James Gordon is one of the few clean cops in the Gotham City Police Department who was a reluctant ally to the vigilante Batman and the vigilante's main contact on the force. During the Children of Arkham's attacks on Gotham City, Gordon worked with the vigilante to stop them and brokered an official partnership between him and the GCPD. After their defeat, he was promoted to Police Commissioner. A year later, Gordon worked with Batman to capture the Pact, despite problems caused by Amanda Waller and her Agency.
Biography
Before his career at the GCPD, Gordon was a member of the United States Marine Corp. After receiving an honorable discharge, he joined the service as an officer at least twenty years before Batman operated in Gotham. Gordon was active during the Riddler's crime spree in Gotham and was one of the investigators into his crimes.
Over the years of service, Gordon gained a reputation for standing against criminals like Carmine Falcone and corruption. He was also promoted to Lieutenant and put in charge of the Special Crimes Unit by Commissioner Grogan. At some point, he and his wife had a daughter, Barbara.
When Batman began operating in Gotham, Gordon initially sought to capture and arrest the vigilante. After some time chasing him, the Dark Knight eventually met with him and brokered an agreement to help deal with the city's corruption. Gordon accepted and found working Batman more beneficial, often working with the vigilante on multiple cases. However, he seemed to worry about his brutality and measures of interrogation.
Batman: The Telltale Series
Realm of Shadows
Gordon and officers at the GCPD arrived at Gotham City Hall after receiving an alarm from the Mayor's office. Upon arriving, they discovered the corpse of a security guard were slowed down, when the attackers dropped the elevator on them. Receiving a call from Batman, Gordon and his officers rushed up to the area. After officers discovered the vigilante's involvement, he led them to the roof, where found him fighting with Catwoman. Ordering them not to open fire, Gordon witnessed the fight and ordered his officers not to fire, angrily chastising one for doing so.
After allegations against Thomas Wayne were made public, Gordon lead the taskforce ordered by Mayor Hamilton Hill to raid Wayne Manor and seize the documents related to Wayne Enterprises. When Bruce Wayne arrived, Gordon met with him and informed him of the warrant authorizing it. Discussing the allegations and the affects it would have on Harvey Dent's mayoral campaign, Gordon promised to keep him informed. After gathering enough files, he and the officers left the manor.
That evening, Gordon was contacted by Batman and informed of a shootout at the Gotham Docks. Arriving on the scene with Sgt Renee Montoya, they discovered the remains of the fight and called for backup. Regardless of whether Batman choses to pass on his discoveries or leave, Gordon learns of his presence and interrogation of a sniper. If he chose to break the man's arm, he will notice his use of violence.
After obtaining information about Falcone's operations, Bruce considered giving the information to Gordon, believing it would be safer with him than the other GCPD officers. However, his butler Alfred suggested he could give it to reporter Vicki Vale.
- If Bruce decides to give it to Gordon, the two meet in one of Gotham's central towers. Having received enough information to arrest Falcone, he thanks the billionaire for handing it to him. However, Gordon states that it will not affect the investigation into the Wayne family and their ties to Falcone, telling Bruce not to use this as leverage. As the meeting ends, Gordon leaves to return home, though passes on the information to his superiors.
Children of Arkham
After Falcone's arrest, Gordon was put in charge of monitoring him. However, following a request from Dent to let Bruce visit him, Gordon reluctantly agreed, but was suspicious that they were related to the allegations against his family. Whilst escorting them to Falcone, they discussed Batman's recent actions and the effects he was leaving on Gotham. While Bruce talked with Falcone, Gordon waited outside with Dent. During the meeting, they let Montoya in, not knowing that she had been drugged and manipulated into assassinating Falcone. After she shot the criminal dead, Gordon was forced to take her into custody.
With help from Bruce, Gordon had Montoya taken to interrogation and watched over her, hoping to interview her when she recovered. He believed she had not gone through it willingly and argued with Dent about trying to cover it up. When Falcone's lawyers arrived, Gordon left to deal with them with Dent, asking Bruce to watch over Montoya in his absence. When they returned, he learned how she hand been drugged and comforted her, letting Wayne leave before they brought in forensics.
