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"Batman: Year One - Chapter Four: Friend in Need": James Gordon and Sarah Essen have dinner together. Jim feels guilty over their recent affair, but doesn't have the will to call it off. He even gives Sarah a bracelet – a present that

Quote1 You can never escape me. Bullets don't harm me. Nothing harms me. But I know pain. I know pain. Sometimes I share it. With someone like you. Quote2
Batman

Batman #407 is an issue of the series Batman (Volume 1) with a cover date of May, 1987. It was published on January 20, 1987.

Synopsis for "Batman: Year One - Chapter Four: Friend in Need"

James Gordon and Sarah Essen have dinner together. Jim feels guilty over their recent affair, but doesn't have the will to call it off. He even gives Sarah a bracelet – a present that should have gone to his pregnant wife. Finally, Sarah makes the decision to break it off. She puts in a transfer to New York City.

A few days later, Gordon arrests notorious drug dealer Jefferson Skeevers. Skeevers is a key figure that can link Detective Flass to organized crime, but he's not revealing any information. Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent allows the court to grant him bail.

Jefferson Skeevers 0003

"You can never escape me. Bullets don't harm me. Nothing harms me. But I know pain. I know pain. Sometimes I share it. With someone like you."

Batman sneaks into Skeevers' hotel room and accosts him. That same night, Skeevers approaches Lt. Gordon offering to reveal everything he knows concerning Detective Flass and his illegal conduct. After taking Jefferson's statement, Gordon bypasses Commissioner Loeb and goes straight to Internal Affairs.

Loeb does not appreciate Gordon going over his head. To further illustrate his displeasure, he shows him a surveillance photo of Jim and Sarah kissing one another. Loeb is more than ready to expose Gordon's tryst if he continues pursuing an indictment against Flass.

Later, Gordon and his wife Barbara visit Wayne Manor. Jim interviews Bruce Wayne concerning his suspicious actions, but Bruce dismisses all notions that he could possibly be Batman. As the two leave the estate, Jim confides in Barbara and tells her of the affair.

A few nights later, Gordon and a few loyal officers interrogate Flass at length. At first, he refuses to cooperate, but before long, he agrees to detail everything he knows – including dirt on Commissioner Loeb.

Meanwhile, Barbara Gordon gives birth to her son – James Gordon, Jr.

A few nights later, the Catwoman raids the home of Carmine Falcone. She believes that making a strike against Falcone will help to forge her own legendary status. The Batman arrives and attacks Falcone's men. The Catwoman escapes capture, but not before raking her claws across Falcone's face. The media learns of the incident and reports that the Batman and this mysterious new Catwoman are working in collusion with one another.

Commissioner Loeb makes a telephone call to Falcone. He instructs him to take measures against Gordon. Falcone sends his men to Gordon's apartment where they abduct his wife and infant son. Jim manages to shoot a few of the kidnappers, but Johnny Viti takes off in his car with the baby.

Fortunately for Gordon, Bruce Wayne is present incognito. He follows Jim who takes off after Falcone on a motorcycle. While Gordon deals with Johnny, Bruce rescues baby Jim Gordon.

James Gordon 0020

"I've got a friend coming who might be able to help."

Days later, news of Commissioner Loeb's corrupt regime hits the media wire. Loeb announces his possible resignation. The incident places Gordon back into the spotlight and he is soon promoted to the rank of Captain. With Sarah Essen gone to New York, Gordon starts working on his marriage to save it. Around this time, a maniac calling himself the Joker has threatened to poison the Gotham Water Reservoir, but Gordon has already contacted Batman, marking the beginning of their longtime collaboration.

Appearing in "Batman: Year One - Chapter Four: Friend in Need"

Featured Characters:

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Antagonists:

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Notes

Trivia

  • James Gordon is promoted to the rank of Captain in this issue.
  • The tagline to this issue is "He's out to clean up a city that likes being dirty. He can't do it alone."
  • The final scene of the movie Batman Begins, when Joker is mentioned, is based on the last panels of this issue.
  • There are is a Donald Duck toy and a Mickey Mouse telephone featured in this issue.
  • There is a reference to the theatrical genre Vaudeville.
  • Gordon and Essen revisit Hopper's in a panel framed to homage the famous Nighthawks painting by Edward Hopper.


See Also

Recommended Reading

Links and References

Year One
Part 1: Batman #404 Part 2: Batman #405 Part 3: Batman #406 Part 4: Batman #407
The Man of Steel 1A
Post-Crisis Reboot
DC Rebirth Logo

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a 19851986 maxiseries which completely reset the continuity of the entire DC Universe, all of DC's major characters and franchises needed to be updated to reflect the changes in the events of their lives. Multiple story arcs were put out to explain these rebooted versions of popular characters.

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