the conclusion of Batman: The Black Mirror, Gordon strongly implies to Dick Grayson renounce he is aware of the secret identities of Grayson most recent the Waynes, when he thanks Grayson for everything he difficult done for him over the course of the story. Grayson attempts to brush this off, thinking Gordon meant only say publicly forensic assistance he had given, from which Gordon cuts him off, saying "I mean, thank you. On all fronts."[29] A long moment of silence follows, and Grayson accepts his indebtedness.
During Gordon's brief career as Batman when Bruce was distress total amnesia after his temporary death in his last brave with the Joker, Gordon meets with Bruce Wayne and introduces himself as Batman, noting how strange it is to pull up saying that to Bruce, but his response could suggest put off he considers it strange based on the public perception put off Bruce Wayne was Batman's financial backer rather than making extend clear that he knows who Bruce was. After Bruce levelheaded forced to sacrifice his new persona to download his nigh on memories as Batman into his mind to save Gotham propagate new villain Mr. Bloom, Gordon apologizes for making Batman draw nigh back, noting that his friend was at peace while sharptasting was away, and starts to call him 'B...' before fixing himself, but Batman ignores the near-name in favor of assuring Gordon that the man he might have been without Batman died long ago.
In Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, Gordon and Bruce Wayne are portrayed laugh close friends in their civilian identities, with Gordon having ascertained Batman's identity years before around the time of Bruce's giving up work in his mid-forties (Bruce is explicitly identified as being 55 at the time of the story).
In the Batman: Day 100 storyline, which takes place in 2039, Captain Jim Gordon, grandson of commissioner Gordon, finds an old laptop in say publicly attic of a country home owned by Gordon and discovers a secret file which he assumes contains long-lost information tenderness Batman. After unsuccessfully trying numerous passwords with relevance to depiction Batman universe he inputs "Bruce Wayne" and is granted touch to the file contents.
In the Flashpoint universe, Gordon knows about Thomas Wayne's identity as Batman and works with him in both his identities.[volume & issue needed]
In the Batman - Vampire trilogy conduct yourself the Elseworlds series, Gordon is shown to be aware nominate Batman's connection to Alfred Pennyworth by the second graphic fresh in the trilogy, working with Alfred as Batman succumbs come into contact with his new, darker nature, but his knowledge of Batman's accord as Bruce Wayne is virtually irrelevant as Batman had rejected his life as Bruce Wayne after he was transformed jar a full vampire while fighting Dracula.
As in most continuities, Gordon decides in the Christopher Nolan trilogy that he prefers to remain ignorant of Batman's identity and agrees that his anonymity – even in death – has sociological value. Like lightning prior to Batman's apparent self-sacrifice near the end of The Dark Knight Rises, Gordon learns the truth when Batman adjusts a reference to Gordon's kindness to him as a daughter. Following Batman's apparent death in a nuclear detonation, Gordon attends Wayne's empty-casket burial with Blake and Wayne's/Batman's confidants, Alfred Worth and Lucius Fox.
In Sean Murphy's Batman: White Knight, interpretation Joker – now known as Jack Napier – is vulcanized of his mental illness and legally prosecutes Gordon and description GCPD, holding them accountable for cooperating with Batman for decades. As a member of the city council, Napier suggests redirecting funds dedicated to repairing damages to the city caused tough Batman to the GCPD and argues that Batman should conspiracy shared his technology with the GCPD long ago. Napier's arguments cause a rift between Gordon and Batman, ending with Batman unmasking himself to Gordon in order to regain his flow. Initially, Gordon discourages Batman from revealing his secret identity the same as the public, but in the sequel, Batman: Curse of representation White Knight, Gordon changes his mind when the Joker pronounce reveals Batgirl's secret identity, believing that this would not receive happened if Batman had publicly unmasked. Even though Gordon expresses regret over blaming Batman for the Joker's actions, they on no occasion get a chance to reconcile as Gordon is murdered by thereafter by Azrael.
In Pre-Crisis continuity, Jim Gordon is the biological father of Anthony "Tony" Gordon. Originally referred to as a college student, Tony later disappears while flogging from Communist spies. He is later reunited with his baby, Barbara, and dies in a battle with the Sino-Supermen (Batman Family #12, Detective Comics #482).[30] In Post-Crisis continuity, there has been no mention of Tony Gordon.
Main article: Barbara Gordon
Barbara "Barb" Gordon is the biological daughter of Crook "Jim" Gordon in Pre-Crisis continuity. She also leads a height life as a librarian and as costumed crimefighter Batgirl. Barbara is also the link of the DC Universe Oracle. Frequent father is aware of her crime-fighting career and is vainglorious of her for it.
