With the popularity of Batman on the rise, the recent release ofThe Batmanhas enabled fans to think more about the possible side films, detailing origin stories for key characters. Looking at the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a moment, as a result of the wide-scale success that Spider-Man brought to the franchise, we’re now able to see Venom, Morbius, and additional characters surface with their own films. The same could be said forthe DCEU movies, especially their hottest property, Batman.
Throughout further development of these fascinating characters, it’s honestly surprising that the roleCommissioner Gordonplays in the franchise hasn’t been elaborated. Jim Gordon has been in the comic books since 1939, and has even actuallybeenBatman(in theDivergencecomics beginning in 2015). The character of the commissioner is career-orientated but morally aware, humanized, and empathetic depiction.
The significance of Commissioner Gordon lies in the shared sentiment that him and Batman have in common, ridding Gotham City of crime. Ultimately, this develops animportant bond between Gordon and Batman. As Matt Reeves, director of the new filmThe Batman, toldCBR:
I think from the beginning, the idea was that there was no question that the bond that Gordon and Batman had was central to the story in that they were the ones who were fighting against a stream of corruption.
To be honest, it would be intriguing to have a film where Gordon is the main character, where long-time fans can see how he became commissioner, why he decided to train as a police officer, his personal relationships, his bond with Batman, and overall have more emphasis placed on him. These are among the reasons we believe their should possibly be a Commissioner Gordonorigin story in the Batman universe, Gordon’s very own movie.
Understanding Commissioner Gordon’s Backstory
Working in a city filled with crime, Commissioner Gordon seemingly rose through the ranks to become a senior member of the Gotham City’s police force. InThe Dark Knighttrilogy (2005), we see Gordon (played by Gary Oldman) as a realist and very much grounded character, in his overall understanding that if he truly wants to accomplish any sort of success in bringing down criminal activity, his only option is to work with the vigilante known as Batman.
What would be interesting is if we as viewers were able to delve more into the backstory of Commissioner Gordon. Of course, we know the history behind his early relationship with a young Bruce Wayne, which we will later dive more into; however where’s the character development behind Gordon himself?The many Batman villainsget nearly more development than Gordon. It would be fascinating if viewers could go back into the early years of Gordon, and learn what the factors were that motivated him into beginning a long career in law enforcement.
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Additionally, the resilience which Commissioner Gordon possesses is commendable; there’s something about him that writers, illustrators, and filmmaker want to keep going back to as a key character of the series, so why not make him a front-running franchise character? In the middle of his work as commissioner, he loses hope of protecting Gotham as he notices how corrupt the city is, with a majority of the police department secretly working for the mafia. Once he begins to work hand in hand with Batman, Gordon notices the visible shift in thesocioeconomics of Gotham Cityand its surroundings. This narrative arc would be intriguing from Gordon’s sole perspective.
Gordon is Batman’s Most Trusted Ally
Surrounded by a world filled with darkness and violence, Batman and Gordon team up to restore some level of justice in Gotham. As the present day relationship between the two becomes closer, resembling a close-knit friendship, the level of respect that the two have for each other has always been astounding, especially in Reeves’The Batman, where thegreat Jeffrey Wright playsGordon.
The history between the two date back to the earlier days of a young Bruce Wayne, where Gordon was one of the cops who arrived on the scene to investigate the murder of his parents and comforted Wayne. InBatman Begins, we are able to view part of Gordon’s origins into the police force. Long before he had become commissioner, Gordon was a young officer, transferred from the Chicago Police Department to help the Gotham Police Department.
Related:Watching The World Burn: How Gotham City Has Changed
One night, Thomas and his wife Martha Wayne were viciously mugged and killed outside an opera show. Gordon and his team at the time were then sent to respond to the scene. Doing the best he could to comfort the couple’s eight-year-old son Bruce after the murder, under the horrific circumstances, the interaction forever stayed with Bruce because he recognized that Gordon was a kind, authentic, and honest police officer in the depressing world of Gotham. This equipped him with the strength he needed after the murder took place.
Despite the fact that we admittedly look at the character as a critical component in the Batman franchise, it’s not in the same way as a sidekick (i.e the Batman and Robin relationship). Commissioner Gordon is well-respected in his field and has climbed higher and higher through his roles within the force, so fans look at him as his own person who could stand alone if need be. As such, there should certainly be a movie about Commisioner Jim Gordon.
