James Gordon

## Background

### 1957 - 1980: James Gordon

James "Jim" Gordon is the only son of Peter Gordon, a prominent district attorney in Chicago. As a child, he favored his mother & resented his father's strength. Though his father wanted him to follow in his footsteps & enter into politics, James instead entered into the United States Marine Corps.

After serving a four year contract, he returned to Chicago & entered into the police academy. He became an officer of the Chicago Police Department & married his longtime girlfriend, Eileen. Together, the two moved to Gotham after James received a job with their precinct.

### 1980 - 1997: James Gordon

As his first case, Officer Jim was one of the first to arrive on the scene of Thomas & Martha Wayne's murder. Jim instantly comforted the Waynes' traumatized son, Bruce. He promised him that he would do everything in his power to find the murderer & bring him to justice. Though several of his colleagues berated him for doing so, insisting he drop the case as it would bring unwanted attention, Gordon continued looking for leads anyway. When Gordon made detective a few years later, he not only solved the case but personally arrested the Wayne's murderer. Though Bruce Wayne already respected the man, this created a lifelong friendship between the two.

James & Eileen went on to have two children: Barbara (1987) & Jimmy (1991). When he wasn't with his family or at work, he was taking university night classes in criminology. Life seemed to be going pretty well for them until Eileen up & left him for no apparent reason, leaving Jim to raise his two children on his own. Despite personal obstacles in his life, Jim continued to be a stellar detective. He uncovered a massive corruption ring inside his precinct, even bringing down his own captain who had been involved in multiple murderers.

### 1997 - Present: James Gordon

A man of integrity, the newly-promoted Captain Gordon found a close ally in the mob-controlled Gotham police department in the vigilante called Batman. Although they were at odds during their early encounters, Gordon eventually started to rely on the vigilante to assist him on cases. With his new status, Gordon often met Batman in the rooftop of the GCPD but was forced to keep their working relationship out of the public eye whenever possible. With Batman, he forged an alliance with Gotham's District Attorney Harvey Dent as the three most dedicated & capable people to take down organized crime in Gotham. Although they did succeed, it was at the cost of Harvey's sanity after being scarred with acid by Sal Maroni.

For his role in cleaning up Gotham, he was personally promoted by the mayor as the new Police Commissioner. With his new found role, Gordon has focused on rooting out corruption & working closer with Gotham's protector while constantly striving for a better Gotham City. He even had the Bat-Signal installed on the roof of GCPD Headquarters.

## Romantic Relationships

* Eileen Gordon: Girlfriend (1978 - 1982); Wife (1982 - 1994)
* Sarah Essen: Girlfriend (2001 - 2004); Wife (2004 - 2008)
* Leslie Thompkins: *Missing data.*

## Powers & Abilities

* **Criminology**: James Gordon received an honorary doctorate in the field of criminology from Gotham University.
* **Hand to Hand Combat/Martial Arts**: Gordon was trained in hand to hand combat at the police academy. By his own account, his martial prowess was honed to the point that he could defeat a Green Beret in physical combat.
* **Indomitable Will**: He has also shown a remarkable strength of will & an ability to maintain his mental fortitude & sanity in situations.
* **Investigation:** He is an expert detective, showing so as a long-time ally of Batman, usually assisting him in his numerous adventures & mysteries
* **Law**: James Gordon is proficient in all aspects of criminal detective work & police procedural matters. He also has a keen instinct in regards to the political aspects of managing the Gotham City Police Department.
* **Leadership**: He is also an expert leader, having spent decades as the leader of the world's most corrupt police force in the most dangerous city. That he has managed to not only survive but to make the GCPD stronger is a testament to his abilities.
* **Military Protocol**: Gordon served four years in the United States Marine Corps.
* **Marksmanship:** Gordon is a good shot, able to shoot a guy with a motorcycle in motion & even in the tire of a car at high speed.
* **Stick Fighting:** Jim is accomplished using a baton or any stick-like weapon in combat.

### Ratings

* **Intelligence:** Unknown
* **Strength:** Unknown
* **Speed:** Unknown
* **Occult:** Unknown
* **Weapons:** Unknown
* **Range:** Unknown
* **Strategy:** Unknown
* **Combat:** Unknown

## Trivia

* Almost ten years after his divorce, he began dating Sarah Essen, a member of the GCPD. The two were eventually married, with the blessing of all three of his children. Towards the end of The Cataclysm, Joker kidnapped a bunch of newborn babies in Gotham. Sarah arrived first on the scene but fell into the Joker's trap. He tossed a baby at Sarah & shot her in the head after she caught the child.
* He has no desire to be married again. Luckily, either does Leslie.
* When Det. Bullock joined the MCU, he was partnered with Lt. Gordon. The two became great friends over the course of their partnership.
* Though Bullock made his dislike of the vigilante Batman known, he respected Gordon enough to accompany him to their secret meetings on the GCPD rooftop.
* Bullock states that he is the reason Gordon & Essen began dating.
* He personally picked Renee Montoya to be Bullock's partner.
* When the earthquake hit Gotham, Gordon was buried under the debris in his office. Bullock was the one who saved him.
* In 2017, a crooked former cop once attempted to assassinated Gordon outside of the GCPD. It is believed that Bullock revealed his location, which led to the hitman's death by the mafia.
* His parents were killed in the 1987 explosions in Chicago.

## Notes

* His address is of the Gordon residence in *Batgirl: Year One* #4.
* James & Leslie's relationship is a nod to *Gotham*.