No Man's Land Vol.4 - Bruce reveals himself to Gordon

[brushed_velvet.insanejournal.com]

From No Man's Land Volume 4, chapter title 'Falling Back'.

Written by Greg Rucka. Art by Rick Burchett, James Hodgkins and Klaus Janson.

This scene was anonymously requested on another post and as I'd previously uploaded these scans to a different comm I thought I'd share them here too. Am I right in thinking that I can't link to the post with the whole scene elsewhere because it's against the rules?

Anyway, I absolutely adore Batman and Gordon so my love for this particular scene knows no bounds.

A little background first for those who aren't familiar with NML. Gotham has suffered a devastating earthquake with the government subsequently declaring it a No Man's Land. Batman was noticeably absent during the first few months after the quake because Bruce Wayne was in the capital, lobbying the government to support the city but when this endeavour failed he secretly returned home. Meanwhile Jim, along with his wife Sarah and a small group of officers, toughed it out, using some very questionable tactics at times to try to maintain order and obtain control over the increasingly ominous gang warfare which threatened Gotham further. This encounter is the first time Jim and Batman meet since Batman's return.

It starts off with two pages of a very awkward silence giving way to a rather subdued conversation about Jim's garden and how well he's tended it. Then Jim finally asks Batman a rather important question, namely, if he and Batman are friends. Batman affirming that they are provokes a mixed response in Jim



Jim goes on to thank Batman for saving Sarah from Two Face's gang and then confesses that originally he and Sarah wanted to leave Gotham but he couldn't get a job elsewhere - everywhere he applied to laughed at him, either behind his back or openly to his face, which got him thinking that maybe...



Two things I love about this page - the little movement lines in the 'No' panel and then Batman immediately calling Jim out like that!

Jim carries on ragging at Batman for not really being his friend because Batman wasn't there for him and doesn't trust or respect him. Batman insists that isn't the case



I'm not sure why but Jim using the phrase 'don't blow smoke at me' multiplies his awesome levels one hundred fold.

Batman's response is pretty simple



D'awww Batman! You're such a woobie at times. He then ratchets up the woobie factor by lauding Jim, telling him there's no man or woman living that he respects more before making a monumental decision because 'words don't mean anything, they don't fix the damage' and







Bruce's expressions in all these panels, particularly the first one, strike me as so very childlike which somehow just makes me flail even harder.

Bruce heeds Jim's request and by the time Jim has slowly turned around Batman is no longer de-cowled. They arrange to meet the following day to plan their next strategy with Bruce actually pausing to wish Jim good night.

And so ends a scene which I think can safely be termed a classic? Also, I have to admit, if Chris Nolan decided to do his own version of this for the (hopefully) third film, it's pretty much a given that I would spontaneously combust!

Comments

[thandrak.insanejournal.com]

This, right here, is one of the key notes of the relationship. And it's never been told so well.

[yaseen101.insanejournal.com]

"..if Chris Nolan decided to do his own version of this for the (hopefully) third film, it's pretty much a given that I would spontaneously combust!"

It could be done even if it doesn't involve NML.

[ladymirth.insanejournal.com]

I read the entire NML TPB back-to-back just to find this scene. It was soo worth it.

Classic. No question.

Favourite line? "And they sure as hell don't walk out on you in the middle of a sentence!" Preach it, Gordon! *dies laughing*

[ladymirth.insanejournal.com]

Also, "if I wanted to know who you were, I could have discovered it ten years ago...for all you know, maybe I did."

By this I assume that Batman:Year One is still in continuity and that Gordon has always known since then? Because "blind without his glasses", my ass.

Of course, that makes the AzBat storyline pretty iffy, since in that case, Gordon should've made the connection earlier that this wasn't Bruce!Bat flying around.

[zenithjolt.insanejournal.com]

I was thinking of getting NML, and this just sealed the deal, i see why you love it so much. Thanks for posting!

[thatnickguy.insanejournal.com]

Honestly, I've always just assumed that Gordon knew Bat's identity. Because he works on the side of the law, he can feign ignorance if Bruce's identity was ever revealed to the public.