Shortly after his interrogation of Hill, Batman tipped off Gordon that the people behind Falcone's murder were planning to attack the Mayoral debate between Hill and Dent. He set up patrols around the venue and later met Batman on one of the overlooking rooftops. Depending on whether he brutalized Falcone or interrogated Hill, Gordon either promises to continue working with the him, ask to reduce the violence or call off their partnership. When Catwoman appeared, Batman talked him into letting her help and tried to contact the patrols. With one of them not responding, Gordon allowed them entered the Theatre to check on it, hoping to avoid a fight.
Shortly after the Children of Arkham released footage Esther Cobblepot's unlawful commitment to Arkham Asylum, Gordon ordered the GCPD initiated a raid. However, they were held up by Blockbuster and the group's mercenaries. After Batman subdue them, Gordon stop his men from attacking Batman, arranging to have Dent checked into Gotham General Hospital. If Batman chose to save Harvey, Gordon meets with Bruce Wayne whilst he visits him, assuring him that things would have been worse if the vigilante hadn't intervened.
New World Order
A week after the events of the debate, Gordon decided to organize a temporary truce between Batman and the GCPD. When Montoya broke her leave to investigate a potential Children of Arkham deal, he mounting a search light with Batman's symbol onto the roof of the building, hoping the vigilante would answer and back her up. When Batman arrived, Gordon informed of the truce, revealed what Renee was doing and asked him to help. At the same time, he received word that Dent had left the hospital without protection, leaving him vulnerable to attack. When Batman learned of the situations, Gordon mobilized GCPD to deal with the situation he had chosen not to investigate.
Finding more members of the Children of Arkham than they were expecting, Gordon and the officers were forced into a gunfight and were easily outnumbered. Depending on who Batman chose to help, they fail to stop the trade and an officer is captured (later experimented on and executed), or they are stopped from saving Dent, who kills an attacker in self defense. If Batman chose to save the mayor, Montoya hands over her badge to Gordon in the aftermath. When Batman arrived, he informed Gordon of a potential leak, leading him to radio command. After hearing his voice on a Children of Arkham member's radio, they deduced that the GCPD communications system has compromised. Whilst Batman investigated, Gordon informed his officers not to use their radios.
After learning that Wayne Tech had been used to monitor their communications, Batman informed Gordon and told him to get rid of the company's devices. He also contacted Commissioner Grogan and informed him of the discovery. Despite it crippling the GCPD's operations, Gordon was able to convince him to order the removal of all Wayne Tech devices.
Guardian of Gotham
After being imprisoned in Arkham Asylum due Lady Arkham's manipulations, Bruce can contact Gordon during a riot caused by another inmate. With Bruce offering to testify for Montoya, he realizes that he can put a case together and arranges to get him released from the Asylum. Following this, Gordon sends the proper documentations to release Bruce, handing them to Alfred.
That same day, Gordon received a tip from Batman of a double murder in Gotham's suburbs. Arriving at the address with the Montoya, who had rejoined shortly after the GCPD was compromised, and a number of officers, he discovered Batman and an unnamed boy. After having officers take the boy away, Gordon investigated the crime scene, disgusted at the brutality of the murders. After learning that victims were the Vales, Batman told him they had been murdered by their adopted daughter Vicki, who was actually Lady Arkham. Gordon also learned that they were stockpiling the groups chemical weapon in a warehouse owned by Mr. Vale.
As Batman left, Grogan arrived, who berating Gordon for working with the vigilante and accused him of tampering with evidence. As he continued to investigate, Gordon handed over the evidence he discovered to Grogan. However, Dent, now insane due the effects of a dosage he had received during the attack at the debate, seized the evidence and sent men to blow up the warehouse. Depending on a choice made by Batman/Bruce to visit Harvey, what happens to Gordon will change.
- If Bruce Wayne visits Harvey, Gordon travels to Crime Alley and stops Dent's enforcers from executing the billionaire. Discussing what has happened to Harvey, they ponder ways to prevent him falling further or harm coming to Gotham. As Gordon leaves, he offers Bruce a ride, but the billionaire declines.
- If Batman chooses to stop Dent, Gordon later takes the Mayor and his enforcers into custody. After deciding whether to send him to Blackgate Prison or Arkham Asylum, he and his officers leave, promising to help him stop the Children of Arkham.