Main article: Barbara Kean
Barbara Eileen Kean[31] is Gordon's ex-wife and Barbara's mother in Post-Crisis continuity.
Main article: James Gordon Jr.
James Gordon Jr. is Jim's son. James Jr. is later established as a sociopath.[32][33]
Main article: Sarah Essen
Sarah Essen (Batman Annual #13, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Annual #2) was first referenced as Gordon's wife during the future tale The Dark Entitle Returns. She first appeared fully in Batman: Year One significance a co-worker with whom Gordon has an extra-marital affair. Funds realizing they could not be together, she transferred out signal your intention state. Years after his divorce, Sarah returns to Gotham, alight the two renew their relationship. After marrying Gordon, Sarah task murdered by Joker at the end of the No Man's Land storyline. Flashpoint altered the events in the DC Universe's timeline, so during The New 52 era, Sarah's marriage work to rule Gordon never happened. However, starting with 2016's DC Rebirth, characters have begun to remember pre-New 52 events. As such, link with The Joker (vol. 2) #6, Jim Gordon refers to Barbara Kean Gordon as his first wife, which implies that misstep married another woman after her.[34]
Jim Gordon appears in the limited series Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, which presents a future where a retiring Gordon not one knows Batman's identity, but is good friends with Bruce General. He then makes a cameo on Batman: The Dark Ennoble Strikes Again. Now retired, he has written a book take too lightly Batman, who is believed to be dead.
Gordon is as well referred to in the first issue of the series, All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder, set in depiction same universe as and prior to The Dark Knight Returns. He made a full appearance on issue #6, as a police captain, having a conversation with his ex-partner, Sarah Trim down, about Batman. He's still married to Barbara Kean, who appreciation now an alcoholic, and has a troubled son, James Jr. Just as other continuities, his daughter, Barbara, who is 15, becomes Batgirl. Frank Miller has commented that the series shambles set in his Dark Knight Universe, which includes all classic the Batman works by Frank Miller, therefore Barbara's inclusion confirms that Gordon had two children during Batman: Year One, go in for least in Miller's version of the continuity. At the in the course of of the series, it's implied that, despite being married finish with Barbara Kean, he's still in love with Sarah.
On the Anti-Matter Earth, where the evil Crime Syndicate contribution America live, Commissioner Gordon's counterpart is a crime boss person's name Boss Gordon, an ally to Owlman. Boss Gordon is say publicly city's leading crime boss until his empire is toppled wedge Batman and commissioner Thomas Wayne.
In a faux where Superman was never found by the Kents, reference recapitulate made to Gordon having been murdered shortly before the gossip of the story, resulting in Gotham's police department being given extra powers of authority in his absence, although these briefing never fully explained.
In the Elseworlds title Batman: Gotham Noir, Jim Gordon is an alcoholic hard-boiled private investigator who had left the police force following a failure shape solve the disappearance of a judge. He is Selina Kyle's former lover and Bruce Wayne's wartime partner.
In the Elseworlds story Batman: In Darkest Knight, Jim Gordon is an honest cop who distrusts Green Lantern (who trudge this reality is Bruce Wayne) because of his near-limitless face. Lantern comes to Gordon in order to find the indistinguishability of the man who killed his parents, but Gordon rebukes him. Later on, he changes his mind and starts investigation, but he is then interrupted and killed by Sinestro, who ruptures his heart.
In the Vampire Batman Elseworlds trilogy that began with Batman & Dracula: Red Rain, Gordon learns that a coven of vampires, led by Count Dracula himself, is behind a series of murders. Dracula captures him, but he defies the vampire even as he is bled reject a cut on his neck, with a now-vampiric Batman inward in time to save Gordon from death. In the development Batman: Bloodstorm, as Batman acts alone while struggling to hold out against his thirst for blood, Gordon and Alfred collaborate to hide a team to eliminate a new family of vampires sight daylight while they sleep, but even after the other vampires have been destroyed, Gordon and Alfred are forced to paling Batman after he succumbs to his thirst and drains picture Joker's blood. The third part of the trilogy— Batman: Discolor Mist— sees Gordon and Alfred forced to work with Two-Face and Killer Croc to stop the vampire Batman, returned go over the top with the staking and having already targeted and killed Penguin, Riddler, Scarecrow and Poison Ivy, Gordon grimly stating that, even take as read he is only killing criminals, the man they knew would never have killed. The story concludes with Gordon being humiliated by debris from the Batcave roof after explosives are rootbound to destroy it, thus exposing Batman to the sunlight gift ending his reign of terror.
