The Grissom Syndicate were the most powerful organized crime gang in Gotham City.
History[]
Background[]
The Syndicate was founded at some point by Boss Carl Grissom, and it soon rose up to become the most powerful organized crime syndicate in Gotham city.
Jack Napier often acted as field leader due to being Grissom's top enforcer, commanding the younger enforcers in the organization. Grissom had numerous business fronts across the city, he had a large part of the police on his payroll, and also acted as the leader of Gotham's crime lords.
Setup at Axis Chemicals[]
Grissom sent Napier and seven of his enforcers on an operation at Axis Chemicals to retrieve records that would tie them to their illegal connections to the company. However, in actuality Grissom was setting up Napier to be killed by the cops, as revenge for his affair with Grissom's mistress Alicia. Pretty much everyone involved were shot or captured by the police. The rest of Grissom's men eventually became the Joker gang after Napier became the Joker and killed Grissom as vengeance for the set-up, and took over what was once his criminal empire.
Joker later attempted to assume command over the other crime lords. However, when they refused, he killed Antoine Rotelli, a close ally of Grissom. Vinnie Ricorso later attempted to take control over Grissom's businesses through false legal methods. However, he was then killed by Joker as well, with the other crime lords following same.
Known Members and Associates[]
- Carl Grissom (deceased)
- Jack Napier (deceased)
- Bob Hawkins (deceased)
- J.B. Luce
- Lt. Max Eckhardt (deceased)
- Napier Hood with Beard
- Napier Hood with Khaki Trenchcoat
- Napier Hood with Grey Trenchcoat
- Napier Hood with Blue Pinstripe Suit (deceased)
- Napier Hood with Black Pinstripe Suit
- Napier Hood with Cutting Torch
Known Front Companies[]
Appearances[]
Behind the Scenes[]
In an earlier draft by Tom Mankiewicz, Rupert Thorne served Grissom's role in the story as the top mob boss in Gotham, and even was the one who ordered the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, as the former was running against Thorne for city council. However, when Sam Hamm was hired, he chose to make the role for an original character, and removed his role in the Wayne murders.
In Sam Hamm's 1986 script for Batman, there was more action, with most of the mobsters being subdued by Batman. A very diffrent description of the operation and people present was given. They were modern day thugs with stealth gear on, wearing silk stockings over their heads. There was no 1940s clothing or architecture, everything was to appear as it would in modern times. More gadgets like steel ball bearings were used to disorient the gangsters. The Batarang was used to disarm one of the thugs. The mobster that held up Gordon at gunpoint was not identified as Bob, and Batman threw Shuriken into his arm to make him drop the pistol. Batman also used the bladed tips of his cape to slash Napier's face on the catwalk. In the Warren Skaaren version, he takes down at least two of the Hoods and the others (except Bob) are assumed to have been arrested or shot down by the police.
Trivia[]
- The Syndicate appears to be made up of men from Jewish, Italian, and Asian heritage.
- Besides Bob, all of Napier's men involved in the Axis Chemicals standoff are credited as "Napier Hoods”.
- The Grissom Syndicate would later inspire the Falcone Crime Family that would be introduced in Frank Miller's Batman: Year One.