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about_facesSo I've been rereading BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND, both the original comics and the novelization by one of the comics' leading writers, Greg Rucka.
What really struck me is how, unlike the vast majority of multi-title crossovers (especially one that ran for an entire year!), it was far more based in character than action and events. The only part that really feels like an EVENT is the finale, which feels shoehorned-in compared to the rest, right up to the gratuitous use of the Joker and the gratuitous death of a relatively major supporting character.
But much like THE DARK KNIGHT--another story with a large cast of Gotham citizens--the human core of the story is Commissioner Jim Gordon. Really, in the real of all-time great DC comic characters, I think Jimbo has to be in the top ten. He's perhaps the only life-sized character in Gotham City, as heroic as he is human.
(Personally, I thought it was a huge mistake to lose Gordon as a cast member. OFFICER DOWN was a good story, but what was the point in having GOTHAM CENTRAL without Commissioner Gordon? Or Harvey Bullock, for that matter! Bullock, Gordon, and Renee Montoya are the holy trifecta of Gotham Police awesomeness, and to lose 2/3rds really robbed GC of what it could/should have been. But that's another rant.)
But a key component with being human is to be tested, and for one's flaws to show through. And as this is Jim Gordon post-BATMAN: YEAR ONE--where he cheated on his pregnant wife with Lieutenant Sarah Essen--it's a hell of a character to throw in the middle of NO MAN'S LAND.
And while this is Two-Face Tuesday and Harvey features very prominently, I think the best way to kick off his series is to look at where Jim Gordon is psychologically and emotionally as NML kicks off... and where he finds himself before too long.
The first part is from BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND #1, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #83, and BATMAN #563, written by Bob Gale with art by Alex Maleev, before he seemingly decided to dedicate all his art to computer-drawn photo tracing.
The second part is from BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #117 and BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #85, written by Ian Edington and illustrated by D'Israeli.
Issues here can be found in BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND, volume 1 and volume 2, which also features the story which will be featured in part 2 next week.
For those who don't know, Gotham was decimated by a massive earthquake, and despite the best efforts of people like Bruce Wayne (who in Washington DC, trying to get government help for recovery), the US government cut Gotham out of the country. The citizens had three days to either evacuate or stay, after which point, no one was to be allowed in or out of what was left of Gotham City.
Essentially, it's a silly, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK rip-off, but out of that outlandish premise grew some surprising human drama.
Sarah: "If he's not, I don't envy whoever has to break the news to my husband."
That willingness to do whatever it takes to protect his own makes me wonder how Jim Gordon would have handled matters if he were in THE WALKING DEAD. That book takes the idea to its darkest extremes, where characters become outright monsters in the name of protecting their children and surviving at all costs.
It's one of the hardest moral questions out there, where one's soul is really put on the line. But it's also one that almost anybody can relate to, I'd wager. So it's perfect that it should be embodied in Jim Gordon, the most human character in the story.
It's funny, in the second to last page, he was already realizing the extent of his faltering, and was ready to recant. And then, upon seeing the benefits of his compromise, he smiles, as if it's all worthwhile. The letter from his mysterious helper (whomEVER could it be?) comes as an ominous conclusion, and yet, Gordon's guilt has been assuaged. Because now he has living, breathing evidence to believe that the hard choice was the right one.
But like Sarah said, "... we owe them." And if Gordon is right, if he really made a deal with the Devil, then what would he owe? The answer is... well, rather different, depending on whether you read the comics or Greg Rucka's novelization. But we'll explore the costs of each over the next few posts.
Next week, Part 2: Gordon gives Renee Montoya a mission, Two-Face makes his move, and bonus extra scenes exclusive only to the NML novel where Harvey Dent and Renee are reunited. You do not know awkwardly cute until you have seen Two-Face with a crush.
What really struck me is how, unlike the vast majority of multi-title crossovers (especially one that ran for an entire year!), it was far more based in character than action and events. The only part that really feels like an EVENT is the finale, which feels shoehorned-in compared to the rest, right up to the gratuitous use of the Joker and the gratuitous death of a relatively major supporting character.
But much like THE DARK KNIGHT--another story with a large cast of Gotham citizens--the human core of the story is Commissioner Jim Gordon. Really, in the real of all-time great DC comic characters, I think Jimbo has to be in the top ten. He's perhaps the only life-sized character in Gotham City, as heroic as he is human.
(Personally, I thought it was a huge mistake to lose Gordon as a cast member. OFFICER DOWN was a good story, but what was the point in having GOTHAM CENTRAL without Commissioner Gordon? Or Harvey Bullock, for that matter! Bullock, Gordon, and Renee Montoya are the holy trifecta of Gotham Police awesomeness, and to lose 2/3rds really robbed GC of what it could/should have been. But that's another rant.)
But a key component with being human is to be tested, and for one's flaws to show through. And as this is Jim Gordon post-BATMAN: YEAR ONE--where he cheated on his pregnant wife with Lieutenant Sarah Essen--it's a hell of a character to throw in the middle of NO MAN'S LAND.
And while this is Two-Face Tuesday and Harvey features very prominently, I think the best way to kick off his series is to look at where Jim Gordon is psychologically and emotionally as NML kicks off... and where he finds himself before too long.
The first part is from BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND #1, BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #83, and BATMAN #563, written by Bob Gale with art by Alex Maleev, before he seemingly decided to dedicate all his art to computer-drawn photo tracing.
The second part is from BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #117 and BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT #85, written by Ian Edington and illustrated by D'Israeli.
Issues here can be found in BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND, volume 1 and volume 2, which also features the story which will be featured in part 2 next week.
For those who don't know, Gotham was decimated by a massive earthquake, and despite the best efforts of people like Bruce Wayne (who in Washington DC, trying to get government help for recovery), the US government cut Gotham out of the country. The citizens had three days to either evacuate or stay, after which point, no one was to be allowed in or out of what was left of Gotham City.
Essentially, it's a silly, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK rip-off, but out of that outlandish premise grew some surprising human drama.
Sarah: "If he's not, I don't envy whoever has to break the news to my husband."
That willingness to do whatever it takes to protect his own makes me wonder how Jim Gordon would have handled matters if he were in THE WALKING DEAD. That book takes the idea to its darkest extremes, where characters become outright monsters in the name of protecting their children and surviving at all costs.
It's one of the hardest moral questions out there, where one's soul is really put on the line. But it's also one that almost anybody can relate to, I'd wager. So it's perfect that it should be embodied in Jim Gordon, the most human character in the story.
It's funny, in the second to last page, he was already realizing the extent of his faltering, and was ready to recant. And then, upon seeing the benefits of his compromise, he smiles, as if it's all worthwhile. The letter from his mysterious helper (whomEVER could it be?) comes as an ominous conclusion, and yet, Gordon's guilt has been assuaged. Because now he has living, breathing evidence to believe that the hard choice was the right one.
But like Sarah said, "... we owe them." And if Gordon is right, if he really made a deal with the Devil, then what would he owe? The answer is... well, rather different, depending on whether you read the comics or Greg Rucka's novelization. But we'll explore the costs of each over the next few posts.
Next week, Part 2: Gordon gives Renee Montoya a mission, Two-Face makes his move, and bonus extra scenes exclusive only to the NML novel where Harvey Dent and Renee are reunited. You do not know awkwardly cute until you have seen Two-Face with a crush.