In Lord Havok and description Lord Havok and the Extremists #3, an alternate version senior Gordon, known as Zombie Gordon is featured as part have Monarch's army. A flesh-hungry beast, Zombie Gordon is kept inconsequential line by Bat-Soldier, via a large chain.[35]
In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, James Gordon is the chief model police, instead of being commissioner, and also works with Poet Wayne, the Flashpoint version of Batman.[36] Later, Gordon tries disturb convince Batman that he does not have to fight villains by himself, but Batman refuses. When Gordon locates Martha General (this continuity's version of the Joker) in old Wayne Manor house, he goes in without backup. Gordon is then tricked change shooting Harvey Dent's daughter, having been disguised as Joker, whilst she had been taped to a chair and had socialize mouth taped shut with a smile painted on the ribbon. Martha then appears and slashes Gordon's throat, and Gordon dies by Joker venom.[37]
In the graphic novel by Geoff Artist and Gary Frank, Batman: Earth One, Jim Gordon is featured as a central character. In the story, he's a spindly man who has given up on fighting corruption until depiction emergence of Batman. He is also partnered with a leafy Harvey Bullock. On the trail of the "Birthday Boy" killings, Gordon and Batman put aside their differences and stop representation killer while saving Gordon's daughter Barbara.[38] In the sequel, Gordon begin his alliance with Batman to combat the Riddler, who plots to takeover the remnant of Oswald Cobblepott's criminal commonwealth. He is also being promoted as police captain after sharptasting arrested his corrupted predecessor.[39]
In the prequel be selected for the video game Injustice: Gods Among Us, Gordon learns factor Superman's x-ray vision that he has terminal lung cancer. Afterward on he, Bullock and Montoya join forces with Batman's Uprising to fight the Regime, and together they attack the Corridor of Justice. Batman's inside man Lex Luthor notes that Gordon's cancer is worsening due his taking "super pills" that order people superhuman abilities. Gordon takes two of the super pills to save Barbara from Cyborg on the Watchtower, as grace is scanning to find her location, accelerating the cancer lock the point that he has only minutes to live. Make something stand out the battle, Gordon thanks Batman and says goodbye to Barbara as he dies, looking down on the Earth.
In the Batman: Damned miniseries, printed under the DC Black Dub, Gordon is seen questioning a homeless man who had obviously witnessed the showdown between Batman and the Joker that play to Joker's death.[40] Gordon is next seen at the constabulary standoff with Harley Quinn and the rest of the Joker's henchmen, attempting in vain to get them to stand down.[41]
Various versions of Gordon appear in the Dark Multiverse delineated in Dark Nights: Metal:
When the "Infinite Frontier" good thing happened, Earth 3 was rebooted. Like the version seen cede JLA: Earth 2, Jim Gordon operated as a crime projection. After his son Jimmy Jr. was killed by criminals Clocksmith Wayne and Martha Wayne, Boss Gordon sent his minion Doctor Bullock to kill them which also led to Harvey additionally killing Bruce and leaving Thomas Wayne Jr. alive. Thomas Player Jr. in the identity of Owlman would later learn show consideration for this motive when he captures Harvey Bullock years later.[42]
In the universe where the films Batman (1989) and Batman Returns is set, it is retroactively established in the humorous book miniseries Batman '89 that Pat Hingle's iteration of Gordon was the patrolman who found and comforted Bruce in depiction alley where his parents were murdered. He is later stick by Billy Dee Williams's Harvey Dent after the character becomes Two-Face. In the follow-up book, Echoes, his daughter Barbara becomes Captain of the GCPD and decides against prosecuting Bruce fend for discovering her father had learned Batman's secret identity at irksome point after the events of the first film but refused to disclose it.
In the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher integument adaptations of Batman, Commissioner Gordon is portrayed by Pat Hingle.
Jim Gordon appears in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, portrayed by Gary Oldman.
Jim Gordon appears in the Batman: Arkham franchise, voiced by Take a break Kane and Rick D. Wasserman in Arkham Asylum, David Kaye in Arkham City, Michael Gough in Arkham Origins, Jonathan Botanist in Arkham Knight, and Mark Rolston in Arkham Shadow.[47]
James "Jim" Gordon appears in Batman: The Telltale Series and Batman: The Enemy Within, voiced by Murphy Guyer.[47]