[jaybee3.insanejournal.com]

I've always assumed Gordon knows and just doesn't want proof so he has "plausible denial" just in case. Of course if he DOES know, the current writers don't seem to show it because it's obviously not Bruce Wayne behind the mask (Dick is a whole nother body type) and yet he was there in Dini's Streets of Gotham when "Bruce Wayne" (aka Hush) was handing out billion dollar checks.

[sistermagpie.insanejournal.com]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this! They are partners.

[starwolf_oakley.insanejournal.com]

Some of what Gordon says about people laughing at him resonates as well. he says (paraphrasing) "It's not like I expected to be commissioner of Central City" but that most people "Weren't impressed I needed an 'urban legend' to do my policing for me."

[retro_nouveau.insanejournal.com]

Very nice, definitely classic. Ranks up there with the annual holiday coffee.

Panel after "I've never been good at saying good-bye" -- "I want to hug you but there's a burning barrel in the way." :)

[bluejaybirdie.insanejournal.com]

Awwwww. I always loved this scene. Plus there's the comparison prior to this by Babs and Tim of this being like their parents fighting. Again, awwwww.

[shadowpsykie.insanejournal.com]

awe post that one too :)

[shadowpsykie.insanejournal.com]

yeah the big debate has always been does Gordon know? Now we all knew he always knew Barbara was batgirl.

i believe there is a scene in another book where batman says Jim Gordon is too good a detective not to know who Batman is. (its a conversation with superman where he discusses that he thinks that Perry is too good a reporter to not know who superman really is.)

they discuss that both pretty much choose to ignore what they know or choose not to seek out concrete proof.

i mean, if your daughter is swinging around in a cape and cowl with another guy, YOU WANT to know who that guy is.

[filkertom.insanejournal.com]

Current crews at DC and Marvel? See this? This is called writing. Try it sometime, won't you? Thanks.

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

I love this! Love the dialogue and the partnership.

Thanks for posting!

[absque_setentia.insanejournal.com]

This? Is perfect, just perfect

[alphamonkey928.insanejournal.com]

Oh, man, this -is- classic Jim Gordon right here. I've always loved this scene, and it's stuff like this that gets me really cranky whenever Jim gets portrayed as some idiot stumblebum who couldn't find his ass with both hands. Someone who has to look stupid so the Batclan can look good. That's not Jim Gordon. This is.

[caeliluminar.insanejournal.com]

Yes, definitely the highlight of NML for me. I should show this to my friend who won't have time to read through the whole of NML but who would likely love this. I've tried to describe this scene, but I just can't do it justice.

[joysweeper.insanejournal.com]

I like this. I almost always like secret identity reveals, but even so.

Even if "put it back on" reminds me of the Black Cat and Peter Parker.

[wizardru.insanejournal.com]

One of the best moments in Batman comics in a long time. I remember this scene and how impressed I was by it. This is solid character work. I would be very happy if a variation of this appeared in a Batman film.

[wizardru.insanejournal.com]

But here, it makes sense. Gordon's work depends on not knowing who the Batman is, after a fashion. I think it's safe to say he suspects, probably even is close to positive...but if he isn't 100% certain, he can tell himself and others that he doesn't know.

[jlbarnett.insanejournal.com]

well, if he knows he could just assume something happened to Bruce. Because there was Azbats after Bruce got his spine broken.

As I recall from scans they made some big deal about Gordon knowing it was a different Batman and not being sure he could be trusted. Kind of dumb when all the had to do was have him unmask and then have the domino mask on.

[jlbarnett.insanejournal.com]

Which is preposterous. Better using an urban legend than a vigilante. Would they have laughed if his secret weapon was Alan Scott returning to his hometown?

[jedd_the_jedi.insanejournal.com]

This makes me wonder, what would it be like if Gordon canonically knew Batman was Bruce Wayne?

[jlbarnett.insanejournal.com]

Bruce's expressions in all these panels, particularly the first one, strike me as so very childlike which somehow just makes me flail even harder

It wouldn't be the only time that they've suggested Commisioner Gordon is like a father to him. Hell, even his other father figure Alfred kind of pointed it out.