City of Light
Depending on the choice made in the previous episode, what happens to Gordon will be different.
- If Batman chose to stop Penguin from hacking his tech, Dent will attack the GCPD following Grogan's objections to his actions. During the attack, Gordon is shot, but manages to get to the roof and activate the Batsignal, hoping Batman will answer it. Cornered by Dent's men, the vigilante saves Gordon and the two work together to stop the enforcers. They are able to defeat Dent's men, but Grogan is killed during the fight. Mourning the Commissioner's death, Gordon is forced to bring the GCPD under control whilst Batman confronts "Two-Face".
- After Dent's arrest, Gordon checks himself into a hospital to treat his injuries. When Batman reports the Children of Arkham's plans to release Arkham Asylum's inmates, he sends his officers to help the vigilante capture the Children of Arkham and stop the inmates. Gordon later checks out of hospital some time after the riots.
- Gordon later receives a tip from Batman about the Children of Arkham's plans to release the inmates of Arkham Asylum. He leads the GCPD to arrest the group and stop the inmates from escaping. After arriving, Gordon discovers Batman in the dining hall and help him incapacitate one of the inmates. As they prepare to take on the other escapees, his officers storm the hall and round up the inmates. With the situation under control, Gordon tells Batman to stop Lady Arkham whilst they round up the other Children of Arkham members.
In the week following the Asylum's riots, Gordon was given the position of Acting Commissioner and put in charge of the GCPD. Hoping to help the city, he asks that the city's elite stand by him. Depending on whether Bruce Wayne or Batman decides to go to the event, the following possibilities will occur.
- If Bruce chooses to go as himself, Gordon meets with him shortly before the speech. If Bruce unmasked to Lady Arkham, Gordon will notice the missing chunk of ear, which Bruce brushes off as having cut himself shaving. Gordon offers support following Harvey's fall from grace and tells him how he has become more influential due to his help stopping either Two-Face or Penguin. After briefly discussing Batman and his absence, he takes the stage.
- During the speech, Gordon complements the citizens have come out to help the city. Calling up Bruce to make a speech, he stands by as he announces plans to either fund the GCPD or to improve Arkham Asylum. When an assassin attacks the event, Gordon survives and orders him to be taken to lockup.
- During it, Gordon complements how citizens have come out to help the city, picking out Batman as one. If the vigilante gave him a message, he will pass it on to them. During the midst of the event, an man drives a van at Gordon, only for a watching Batman to save him. After the attacker is subdued, Gordon orders him to be taken to lockup.
Batman: The Enemy Within
The Enigma
During the year after the Children of Arkham's defeat, Gordon made an official partnership between the GCPD and Batman, which cut down crime in the city to an all-time low. Despite the City's counsel not backing his decision, many officers and citizens approved of the truce between Gordon and the vigilante, finding Gotham's safety had generally improved during the year. Due to this, Gordon was elected as Police Commissioner officially.
After receiving reports about an attack on the Virago casino, Gordon arranged for his officers to respond. Contacting Batman, he learned that the attacker was the long-missing criminal mastermind Riddler. Gordon and his officers helped Batman confront the criminal, using either a frontal assault or tear gas to subdue his men. As he tried to free Rumi Mori from a trap, Gordon was almost crushed by a falling statue, but was saved by Batman. When Amanda Waller and the Agency arrived and subdued the remaining men, Gordon was surprised to see her.
Overseeing clean-up and investigation of the scene, Gordon informed Batman of Riddler's MO and operations within Gotham. He also told him about his use of puzzles, relaying it as a form of arrogance and mockery towards his enemies. Gordon was also present during meeting with Waller, formally introducing them and receiving backlash from Waller. Before it, he recommended not to giving any evidence or information over to Waller, believing that they could capture Riddler themselves. He then left as Iman Avesta and Vernon Blake arrived to interrogate him.
A week after the death of Lucius Fox, Batman meet Gordon after uncovering a lead on the Riddler. With the Agency now in control of one of his precincts and City Hall not giving him the funds to patrol the East End, he revealed that the GCPD were no longer as helpful as they had been. Working with Batman, Gordon helped narrow it down to an abandoned water tower on the end of the 44th street. After deciding whether they should report it to Waller, they headed there to investigate. If Gordon was told to tell Waller, he will be thanked for the "cooperation", but she will not be able to join them as she was currently in a meeting.
Upon entering at the water tower, Gordon and Batman were trapped inside and learned that one of Waller's agents, Mario Fernandez, had been killed there. Deducing that the lair was a puzzle death trap, they worked together to learn his mistakes and solve the puzzle. After they did so, Riddler contacted them via monitor, revealing his past with the Agency and Batman's connection to Lucius Fox with Gordon. After they escaped, Gordon informed Waller about her missing agent and confronted on Riddler's claims. Regardless, the trust between them was damaged, though he promises to continue working with him.
After Batman was able to gain Riddler's location, Gordon was informed and mobilized the GCPD to the hideout, the Lady of Dublin. Shortly after arriving, he discovered Riddler had been murdered by an unknown assassin. Depending on whether Batman interrogate Mori or Knable, Gordon's trust in the vigilante either remains the same (due to non-compliance with Waller) or broken, due to Knable's state. If Batman interrogated Mori, Waller demotes Gordon to deputy officer, in retribution for the vigilante not cooperating with her. With the Agency taking over Gotham's law enforcement, Waller tells Gordon to leave them to discuss "case details".
The Pact
After a series of explosions detonated around the city, Gordon received a report that the GCPD's arsenal had been broken into by a group of armed men. Whilst Batman investigate, he and the GCPD answered another report of an attack on the Gotham City Brokerage. After being defeated by Bane, Batman can call either Gordon or Waller to help him. Depending on the decision, the following possibilities will take place.
- If Batman calls Gordon, he and the GCPD arrive and help him out of the rubble. After informing him about the fate of a hostage he saved, Gordon learns about Bane and what his men has stolen. If Batman chose to side with Waller, Gordon expresses his sense of betrayal for what he did to Knable, but that he appreciates the vigilante calling him to save his life. He promises to send Batman the information about what happened at the Brokerage and leaves when Agent Avesta or Blake arrives to speak with im.
- Gordon later calls Batman with the Batsignal and meets with him on the roof of the GCPD. If Batman had interrogated Knable, Gordon will have been demoted by Waller to get cooperation with the vigilante. Having identified the brokerage attacker as Harley Quinn, Gordon gives him information gathered from the city's coroner's office, including about her father. When Waller arrives, Gordon asks whether she has some information about him. Regardless of whether Batman tells him about her blackmailing him, he leaves to give them privacy to discuss details.
When he heard about a battle between the Agency and Riddler's associates, Gordon fired up the Batsignal, hoping that Batman would respond. However, the vigilante didn't answer, leading him to become suspicious of him. Gordon and his officers would arrive towards the end of the battle, with either Bane or Harley Quinn being the last remaining member. They suffered dozens of casualties, with Gordon monitoring officers as they were taken either to the morgue or hospital.
Fractured Mask
At some point that night, Gordon received testimony from one of Wayne Enterprises' security guards, who claimed to have been knocked out by Harley after letting Bruce Wayne through. When he investigated, Gordon found armature attempts of dummy footage, as well as unrecorded time. He also receive information that Wayne had tried to enter the Riddler's hideout, even bribing or knocking out one of his detectives. Despite the evidence, Waller and the Agency told him not to intervene or arrest Wayne.
Later that evening, Gordon lit the Batsignal to talk to Batman. When the vigilante responded, he confronted him on his absence during the Pact's attack. Gordon then informed him about his suspicions that Lucius was actually involved in crime and that he believed that Bruce Wayne was involved. Revealing the evidence he had collected, Gordon asked Batman to arrest Bruce Wayne. Having also been informed that Catwoman was back, Gordon revealed he was arranging a taskforce to arrest her and told the vigilante not to get involved or tip her off. Regardless of whether Batman does so or not, Catwoman is able to escape, though her presence or absence will affect Gordon's views on him.
After another one of Bruce Wayne's employees, Tiffany Fox, reported to have seen him with Harley and another individual, Gordon, Montoya and several other officers arranged for his arrest that morning. Shortly after Wayne arrived in his office, they made their move and arrested him, only for Waller to arrive. She revealed that Bruce was under Agency protection and demanded that they released him, to which Gordon complied. Having had enough interference from him and the GCPD, Waller took control of the GCPD and fired Gordon. Having been broken by this action, Gordon left, now powerless to stop her.
Same Stitch
In the weeks after being fired, Gordon began investigating crimes independently, scouring crime scenes. After several weeks, he uncovered a scamming ring operating out of a local arts and crafts store. Passing his findings to the GCPD, Gordon's investigation led to fraud convictions on at least four employees. Depending on the path taken by the Joker, the following will happen.
- If the Joker has become a vigilante, Gordon will meet Batman again during the GCPD's investigation into the site of the vigilante's first appearance. Though demoted, Gordon is allowed to enter the crime scene, due to a derestriction dispute between the GCPD and Agency. Meeting with Batman and possibly Tiffany Fox, now either a member of the Agency or Batman's newest ally, they begin investigating the crime scene to find Joker. During the investigation, Gordon apologizes for his actions and informs Batman of his loss of position. He also blames himself for what has happened.
- After finding evidence that pinpoints Joker's location at the disused Ace Chemical Processing Plant, the group are attacked by Harley Quinn, now a temporary special for the Agency. When Gordon and Batman refuse to give her information on Joker's whereabouts, she orders an Agency helicopter to attack them. However, the vigilante is able to subdue Harley and Gordon is able to get them to stand down. Placing Harley under arrest, Gordon tells the rest of the GCPD to place her under their arrest and, believing that either their or the Agency's presence threatens Waller's life, allows Batman to go after the Joker alone.
- After Joker is defeated, Gordon and the GCPD take the vigilante into custody. Whilst waiting for Batman to awaken in, he and Waller share a cigarette break, seemingly coming a mutual understanding. When Batman awakens, Gordon gives the director some time alone with the vigilante, deciding to organize Joker's transfer. If Batman stays after a conversation with Waller, he briefly talks to Gordon. Now jobless, Gordon considers working outside the law to capture criminals, though Batman can suggest that he either retires or fights to get his old position back. Regardless of what is chosen, Gordon leaves to talk to his wife whilst Batman leaves to get some rest.
- When Joker and Harley Quinn release a biological weapon throughout the city, Gordon is contacted by the former and offered the locations of the dispenser in return for Batman. Gordon reluctantly agrees and contacts the Agency, eventually being put through to Batman. Claiming to have located Joker, Gordon asks the vigilante to come to the disused Ace Chemical Processing Plant. If Batman has sided with Gordon at any point during Waller's appearance in Gotham, he will change his mind, but is attacked and knocked unconscious by Joker.
- When Batman arrives, he finds Gordon in one of the storage areas. When the vigilante is set on by the criminal's henchmen, Gordon tries to help him fight back, but is subdued and almost killed by one of the goons. Saved by Joker, the criminal fulfils his agreement and gives Gordon the locations of the bombs, revealing the deal to Batman. Seemingly allowed to leave, Gordon is shot through the legs by Joker, who orders his men to take the injured former officer to his car.
- Despite being crippled, Gordon is either found by GCPD or the Agency, giving them the locations of the LOTUS dispensers. With this, they are able to find and disable them all in time, putting a stop the Harley Quinn's plans. Waller later reports on Gordon's condition to Batman, though tells him that he may be unable to walk without a cane. At his suggestion, she can arrange to have him retire, blacklisted from law enforcement or rehired onto the GCPD.
Personality
Gordon had been a member of the GCPD and, despite the state of the city, kept away from corruption deeply seeded within the department. Although tough on criminals and other officers, he was willing to help others and put himself in danger rather than let other officers or civilians die. Gordon would also support the people closest to him in times of trouble, such as trying to help Montoya when she was drugged into killing Falcone. He was also extremely loyal to the city, which fueled his partnership with Batman. Event after being fired from the GCPD, Gordon was willing to investigate and report matters directly to them.
Gallery
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Trivia
- Gordon's possible crippling at the hands of the Joker to psychologically torment Batman is an indirect reference to Batman: The Killing Joke, where the criminal crippled his daughter to psychologically torture his his comic counterpart.